User:AlexanderHovanec/Jared Leto Early Life

Jared Joseph Leto was born on December 26, 1971, in Bossier City, Louisiana, to Constance A. "Connie" Leto (née Metrejon), of Cajun ancestry, and to Anthony L. "Tony" Bryant. Shannon Leto, his older brother, was also born from this marriage. His parents divorced when he was a child, leading Leto's family to move frequently to different cities around the country, from Louisiana to Wyoming to Virginia. "My mom's father was in the Air Force," Leto has explained, "so moving around a lot was a normal way of life." Even so, Leto's family was poverty-stricken and found themselves occasionally living in a truck or off of food-stamps.

"Leto" is the surname of his stepfather, opthalmist Dr. Carl J. Leto M.D., who provided Leto's family with financial stability; however, his mother and stepfather ended up divorcing too. Despite this, Jared credits his mother and stepfather for catering his talents and encouraging creativity within his family. Leto's family adapted the surname as their own, even after the divorce. Since then, Leto has been estranged from his stepfather. Leto's maternal half-sister Jamie and maternal half-brother Mateo came from this marriage. While Leto's father Anthony Bryant remarried as well, he committed suicide shortly after. Leto was eight at the time of his father's death. Bryant left a son, Leto's paternal half-brother Matthias, from his second marriage. Leto's family then settled in Haiti for a brief period while his mother volunteered at a rescue facility. Finally moving back to the states, Leto's family moved into the home of his maternal grandparents, Ruby Mae (Russell) and William Lee "Willie" Metrejon.