Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is an American actor, filmmaker, and entrepreneur who has worked in the entertainment industry from a very young age. He began his career as a child actor and later became widely recognised for his versatility and his interest in the intersection of media, technology, and creativity. 

Alongside his acting work, he co-founded hitRECord, a collaborative online platform that enables creators from around the world to work together and be paid fairly for their contributions. The platform has received significant recognition, including two Emmy Awards.

In recent years, Gordon-Levitt has become an outspoken advocate for creator rights in the age of artificial intelligence. He authored a Washington Post opinion piece titled “If artificial intelligence uses your work, it should pay you”, in which he argued strongly for fair compensation and ethical practices. He has also participated in international forums such as Taiwan’s Plurality Summit, where he spoke in support of digital democracy and responsible technology alongside Taiwan’s Minister of Digital Affairs, Audrey Tang.

Gordon-Levitt first gained major public recognition through television, particularly for his role as Tommy Solomon in the sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun. His film career includes a wide range of notable titles such as 500 Days of Summer, Inception, Looper, The Dark Knight Rises, 50/50, Snowden, and Lincoln. More recently, he co-starred in Netflix’s Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024), which reached number one globally, and portrayed Uber founder Travis Kalanick in Showtime’s Super Pumped, a performance that generated wide discussion. He has also appeared in films such as Flora and Son and Greedy People, and continues to take on both acting and voice roles.

Beyond acting, Gordon-Levitt has established himself as a filmmaker. In 2013, he wrote and directed Don Jon, a film examining modern relationships and the impact of online pornography. He later created, wrote, directed, and starred in Mr. Corman, an Apple TV+ series that explored mental health, creativity, and contemporary life. He attended Van Nuys High School, graduating in 1999, and later studied at Columbia University, where his academic focus included history, literature, and French poetry.

Joseph Leonard Gordon-Levitt was born on 17 February 1981 in Los Angeles, California, United States. He grew up in the Sherman Oaks area. He was raised in a Jewish family that was culturally active but not strictly religious. His parents were involved in social and political causes. 

His father, Dennis Levitt, worked as a news director at the Pacifica Radio station KPFK-FM. His mother, Jane Gordon, was politically active and once ran for the United States Congress. His maternal grandfather, Michael Gordon, was a film director in Hollywood. Joseph had an older brother, Dan Gordon-Levitt, who worked as a photographer and artist.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt began performing at a very young age. At four years old, he joined a musical theatre group and played the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. Soon after, he was noticed by an agent and began appearing in television commercials for brands such as Sunny Jim, Cocoa Puffs, Pop-Tarts, and Kinney Shoes.

By the age of six, he had started acting in television films. In 1991, he appeared in the television series Dark Shadows, playing two roles, and also acted in the film A River Runs Through It. During this period, he appeared in popular television shows such as Quantum Leap, L.A. Law, China Beach, and Murder, She Wrote.

In 1994, he played a major child role in Disney’s Angels in the Outfield. The film brought him wider recognition and earned him industry awards as a young actor.

In 1996, Joseph Gordon-Levitt was cast as Tommy Solomon in the television sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun. The show ran for six seasons, until 2001, and made him widely known. During this time, he became a familiar face on television and in youth magazines.

While working on the show, he also appeared in films such as Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) and 10 Things I Hate About You (1999). His role in 10 Things I Hate About You helped him transition from child actor to young adult roles.

In 2000, Gordon-Levitt enrolled at Columbia University in New York City. He studied history, literature, and French poetry. During this time, he reduced his acting work to focus on education and personal growth. He later decided to leave university in 2004 to return to acting full-time.

After returning to acting, Gordon-Levitt chose more serious and independent film roles. In 2004, he appeared in Mysterious Skin, which addressed sensitive themes and marked a clear shift in his career choices. In 2005, he starred in Brick, a modern crime film set in a high school. The film received strong critical attention and helped establish him as a serious actor.

He continued working in films such as Havoc, Shadowboxer, and The Lookout (2007). These roles strengthened his reputation for choosing complex and meaningful projects.

In 2009, Gordon-Levitt starred in 500 Days of Summer. The film was successful and earned him a Golden Globe nomination. In the same year, he appeared in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

In 2010, he starred in Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan. The film became a global success. He later worked again with Nolan in The Dark Knight Rises (2012).

In 2011, he starred in 50/50, a film based on a true story about cancer. The role earned him another Golden Globe nomination. In 2012, he appeared in Looper, Premium Rush, and Lincoln. These films showed his range across science fiction, action, and historical drama.

Alongside acting, Gordon-Levitt moved into directing and writing. In 2010, he directed short films including Morgan M. Morgansen’s Date with Destiny.

In 2013, he wrote, directed, and starred in Don Jon. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and explored the impact of online pornography on relationships. It received positive reviews and earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Screenplay.

In 2015, he portrayed Philippe Petit in The Walk. In 2016, he played Edward Snowden in Oliver Stone’s Snowden, focusing on government surveillance and whistleblowing.

In 2010, Gordon-Levitt founded hitRECord, an online platform for creative collaboration. The platform allows artists, writers, musicians, and filmmakers to work together and get paid for their contributions. Projects created through hitRECord have been released as films, books, and television programmes.

The platform won two Primetime Emmy Awards, including for HitRecord on TV. Gordon-Levitt has continued to speak publicly about fair pay for creators and ethical use of technology.

From 2019 onwards, Gordon-Levitt returned strongly to television and film. In 2021, he created, wrote, directed, and starred in the Apple TV+ series Mr. Corman.

In 2022, he played Travis Kalanick, the founder of Uber, in Showtime’s Super Pumped. In 2024, he co-starred in Netflix’s Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which became a global hit.

He has also spoken publicly about artificial intelligence and creator rights. He wrote a Washington Post opinion article titled “If artificial intelligence uses your work, it should pay you”. He later spoke at Taiwan’s Plurality Summit, supporting Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s Minister of Digital Affairs.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt married Tasha McCauley in 2014. They have three children and choose to keep their family life private. He lives in Pasadena, California.

As of 2025, Gordon-Levitt continues to work as an actor, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and technology advocate. He remains active in film, television, writing, and discussions around ethical technology, artificial intelligence, and fair treatment of creators.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s vision is centred on fair creativity, collaboration, and responsible use of technology. He believes that creative work should always respect the people who make it and that artists should be paid when their work is used, including by artificial intelligence systems. Through his platform hitRECord, he supports open collaboration where creators from around the world can work together and share credit and income. He also believes that technology should strengthen human connection, not replace it. His work in film, television, and public speaking reflects his aim to combine storytelling, ethics, and innovation in a balanced and practical way.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has received wide recognition for his work in film, television, and digital media. He earned two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actor, for his performances in 500 Days of Summer (2009) and 50/50 (2011). His work as a creator and innovator was recognised when his collaborative platform hitRECord won two Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Interactive Program for HitRecord on TV. These awards highlighted his role in building a new model for creative collaboration.

As a filmmaker, Gordon-Levitt received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Screenplay for writing and directing Don Jon, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Earlier in his career, he received Young Artist Awards and a Saturn Award nomination for his work as a child actor. Across his career, his performances in both independent and major studio films have received consistent critical praise and industry recognition.