Michael Pitt

Michael Carmen Pitt was born on April 10, 1981, in West Orange, New Jersey. He is the son of Donald B. Pitt, an auto mechanic, and Eleanor Carol (née DeMaio) Pitt, a waitress. Pitt has two older sisters and one older brother. By age 16, Pitt had attended multiple high schools, including Morris Catholic High School, and had spent time at the Essex County Youth House. He eventually dropped out of school. Pitt’s career began unexpectedly when a casting agent, whom he initially mistook for a police officer, noticed him and recommended him for a guest role on the television series “Dawson’s Creek.” He went on to play Henry Parker in 15 episodes of the show between 1999 and 2000.

Pitt established his presence in independent cinema with roles in films like “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” (2001), where he played Tommy Gnosis, and “The Dreamers” (2003), where he took on a lead role. His filmography also includes thrillers such as “Murder by Numbers” (2002) and the 2007 remake of “Funny Games.” A notable performance came in “Last Days” (2005), portraying a rock musician inspired by Kurt Cobain, for which Pitt performed all the songs. His work in film continued with roles in “Silk” (2007) and “I Origins” (2014), where he also served as an executive producer.

Transitioning back to television, Pitt gained significant recognition for his role as Jimmy Darmody in the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire” from 2010 to 2011, appearing in the show’s first two seasons. Following this, he portrayed Mason Verger in the second season of the NBC series “Hannibal” in 2014, appearing in three episodes. In addition to acting, Pitt is a musician, serving as the lead singer and guitarist for his band, Pagoda, which released a self-titled debut album in 2007. He has also engaged in directing, making his directorial debut with a campaign film for Rag & Bone’s Spring 2015 collection. Pitt has also modeled for various designer campaigns, including Prada and Rag & Bone.