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Shia LaBeouf facts for kids

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Shia LaBeouf
Shia LaBeouf 2022.jpg
LaBeouf at the 2022 Venice Film Festival
Born
Shia Saide LaBeouf

(1986-06-11) June 11, 1986 (age 39)
Occupation
Years active 1996–present
Partner(s) Mia Goth (2012–2018, 2020–present)
Children 1

Shia Saide LaBeouf (Listeni/ˈʃ.ə ləˈbʌf/ shy-Ə-_--buf; born June 11, 1986) is an American actor and filmmaker. He became well-known for playing Louis Stevens in the Disney Channel TV series Even Stevens. For this role, he won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2003.

Shia LaBeouf has starred in many successful movies. These include Transformers and its sequels, where he played the main character, Sam Witwicky. He also appeared in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Since 2014, he has also been involved in public performance art projects.

About Shia LaBeouf

Early Life and Family

Shia LaBeouf was born in Los Angeles, California, on June 11, 1986. His mother, Shayna Saide, was an artist and dancer. His father, Jeffrey LaBeouf, was a professional clown. Shia's mother passed away in August 2022.

His parents divorced when he was young. Shia has described his childhood as a "hippy lifestyle." He grew up in Echo Park with his mother. He also spent time with his father, who struggled with addiction. Shia attended schools in Los Angeles but received most of his education from tutors.

Start of His Acting Career

Shia LaBeouf began performing stand-up comedy at age 10. He found an agent by looking in the Yellow Pages. He has said he started acting to help his family financially.

In the early 2000s, he became famous for playing Louis Stevens on the Disney Channel show Even Stevens. He later appeared in the movie Holes (2003). In 2005, he co-starred with Keanu Reeves in Constantine. He also voiced a character in the English version of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

Directing and Other Roles

LaBeouf made his first short film as a director, called Let's Love Hate. He has also played real people in movies, like golfer Francis Ouimet.

Breakthrough in Big Movies

In 2007, Shia LaBeouf starred in the thriller Disturbia. Critics praised his performance in this movie. He also hosted Saturday Night Live twice.

Starring in Transformers

LaBeouf became a major star in the 2007 science fiction film Transformers. He played the lead character, Sam Witwicky. This movie was a huge success and started a popular film series. He returned for the sequels Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) and Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011). These films were very popular around the world.

Indiana Jones and Other Films

In 2008, he played Indiana Jones' son, Mutt Williams, in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. He also starred in Eagle Eye (2008).

Shia LaBeouf directed music videos for rappers Cage and Kid Cudi. He also appeared in the film Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), playing a Wall Street trader.

Recent Career Highlights

Since 2012, LaBeouf has continued to act in various films. In 2012, he played a bootlegger in the crime drama Lawless. He also starred in The Company You Keep with Robert Redford.

Notable Film Roles

In 2013, he appeared in the film .... At the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival, he famously wore a paper bag over his head that said "I am not famous anymore."

He co-starred with Brad Pitt in the World War II film Fury (2014). Critics praised his performance in this movie. In 2015, he appeared in Sia's music video for "Elastic Heart". He also starred in American Honey (2016) and played tennis player John McEnroe in Borg vs McEnroe (2017).

In 2019, LaBeouf starred in The Peanut Butter Falcon. He also wrote and starred in Honey Boy, which was based on his own life. Both films received good reviews. In 2020, he starred in Pieces of a Woman. In 2022, he played the main role in Padre Pio.

In 2023, LaBeouf made his stage debut in the play Henry Johnson. In 2024, he played Clodio Pulcher in Francis Ford Coppola's film Megalopolis. In 2025, he appeared as himself in the documentary Slauson Rec.

Plagiarism Discussions

In 2013, Shia LaBeouf released a short film that was very similar to a comic by Dan Clowes. He later apologized, saying he was "inspired" but "got lost in the creative process." Some of his other works also faced similar questions about originality. He has discussed his views on copyright and creativity.

Performance Art Projects

Since 2014, Shia LaBeouf has worked with artists Luke Turner and Nastja Säde Rönkkö. Together, they have created many public performance art projects. These projects often explore ideas about fame and being open with the public.

Famous Artworks

Some of their well-known projects include #IAMSORRY (2014) and #Allmymovies (2015). In 2015, LaBeouf appeared in #Introductions, a video where he gave short speeches. One part, a motivational speech called "Just Do It", became a very popular Internet meme.

Personal Life and Beliefs

Shia LaBeouf met actress Mia Goth while filming in 2012. They appeared to marry in Las Vegas in 2016. They later separated but reconciled. Their daughter was born in March 2022.

Religion and Faith

LaBeouf has explored his religious beliefs. He was raised with both Jewish and Christian influences. In 2014, he stated he became a Christian while filming Fury. In 2022, he shared that he fell in love with the Catholic faith while preparing for his role in Padre Pio. He was confirmed into the Catholic Church in December 2023.

Film and Television Appearances

Shia LaBeouf has had many roles in films and television shows. Here are some of his most notable works:

Film Roles

  • Holes (2003) as Stanley "Caveman" Yelnats IV
  • Constantine (2005) as Chas Kramer
  • The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005) as Francis Ouimet
  • Disturbia (2007) as Kale Brecht
  • Transformers (2007) as Sam Witwicky
  • Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) as Henry "Mutt Williams" Jones III
  • Eagle Eye (2008) as Jerry Shaw
  • Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010) as Jake Moore
  • Lawless (2012) as Jack Bondurant
  • The Company You Keep (2012) as Ben Shepard
  • ... (2013) as Jerôme Morris
  • Fury (2014) as Boyd Swan
  • American Honey (2016) as Jake
  • Borg vs McEnroe (2017) as John McEnroe
  • Honey Boy (2019) as James Lort (also writer)
  • The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) as Tyler
  • Pieces of a Woman (2020) as Sean Carson
  • Padre Pio (2022) as Padre Pio
  • Megalopolis (2024) as Clodio Pulcher

Television Roles

  • Even Stevens (2000–2003) as Louis Anthony Stevens
  • The Even Stevens Movie (2003) as Louis Anthony Stevens (Television film)
  • Saturday Night Live (2007, 2008) as Himself (host)

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Shia LaBeouf para niños

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