He’s leaner, inked in new places, and missing tattoos he once flaunted. But the question burning across social media is simple: Is this even the same man?
Storms had only just cleared when photographers captured a well-known 57-year-old actor paddling out in Santa Monica. Glinting wet skin, board shorts clinging to a noticeably chiseled frame, and the center of attention: a jaw-dropping new tattoo.
The massive backpiece featured a lighthouse battered by waves, flanked by twin mermaids — symbols of danger, allure, and myth. And above it all, the word “Arete” inked in bold Greek letters. The word stands for virtue. Moral perfection. Excellence.
Though those who published the image in the media said it was actor Josh Brolin, some weren’t convinced. The twist that truly stunned fans? His arm tattoos were gone.
“This isn’t a cover up, it’s highly questionable if it’s even the same person in the photos,” one Instagram fan argued. Another added, “How did all the arm tattoos disappear? Not the same guy!!” A third simply stated, “Not the same person 🤔”
While the tattoo sparked outrage for some, others were positively enchanted. “How is he getting hotter??” one fan swooned. Another added, “Looking amazing for a 57 year old.” One praised, “Cool tattoo!!!”
Still, not everyone approved. One viewer snapped, “Oh that’s awful.” Another asked the burning question, “Why?”
Once known for his rugged, heavily tattooed look, the “No Country for Old Men” and “Deadpool 2” star seems to be entering a new era — philosophical, pristine, and enigmatic.
Here are photos showing his transformation since the late 1980s:
1987
In this striking studio portrait, a 19-year-old Josh Brolin smolders as Johnny Betts in “Private Eye.” With slicked-back hair, a leather jacket, and the brooding stare of a classic rebel, he looks every bit the all-American bad boy.
1996
Brolin steps onto the red carpet for the “I Shot Andy Warhol” premiere, his expression cool and unreadable. With tousled hair, a dark shirt, and a hint of a goatee.
1998
Brolin at the “Primary Colors” premiere in Universal City. He wears a deep V-neck black shirt layered under an olive green blazer, smiling with both arms raised toward the camera.
2000
Wearing a black leather jacket over a crewneck T-shirt, Brolin appears with a clean face and swept-back hair, his look still classic, with no visible tattoos or facial hair.
2005
Hair neatly styled and face clean-shaven, he appears with smooth skin, no visible tattoos, and a neutral expression. His look remains understated, still far from the dramatic changes to come.
2008
Wearing a dark open-collar shirt and a pinstriped jacket, he appears with a short beard and slightly graying stubble, the start of a more rugged, weathered look that would define his next era.
2012
Wearing a black tuxedo with satin lapels and a crisp white shirt, he appears clean-shaven with neatly combed hair — a polished, formal look that contrasts sharply with the rugged style he would adopt in later years.
2016
Seated in a navy suit with a dark shirt, he appears at “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” with longer hair and a full mustache — a dramatic shift from his clean-cut looks of earlier years.
2018
Wearing a graphic T-shirt under a black blazer, he appears clean-shaven with slicked-back hair and a noticeably fuller face — a casual look marking a shift away from formal red carpet styling.
2019
Wearing a graphic T-shirt under a black blazer, Brolin appears clean-shaven with slicked-back hair and a noticeably fuller face — a casual look marking a shift away from formal red carpet styling.
2021
Wearing a white dress shirt and navy tie beneath a dark suit, he appears slightly aged but clean-shaven, with a short, natural haircut and visible signs of graying, a reserved, formal look with no tattoos visible.
2022
Dressed in an all-black suit with a tonal pattern and matching bow tie, he appears with a full salt-and-pepper beard and slicked-back hair. His look is mature, composed, and carefully styled.
2024
Wearing a light beige suit over a dark open-collar shirt, he appears clean-shaven with short, slicked-back hair and no visible tattoos — a refined and composed look that hints at reinvention.
