Joseph Gordon-Levitt Biography

Born in Los Angeles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt grew up in front of the camera as a child and teen actor. Winning his first major role at age seven in the TV movie Stranger on My Land (1988), Gordon-Levitt appeared in a number of TV movies and series during the late '80s and early '90s, including a recurring role on the hit sitcom Roseanne from 1993 to 1995. After making his feature film debut as the young version of Craig Sheffer in A River Runs Through It (1992), the young actor garnered further notice as the boy whose prayers are answered in the sleeper Angels in the Outfield (1994) and as Demi Moore's son in The Juror (1996). Gordon-Levitt achieved considerable TV fame, though, when he was cast in NBC's critical and popular hit Third Rock From the Sun (1996-present). As old/young alien Tommy Solomon, he cracked wise with multiple Emmy-winner John Lithgow and attracted teen fans. Making the most of the late-'90s teen movie resurgence during the series' hiatuses, Gordon-Levitt appeared in the teen slasher sequel Halloween: H20 (1998) and starred as one of the romantic schemers in the popular Shakespeare-via-high school comedy 10 Things I Hate About You (1999). After voicing the lead in the expensive animated flop Treasure Planet, Levitt made a conscious decision to shed his TV image. He appeared in a series of challenging indie films including Mysterious Skin, Brick, and The Lookout, and succeeded in redefining his public image. He appeared in Spike Lee's Miracle At St. Anna and the Iraq War drama Stop-Loss in 2008. The next year he starred in the big-budget action film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, but earned better reviews and more respect as the lead in the hit indie romantic comedy (500) Days of Summer. He was cast opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Inception the next year, and earned arguably the best reviews of his career in 2011 when he starred in the cancer comedy 50/50 as a young man learning to cope with an unexpected, and possibly lethal, illness. He would team with director Chriotpher Nolan again in 2012 as part of the cast in The Dark Knight Rises, and Steven Spielberg cast him as Robert Todd in the director's long gestating biopic Lincoln. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

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• 1. Adam: What were you doing when I called? Were you on facebook?
  2. Katherine: You know... umm... stalking my ex-boyfriend actually isn't the only thing I do in my free time.
  3. Adam: I wish you were my girlfriend.
  4. Katherine: Girlfriends can be nice. You just had a bad one.
  5. Adam: I bet you'd be a good one.
  From 50/50. Submitted by Maria Y (6 days ago)

• 1. Adam: No, seriously... you need to get the fuck off my porch.
  From 50/50. Submitted by Maria Y (6 days ago)

• 1. Adam: See, but... that's bullshit. That's what everyone has been telling me since the beginning. 'Oh, you're gonna be okay,' and 'Oh, everything's fine,' and like, it's not... It makes it worse... that no one will just come out and say it. Like, 'hey man, you're gonna die.'
  From 50/50. Submitted by Maria Y (6 days ago)

• 1. Arthur: You.What the hell was all that?
  2. Cobb: I have it under control.
  3. Arthur: I'd hate to see it out of control.
  From Inception. Submitted by ethan t (6 days ago)

• 1. Brendan Fry: So now we've shaken the tree. Let's wait and see what falls on our heads.
  From Brick. Submitted by Perry A (10 days ago)

• 1. John Blake: Why would you run... Bane?
  2. Selina Kyle: You should be as afraid of him as I am.
  From The Dark Knight Rises. Submitted by Dylan Y (21 days ago)

• 1. John Blake: Did they kill him?
  2. Selina Kyle: I'm not sure.
  From The Dark Knight Rises. Submitted by Dylan Y (21 days ago)

• 1. Arthur: There's plenty of good thieves.
  2. Cobb: We don't need just a thief, we need a forger!
  From Inception. Submitted by Krystoffer Dave L (24 days ago)

• 1. John Blake: Did he kill him?
  2. Selina Kyle: I'm not sure.
  From The Dark Knight Rises. Submitted by Javis C (28 days ago)

• 1. The Doctor/Rex: The time has come for the Cobra to rise up and reveal himself. You will call me Commander.
  From G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra. Submitted by David S (31 days ago)

