Before Jared Leto broke hearts as a teenage dreamboat on "My So-Called Life," he was a serial college dropout who traveled the country and dreamed of being a painter.
Now the Academy Award-winning actor takes on the iconic role of the Joker in "Suicide Squad." His performance has been described as a "spectacular failure," which is fitting for an actor so dedicated.
We're taking a look back at how Leto became a cultural icon.
SEE ALSO: 'Suicide Squad' star Margot Robbie is blowing up — here's how the Aussie took over Hollywood
Born in 1971, Jared Leto grew up a nomad. His family lived in Haiti, a Colorado commune, his grandmother's house, and places in between.
Source: The New York Times
They didn't have much. "My mother crawled out of the muddy banks of the Mississippi with my brother and I in one hand and a fistful of food stamps in the other," Leto joked to Interview Magazine.
Source: Interview Magazine
There were always instruments around, including guitars, pianos, and bongo drums. Growing up, brothers Shannon and Jared made music with pots and pans.
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Source: NBC Latino
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