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Angelina Jolie in The Tonight Show© NBC

Like mother, like son

Angelina Jolie reveals her son Maddox is a pilot like her

Maddox inspired her to become a pilot herself.


Maria Loreto
Senior Writer
DECEMBER 6, 2024 5:28 PM EST

Angelina Jolie is inspired by her kids and so are they. In a new interview, Jolie revealed that she's a pilot and that her son Maddox has followed in her footsteps.

Angelina Jolie speaks onstage during The 77th Annual Tony Awards at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on June 16, 2024 in New York City.  (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)© Theo Wargo
Angelina Jolie at the 77th Tony Awards

Jolie was a guest at "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" following a 10-year absence from late-night television. Upon her arrival, audience members greeted her rapturously, leaving her surprised by the warm reception.

"By the way, I get very nervous on talk shows. I get very uncomfortable and I haven't done one for like a decade," she said. "This is so not my thing."

When asked about the careers she considered pursuing and rumors claiming that she wanted to be a pilot, she revealed that she is a pilot. "And my son Maddox is training to be a pilot," she said. "Actually, he is a pilot now."

In previous interviews Jolie had discussed her son's love for aviation and how it inspired her to try it out herself. While speaking to PEOPLE in 2004, Jolie shared some of her memories of Maddox and planes. 

“Every time Mad sees a plane, he’s amazed,” said Jolie. “If I could actually fly a plane by the time he’s 4, I’ll be like Superman to him.”

Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Zahara Marley Jolie and Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt attend the MARIA Spotlight Screening © Jason Mendez
Angelina Jolie and her kids: Pax, Zahara and Maddox

Jolie's desire to become a funeral director

Jolie and Fallon discussed more of her possible careers, including her interest in becoming a funeral director, something that surprised him and the audience.

"Doesn’t it make sense though?” joked Jolie. 

She revealed that after her grandfather died, she realized that she saw death differently than other people did.

“My grandfather died and I remembered thinking, this is not how they should be. This should be a celebration of life –- and since I’m not afraid of death and I was comfortable with it, I thought, this would be a great career path for me,” she said.

“It’s my fallback career.”

You can check out Jolie's full interview below. 

Angelina Jolie Makes "Barefoot" Return to Late Night After Decade Away to Talk Maria, The Outsiders

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