Shia LaBeouf: 8 Little Known Facts

Photo: Jason LaVeris(Getty Images)

There is probably not a lot of Hollywood movie stars that are as eccentric, and now even unliked, as Shia LaBeouf is. The former Disney channel kid star is a poster boy for what people say that fame can do to a mind of a young, promising actor, although these facts about his life may convince you to go easier on the 31-year-old man. The young actor has been around for a while, winning a Daytime Emmy Award in 2003, starring in Michael Bay’s blockbusters, working with other respectable directors for years, but there is still a lot of facts about him that most don’t know about.

Shia LaBeouf Fact #1

Not to make you feel sorry for the popular, young millionaire, but Shia had a very rough, challenging upbringing but to cast light on him. His father was an alcoholic and a heroin addict and Shia often refers to having him watch go through withdrawal pains, which drew him away from drugs and partying in general. His parents were selling bread on the streets of Los Angeles to make ends meet. Little Shia often attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings with his father.

Shia LaBeouf Fact #2

Shia LaBeouf was a self-made, well, boy. He got into acting as he saw his friend in a smaller role than decided to call up a talent agent whose ad he saw in the newspapers. He thought that being in movies and commercials will help his family sustain itself. Shia was doing stand-up comedy around that time and performed for the agent he called and got signed up. He did some commercials before landing TV and movie roles.

Shia Labeouf Fact #3

Shia LaBeouf was born in 1986, and on his wrist, he has a tattoo that says “1986-2004”. 2004 refers to the year that he decided to become an adult, according to him. The year coincides with the filming of the movie The Greatest Game Ever Played, for which Shia says had a pivotal role in his life that actually made him transition from a boy into a man. The movie probably inspired at least a part of this awakening as it has a similar topic.

Shia LaBeouf Fact #4

Sia’s Elastic Heart isn’t the only music video Shia LaBeouf was a part of, and barely dressed in one too. Elastic Heart got talked about a lot since it was a very different video to what pop stars usually publish, but it was bland compared to Sigur Rós – Fjögur píanó. Shia went full-frontal in the music video of the Icelandic post-rock group, and the video is more of a short film than a visual aspect of a song.

Shia LaBeouf Fact #5

While he has toppled off the big money, big movies track in recent years, both willingly and not, he once was Hollywood’s golden boy. In 2009 he topped Forbes magazine’s list of actors which gave the sutdios best return on investment. His movies earning an average of $160 for every $1 he was paid. His desire and questionable antics costed him perhaps even couple of dozens of millions later in his life.

Shia LaBeouf Fact #6

Unlike a lot of actors that are overly weirded out by watching themselves in movies, Shia LaBeouf did it once back to back. That’s right, he sat in a movie theater and watched 20 of his movies, starting with the last going back. So Nymphomaniac: Vol. II came before Nymphomaniac: Vol. I. He wasn’t alone as other movie-goers could join him on this three-day journey, and there was also a live stream for those not able to attend.

Shia LaBeouf Fact #7

Shia is almost as known for his movies as he is he known for his screaming of the phrase “Just Do it!” while doing some sort of Power Rangers assembly moves. And we all made fun of him and still do. Buuuut, it wasn’t actually Shia that wrote the motivational speech, the Hollywood actor, was a part of a video art project of a London arts college in which the students had to submit a text to be performed by an actor. LaBeouf did 36 students pieces, with “just do it” being the only one that got attention. Understandably so.

Shia LaBeouf Fact #8

Shia’s last name is French, but it is a misspelling of “the beef”, while “Shia” actually translates to shit in French, so combining the two words makes for a very funny phrase “Shit the Beef”. Although, while his last name is French, or is trying to be, his first name is Hebrew meaning “gift from God”. And yes, beef is a gift from God.

Are there any other entertaining Shia LaBeouf facts that you know about? Share them in the comments below.