Jerry O'Connell

Photo of Jerry O'Connell

Biography

A veteran of the stage and screen from an early age, actor Jerry O'Connell had his first career breakthrough at 11 years old when he co-starred alongside other soon-to-be stars like River Ph nix and Corey Feldman in the coming-of-age drama, "Stand By Me" (1986). Though much of the attention was focused on his two co-stars - particularly Ph nix - O'Connell nonetheless emerged as a child actor to watch, despite being a bit on the pudgy side by …
Read More »

Job Title

Actor, Producer, Writer

Born

Jeremiah O'Connell on February 17, 1974 in New York City, New York, USA

Career Milestones

Made stage debut in the Off-Broadway play, "Water Music"

1980

Began taking acting and dance classes at age six

1982

Appeared in first TV commercial at age eight

1986

Made feature film debut playing Vern in "Stand By Me"

1987

First TV-movie, "The Room Upstairs" (CBS)

1988

Had first TV episodic guest shot on "The Equalizer" (CBS)

1988

Made TV series debut in the syndicated Canadian series "My Secret Identity"

1993

Returned to features (in older roles) with "Calendar Girl"

1995

First starring feature role, "Joe's Apartment"

1995

Played a lead role in the sci-fi series "Sliders" (Fox, 1995-97; Sci-Fi Channel, 1998); began producing in the third season and also directed episodes; left series before the final season

1995

Received critical praise for playing a man who ages nearly twenty years in the FOX movie "Blue River"

1997

Played Neve Campbell's boyfriend in "Scream 2"

1999

Co-starred as a Vietnam veteran in the NBC minseries "The 60s"

1999

Had featured role in the ensemble drama "Body Shots"

1999

Sold script "First Daughter" to New Regency; executive produced the feature, which starred Katie Holmes (released in 2004)

2001

Had lead in the dismal teen comedy "Tomcats"

2001

Starred as Detective Woody Hoyt on the NBC series "Crossing Jordan"

2003

Starred in the mafia comedy "Kangaroo Jack"

2005

Co-starred with Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo in the remake of "Yours, Mine and Ours"

2006

Cast in the Mike Binder comedy "Man About Town" (lensed 2004)

2007

Stared in the short-lived ABC sitcom "Carpoolers"

2009

Appeared in the drama thriller "Obsessed," opposite Beyonce Knowles and Ali Larter

2010

Acted opposite Elisabeth Shue in the action thriller "Piranha 3-D"

2010

Cast as Pete Kaczmarek, a free-wheeling playboy, in the CBS legal drama "The Defenders"