The Tale of Brad Pitt's Beard

All eyes have been on Brad Pitt's facial hair for many months now. The normally clean-shaven movie star has looked more like a homeless person of late with a scraggly, unkempt beard. Many have speculated that the growth was for a part as a serial killer or fallen soldier, but the actor told Popeater.com, "It's boredom. No other reason than that." Paparazzi caught the Inglorious Basterds star with a much more finely manicured look this past weekend.

A year ago the actor made an appearance at Cannes with his wife, Angelina Jolie, sporting a very neat goatee. That look got a little fuller and longer during the course of last summer. By fall it was a full-on beard, graying at the tips. And then during a trip to Japan the locks became so long he was able to thread beads into them. As winter approached the chin hair began to creep toward the hippie, rasta dude look he has been sporting all spring.

According to reports, Pitt has begun weaning himself off the beard slowly for an upcoming role as baseball manager Billy Beane in Moneyball. No word yet on whether or not the facial hair removal is permanent, but chances are good he will remain clean-shaven at least until he plays Marc Anthony to Angie's Cleopatra in the rumored biopic. Of course it won’t be the first time real-life lovers appeared in the roles — they were once played by the former king and queen of Tinseltown Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.