Jerry O'Connell

Jeremiah O'Connell[1] (born February 17, 1974),[1] known professionally as Jerry O'Connell, is an American actor, director and talk show host, known for his roles as Quinn Mallory in the television series Sliders, Andrew Clements in My Secret Identity, Vern Tessio in the film Stand by Me (1986), Joe in Joe's Apartment (1996), Frank Cushman in Jerry Maguire (1996), Derek in Scream 2 (1997), Charlie Carbone in Kangaroo Jack (2003), and Detective Woody Hoyt on the drama Crossing Jordan. He starred as Pete Kaczmarek in the single 2010–2011 season of The Defenders. He also had a starring role in the comedy horror film Piranha 3D (2010). Currently, he voices Commander Jack Ransom on the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Jerry O'Connell
O'Connell in 2013
Born	Jeremiah O'Connell February 17, 1974 Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	New York University
Occupation	Actor, director, talk show host
Years active	1983–present
Spouse(s)	Rebecca Romijn ​ (m. 2007)​
Children	2
Relatives	Charlie O'Connell (brother)

Early life

O'Connell was born in Manhattan, the eldest son of Linda, an art teacher, and Michael O'Connell, an advertising agency art director.[1] His maternal grandfather, Charles S. Witkowski, was mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey. He is Catholic and of half Irish, one quarter Italian, and one quarter Polish ancestry.[2] O'Connell was raised in Manhattan with his younger brother, actor Charlie O'Connell. As a teenager, he attended Manhattan's Professional Children's School. He attended New York University from 1991–1995,[3] majoring in film. While there, he studied screen writing and competed on the fencing team, serving a stint as captain of the sabre squad. He graduated in 1995.[4]

Career

O'Connell began his acting career at a young age. As a child, he did commercial work for Duncan Hines cookies.[5] Shortly after turning eleven, he landed his first feature film role as the character Vern Tessio in Rob Reiner's Stand by Me. In 1987, O'Connell appeared in a commercial for Frosted Flakes. He starred in the Canadian science fiction sitcom My Secret Identity from 1988 to 1991 as the teen hero who develops superhuman traits. During a summer break from NYU, Jerry starred in the feature film Calendar Girl alongside Jason Priestley and Gabriel Olds. He also appeared in the short-lived ABC sitcom Camp Wilder, with Jay Mohr and Hilary Swank, in 1992. During his junior year, O'Connell auditioned for the television pilot Sliders (also filmed in Canada). He was offered the role of Quinn Mallory in the series, which ran for three seasons on Fox and two seasons on the Syfy Channel. He served as producer during his fourth season, and is credited with writing and directing several episodes.

O'Connell at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con

O'Connell has since gone on to star in such movies as Jerry Maguire, Body Shots, Mission to Mars, Tomcats, Scream 2, and Kangaroo Jack. O'Connell has also tried his hand at screenwriting and sold his first screenplay, for First Daughter, to New Regency in 1999. The film was released in 2004 by 20th Century Fox-based Davis Entertainment. O'Connell served as executive producer and received a "story by" credit on the film, which starred Katie Holmes and Michael Keaton.

O'Connell starred as Detective Woody Hoyt on the NBC crime drama Crossing Jordan (2001) until its cancellation in May 2007, and was engaged to actress Rebecca Romijn. He starred opposite her in the Ugly Betty episode "Derailed". He played Hoyt in several episodes of Las Vegas. In 2004, he wore a diaper on Last Call with Carson Daly, during a mock commercial skit for the GoodNites bedwetting product.[6] The National Enquirer caught him filming the skit and printed a photo of him in his diaper.[7][8]

In 2005, O'Connell guest-starred in one episode of the animated series Justice League Unlimited. In the episode, titled "Clash", he played Captain Marvel. He reprised the role of Captain Marvel in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies short film Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam alongside George Newbern, who reprised the role of Superman, having done the voice for the animated series. Jerry's younger brother, Charlie has appeared in several productions in which his brother starred, such as in Sliders and Crossing Jordan. In 2007–2008 O'Connell starred in ABC's Carpoolers, which ran from October 2, 2007 to March 4, 2008. In early 2008, O'Connell participated in a widely circulated Internet video parody of the leaked Tom Cruise video on Scientology. Cruise was O'Connell's co-star in Jerry Maguire.[9]

