Biography
Date of Birth
1 December 1978, Dallas, Texas, USA
Birth Name
Jensen Ross Ackles
Nickname
Jay
Height
6' 1" (1.86 m)
Mini Biography
Jensen Ross Ackles, better known as simply Jensen Ackles, was born on March 1, 1978, in Dallas, Texas, to Donna Joan (Shaffer) and actor Alan Ackles. He has English, German, and Scottish ancestry. Jensen grew up in Richardson, Texas, together with his older brother, Joshua, and a younger sister, Mackenzie. Jensen graduated from Dartmouth Elementary School in 1990, he graduated from Apollo Junior High School in 1993, and LV Berkner High School in 1996.
Jensen is a sports junkie. He loves football, lacrosse, baseball and basketball. He even played on the baseball and lacrosse teams in high school. The 6' 1" actor first started modeling when he was just 2 years old. When he turned 4, he started appearing in TV commercials for Nabisco, RadioShack and Wal-Mart. He caught the acting bug because he was mostly influenced by his father, who was an actor in Dallas. He used to watch his father study scripts, and that taught him a few things about the industry. During his later years in high school, he started taking theater classes, where he claimed he was the only "jock" in that department. When he was just a sophomore, a friend of Jensen had asked him to attend a local acting seminar. Two guys, Craig Wargo, and an agent, 'Michael Einfeld', were interested in Jensen's talent and wanted him to go to Los Angeles with them.
Jensen had to say no to the offer and admitted at one point, he thought they would forget about him but, eventually, when he went to Los Angeles, he still managed to get help from them. Prior to that, Jensen actually planned to study sports medicine at Texas Tech University and become a physical therapist, before he decided to move to Los Angeles to give acting a try. In 1996, he managed to secure guest roles on several TV shows, which included Wishbone (1995), Mr. Rhodes (1996) and Sweet Valley High (1994). Jensen's big break came when he was cast in the NBC soap opera, Days of Our Lives (1965), as Eric Brady in 1997. He won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Best Male Newcomer in 1998, and was 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 (1965). After spending about three years on a soap set, he left Days of Our Lives (1965) and went on to appear in the mini-series Blonde (2001), which was about the life of Marilyn Monroe, playing Eddie G. He also auditioned for the role of Clark Kent on Smallville (2001), but lost the part to Tom Welling, instead.
Not giving up hope, he went for a few auditions and managed to secure a guest role on the popular James Cameron TV series, Dark Angel (2000), as serial killer Ben/X5-493, the brother of main character Max/X5-452, who was played by Jessica Alba. His character died in the episode, but Jensen eventually returned to the show as a regular in the second season as Ben's clone, Alec/X5-494 and continued on until the show's cancellation in 2002. In 2003, he joined the cast of Dawson's Creek (1998), playing the role of C.J., Jen Lindley's lover. He also filmed episodes of the TV series, Still Life (2003), playing the role of Max Morgan, not knowing that the series was actually dropped. He also had a small role in the short film, The Plight of Clownana (2004), playing the role of Jensen. That same year, he was offered the part of Eliza Dushku's love interest on the second season of Tru Calling (2003). Jensen, however, turned down the role which was later offered to another actor, Eric Christian Olsen. He was subsequently cast on Smallville (2001), as Assistant football coach Jason Teague, the new love interest of Lana Lang. In 2005, Jensen managed to earn a lead role in the movie, Devour (2005), playing the role of Jake Gray. Jensen also earned the opportunity to work his father, actor Alan Ackles, who happened to play his character's father, Paul Kilton. The movie, however, received mixed reviews from the public.
That same year, Jensen joined the cast of the CW series, Supernatural (2005), where he plays the role of Dean Winchester. Dean and his brother Sam, who is played by Jared Padalecki, are brothers who drive throughout the United States hunting paranormal predators, sometimes with their father, John Winchester, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. It was reported that the creator of the show, Eric Kripke, mentioned that the show will last for a maximum of five seasons. In 2006, Jensen took on a role in the Independently filmed comedy/drama movie, Ten Inch Hero (2007), which explores the theme of honesty and the flaw of judging by appearances. In 2007 the film began a limited run at number of film festivals including the Newport Beach Film Festival, Phoenix Film Festival and the Santa Cruz Film Festival but never made it into major mainstream theatrical release. In the Spring of 2008 Ten Inch Hero was released onto DVD exclusively through Blockbuster. Jensen however, received high praise for his work as Priestly, who one of the movie's more quirky characters.
From June 5-10 in 2007 Jensen had his professional stage debut as Lt. Daniel Kaffee in "A Few Good Men" at Casa Manana Theatre in Fort Worth, Texas, working along side Lou Diamond Phillips. This proved to be another successful acting venture for Jensen, as critics were impressed with his work in this role. During his free time, Jensen enjoys golfing, horseback riding, scuba diving and photography. He is also a big fan of country music. His favorite musician is Garth Brooks. He even sang back-up vocals on good friend Steve Carlson's albums "Spot in the Corner" and "Rollin' On." In the summer of 2008 Jensen traveled to Kittaning, PA to film the horror/thriller movie, My Bloody Valentine (2009), which was filmed in the cutting edge Real D technology, Jensen played the lead role of Tom Hanniger and starred alongside Jaime King and Kerr Smith.
