Brad Pitt leaves the glitz and glamour of Hollywood behind
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fter the most tumultuous year of his life, Brad Pitt has made the bombshell decision to quit Hollywood and move back home with his mum and dad.
In this world exclusive, New Idea can reveal the 54-year-old actor is looking to buy a home across the road from his elderly parents and next door to his brother Doug in his home town of Springfield, Missouri.
His decision to move comes after his estranged wife Angelina Jolie, 42, closed the door on any immediate plans for a reconciliation, leaving Brad devastated.
Now his mum, Jane, has convinced Brad to move back home so she can help mend his broken heart, convincing the actor that it’s the only way he can move forward.
‘It’s been a year since the split, and while Brad’s done so much for himself with therapy and alcohol rehabilitation, he’s still struggling with the divorce,’ says a source. ‘He feels like he’s stuck in limbo and hasn’t moved forward in recent months.
‘He’s thinking that Hollywood isn’t the best place for him right now, and his mum has begged him to come home so she can help him heal.’
The new four-bedroom luxury home Brad is believed to be buying is situated in a private, heavily-guarded and gated community built by Brad’s dad.
‘Bill works in construction and bought a huge plot of land over two square miles [five square kilometres], built houses on it, and named the enclosed estate Timberbrook,’ the source tells New Idea. ‘He wanted it to be secure and special for all his children – Brad, brother Doug and sister Julie – plus their wives and offspring.
‘So much so that every street is named after one of his grandchildren by Doug and his wife, Lisa, and Julie and her husband, Rob.’
It’s telling that none of the streets in the estate are named after Brad’s kids – Maddox, 16, Pax, 13, Zahara, 12, Shiloh, 11, and twins Vivienne and Knox, nine – a fact that has raised eyebrows among locals.
But friends say while there have long been rumours of tension between Ange and Brad’s family, they say the Pitts have worked hard to keep things civil throughout the divorce.
‘Brad’s mum, Jane, has been in contact with Ange since the split and talks regularly to their
THE ACTOR’S MUM CONVINCES HIM TO MOVE BACK HOME AS HE STRUGGLES TO RECOVER FROM HIS MESSY DIVORCE
grandchildren – she really wants to keep the line of communication open,’ reveals the source.
‘Ange even recently donated a signed handbag to a local Springfield charity after Jane asked for her help.
‘Brad hasn’t given up hope that he and Ange will one day reconcile, but things just seem so up in the air at the moment. A month or so ago, things were looking very positive for them as a couple, but that’s changed in recent weeks. Ange is seeing other guys, and Brad knows he has to keep himself sober and strong, and wait for things to hopefully work themselves out with Ange in the future.
‘But in the meantime, Brad’s mum convinced him that a move to Missouri, where he can spend time with the family and help out
his parents, is a good short-term move. He’s happy to close the door on Hollywood for a while and make family his focus.’
Realtor Rhonda Burke says the $857,000 home that Brad is planning to buy is one of the best in the state of Missouri.
‘The house is wonderful. It’s a custom-built home, it’s very unique, the materials came from all over the country,’ she reveals.
Local newspaper columnist Roger Schlueter confirms that Brad’s already putting down roots in the town again, saying that it would ‘ease the strain’ on his ‘occasional visits’.
‘His elderly parents, Bill and Jane, are now in their late 70s and struggling to get around. They even use a golf buggy to move about their private compound,’ a source tells.
Adds another: ‘Brad wants to be close to his parents, but also spend time working on his brother and sister’s not-forprofit charity, helping children in third world countries.
‘His messy split, and focus on getting healthier and spending more time with his kids through the custody battle, has made him realise family is everything.’