Throughout his career, Jared Leto has had no shortage of memorable roles. From his work on television to his performances on the big screen, Leto has proved that he can, in fact, do it all. The 49-year-old Academy Award winner has earned his place as one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation.
Although the title of lead actor holds a certain level of esteem, the supporting actor is an equally respected role that can, in many cases, make or break a film. It is no secret that some of the best performances given in film have come from actors in supporting roles. Leto certainly fits this bill. Although there are numerous to choose from, here are five movies where Leto played iconic supporting roles.
Dallas Buyers Club
Leto's portrayal of Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club is considered to be his most notable performance. Jean-Marc Vallée's drama-history film released in 2013 follows hustler Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey), a man who is diagnosed with AIDS and spends his remaining time helping other AIDS patients receive the medication they need. Leto plays Woodroof's charismatic and sensitive accomplice. Despite the film's at times raunchy nature, Leto gives a beautifully heartbreaking performance that leaves viewers in despair. Leto's performance was so brilliant it earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2014. Despite how honored the actor is to have received this achievement he says his Oscar has been missing for over three years now.
Girl, Interrupted
Based on the memoir by Susanna Kaysen, Girl, Interrupted is a 1999 drama film directed by James Mangold. The film follows Susanna (Winona Ryder) who finds herself in a psychiatric facility after a suicide attempt. Besides Winona Ryder, Jared Leto and Angelina Jolie give incredible performances in supporting roles and Jolie took home the Academy Award for the portrayal of Lisa Rowe. Jared Leto plays Tobias Susanna's boyfriend, who escapes to Canada to avoid the draft. This film is filled with great acting, especially from Leto.
Suicide Squad
The list is endless of phenomenal actors who have taken on the challenge of playing the infamous "Joker" throughout the years of cinema. From Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, and of course Joaquin Phoenix who took home an Academy Award for his leading role in "Joker" in 2018 all of these actors have been a part of the iconic villain's mark on pop culture. Due to these actors' performances, when Jared Leto finally took on the role of The Joker he had big shoes to fill and certainly rose to the occasion. In the 2016 action-adventure film Suicide Squad directed by David Ayer, Leto plays the crazy, unpredictable, and downright evil villain, The Joker. His portrayal of the character is manipulative and witty, emphasizing the character's cruel nature. Perhaps his most memorable scenes in the film are with actress Margot Robbie who plays The Joker's love interest, Harley Quinn. The two of them light up the screen every time they are on it and demand the attention of the audience. Watching Leto in this role is not only fun but leaves you on the edge of your seat. This performance and character will forever be iconic.
Fight Club
In David Fincher's 1999 thriller drama Fight Club starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, Jared Leto plays the role of Angel Face a devoted follower of Fight Club, which eventually evolves into Project Mayhem. We see Angel Face take brutal beatings to the point of his face becoming mangled and committing serious crimes with the rest of Project Mayhem to fulfill the group's mission. Leto's performance is crucial to this film as it relays just how devoted the members of Project Mayhem were and how desperately they wanted to cause destruction and chaos. This is also another role of Letos's where his physical transformation is just as impressive as his acting. Angel Faces iconic platinum blonde hair and eyebrows are one of the most noteworthy aspects of the character and we have Brad Pitt to thank for this stylistic choice. Jared Leto revealed in an interview with GQ that on the set of Fight Club Brad Pitt would constantly be encouraging Leto to go blonder.
House of Gucci
In Ridley Scott's 2021 crime drama film House of Gucci that was just released this past November, Jared Leto brings humor and ease to a story of crime, passion, and murder. Leto plays Paolo Gucci the underestimated fool of the Gucci family. He along with the other brilliant actors in this film such as Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, and Salma Hayek demands attention every time he is on screen. The most impressive aspect of the actor's part in the film is his physical transformation. Fans were shocked to see the original movie posters for House of Gucci due to the fact that Leto is almost unrecognizable. He spent over six hours in the makeup chair becoming Paolo Gucci.