Jai Courtney
{{short description|Australian actor (born 1986)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jai Courtney
| image = Jai Courtney March 18, 2014 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Courtney in 2014
| birthname = Jai Stephen Courtney
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|03|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| alma_mater = Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
| occupation = Actor
| yearsactive = 2005–present
| partner = Dina Shihabi
| children = 1
}}
Jai Stephen Courtney{{cite web|url=https://www.gq.com.au/men-of-the-year/previous-winners/jai-courtney/news-story/3e31717f80bad87ce1c7faacd857b80f|title=Jai Courtney|website=GQ Australia|date=20 November 2013|access-date=23 June 2023}} ({{IPAc-en|dʒ|aɪ}};{{cite web|author1=Corinne Heller|title=Jai Courtney, Terminator Genisys Star: 5 Things to Know About the Australian Hottie|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/603615/jai-courtney-terminator-genisys-star-5-things-to-know-about-the-australian-hottie|publisher=E!|access-date=2 April 2015|date=4 December 2014}} born 15 March 1986) is an Australian actor. Born and raised in Sydney, Courtney started his career as a teenager with small roles in film and television, and studied acting at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. After early supporting roles in Hollywood projects, he gained recognition for playing Dauntless leader Eric Coulter in The Divergent Series (2014{{ndash}}2015), Kyle Reese in Terminator Genisys (2015), and supervillain Captain Boomerang in the DC Extended Universe films Suicide Squad (2016), and The Suicide Squad (2021). He received praise for his performance as a corrupt debt collector and the main antagonist in the independent film Buffaloed (2019).
Courtney's other notable credits include the Hollywood films I, Frankenstein (2014), Unbroken (2014), and The Exception (2016), the Australian films Felony (2014), The Water Diviner (2014), Storm Boy (2019) and 100% Wolf (2020), and the television series Stateless (2020), The Terminal List (2022) and Kaleidoscope (2023). He also portrayed the title character in the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of Macbeth (2017), and hosted the Australian reality competition series The Summit (2023).
Early life
Courtney was born on 15 March 1986 in Sydney, New South Wales, and grew up in the suburb of Cherrybrook.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/jai-courtneys-not-just-a-face-in-the-crowd/story-e6frfmvr-1226528405133|title=Jai Courtney's not just a face in the crowd|last=Roach|first=Vicky|date=3 December 2012|publisher=News.com.au|access-date=26 September 2015|archive-date=3 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003025516/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/jai-courtneys-not-just-a-face-in-the-crowd/story-e6frfmvr-1226528405133|url-status=dead}} His father, Chris, worked for a state-owned electricity company, and his mother, Karen, was a teacher at Galston Public School, where Courtney and his older sister were students. Courtney played Rugby and participated in drama club there.{{Cite web|date=11 March 2015|title=Jai Courtney Is Hollywood's New Action Hero|url=https://dujour.com/culture/jai-courtney-insurgent-interview-pictures/|access-date=7 June 2021|website=DuJour}} He then attended Cherrybrook Technology High School and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, graduating in 2008.{{cite news|url=http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/die-hard-jai/204|title=Die Hard Jai|last=Blumer|first=Clare|date=23 April 2012|work=The Global Mail|access-date=26 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105152901/http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/die-hard-jai/204/|archive-date=5 November 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Edwards|first=Matt|date=24 February 2012|title=WAAPA graduate Jai Courtney cast opposite Bruce Willis|url=http://aussietheatre.com.au/news/waapa-graduate-jai-courtney-cast-opposite-bruce-willis|website=Aussie Theatre|access-date=13 June 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/-/movies/16411391/waapa-graduate-has-roles-to-die-for|title=WAAPA graduate has roles to die for|date=21 March 2013|access-date=29 March 2013|work=The West Australian|first=Mark|last=Naglazas}} While in college, Courtney took a ballet course and failed.{{Cite magazine|title=Jai Courtney Q&A|url=https://ew.com/article/2013/02/23/jai-courtney-die-hard-bruce-willis-andy-whitfield/|access-date=7 June 2021|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}