• 1. Alan: I'm Alan Lombardo, stage three lymphoma. Pleased to meet you.
  2. Mitch: Mitch Barnett, metastatic prostate cancer.
  3. Adam: Nice to meet you. Oh, I'm Adam Lerner, schwannoma neurofibrosarcoma.
  From 50/50. Submitted by David K (37 days ago)

• 1. Rachel Hansen: You should ask her.
  2. Tom: Well, why rock the boat, that's what I'm thinking. Things are going well, you start putting labels on it? That's like the kiss of death. It's like saying 'I love you'.
  3. Rachel Hansen: Yeah, I know what you mean. That's what happened between me and John.
  4. Tom: Who the hell's John?
  5. Rachel Hansen: My boyfriend before Mark.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Ishana S (42 days ago)

• 1. Paul: Are you her boyfriend?
  2. Tom: It's not that simple.Why,like, are we going steady?Come on guys, we're adults.We know how we feel, and we don't need to put labels on it - I mean boy friend, girlfriend,you know, all that stuff ,it's really juvenile.
  3. McKenzie: You sound gay.
  4. Paul: You really do.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Ishana S (42 days ago)

• 1. Arthur: Well, it was worth a try. [after stealing a kiss from Ariadne]
  From Inception. Submitted by Pattie B (46 days ago)

• 1. Jim Hawkins: [sarcastic] Well, this has been a fun day. Making new friends, like that spider psycho.
  2. Morph: [morphs into the Scroop] Spider psycho! Spider psycho!
  From Treasure Planet. Submitted by Mary Kathryn P (50 days ago)

• 1. Cameron James: I burn, I pine, I perish.
  From 10 Things I Hate About You. Submitted by April P (54 days ago)

• 1. Tom: That was my nickname in college, Perfectly Adequate and Handsome.
  2. Summer Finn: They used to call me anal girl...
  3. Tom: *spits up drink*
  4. Summer Finn: I was very neat, and, organized.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Dana P (58 days ago)

• 1. Tom: We don't have to put a label on it, I just need to know you're not going to wake up in the morning and feel differently.
  2. Summer Finn: I can't give you that Tom, no one can.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by waverly p (59 days ago)

• 1. Nash: He won't wake.
  2. Arthur: Give him the kick.
  3. Nash: What?
  4. Arthur: Drop him.
  From Inception. Submitted by Javis C (2 months ago)

• 1. Arthur: A paradox.
  From Inception. Submitted by Javis C (2 months ago)

• 1. Kyle: Who found it?
  2. Adam: [sarcastically] My cleaning lady found it in the back of my jeans..who do you think found it?
  From 50/50. Submitted by Sky D (3 months ago)

• 1. Arthur: If I say to you, don't think about elephants what do you think about?
  2. Saito: Elephants.
  From Inception. Submitted by Christopher S (3 months ago)

• 1. Tom: The best way to get over a woman is to turn her into literature.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Nusfish K (3 months ago)

• 1. Summer Finn: ...And I just kept thinking, Tom was right.
  2. Tom: [smiles] No.
  3. Summer Finn: [laughs] Yeah, I did. I did.
  4. Summer Finn: [serious] It just wasn't me that you were right about.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Julie Y (4 months ago)

• 1. Neil McCormick: I hate it when they look like Tarzan and sound like Jane.
  From Mysterious Skin. Submitted by Sara H (4 months ago)

• 1. Tom: Well, my name's Tom.
  2. Girl at Interview: Nice to meet you. I'm Autumn.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Michael C (4 months ago)

• 1. Alan: I'm Alan Lombardo, stage three lymphoma. Pleased to meet you.
  2. Mitch: Mitch Barnett, metastatic prostate cancer.
  3. Adam: Nice to meet you. Oh, I'm Adam Lerner, schwannoma neurofibrosarcoma.
  From 50/50. Submitted by Jayathra L (4 months ago)

