
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Biography
Joseph Leonard Gordon-Levitt (born February 17, 1981) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has received various accolades, including nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his leading performances in 500 Days of Summer (2009) and 50/50 (2011). He is the founder of the online media platform HitRecord whose projects such as HitRecord on TV (2014–15) and Create Together (2020) won him two Primetime Emmy Awards in the category of Outstanding Interactive Program.
Born in Los Angeles to a Jewish family, Gordon-Levitt began his acting career as a child, appearing in the films A River Runs Through It (1992), Holy Matrimony (1994), and Angels in the Outfield (1994), which earned him a Young Artist Award and a Saturn Award nomination. He played the role of Tommy Solomon in the TV series 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996–2001) for which he received three nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. He had a supporting role in 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) and voiced Jim Hawkins in the Disney animated Treasure Planet (2002) before taking a break from acting to study at Columbia University, but dropped out in 2004 to resume his acting career.
Since returning to acting, Gordon-Levitt has starred in Manic (2001), Mysterious Skin (2004), Brick (2005), The Lookout (2007), The Brothers Bloom (2008), Miracle at St. Anna (2008), G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), Inception (2010), Hesher (2010), Premium Rush (2012), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Looper (2012), and Lincoln (2012). He portrayed Philippe Petit in the Robert Zemeckis-directed film The Walk (2015) and whistleblower Edward Snowden in the Oliver Stone film Snowden (2016). In 2020, he starred in the legal drama The Trial of the Chicago 7, for which he won the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
In 2013, he wrote and directed Don Jon, a comedy-drama film that was released to critical acclaim, earning him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Screenplay. He previously directed and edited two short films, both of which were released in 2010: Morgan M. Morgansen's Date with Destiny and Morgan and Destiny's Eleventeenth Date: The Zeppelin Zoo. In 2021, he wrote, directed and starred in a comedy drama series Mr. Corman on Apple TV+.
Known For