Career
=Early work (2005{{ndash}}2013)=
Courtney's first role was in a 2005 short film titled Boys Grammar, which also starred Daniel Feuerriegel and Adam J. Yeend. In 2008, he played a role in the Australian series Packed to the Rafters, then a guest lead in the popular All Saints, the comedy feature To Hell & Bourke and several short films. In 2010, he played Varro in Spartacus: Blood and Sand for 10 episodes, before starring in Jack Reacher in 2012 with Tom Cruise and in A Good Day to Die Hard with Bruce Willis as John McClane's son, Jack.{{cite web|author=Eisenberg, Eric|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Spartacus-Star-Jai-Courtney-Joins-Tom-Cruise-One-Shot-27058.html |title=Spartacus Star Jai Courtney Joins Tom Cruise in One Shot|publisher=CinemaBlend|date=29 September 2011}}{{cite news|author1=Gilchrist, Todd |author2=McClintock, Pamela |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/good-day-die-hard-jai-courtney-bruce-willis-spartacus-293877 |title='A Good Day to Die Hard:' Jai Courtney Cast as Bruce Willis' Son |newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=22 February 2012}}{{cite news|author=White, James|url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=33212 |title=Jai Courtney Will Die Hard|newspaper=Empire|date= 22 February 2012}} In 2014, he appeared in the films I, Frankenstein and Felony.{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2012/10/jai-courtney-joel-edgerton-felony-movie-casting-353079/|title=Jai Courtney Joins Joel Edgerton in Aussie Thriller 'Felony'|date=15 October 2012|website=Deadline Hollywood}}
=''Divergent'' and beyond (2014{{ndash}}present)=
Courtney played Eric, one of the leaders of the faction Dauntless, in the science fiction film Divergent (2014). Later that year, he starred in Unbroken, playing Hugh "Cup" Cuppernell, and The Water Diviner, playing Lt. Col. Hughes.{{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Mike|title=Jai Courtney Tapped For Angelina Jolie's 'Unbroken', Russell Crowe's 'Water Diviner'|url=https://deadline.com/2013/10/jai-courtney-tapped-for-angelina-jolies-unbroken-russell-crowes-water-diviner-619468/|access-date=19 January 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=24 October 2013}} Courtney reprised the role of Eric in Insurgent, a sequel to Divergent, which was released in March 2015.{{cite web|last1=Harp|first1=Justin|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a634849/see-shailene-woodley-and-theo-james-at-insurgents-london-premiere/|title=See the stars of Insurgent at premiere|publisher=Digital Spy|date=11 March 2015|access-date=17 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917105705/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a634849/see-shailene-woodley-and-theo-james-at-insurgents-london-premiere/|archive-date=17 September 2021|url-status=live}} That same year, he played one of the leads, Kyle Reese, in the science fiction action film Terminator Genisys. He worked on Insurgent and Terminator Genisys simultaneously.{{cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin |title=Jai Courtney Officially Signs on to 'Terminator'|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/jai-courtney-officially-signs-on-to-terminator-genesis-1201148987/|work=Variety|date=27 March 2014}} Terminator Genisys garnered unfavourable reviews and performed poorly at the box office.{{cite web|last1=McCreesh|first1=Louise|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a857867/why-emilia-clarke-relieved-terminator-genisys-flopped/|title=Emilia Clarke was "relieved" that Terminator Genisys flopped|publisher=Digital Spy|date=23 May 2018|access-date=19 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303050247/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a857867/why-emilia-clarke-relieved-terminator-genisys-flopped/|archive-date=3 March 2021|url-status=live}} In his review, Dan Jolin of Empire described Courtney as "too buff and bland" for the role of Reese.{{cite web|last1=Jolin|first1=Dan|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/terminator-genisys-review/|title=Terminator Genisys Review|work=Empire|date=2 November 2015|access-date=19 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919060519/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/terminator-genisys-review/|archive-date=19 September 2021|url-status=live}}
