From his time as a child star on « Third Rock From the Son, » Joseph Gordon-Levitt has had a spectacular rise to the top of his craft
1991: Joseph Gordon-Levitt booked a number of roles as a child actor, including guest spots on « Family Ties » and « Murder She Wrote, » but his first starring role was on ABC’s revival of ’60s gothic soap opera, « Dark Shadows. » The show, on which JGL played David Collins, only lasted one season.
1994: In « Angels in the Outfield, » JGL played an adorable foster child who prayed to God that the California Angels win the pennant so he can have a family again. God answered by sending a pack of angels, led by Christopher Lloyd, to help out the struggling ball club.
1996: JGL began an unforgettable turn as the oldest of four alien visitors scouting out planet Earth disguised as humans (although oldest, JGL’s character was disguised as a teenager) in the hit NBC sitcom, « 3rd Rock From the Sun. » The show lasted six seasons, and ended its run in 2001.
1999: JGL starred opposite Heath Ledger in the Shakespeare-inspired teen comedy « 10 Things I Hate About You. »
2001: JGL began shedding his squeaky clean sitcom star image by playing a violent and emotionally unstable juvenile delinquent in « Manic, » an independent drama co-starring Don Cheadle and his future onscreen love interest, Zooey Deschanel .
2004: JGL continued to receive indie acclaim by playing a reckless male prostitute who was molested by his Little League baseball coach in « Mysterious Skin. »
2005: JGL left a lasting impression on viewers as a young, hard-boiled detective in writer-director Rian Johnson ‘s high school noir « Brick. »
2007: JGL continued maturing in front of our eyes in another modern noir, « The Lookout, » in which he played a forgetful bank janitor with a brain injury who gets lured into aiding and abetting a group of bank robbers.
2008: JGL brought emotional intensity to Kimberly Peirce’s « Stop-Loss » as a suicidal Iraq war veteran dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.
2009: JGL starred in yet another indie, which allowed the rising actor to demonstrate his romantic lead chops. In director Marc Webb ‘s breakout comedy « (500) Days of Summer, » JGL played a Los Angeles 20-something who fell in love with a woman ( Zooey Deschanel) who doesn’t believe in love. He earned a Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical.
2009: JGL went mainstream by playing Cobra Commander opposite Channing Tatum as Duke in Paramount’s « G. I. Joe: Rise of Cobra. » The $175 million action movie made enough money to warrant a sequel, but JGL did not return to reprise the role.
2010: JGL went punk rock for the indie drama « Hesher, » which co-star Natalie Portman helped produce.
2010: JGL officially became a movie star after taking on the dapper role of Leonardo DiCaprio ‘s best-dressed partner in Christopher Nolan ‘s sci-fi action blockbuster « Inception. »
2011: JGL stepped back into comedy by playing a cancer patient alongside Seth Rogen in the dramedy « 50/50. » The performance earned the actor his second Golden Globe nomination and cemented his ability to play a broad range of roles.
2012: JGL took his career to the next level by helping Christian Bale ‘s Bruce Wayne take on Bane in « Dark Knight Rises, » director Christopher Nolan ‘s conclusion to his blockbuster Batman trilogy.
2012: JGL reunited with « Brick » director Rian Johnson to play a younger version of Bruce Willis in the time-travel action thriller « Looper. »
2013: JGL added writer and director to his résumé with the release of « Don Jon, » a drama about a Jersey boy who must choose between his love of pornography and the love of his life ( Scarlett Johansson). The rom-com premiered to rave reviews at the Sundance.
2014: In « Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, » JGL played a cocky young gambler who runs afoul of a powerful senator (Powers Booth) who turns out to be his dad.
2014: JGL won an Emmy for « HitRECord on TV, » a Pivot anthology series adapted from his online venture for short vilms and video projects.
2015: In Robert Zemeckis ‘ « The Walk, » JGL played real-life daredevil Philippe Petit, who crossed between the Twin Towers of NYC’s World Trade Center n 1974 on a tightrope.
2016: JGL took on another fact-based role in Oliver Stone ‘s « Snowden, » about the notorious whistleblower who leaked classified National Security Agency documents and then fled the U. S.
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