O'Connell co-wrote and appeared in a video parody called "Young Hillary Clinton", satirizing Hillary Clinton's 2008 primary campaign.[10] On February 2, 2008, O'Connell hosted VH1's Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash, which aired the night before Super Bowl XLII and featured musical guests Maroon 5 and Mary J. Blige.[11][12] On April 28, 2008, he appeared as a guest star on ABC's Samantha Who?. In late 2008 O'Connell starred in Fox's Do Not Disturb, co-starring Niecy Nash, but Fox cancelled the show after only three episodes.[13][14]

O'Connell appeared in the 2009 thriller film Obsessed as "Ben", the best friend and co-worker of the film's protagonist Derek Charles (Idris Elba). He appeared in Eastwick on ABC, on which his wife, Rebecca Romijn, starred in the series.[15] He portrayed Derrick Jones in Alexandre Aja's Piranha 3D,[16] which also stars Adam Scott and Elisabeth Shue.[17]

O'Connell co-starred with David Tennant in the pilot for legal drama Rex Is Not Your Lawyer, which was not picked up for production.[18] In 2010, O'Connell starred with Jim Belushi in the CBS comedy-drama The Defenders, which was cancelled on May 15, 2011 after one season.

O'Connell appeared on Broadway at the Golden Theatre in Seminar, written by Theresa Rebeck. The play, directed by Sam Gold, opened on November 20, 2011, starring Alan Rickman, Lily Rabe, Hamish Linklater and Hettienne Park. On June 4, 2012, it was announced that O'Connell would play Herman Munster in a reboot of The Munsters, titled Mockingbird Lane;[19] the remake series was never picked up for production, however the pilot would air as a Halloween special on October 26.[20] On May 15, 2013, it was announced that O'Connell would play Stuart Strickland on We Are Men, alongside Tony Shalhoub.

In April 2015, O'Connell returned to Broadway as a ghostwriter in the comedy Living on Love, with Renee Fleming, Anna Chlumsky and Douglas Sills. It closed after 37 performances.

In January 2020, O'Connell appeared in the Roundabout’s American Airlines Theatre's Broadway revival of A Soldier's Play as Captain Taylor in an ensemble cast headed by David Alan Grier and Blair Underwood.[21]

In 2020, he began starring in commercials for Bob Evans grocery items alongside Alfonso Ribeiro.

Personal life

On July 14, 2007, O'Connell married actress and former model Rebecca Romijn.[22][23] Their twin girls were born in 2008.[24]

O'Connell enrolled in Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles in August 2009,[25] but dropped out to return to acting full-time.[26]

Filmography

Film

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1986	Stand by Me	Vernon "Vern" Tessio
1988	Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach	Kid at beach	Uncredited
1993	Calendar Girl	Scott Foreman
1995	Blue River	Lawrence Sellars
1996	Joe's Apartment	Joe
1996	Jerry Maguire	Frank "Cush" Cushman
1997	Scream 2	Derek Feldman
1998	Can't Hardly Wait	Trip McNeely	Uncredited
1999	The Beast of Today	Fabian
1999	Body Shots	Michael Penorisi
2000	Clayton
2000	Mission to Mars	Phil Ohlmyer
2001	Tomcats	Michael Delaney
2002	The New Guy	Highland Party Twin
2002	Buying the Cow	David Collins
2003	Kangaroo Jack	Charlie Carbone
2004	Fat Slags	Sean Cooley
2004	First Daughter	N/A	Producer, screenwriter
2005	Yours, Mine and Ours	Max Algrant
2006	The Alibi	Businessman
2006	Man About Town	David Lilly
2006	Room 6	Lucas Dylan
2008	The Parody Video Tom Cruise Wants You to See	Tom Cruise	Short film
2009	Baby on Board	Curtis
2009	Obsessed	Ben
2010	Piranha 3-D	Derrick Jones
2010	Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam	Captain Marvel (voice)	Short film
2013	Scary Movie 5	Christian Grey
2014	Veronica Mars	Sheriff Dan Lamb
2014	Space Station 76	Steve
2014	The Lookalike	Joe Mulligan
2015	Justice League: Throne of Atlantis	Clark Kent / Superman (voice)
2016	Justice League vs. Teen Titans	Clark Kent / Superman (voice)
2017	Justice League Dark	Clark Kent / Superman (voice)
2017	Wish Upon	Alex	Uncredited
2018	The Death of Superman	Clark Kent / Superman (voice)
2018	Deep Murder	Doug Dangler
2019	Reign of the Supermen	Superman / Clark Kent / Cyborg Superman (voice)
2019	Satanic Panic	Samuel Ross
2019	Batman: Hush	Clark Kent / Superman (voice)[27]
2020	Justice League Dark: Apokolips War	Clark Kent / Superman (voice)
2020	The F**k-It List	Jeffrey
2020	The Secret: Dare to Dream	Tucker
2020	Ballbuster	Rich	Post-production