In March 2015, Courtney signed on to play Captain Boomerang in the 2016 DC Extended Universe film Suicide Squad.{{cite web|author1=Brent Lang|title=Jai Courtney Says 'Suicide Squad' Will Be 'Huge'|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/suicide-squad-jai-courtney-captain-boomerang-preparation-1201454267/|work=Variety|access-date=2 April 2015|date=17 March 2015}} Critics lambasted the film, with The Washington Post{{'}}s Michael O'Sullivan writing Courtney "barely registers" in his role.{{cite magazine|last1=Bramesco|first1=Charles|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/how-suicide-squad-showcases-nasty-side-of-fandom-in-2016-99406/|title=How 'Suicide Squad' Showcases Nasty Side of Fandom in 2016|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=9 August 2016|access-date=19 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205125220/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/how-suicide-squad-showcases-nasty-side-of-fandom-in-2016-99406/|archive-date=5 December 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Denham|first1=Jess|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/suicide-squad-reviews-roundup-puerile-worse-than-fantastic-four-margot-robbie-jared-leto-will-smith-cara-delevingne-a7169461.html|title=Suicide Squad review round-up: 'Puerile' and 'worse than Fantastic Four' – the critics get their claws out|work=The Independent|date=3 August 2016|access-date=19 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919060025/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/suicide-squad-reviews-roundup-puerile-worse-than-fantastic-four-margot-robbie-jared-leto-will-smith-cara-delevingne-a7169461.html|archive-date=19 September 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=O'Sullivan|first1=Michael|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/suicide-squad-is-as-bad-as-youve-heard/2016/08/03/590a949e-5987-11e6-9aee-8075993d73a2_story.html|title='Suicide Squad' is as bad as you've heard|newspaper=The Washington Post|url-access=limited|date=3 August 2016|access-date=19 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029175221/https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/suicide-squad-is-as-bad-as-youve-heard/2016/08/03/590a949e-5987-11e6-9aee-8075993d73a2_story.html|archive-date=29 October 2020|url-status=live}} Despite this, it had a commercially successful box office run.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/suicide-squad-box-office-profit-2016-1202052792/ |title=No. 10 'Suicide Squad' Box Office Profits – 2016 Most Valuable Movie Blockbuster Tournament |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=27 March 2017 |access-date=19 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419212823/https://deadline.com/2017/03/suicide-squad-box-office-profit-2016-1202052792/ |archive-date=19 April 2021 |url-status=live}} In 2017, Courtney starred as the titular character in Melbourne Theatre Company's production of Macbeth.{{cite web|url=https://www.gq.com.au/entertainment/film-tv/jai-courtney-on-recreating-macbeth-its-loud-brutal-and-visually-spectacular/news-story/a26fea6fd308c6172fecdc9a2b3e7229|title=Jai Courtney on Recreating Macbeth: "It's Loud, Brutal And Visually Spectacular"|website=GQ Australia|date=5 June 2017|last=Clune|first=Richard|access-date=28 February 2020}} Reviewing the play, Cameron Woodhead of The Sydney Morning Herald highlighted his "imperfect command of the verse".{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/macbeth-review-more-like-an-action-movie-with-supernatural-themes-20170609-gwnwfu.html|title=Macbeth review: More like an action movie with supernatural themes|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|url-access=limited|last=Woodhead|first=Cameron|date=9 June 2017|access-date=28 February 2020}} In 2019, Courtney played Wizz, a corrupt debt collector, in the independent crime comedy drama film Buffaloed, co-starring Zoey Deutch and Judy Greer. Released to generally positive reviews from critics, Courtney's performance also garnered praise, with Sheila O'Malley of RogerEbert.com saying he plays the character "with gorgeous sinister sleaze".{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/buffaloed-movie-review-2020|title=Buffaloed movie review & film summary|author=Sheila O'Malley|date=February 14, 2020|access-date=July 14, 2024}}
