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.
Below is a look at his transformation since the late 1980s:
1987
A 19-year-old Josh Brolin appears as Johnny Betts in Private Eye. With slicked-back hair, a leather jacket, and a brooding, rebellious stare, he looks every bit the all-American bad boy.
1996
At the I Shot Andy Warhol premiere, he sports tousled hair, a dark shirt, and a faint goatee, giving off a cool, unreadable vibe.
1998
At the Primary Colors premiere in Universal City, he wears a deep V-neck black shirt under an olive blazer, smiling with both arms raised toward the camera.
2000
Wearing a black leather jacket over a crewneck T-shirt, he appears clean-shaven with swept-back hair — still classic, with no visible tattoos.
2005
Clean-shaven with neatly styled hair and smooth skin, he shows no tattoos and projects an understated look, far from the dramatic style changes to come.
2008
In a dark open-collar shirt and pinstriped jacket, he appears with a short beard and slightly graying stubble — the beginning of the rugged era that defined him in the late 2000s.
2012
Wearing a black tuxedo with satin lapels, he appears clean-shaven with neatly combed hair — polished and formal, contrasting his rougher future looks.
2016
On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he appears with longer hair and a full mustache, marking a sharp shift from his earlier clean-cut style.
2018
In a graphic T-shirt and black blazer, he appears clean-shaven with slicked-back hair and a fuller face, leaning into casual styling.
2019
Similar to 2018 — clean-shaven, slicked-back hair, fuller face — continuing his relaxed, less formal red-carpet era.
2021
In a white dress shirt and navy tie beneath a dark suit, he appears slightly aged but clean-shaven with a short, natural haircut and signs of graying. No visible tattoos.
2022
In an all-black suit with a matching bow tie, he appears with a full salt-and-pepper beard and slicked-back hair — mature and controlled.
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 — hinting at reinvention.
2025
The year of the now-viral beach photos: a striking new back tattoo, missing arm tattoos, a leaner physique, and a completely new energy.