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1987	The Room Upstairs	Carl	Television film
1988	The Equalizer	Bobby	Episode: "The Child Broker"
1988	Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss	Ralph Parker	Television film
1988–1991	My Secret Identity	Andrew Clements	Main role
1989	Charles in Charge	David Landon	Episode: "The Organization Man"
1992–1993	Camp Wilder	Brody Wilder	Main role
1995	The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky	Mac	Television film
1995	Blue River	Lawrence Sellars
1995–1999	Sliders	Quinn Mallory	Main role Producer (1998–1999) Director: "Stoker", "Slidecage", "Lipschitz Live," "Data World", "Roads Taken" Writer: "Way out West"
1999	The '60s	Brian Herlihy	Television film
2001	Night Visions	Andy	Episode: "Rest Stop"
2002	Going to California	Pete Rossock	Episode: "Searching for Eddie Van Halen"
2002	Rome Fire	Ryan Wheeler	Television film
2002–2007	Crossing Jordan	Detective Woody Hoyt	Main role
2003, 2008	MADtv	Ted Levin, John Edwards	2 episodes
2004	Without a Trace	Joe Gibson	Episode: "Hawks and Handsaws"
2004	The Screaming Cocktail Hour	Singer
2004	Las Vegas	Detective Woody Hoyt	5 episodes
2005	Justice League Unlimited	Captain Marvel	Episode: "Clash"
2007	On the Lot	Jerry 'The Move'	Episode: "6 Cut to 5 & 5 Directors Compete"
2007	Ugly Betty	Joel	Episode: "Derailed"
2007	The Batman	Nightwing	2 episodes
2007–2008	Carpoolers	Laird	Main role
2008	Samantha Who?	Craig	Episode: "The Gallery Show"
2008	Do Not Disturb	Neal	6 episodes
2009	Midnight Bayou	Declan Fitzpatrick	Television film
2009	Eastwick	Colin Friesen	Episode: "Magic Snow and Creepy Gene"
2010–2011	The Defenders	Pete Kaczmarek	Main role
2011	G.I. Joe: Renegades	Barbecue	Episode: "Fire Fight"
2011	Fish Hooks	Sterling Hamsterton (voice)	Episode: "Pamela Hamster Returns"
2011	NTSF:SD:SUV::	Mental Man	Episode: "Up Periscope, Down With San Diego"
2013–2015	Jake and the Never Land Pirates	Pip the Pirate Genie	7 episodes
2013	Burning Love	Henry	Season 2 cast member
2013	King & Maxwell	Jerry Walkeiwicz	Episode: "Stealing Secrets"
2013	Satisfaction	David	Episode: "Penis Face Cat Funeral"
2013	We Are Men	Stuart Strickland	Main role
2014–2019	Drunk History	Thomas Jefferson / Grigori Rasputin / Ken McElroy	4 episodes
2014	The League	Father Muldoon	Episode: "The Heavenly Fouler"
2015	The Librarians	Young Lancelot	Episode: "And the Loom of Fate"
2015	Workaholics	Teddy	Episode: "Gayborhood"
2015	Marry Me	Daniel	Episode: "Friend Me"
2015	Significant Mother	Bob Babcock	Episode: "Home Is Where the Lamp Is"
2015	Fresh Beat Band of Spies	Arizona Jones	Episode: "Mummy Mayhem"
2016	The Mysteries of Laura	Jon Dunham	2 episodes
2016–2019	Billions	Steven Birch	7 episodes
2016	Young & Hungry	Nick Diamond	Episode: "Young & Parents"
2016	Gay for Play Game Show Starring RuPaul	Himself	Episode: "Featuring Rebecca Romijn"
2016	Mistresses	Robert	4 episodes
2016	Scream Queens	Dr. Mike	2 episodes
2017	Love Locks	Jack Burrow	Television film
2017	Justice League Action	The Atom (voice)	3 episodes
2017	Andi Mack	Director	Episode: "Dad Influence"
2017	Curb Your Enthusiasm	TV Detective #2	Episode: "The Shucker"
2018–2019	The Big Bang Theory	George Cooper Jr.	3 episodes
2018–2019	The Wendy Williams Show	Himself (guest host)	7 episodes
2018–present	Carter	Harley Carter	Main role
2019–present	Jerry O'	Himself (host)
2019	Where's Waldo	Jerry (voice)	Episode: "Hit or Miss In Greece"
2020	Star Trek: Lower Decks	Commander Jack Ransom	Voice