Courtney next played a corrupt FBI agent in the thriller film Honest Thief, which was released in October 2020.{{cite web|last1=Scheck|first1=Frank|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/honest-thief-film-review-4075477/|title='Honest Thief' Review|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=13 October 2021|access-date=17 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813162404/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/honest-thief-film-review-4075477/|archive-date=13 August 2021|url-status=live}} Alonso Duralde of TheWrap praised his effectiveness in the villainous role.{{cite web|last1=Duralde|first1=Alonso|author-link1=Alonso Duralde|url=https://www.thewrap.com/honest-thief-film-review-liam-neeson-jai-courtney-kate-walsh/|title='Honest Thief' Film Review: Liam Neeson Does What You Expect, While Jai Courtney Steals the Show|work=TheWrap|date=13 October 2020|access-date=19 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625165820/https://www.thewrap.com/honest-thief-film-review-liam-neeson-jai-courtney-kate-walsh/|archive-date=25 June 2021|url-status=live}} Courtney reprised the role of Captain Boomerang in The Suicide Squad, a standalone sequel to Suicide Squad.{{Cite web|last=Malkin|first=Marc|date=25 June 2020|title=Listen: Jai Courtney on Netflix's 'Stateless' and Filming the 'Suicide Squad' Sequel|url=https://variety.com/2020/streaming/podcasts/jai-courtney-suicide-squad-sequel-netflix-series-1234648559/|access-date=7 June 2021|website=Variety}} The film was released in August 2021 to a positive critical reception.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58009752|title=The Suicide Squad: Positive reviews for 'riotous' film|publisher=BBC News|date=29 July 2021|access-date=17 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729164538/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58009752|archive-date=29 July 2021|url-status=live}} Courtney is set to star in the action thriller film Black Site as well as the thriller series The Terminal List and Kaleidoscope (under the working title Jigsaw).{{cite web|last1=Wiseman|first1=Andreas|url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/michelle-monaghan-jai-courtney-jason-clarke-thriller-black-site-1234679610/|title=Jason Clarke, Michelle Monaghan & Jai Courtney To Star In Action-Thriller 'Black Site' From 'John Wick' Producers|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=25 January 2021|access-date=17 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126222042/https://deadline.com/2021/01/michelle-monaghan-jai-courtney-jason-clarke-thriller-black-site-1234679610/|archive-date=26 January 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Otterson|first1=Joe|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/jai-courtney-chris-pratt-terminal-list-amazon-1235027424/|title=Jai Courtney Joins Chris Pratt in Amazon Thriller Series 'Terminal List'|work=Variety|date=26 July 2021|access-date=17 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726180337/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/jai-courtney-chris-pratt-terminal-list-amazon-1235027424/|archive-date=26 July 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Porter|first1=Rick|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-series-jigsaw-giancarlo-esposito-paz-vega-rufus-sewell-1235015071/|title=Netflix Bags Giancarlo Esposito, Paz Vega, Rufus Sewell for Thriller 'Jigsaw'|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=16 September 2021|access-date=19 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916190830/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-series-jigsaw-giancarlo-esposito-paz-vega-rufus-sewell-1235015071/|archive-date=16 September 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title=Kaleidoscope: Behind-The-Scenes Look At Netflix Heist Drama Anthology Series From Eric Garcia & Ridley Scott; Premiere Date Set |url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/kaleidoscope-behind-the-scenes-look-netflix-heist-drama-anthology-series-eric-garcia-ridley-scott-premiere-date-1235180040/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=November 22, 2022}}
