Before He Was Famous: The Embarrassing Job Brad Pitt Can’t Forget

Before Brad Pitt became one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, he had to navigate the tough and often humbling world of odd jobs to support himself. In a 1986 interview with Tiger Beat, Pitt reminisced about one of the most bizarre and memorable gigs of his early career—dressing up as a giant chicken for a restaurant promotion.

The job came about as part of a challenge between Pitt and a friend to find the most humiliating job they could take on. Pitt ultimately “won” by agreeing to put on a giant chicken costume to promote the grand opening of El Pollo Loco on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. In 100-degree heat, Pitt stood on the corner, flapping his wings and trying to draw in customers. The experience was as uncomfortable as it was unconventional, but Pitt didn’t shy away from the challenge.

Looking back on the experience with his trademark humor, Pitt revealed that the restaurant was so impressed with his commitment to the gig that they actually asked him to return for more promotional work. Despite the heat and the public spectacle, it seems his efforts didn’t go unnoticed.

This stint as a dancing chicken mascot has since become one of the more famous stories from Pitt’s early career, symbolizing both the strange and humbling jobs many actors face before their big break. It also highlighted his determination and willingness to embrace any opportunity, no matter how odd or embarrassing, in his pursuit of acting success.

In the years that followed, Brad Pitt would go on to become a household name, starring in films such as Fight Club, Ocean’s Eleven, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. But the story of the chicken costume remains a fun reminder of the early days when even Hollywood’s biggest stars had to swallow their pride and do whatever it took to make ends meet.