Shia LaBeouf: Playboy Interview

Radical honesty is not a trait most young Hollywood actors possess. Between studio expectations, the muzzle of publicists and ego-driven proclivities to appear happy and in control, the likelihood of a completely candid answer to, say, “How are you?” or “Is there truth to the rumor of…” is basically nil.

Not so with Shia LaBeouf, an actor seemingly unafraid to present himself as human, even with a gargantuan summer blockbuster like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen to promote. Partly, it’s that LaBeouf, who is only 22, manages to remain likeable no matter what he says or does off camera. This is the guy who once told a TV entertainment reporter that Lindsay Lohan had made “some scary decisions,” adding, “If I’m perceived as someone like that, I’m going to be screwed.”

In 2007, with three of his movies—Surf’s Up, Disturbia and the original Transformers— on their way to grossing more than $1 billion worldwide, LaBeouf was arrested at a Chicago Walgreens on criminal trespassing charges for refusing to leave the store at a security guard’s request. Appearing on The Late Show With David Letterman to explain himself, LaBeouf admitted that he was “pretty messed up on the special magic sauce” and that he acted like a “moron.” Four months later, on the eve of the release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, in which LaBeouf plays Harrison Ford’s son and cohort in adventure, the actor failed to show for a court appearance after being cited for unlawful smoking. That led to a warrant for his arrest. His latest outing run amok occurred midway through shooting Transformers 2 last summer, when the pickup LaBeouf was driving reportedly ran a red light, flipped over and hit another car. Though supporters rushed to defend the actor (“He was not drunk,” insisted Transformers director Michael Bay at the time), LaBeouf, who seriously injured his left hand, has spent much of the past year copping to his addiction problems while still eyeing new monster projects. His latest big move: a starring role in John Grisham’s legal thriller The Associate, currently in production.

Wiry and baby faced with a tough-talking delivery that suggests deeply urban roots, Shia LaBeouf (pronounced “SHY-a la-BUFF”) was born in L.A.’s gritty Echo Park neighborhood on June 11, 1986. He comes from a long line of misfits, showboats and troublemakers. One greatgrandmother played piano in Lucky Luciano’s casino. His maternal grandfather—also named Shia—was a Catskills comic who sidelined as a barber for the Mafia. His dad’s parents were a Cajun Green Beret and a Jewish beatnik lesbian who cavorted with Allen Ginsberg. LaBeouf’s own childhood was just as bohemian. Mom sold hippie jewelry out of their apartment. Dad was a street clown (and frustrated actor) who once opened for the Doobie Brothers.

At the age of nine LaBeouf launched his career with raunchy stand-up routines at adult comedy clubs around L.A. That helped him land an agent, who got him an Oreo commercial and soon enough a role on the Disney TV series Even Stevens. His first movie, Holes (2003), made close to $70 million. Cast that year at Steven Spielberg’s request in the original Transformers movie, LaBeouf found himself on the cover of Vanity Fair, which dubbed him the next Tom Hanks, a moniker he has tried to live up to (or live down) ever since.

Contributing Editor David Hochman has spent time with LaBeouf over the years—inevitably trailed by paparazzi—and says, “Of all the celebrities I’ve interviewed in more than a decade, nobody’s more open than Shia. There’s no small talk. The conversation went deep as soon as I asked him about the injury from his accident.”