TV
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
2014

TV
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self
2015

TV
Conan
Self
2010

TV
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
2019

TV
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975

TV
The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007

TV
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Self - Guest
2015

TV
The View
Self - Guest
1997

TV
Golden Globe Awards
Self
1944

TV
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988

TV
Numb3rs
Scott Reynolds
2005

TV
Murder, She Wrote
Boy #1
1984

TV
Family Ties
Dougie
1982

TV
Quantum Leap
Kyle
1989

TV
Hot Ones
Self
2015

TV
That '70s Show
Buddy
1998

TV
L.A. Law
Ricky Berg
1986

TV
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Zack Lawson
1993

TV
Click
Self
2000

TV
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003
Filmography
2025FilmWake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mysteryas Baseball Announcer (voice)2025FilmParadise Recordsas The Negotiator2024FilmKiller Heatas Nick Bali2024FilmGreedy Peopleas Terry2024FilmBeverly Hills Cop: Axel Fas Detective Bobby Abbott2023FilmOnce Upon a Studioas Jim Hawkins (voice) (archive sound)2023FilmFlora and Sonas Jeff2023TVPoker Faceas Trey Nelson2022FilmGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mysteryas Hourly Dong (voice)2022FilmPinocchioas Jiminy Cricket (voice)2022FilmA Forest Hauntas Narrator (voice)2022FilmSuper Pumped: The Battle for Uberas Travis 'Tk' Kalanick2022TVSuper Pumped: The Battle for Uberas Travis 'TK' Kalanick2021TVThat's My Jamas Self - Guest2021TVWolfboy and the Everything Factoryas Luxcraft (voice)2021TVMr. Cormanas Josh Corman2021TVAmend: The Fight for Americaas Self2020FilmThe Trial of the Chicago 7as Richard Schultz2020FilmProject Poweras Frank2020FilmDear Class of 2020as Self2020TVCreate Togetheras Self - Host2019Film7500as Tobias Ellis2019FilmKnives Outas Detective Hardrock (voice)2019FilmSesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebrationas Self - Host2019TVA Little Late with Lilly Singhas Self2019TVThe Kelly Clarkson Showas Self2019FilmBand Together with Logicas Self2018FilmComedy Central Roast of Bruce Willisas Self - Host2018TVExplainedas Narrator (voice)2018TVJames Cameron's Story of Science Fictionas Self2017FilmStar Wars: The Last Jedias Slowen Lo (voice)2017TVDrop the Micas Self2017TVComrade Detectiveas Iosif Baciu (voice)2016FilmSnowdenas Edward Snowden2016FilmStraight Outta OZ2015FilmThe Night Beforeas Ethan2015FilmThe Walkas Philippe Petit2015TVThe Muppetsas Self2015TVThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertas Self2015TVClose Up with The Hollywood Reporteras Self2015TVThe Late Late Show with James Cordenas Self - Guest2015TVHot Onesas Self2014FilmThe Interviewas Self (uncredited)2014TVVariety Studio: Actors on Actorsas Self2014FilmSeth Rogen's Hilarity for Charity2014FilmSin City: A Dame to Kill Foras Johnny2014TVRunning Wild with Bear Gryllsas Self2014TVThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonas Self2014TVOff Camera with Sam Jonesas Self2014TVHitRECord on TV with Joseph Gordon-Levittas Self - Host2013FilmVinegaras Vinny (voice)2013FilmLady Gaga & the Muppets Holiday Spectacularas Self2013FilmDon Jonas Jon Martello, Jr.2013FilmLincoln: An American Journeyas Self2012FilmEnding the Knightas Self2012FilmLincolnas Robert Lincoln2012FilmLooperas Joe2012TVThe Mindy Projectas Matt Sherman2012FilmPremium Rushas Wilee2012FilmThe Dark Knight Risesas Blake2012TVComedy Bang! Bang!as Self2011Film50/50as Adam Lerner2011FilmElektra Luxxas Bert Rodriguez2010FilmDreams: Cinema of the Subconsciousas Self2010TVConanas Self2010FilmInceptionas Arthur2010FilmMorgan and Destiny's Eleventeenth Date: The Zeppelin Zooas Morgan M. Morgensen / Narrator2010FilmMorgan M. Morgansen's Date with Destinyas Morgan M. Morgensen / Narrator2010FilmHesheras Hesher2009FilmUncertaintyas Bobby2009FilmWomen in Troubleas Bert Rodriguez2009FilmG.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobraas The Doctor / Rex2009Film(500) Days of Summeras Tom2008FilmBig Breaksas Todd Sterling2008FilmKillshotas Richie Nix2008FilmMiracle at St. Annaas Tim Boyle2008FilmThe Brothers Bloomas Bar Patron2008FilmStop-Lossas Tommy Burgess2007FilmThe Lookoutas Chris Pratt2007TVThe Graham Norton Showas Self2006FilmBuilding Brick2006FilmBrickas Brendan Frye2006FilmEscargots2005FilmHavocas Sam2005TVMade in Hollywoodas Self2005FilmShadowboxeras Dr. Don2005FilmMysterious Skinas Neil McCormick2005TVNumb3rsas Scott Reynolds2004FilmLatter Daysas Elder Paul Ryder2003TVThe Ellen DeGeneres Showas Self2002FilmTreasure Planetas Jim Hawkins (voice)2002TVNudes in the Newsas Tommy Solomon (archive footage)2001FilmManicas Lyle2000FilmForever Luluas Martin Ellsworth2000FilmPicking Up the Piecesas Flaco2000TVClickas Self1999TVTeen Choice Awardsas Self1999Film10 Things I Hate About Youas Cameron James1998TVThat '70s Showas Buddy1998FilmHalloween H20: 20 Years Lateras Jimmy Howell1998FilmSweet Janeas Tony1997TVThe Viewas Self - Guest1996FilmThe Juroras Oliver Laird1996TV3rd Rock from the Sunas Tommy Solomon1995TVThe Outer Limitsas Zach Henniger1995FilmThe Great Elephant Escapeas Matthew „Matt“ Cunningham1994FilmAngels in the Outfieldas Roger1994FilmThe Road Killersas Rich1994FilmHoly Matrimonyas Zeke1993FilmGregory Kas Gregory Kingsley / Shawn Russ1993TVDr. Quinn, Medicine Womanas Zack Lawson1992FilmA River Runs Through Itas Young Norman1992TVMTV Movie & TV Awardsas Self / Presenter1992FilmBeethovenas Student #11992TVThe Powers That Beas Pierce Van Horne1991FilmPlymouthas Simon1991FilmHi Honey - I'm Deadas Josh Stadler1991FilmChangesas Matt Hallam1991TVDark Shadowsas David Collins / Daniel Collins1989TVQuantum Leapas Kyle1988TVRoseanneas George1988TVLIVE with Kelly and Markas Self - Guest1988TVChina Beach1988FilmStranger on My Landas Rounder1986TVL.A. Lawas Ricky Berg1984TVMurder, She Wroteas Boy #11982TVFamily Tiesas Dougie1975TVSaturday Night Liveas Self - Host1944TVGolden Globe Awardsas Self—FilmWingmen—FilmNobody Nothing Nowhere—FilmWhite Nightas James Jones—FilmPendulumas Patrick—TVSeductive Poison