Jeremy Sumpter Biography

Date of Birth

5 December 1989, Monterey, California, USA

Birth Name

Jeremy Robert Myron Sumpter

Height

6' (1.83 m)

Mini Biography

Jeremy Robert Myron Sumpter was born on February 5, 1989 in Monterey, California, to Sandra (Johnson) and Gary Sumpter. He was raised in his mother's hometown, Mount Sterling, Kentucky. At a young age, he enjoyed mountain climbing and play with his friends like any other normal kid, but when he went to Lexington, Kentucky, to model, he won the numerous awards and met his manager Mark Robert. Soon after that, Jeremy, his twin sister Jessica Sumpter, his little sister Gigi Sumpter, and his mom and dad moved to Los Angeles, California.

Jeremy's first movie was Frailty (2001), in which he played young Adam Meeks, opposite Bill Paxton and Matthew McConaughey. "Bill had been one of my favorite actors so to be able to work with him was unbelievable," says Jeremy. The adult Adam Meeks was played by Matthew McConaughey. His next movie was Local Boys (2002).

Jeremy was chosen by Danny Glover to play Henry Sturbuck in the Showtime original film Just A Dream. "Working with Danny was great, we had a great time filming in a small town in Utah," explains Jeremy. Jeremy received the "Best Performance in a TV Movie, Mini-Series or Special - Leading Young Actor" from the Young Artist Awards. Jeremy was able to use his surfing skills on his next film, "Local Boys." This coming of age film was shot on location in southern California. "This was a hard film to shoot since we were surfing at the beach almost everyday and there were all these girls around in bikinis," jokes Jeremy.

After a worldwide search, Jeremy was chosen to play "Peter" in the P.J. Hogan film Peter Pan (2003). This was one of the most coveted roles in films for a teen actor in recent years. "It was a part that I really wanted," says Jeremy, "since I'd be able to fight pirates and fly around the stage on wires." Jeremy trained extensively in sword fighting and gymnastics prior to shooting the movie in Australia. Clubhouse (2004) was Jeremy's first television series, a dream role since he had always loved baseball and played little league when he was younger. Jeremy was cast in the role of Justin in Cyber Seduction: His Secret Life. After wrapping, he immediately went on to star in The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang in Oregon. A lot of the people from Napoleon Dynamite were involved in the film and it was a lot of fun for him to shoot. Jeremy shot "Calvin Marshall" in Oregon.

Jeremy Sumpter shot the Warner Bros./New Line big budget film "Into the Storm" and the independent feature film "Animal."

"The Squeeze," a feature film which was released in 2015 and starred Jeremy and Christopher McDonald. They teed off in a high stakes gambling matches careening throughout the South and landing in Las Vegas. Jeremy was also Co-Producer.

Jeremy recently shot Take Down" which is being distributed around the world.

In the future, Jeremy hopes to also work behind the camera as a director and producer. In his spare time, he surfs, plays basketball, football, golf and shoots pool.

Trivia

At age six, Jeremy was the youngest child in Kentucky to be accepted into the state's Gifted Arts program

Auditioned for the role of Bobby Garfield in Hearts in Atlantis (2001)

Has a twin named Jessica Sumpter and a younger sister, Gigi Sumpter.

Raised in Kentucky until he was 11

Was named IMTA's Pre-Teen Male Model of the Year in 2000

His younger sister appeared with him in his ER (1994) episode.

His favorite book is "The Giver".

He has a dog named Bear.

During the filming of Peter Pan (2003), he grew 8 inches (from 5' to 5' 8") and the size of the window had to be enlarged 4 times to enable him to "fly" into the house without bumping his head. The boy who "never grew up" did so in reality.

Resides in Los Angeles, California [2004]

He stated at the end of Peter Pan (2003) that he did 98% of the stunts shown in the movie. He said he was unable to do "like two or three of them because they were too dangerous".

Can be seen on the DVD of Peter Pan (2003), saying he is spoofing Moulin Rouge! (2001) as he sits on a swing singing.

Currently, his top sports are surfing, swimming, golf, and basketball. He also enjoys football, baseball, snowboarding, tennis, soccer, hiking, and roller blading.

Has one brother named Travis

Is friends with Anna Popplewell. Her brother Freddie Popplewell was in Peter Pan (2003) with Jeremy.

Was the director of Photography for the short film "The Binge" which was directed by his father, Gary Sumpter.

Still friends with Sarah Christine Pletcher from The Sasquatch Gang (2006).

Loves the song and music video La La Land by Demi Lovato.

Good friends with Selena Gomez.

He is of mostly English, and some German and Ulster-Scots, descent, along with remote French roots.

Quotes

As I was growing up Peter Pan was one of my favorite characters.

On the experience of filming Peter Pan (2003): "When we were filming, I thought that I was Peter Pan, you know? I thought I was the coolest kid in the world, so I wound up being the coolest kid in the world".

On how his life has been after Peter Pan (2003): "It's awesome. I get recognized a lot by girls now. It's great. I was wanting that for a long time and now I finally have it; and it's great....It's different hearing girls I don't even know scream my name."

[About Clubhouse (2004)] "It's really a dream role. I've always loved baseball and played little league when I was younger. I really wasn't going to do television, but I thought this project was special and it also came about in a funny way".

On Peter Pan (2003) co-star Rachel Hurd-Wood: "She was great. I thought she was going to be one of those girlie-girls, you know. She turned out to be different and we were boyfriend and girlfriend".