• 1. Adam: What are you doin' ?
  2. Diane: I'm gonna make you some green tea.
  3. Adam: Can you just... come back come sit down.
  4. Diane: I heard on the 'Today' show that they said it reduces your risk of cancer by 15%
  5. Adam: Well.. I've already had cancer... so can you just please come sit down.
  From 50/50. Submitted by Hyejin A (5 months ago)

• 1. Brendan Fry: I'd have to keep one eye tied to watch both your hands.
  From Brick. Submitted by Randall B (5 months ago)

• 1. Arthur: Give him the Kick!
  2. Nash: What?
  3. Arthur: Drop him.
  From Inception. Submitted by Miguel R (5 months ago)

• 1. Julie: Why don't we just play 2 on 2?
  2. Ryder: But you're---
  3. Julie: A girl, so I can't play? But then I am black. So, maybe I can. You're only problem's gonna be deciding: which one of your narrow-minded stereotypes gonna kick your lily-white ass.
  4. Christian: [Laughs]
  5. Julie: 'Fraid you'll get beat?
  6. Christian: By a girl and a fag?
  From Latter Days. Submitted by Nhia T (5 months ago)

• 1. Tom: People buy cards 'cause they can't say how they feel, or they're afraid to. We provide the service that lets them off the hook.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Kerwin M (5 months ago)

• 1. Tom: What happened? Why - why didn't they work out?
  2. Summer Finn: What always happens. Life.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Kerwin M (5 months ago)

• 1. Tom: Nobody loves Ringo Starr.
  2. Summer Finn: That's what I love about him.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Kerwin M (5 months ago)

• 1. Tom: [split screen scene on the train about Millie's wedding] Yeah but you said you were going that's why I'm going.
  2. McKenzie: And that's why I called her last night and told her I was sick, like a ninja.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Kerwin M (5 months ago)

• 1. Tom: You don't want to be named as anybody's girlfriend, and now you're someone's wife?
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Kerwin M (5 months ago)

• 1. Tom: [the girl at the job interview agrees to meet Tom for coffee afterward] We'll figure it out. My name's Tom.
  2. Girl at Interview: [Last lines of the film] Nice to meet you. [Shakes his hand]
  3. Girl at Interview: I'm Autumn. [Tom looks at the camera in amazement. Film cuts to a title card with a '1' indicating the first day of Tom's relationship with Autumn]
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Kerwin M (5 months ago)

• 1. Alan: Want a macaroon?
  2. Adam: Thanks, but I'm alright.
  3. Alan: There's weed in em...
  From 50/50. Submitted by Owen F (5 months ago)

• 1. Adam: Did I just score your digits?
  From 50/50. Submitted by Dani D (5 months ago)

• 1. Adam: I wanna make you pancakes.
  From 50/50. Submitted by Dani D (5 months ago)

• 1. Kyle: You could have totally fucked the shit out of that girl.
  2. Adam: No one wants to fuck me. I look like Voldemort.
  From 50/50. Submitted by Karnveer S (6 months ago)

• 1. Brendan Fry: Can I borrow a cigarette?
  2. Tugg: I don't smoke.
  3. Brendan Fry: I've seen you smoke.
  4. Tugg: I don't smoke cigarettes.
  From Brick. Submitted by J P (6 months ago)

• 1. Adam: I'm peeing right now.
  From 50/50. Submitted by Jay Hao D (7 months ago)

• 1. Adam: You should go.
  2. Rachael: [kissing him] I don't want to go. I want to stay here with you.
  3. Adam: No, seriously... you need to get the fuck off my porch.
  From 50/50. Submitted by Jilly K (7 months ago)

• 1. Tom: That's actually my nick name in the college, they called me 'perfectly adequate' Hansen.
  2. Summer Finn: They used to called me anal girl
  3. Tom: [shock and choked]
  4. Summer Finn: I was very neat and organized.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Hanna K (7 months ago)

• 1. Adam: A tumor? Me? I mean that doesn't make sense. I don't smoke, I don't drink ...I recycle.
  From 50/50. Submitted by Rick N (8 months ago)

• 1. Adam: No one wants to fuck me. I look like Voldemort.
  From 50/50. Submitted by Sophia W (8 months ago)