Jensen splits his time between Vancouver, British Columbia where he films Supernatural (2005) and his home in Austin, Texas.
Trivia
Graduated from L.V. Berkner High School, Richardson, TX, in 1996.
Has one brother, Joshua, approximately three years older, and one sister, Mackenzie, approximately seven years younger.
Was a child model at age four, then quit, and started again at age ten.
Played baseball and lacrosse in high school.
Planned to study sports medicine at Texas Tech University and become a physical therapist, before he decided to move to L.A. to give acting a try.
1993 graduate of Apollo Junior High School in Richardson, TX.
1990 graduate of Dartmouth Elementary School in Richardson, TX.
Was runner up to Tom Welling for the role of Clark Kent on Smallville (2001). Was brought onto the show in Season 4 as Lana's boyfriend.
Sings and plays guitar.
Son of Alan Ackles and Donna Joan Shaffer.
His parents named him Jensen because they considered other names, such as Justin too common.
His career has an ongoing theme of dealing with demonic forces. His character's mother "Marlena" on Days of Our Lives (1965) was possessed by the Devil. In Devour (2005) he was the son of "Satan". On his television series Supernatural (2005) his character battles the forces of hell.
He is a keen photographer and is always taking photos on the set of Supernatural (2005).
Was offered a role as Eliza Dushku's love interest on Tru Calling (2003) but chose to take a role on Smallville (2001) instead. Eric Christian Olsen was eventually given the role and the character's name was changed to Jensen.
His first name is actually a surname and is the most common surname in Denmark.
Best friends with his Supernatural (2005) co-star, Jared Padalecki. Jared Padalecki even calls Jensen's father Papa Ackles.
On the set of Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), Jared Padalecki met Tom Welling, who played Clark Kent on Smallville (2001). Before the start of Supernatural (2005), Jensen also played on "Smallville".
Had his first daughter with wife Danneel Harris Ackles, named Justice Jay "JJ" Ackles, born on May 30, 2013.
Ranked #39 on Empire Online list of the "100 Sexiest Movie Stars" in 2013.
Preparing to perform next month on stage with Lou Diamond Phillips in "A Few Good Men". [May 2007]
He has English, German, and smaller amounts of Scottish and Irish, ancestry. Many of his ethnic German ancestors lived in Russia.
Was considered to played Leon Kennedy three times in Resident Evil: Extinction (2007), Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) & Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) which went to Johann Urb and Steve Rogers/Captain America in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) which went to Chris Evans.
Has sung lead vocals on two songs on the albums "Sharing the Covers" and "Christmas With Friends".
In 2016 announced that he and wife Danneel Ackles are expecting twins.
Graduated from Berkner High School with Stephanie Ware and Curtis Thomas in 1996.
On December 2, 2016, his wife Danneel Ackles gave birth to twins Zeppelin Bram and Arrow Rhodes.
Jensen and longtime friend and musician Steve Carlson formed the band, Radio Company, in 2018. They have went on to have great success with their albums, Volume One released in November 2019 and Volume Two in May 2021.
Has worked with his girlfriend, later wife, Danneel Ackles twice: in Ten Inch Hero (2007) and in Supernatural (2005).
Trademarks:
Deep Husky Voice
Ginger Beard
Freckles
Green eyes
Quotes
[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.
[on Dean Winchester's reaction to his father's death on Supernatural (2005)] 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.
I love the smell of shampoo on a girl's hair. You can walk past someone and be like, "Wow, you took a shower this morning, didn't you? Because you smell lovely!"
I'm a mad Gummi fan. I always have Gummis in my trailer. But you can't eat too many because then you get Gummi tummy, and that's no good. I can't believe I'm saying this.
[on 9/11] 9/11 was unreal. I happened to be in Canada at the time and really didn't get a sense of how awful it really was until a few days later when it hit me like a ton of bricks... that the place I call home, the country that is invincible, my country of pride and freedom, the place we all feel safe, had been completely violated. I immediately jumped on a plane and flew to be with my family. It really frightened me. I pray to God that this new evil in our world will be abolished quickly.
[on working with Jared Padalecki] Jared and I are lucky to get along so well without having any effort to make. One day the producers came to see us and told us they had never worked with actors who got along so well. It gives us the opportunity to make the relationship between Sam and Dean have credibility. I think the audience feels how much Jared and I like being together.
Some people will go to the opening of an envelope. They live their lives in the public eye and get off on it, they need it. They need that kind of adoration. If their name isn't in the tabloids once a week they feel like a failure. I choose to live a more private life, as does [co-star Jared Padalecki]. We just don't believe in that sort of thing of "it doesn't matter what they're saying so long as they're talking about you".
[on co-star Jared Padalecki] I would jump in front of a bullet for him and not think twice.
Life itself is worth living for. If you're not living the life that you want, you fight to achieve that life.
I mean, look, I think we all could identify with a lot of what Soldier Boy was bringing to the table-whether we see it in celebrities, politicians, or even your neighbors. Toxic masculinity, like you said, is something that we tried to poke at with this character. And that wasn't that difficult to do, because, you know, open your eyes, look around; it's very relevant today, we see what that kind of ideology has given us.
