Jensen Ackles Biography

Jensen Ackles is born on March 1, 1978 in Dallas, Texas. Originally aspiring to become a physical therapist, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, after modeling on and off since he was four years old. He first appeared in a 1996 episode of Wishbone, and made several guest roles in shows such as Mr. Rhodes, Cybill and Sweet Valley High.

Ackles received his big break in 1997, when he was cast as Eric Brady in the daytime soap Days of our Lives. His performance earned him a Soap Opera Digest Award in 1998 for Best Male Newcomer, and three Daytime Emmy nominations, from 1998 to 2000. He left the show in 2000 and appeared in a miniseries about Marilyn Monroe’s life, Blonde.

After failing to win the role of Clark Kent in Smallville, Ackles starred in the science fiction program Dark Angel. He played the role of Ben, the “brother” of lead character Max (Jessica Alba). His character was killed off, but he appeared as a regular in the second season, as Alec, Ben’s twin. He stayed with the show until its cancellation in 2002.

Ackles continued acting on television, with roles on the final season of Dawson’s Creek, as Jen Lindley’s (Michelle Williams) lover CJ, and the series Still Life. He was also selected to be Eliza Dushku’s love interest on Tru Calling, but he turned down the role. He was subsequently cast on Smallville, as football coach Jason Teague, the new love interest of Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk). In 2005, he was chosen to play the role of Dean Winchester in Supernatural, where he accompanies his brother (Jared Padalecki) in investigating the paranormal while looking for their father (Jeffrey Dean Morgan).

Ackles has also appeared in several films, including Devour, with his father Alan Ackles, and the independent comedy Ten Inch Hero. He has also given a critically-acclaimed performance on stage with Lou Diamond Phillips, in the production of A Few Good Men. Ackles has also stared in the remake of the 1981 Canadian slasher film, My Bloody Valentine, acting opposite Jaime King.

Place of Birth

Dallas, Texas, USA

Birth Name

Jensen Ross Ackles

Gender

Male

Fun Facts

Jensen's parents named him Jensen because they considered other names like Justin but found them too common. It took them three days to name him; Jensen was the last name of someone listed in the hymnal at their church.

If Jensen were an adult film star, he says his name would be Pudgy Midway.

Exercise is his favorite hangover remedy.

His guilty pleasures include the Candy Mountain YouTube video (first youtube movie he ever watched), the film License to Drive, and Dr. Phil.

He says that seeing Michael Jackson in concert in 1984 changed his life. It was the first concert he ever went to.

Three songs that mean a lot to him are:
"El Paso," Marty Robbins,
"Texas Flood," Stevie Ray Vaughan
"Home," Marc Broussard

Three films that mean a lot to him:
Cool Hand Luke, directed by Stuart Rosenberg
Once Upon A Time In The West, directed by Sergio Leone
Saving Private Ryan, directed by Steven Spielberg (He watched it with his Grandfather prior to his death -- he fought in that war)

His fav food is steak and he HATES sushi

Jensen wears contact lenses.
As of May 2009 Jensen has had Lasik Eye Surgery.

Jensen is a sports junkie. He loves football, lacrosse, baseball, and basketball. He played on the baseball and lacrosse teams in high school. When he started taking theater classes, he was the only "jock" in the theater department

Awards

He recently won an EW.com online Emmy for Best Actor In A Drama Series.

He won a 1998 Soap Opera Digest Award for Best Male Newcomer and went on to be nominated three times (in 1998, 1999, and 2000) for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series for his work on Days of Our Lives.

Filmography

2009: My Bloody Valentine - Tom
2007: Ten Inch Hero - Priestly
2005-present:Supernatural - Dean Winchester
2005: Devour - Jake Gray
2004-2005: Smallville - Jason Teague
2004: The Plight of Clownana - Jensen
2003-2004: Still Life - Max Morgan
2002-2003: Dawson's Creek - C.J.
2001-2002: Dark Angel - Alec/X5-494 & Ben
2001: Blonde - Eddie G
1997-2000: Days of Our Lives - Eric Roman Brady
1997: Cybill - David
1996: Sweet Valey High - Brad
1996: Mr. Rhodes - Malcolm
1995: Wishbone - Michael Duss

Nickname

Jackles
Smeckles

Height

6' 1" (1.85 m)

Quotes

On his most embarrassing moment: "When I was in middle school, some of my so-called friends found a catalog ad I did for Superman pajamas. They made as many copies as they could and pasted them up all over school."

"Being from Texas, I would say I favor a pair of jeans you can wear some boots with."

Regarding Dean's reaction to his father's death: "A lot of issues, yeah. Dean's definitely having issues on camera. I'm just having issues because I don't get to hang out with him (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who played John) anymore."

There are just certain things that turn my head. It may be a girl's sense of humor, it may be her wit, or her belief system; it could be a lot of different things.

I used to be scared of uncertainty; now I get a high out of it.

Schools

1990 graduated Dartmouth Elementary School, Richardson, Texas.
1993 graduated Apollo Junior High School, Richardson, TX.
1996 Graduated L. V. Berkner High School, Richardson, Texas.