• 1. Adam: I'm peeing right now.
  From 50/50. Submitted by Matthew T (8 months ago)

• 1. Adam: That's what everybody's been saying, 'you'll feel better,' and 'don't worry,' and 'this is all fine,' and like, it's not.
  From 50/50. Submitted by Leslie M (8 months ago)

• 1. Tom: She took a giant shit on my face. Literally.
  2. Alison: Literally?
  3. Tom: Well, no, not literally. That's disgusting.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Michael J (8 months ago)

• 1. Adam: You really think that a girl is going to go for me just 'cause I have cancer?
  2. Kyle: For the millionth time. YES!
  From 50/50. Submitted by Chris P (8 months ago)

• 1. Hesher: What's green, slimy, and smells like bacon?
  From Hesher. Submitted by Brandon E (8 months ago)

• 1. Hesher: You lost your wife, You lost your mom, I lost a nut.
  From Hesher. Submitted by Michael N (9 months ago)

• 1. Arthur: If I say to you don't think about elephants, what's the first thing you think about?
  2. Saito: Elephants.
  From Inception. Submitted by Christopher S (9 months ago)

• 1. Ariadne: That's some subconscious you've got on you, Cobb! She's a real charmer!
  2. Arthur: Oh, I see you've met Mrs Cobb.
  From Inception. Submitted by Lucas M (9 months ago)

• 1. Ariadne: My subconscious seems polite enough.
  2. Arthur: Well wait, it'll turn ugly. No one wants to feel someone else messing around their mind.
  From Inception. Submitted by Lucas M (9 months ago)

• 1. Tom: Either she's an evil, emotionless, miserable human being, or... she's a robot.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Lucas M (9 months ago)

• 1. Tom: [Montage of Summer] I hate her crooked teeth. I hate her 1960s haircut. I hate her knobby knees. I hate her cockroach-shaped splotch on her neck. I hate the way she smacks her lips before she talks. I hate the way she sounds when she laughs. [Fade to black as Swayze's 'She's Like the Wind' plays briefly]
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Kase V (9 months ago)

• 1. Arthur: I know. The dream is collapsing.
  From Inception. Submitted by Javis C (9 months ago)

• 1. Arthur: You couldn't have peed before you went under?
  2. Yusuf: Sorry.
  3. Eames: A bit too much free champagne before takeoff, eh, Yusuf?
  4. Yusuf: Ha ha bloody-ha.
  From Inception. Submitted by Andrew M (9 months ago)

• 1. Chris Pratt: Once upon a time, I woke up. I took a shower, with soap.
  From The Lookout. Submitted by Christina L (9 months ago)

• 1. Tom: I don't know how to tell you this, but... there's a Chinese family in our bathroom.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Izi S (10 months ago)

• 1. Arthur: You mean, a dream within a dream.
  From Inception. Submitted by Diego T (10 months ago)

• 1. Cobb: What is the most resilient parasite? Bacteria? A virus? An intestinal worm?
  2. Arthur: What Mr. Cobb is trying to say-
  3. Cobb: An idea. Resilient, highly contagious. Once an idea has taken hold of the brain it's almost impossible to eradicate.
  From Inception. Submitted by Randy Y (10 months ago)

• 1. Tom: Did you ever do this, you think back on all the times you've had with someone and you just replay it in your head over and over again and you look for those first signs of trouble?
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Courtney M (10 months ago)

• 1. Tom: It's these cards and the movies and the pop songs, they're to blame for all lies and the heartache, everything.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Kaye R (10 months ago)

• 1. Cobb: I have it under control.
  2. Arthur: I'd hate to see out of control.
  From Inception. Submitted by Jacob R (11 months ago)

• 1. Summer Finn: We've been like Sid and Nancy for months now.
  2. Tom: Summer, Sid stabbed Nancy, seven times with a kitchen knife, I mean we have some disagreements but I hardly think I'm Sid Vicious.
  3. Summer Finn: No I'm Sid.
  4. Tom: Oh, so I'm Nancy...
  5. Summer Finn: Let's just eat and we'll talk about it later. Mmm, that is good, I'm really glad we did this. I love these pancakes... what?
  6. Summer Finn: Tom, don't go! You're still my best friend!
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Taylor F (11 months ago)