Video game

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2015	Infinite Crisis	Shazam

Music videos

• "David Duchovny" – Bree Sharp
• "Heartbreaker" – Mariah Carey (1999)
• "12 Days of Christmas" from Christmas Queens – Katya Zamolodchikova

Podcast Appearances

• Pardon My Take – August 6, 2018; August 23, 2019; July 24, 2020
• Comments by Celebs – September 24, 2018
• The Dan LeBatard Show with Stugotz feat. Baron Davis - August 05, 2020

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Result	Work
1987	Young Artist Awards	(shared with River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman)	Won	Stand by Me
1989		Best Young Actor in a Family Syndicated Show	Nominated	My Secret Identity
1990		Best Young Actor in an Off-Primetime Family	Nominated
2004	Kid's Choice Awards	Favorite Fart in a Movie	Won	Kangaroo Jack
2018	Award Winning Listener	Podcast Listener of the Year	Won	Pardon My Take
2019	Award Winning Listener	Podcast Listener of the Year	Won	Pardon My Take
2020	Award Winning Listener	Podcast Listener of the Year	Won	Pardon My Take

References

1. "Jerry O'Connell Biography (1974–)". FilmReference.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
2. Nassour, Ellis (March 14, 2012). "The Pluck of the Irish". TheaterMania.com. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
3. Mollie Lobl (November 29, 2007). "He Might Be on Television, but Don't Be Intimidated — He Also Went to NYU". Columbia Spectator.
4. O'Connell reference, NYU News, October 2, 2013.
5. db, Im. "Jerry O'Connell Biography". Internet Movie Database.
6. "THAT ALL DEPENDS ..." People. November 8, 2004. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
7. "In-Depend-Ence". Jerry O'Connell Fansite. November 27, 2004. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
8. "Photos from Last Call with Carson Daly". Jerry O'Connell Fansite. November 29, 2004. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
9. "Jerry Connell Parody of Tom Cruise Scientology Video". Archived from the original on May 23, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
10. "Minnesota Monitor". minnesotamonitor.com. Archived from diaryId=4116 the original Check |url= value (help) on November 5, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
11. "Breaking News – Mary J Blige, Maroon 5 Touch Down in Glendale, Arizona to Perform at 'The VH1 Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash' Premiering on Saturday, February 2 at 9 PM*". thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
12. Live Review: Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash with Mary J. Blige, Maroon 5 Archived February 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, LiveDaily.com]
13. "FOX 2014/2015 Schedule". fox.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2010. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
14. Cancellation of Do Not Disturb
15. Natalie Abrams. "Death, Jerry O'Connell Come to Eastwick". TV Guide.
16. "Jerry O'Connell Goes Wild on the Set of Piranha". DreadCentral.
17. "Hot Chicks in Bikinis Going 'Wild, Wild' with Jerry O'Connell on the Set of 'Piranha'!". BloodyDisgusting.
18. Ausiello, Michael. "Exclusive: 'Rex Is Not Your Lawyer' DOA at NBC?". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 4, 2010.
19. Hibberd, James (June 4, 2012). "Jerry O'Connell cast as Herman Munster in NBC's 'Mockingbird Lane'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
20. Andreeva, Nellie (October 11, 2012). "NBC's 'Mockingbird Lane' Pilot To Air On October 26 As Halloween Special". Deadline. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
21. Evans, Greg. "'A Soldier's Play' Broadway Review: Stars David Alan Grier & Blair Underwood Earn Stripes In Charles Fuller's Potent 1981 Masterpiece". Deadline. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
22. Wihlborg, Ulrica (July 15, 2007). "Rebecca Romijn Weds Jerry O'Connell". People. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
23. Webshots. "Webshots – Young Leopard, Sabi Sands Conservancy, South Africa". webshots.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
24. Laudadio, Marisa (January 5, 2009). "Rebecca Romijn Welcomes Twin Girls". People. Retrieved March 14, 2010.
25. "Jerry O'Connell Enrolls in Law School". US Weekly. August 13, 2009.
26. "Jerry O'Connell quits law school to play Vegas 'Defender'". New York Post. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
27. Vejvoda, Jim (March 27, 2019). "Batman: Hush Movie – Exclusive First Look Photo and Voice Cast News". IGN. Retrieved March 27, 2019.

External links

• Jerry O'Connell at IMDb