Personal life
Courtney dated Australian actress Gemma Pranita for eight years before splitting in 2013.{{cite web |title=Is This Fortune-Free Paper Stock? |url=https://archive.flaunt.com/content/people/jai-courtney |website=Flaunt Magazine |access-date=6 January 2023 |date=4 May 2014}} From 2015 to 2022, he dated Adelaide-born Mecki Dent.{{Cite web |last=Lisa |first=Woolford |date=2 March 2020 |title=Jai Courtney goes from big screen to small in ABC's drama Stateless |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/jai-courtney-goes-from-big-screen-to-small-in-abcs-drama-stateless/news-story/f06d7abfb802632b6370cb32c651a545 |access-date=2 March 2025 |website=The Adelaide Advertiser}}
Courtney has a number of tattoos including a rope, a skull and a dog. His Suicide Squad co-star, Margot Robbie, has given Courtney two tattoos including an abbreviation (QLD) for Robbie's home state Queensland, after losing a State of Origin bet, as well as a tattoo that says "SKWAD" to memorialise his work in the film.{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=Inked Mag|title='Suicide Squad' Star, Jai Courtney, Got a Queensland Tattoo After Losing a Bet|url=https://www.inkedmag.com/culture/suicide-squad-star-jai-courtney-got-queensland-tattoo-losing-bet|access-date=7 June 2021|website=Tattoo Ideas, Artists and Models|date=4 August 2016 }} A former smoker, he said in 2019 he had quit years prior.{{Cite web|date=3 November 2019|title=Jai Courtney on 'Semper Fi' and His Humbling Hollywood Journey [Interview]|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/jai-courtney-interview/|access-date=7 June 2021|website=/Film}} Courtney provided backing vocals on the Pinch Hitter song "All of a Sudden" from their debut album, When Friends Die in Accidents.{{cite web|url=http://www.messandnoise.com/articles/4677607|title=Track by Track: Pinch Hitter : Mess+Noise|publisher=Mess+Noise|date=17 November 2014|access-date=3 December 2014|archive-date=14 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714174625/http://www.messandnoise.com/articles/4677607|url-status=dead}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| 2009
| Eric | |
| 2012
| Charlie | |
| 2013
| CIA Agent John "Jack" McClane Jr. | |
| rowspan="5" | 2014
| Gideon | |
| Divergent
| |
| Felony
| Jim Melic | Nominated – Australian Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role |
| Unbroken
| Hugh "Cup" Cuppernell | |
| The Water Diviner
| Lieutenant Colonel Cyril Hughes | |
| rowspan="3" | 2015
| {{sortname|The|Divergent Series: Insurgent}} | Eric Coulter | |
| Terminator Genisys
| |
| Man Down
| Devin Roberts | |
| rowspan="2" | 2016
| George "Digger" Harkness / Captain Boomerang | |
| The Exception
| Captain Stefan Brandt | |
| rowspan="4" | 2019
| Tom "Hideaway Tom" | |
| Alita: Battle Angel
| Jashugan | Uncredited |
| Semper Fi
| Officer Chris "Cal" Callahan | |
| Buffaloed
| "Wizz" | |
| rowspan="2" | 2020
| Flasheart | Voice |
| Honest Thief
| Agent John Nivens | |
| rowspan="2" | 2021
| George "Digger" Harkness / Captain Boomerang | |
| Jolt
| Justin | |
| 2022
| Raymond Miller | |
| 2023
| Clyde | |
| 2024
|Runt | Bryan Shearer | |
| 2025
| Tucker | Post-production |
| TBA
| {{TBA}} | Filming |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| 2008
| Harry Avent | 2 episodes |
| 2008–2009
| Damian | 2 episodes |
| 2010
| Varro | 10 episodes |
| 2017
| Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later | Garth MacArthur | 4 episodes |
| 2020
| Cam Sandford | 6 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2022
| Spencer | Episode: "In Vaulted Halls Entombed" |
| The Terminal List
| Steve Horn | 3 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2023
| Bob Goodwin | Main role |
| The Summit
| Himself | Host |
| 2025
|Virgil Cutter |Miniseries |
=Theatre=
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Jai Courtney}}
- {{IMDb name|2541974}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Courtney, Jai}}
Category:21st-century Australian male actors
Category:Australian male film actors
Category:Australian male television actors
Category:Australian expatriate male actors in the United States
Category:Male actors from Sydney
Category:Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts alumni