• 1. Tom: I love how she makes me feel, like anything's possible, or like life is worth it.
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Nasrullah A (11 months ago)

• 1. Jimmy Howell: Are you coming?
  2. Tony Allegre: Nah, l-l better stay here and protect her.
  3. Jimmy Howell: Oh-ho ! Right, dude. Good.
  From Halloween H2O. Submitted by Creep F (11 months ago)

• 1. Jimmy Howell: Jimmy's been suspended five times this year already for getting' a little crazy with the STICK.
  From Halloween H2O. Submitted by Creep F (11 months ago)

• 1. Marion Chambers Whittington: Jimmy, where are you going?
  2. Jimmy Howell: Check out your house.
  3. Marion Chambers Whittington: No, wait for the police.
  4. Jimmy Howell: Now where's the fun in that, huh?
  From Halloween H2O. Submitted by Creep F (11 months ago)

• 1. Chris Pratt: That's her last name.
  2. Lewis: Luvlee Lemons? That's her name?
  3. Chris Pratt: Well, it's her stage name. She's a performer. Or she was.
  From The Lookout. Submitted by Steven P (11 months ago)

• 1. Cameron James: Just 'cause you're beautiful, that doesn't mean that you can treat people like they don't matter.
  From 10 Things I Hate About You. Submitted by Lea L (12 months ago)

• 1. Tom: You know what sucks? Realizing that everything you believe in is complete and utter bullshit!
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Norence I (12 months ago)

• 1. Hesher: I got a doctor's appointment. It burns when I urinate.
  From Hesher. Submitted by Riley C (12 months ago)

• 1. Hesher: This is my uncle's house.
  From Hesher. Submitted by Chris P (13 months ago)

• 1. Cobb: I have it under control.
  2. Arthur: I'd hate to see it out of control.
  From Inception. Submitted by Steven P (13 months ago)

• 1. Chris Pratt: I have the money. I have the power.
  From The Lookout. Submitted by Chris P (13 months ago)

• 1. Cobb: What is the most resiliant parasite? A bacteria, a virus, an intestinal worm?
  2. Arthur: Uhhhh what Mr. Cobb is trying to say-
  3. Cobb: An idea.......
  From Inception. Submitted by zain h (13 months ago)

• 1. Laura: Do you trust me now?
  2. Brendan Fry: Less than when I didn't trust you before.
  From Brick. Submitted by Chris P (13 months ago)

• 1. Brendan Fry: Throw one at me if you want, hash head. I've got all five senses and I slept last night, that puts me six up on the lot of you.
  From Brick. Submitted by Chris P (13 months ago)

• 1. Arthur: Don't think about Elephants. What are you thinking about?
  2. Saito: Elephants.
  From Inception. Submitted by Michael A (13 months ago)

• 1. Summer Finn: Summer: I woke up one morning and I just knew.
  2. Tom: Tom: Knew what?
  3. Summer Finn: Summer: What I was never sure of with you
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Ivana N (13 months ago)

• 1. Tom: People don't realize this, but loneliness is underrated
  From (500) Days of Summer. Submitted by Ivana N (13 months ago)

• 1. Arthur: It would have to be a 747.
  2. Cobb: Why is that?
  3. Arthur: Because in a 747, the pilot?s up top, and the first class cabin?s in the nose, so no one would walk through. But you?d have to buy out the entire cabin. And the first class flight attendant?
  4. Saito: I bought the airline. It seemed neater.
  From Inception. Submitted by Kuldeep S (13 months ago)

• 1. Arthur: Eames, I am impressed.
  2. Eames: Your condescension, as always, is much appreciated, Arthur, thank you.
  From Inception. Submitted by Bryce I (14 months ago)

• 1. Arthur: What the hell was all that?
  2. Cobb: I have it under control.
  3. Arthur: I'd hate to see out of control.
  From Inception. Submitted by Bryce I (14 months ago)