Jared Padalecki
{{short description|American actor (born 1982)}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jared Padalecki
| image = Jared_Padalecki_at_MEGACON_Orlando_2025.png
| caption = Padalecki at MegaCon Orlando in 2025
| birth_name = Jared Tristan Padalecki
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|7|19|mf=y}}
| birth_place = San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
| occupation = Actor
| yearsactive = 1999–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Genevieve Cortese|2010}}
| children = 3
}}
Jared Tristan Padalecki (born July 19, 1982){{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jared-padalecki/bio/193608 |work=TV Guide |title=Jared Padalecki biography |access-date=December 24, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127070242/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jared-padalecki/bio/193608 |archive-date=November 27, 2013 }} is an American actor. He is best known for playing the role of Sam Winchester in the TV series Supernatural. He rose to fame in the early 2000s after appearing on the television series Gilmore Girls (2000–2005) as well as the films Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), Flight of the Phoenix (2004), Cry Wolf (2005) and Friday the 13th (2009).
Early life and education
Padalecki was born in San Antonio, Texas to Gerald and Sherri Padalecki.{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/99/Jared-Padalecki.html|title=Jared Padalecki Biography|publisher=FilmReference.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819231751/http://www.filmreference.com/film/99/Jared-Padalecki.html|archive-date=August 19, 2007}} His father is of Polish descent, while his mother has German, Scottish, French, and English ancestry.{{cite episode|series=The Bonnie Hunt Show|date=February 10, 2009|title=Jared Padalecki interview}}
He was a 2000 candidate for the Presidential Scholars Program. In 1998, Padalecki and his partner Chris Cardenas won the National Forensic League national championship in Duo Interpretation.{{cite web|title=Schwan Duo Interpretation|work=The H.B. Mitchell Trophy|publisher=National Forensic League|page=5|url=http://www.nflonline.org/uploads/NationalTournament/nt601sec3.pdf|access-date=March 31, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910121936/http://www.nflonline.org/uploads/NationalTournament/nt601sec3.pdf|archive-date=September 10, 2008}} Although he had originally planned to attend the University of Texas after graduating from high school in 2000, Padalecki decided to move to Los Angeles County, California instead to pursue an acting career.
Career
File:Jared Padalecki by Gage Skidmore.jpg in 2011]]
Padalecki won Fox Broadcasting's 1999 "Claim to Fame Contest"; he subsequently appeared at the Teen Choice Awards, where he met an agent.{{cite web|url=http://www.supernaturalwiki.com/index.php?title=Teen_Choice_Awards|title=Teen Choice Awards|work=supernaturalwiki.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831063709/http://www.supernaturalwiki.com/index.php?title=Teen_Choice_Awards|archive-date=August 31, 2014}} His first role was a minor role in the 1999 film A Little Inside. In 2000, he was cast as Dean Forester on the television series Gilmore Girls, a role he played until 2005. Throughout the early 2000s, he appeared in several made-for-television films, including Silent Witness, Close to Home and the Disney Channel Original Movie A Ring of Endless Light.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0655585/|title=Jared Padalecki|website=IMDb|access-date=October 30, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribute.ca/people/jared-padalecki/11909/|title=Jared Padalecki biography and filmography {{!}} Jared Padalecki movies|website=Tribute.ca|language=en|access-date=October 30, 2018}}
Padalecki had an uncredited role as a high school bully in 2003's comedy Cheaper by the Dozen, which he played after being asked by fellow actor and friend Tom Welling, who played Charlie Baker, and the director of the movie, who wanted someone larger than Charlie to pick on him. Padalecki originally auditioned for Welling's role, but gave it up in order to film a pilot titled Young MacGyver which was never picked up.{{cite web|url=http://www.winchesterbros.com/media/jpf13bhs.wmv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107055641/http://www.winchesterbros.com/media/jpf13bhs.wmv |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 7, 2015 |title=Interview with Bonnie Hunt }}
In 2004, he appeared in the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen comedy New York Minute as Trey Lipton, a cute boy to whom the Olsens' characters are attracted. He also landed a short role in the thriller Flight of the Phoenix alongside Dennis Quaid and Hugh Laurie. In 2005, Padalecki starred opposite Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray and Paris Hilton in House of Wax as Wade. In 2005, he appeared in Cry Wolf, another horror film, as Tom.{{cite web|last=Keith|first=Amy Elisa|title=Celebrity Q&A: Jared Padalecki|work=People Magazine|publisher=Time-Warner|date=November 29, 2005|url=http://people.aol.com/people/article/26334,1133515,00.html|access-date=November 29, 2006|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125144012/http://people.aol.com/people/article/26334,1133515,00.html|url-status=dead}}
File:Jared Padalecki & Jensen Ackles (28572560062).jpg costar Jensen Ackles at San Diego Comic-Con in 2016]]
Also in 2005, Padalecki was cast as Sam Winchester on the WB series, Supernatural. The show ended in 2020, after fifteen seasons, making it the longest-running North American sci-fi series in history.{{cite web |url=http://www.discoversd.com/visuals/story/sddsd-comic-con-2015-supernatural-panel-2015jul12-photogallery.html |title='Supernatural' now longest running sci-fi show in U.S. |access-date=September 24, 2016 |website=discoversd.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925002349/http://www.discoversd.com/visuals/story/sddsd-comic-con-2015-supernatural-panel-2015jul12-photogallery.html |archive-date=September 25, 2016 }}
In 2007, Jared served as the host of MTV's horror reality series, Room 401, which was discontinued after only eight episodes due to poor ratings.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/room_401/cast.jhtml|title=Room 401: Cast Bios|website=MTV |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503132459/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/room_401/cast.jhtml|archive-date=May 3, 2008}}
He had the lead role in 2008's Christmas Cottage as Thomas Kinkade, alongside acclaimed actor Peter O'Toole.
He also had the lead role in the 2009 version of Friday the 13th as Clay Miller, a character who heads out to Camp Crystal Lake in search of his sister who has gone missing.{{cite web|url=http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Friday+the+13th%3A+Jared+Padalecki|title=Friday the 13th: Jared Padalecki|publisher=SuicideGirls.com|date=January 9, 2009|access-date=January 9, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124012239/http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Friday+the+13th:+Jared+Padalecki/|archive-date=January 24, 2009}}
In September 2019, Padalecki was announced as the title role in Walker, a reboot series of Walker, Texas Ranger in development at The CW.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/walker-texas-ranger-reboot-jared-padalecki-in-the-works-chuck-norris-1202741160/|title='Walker, Texas Ranger' Reboot Starring Jared Padalecki in the Works|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=September 23, 2019|access-date=September 24, 2019|work=Deadline Hollywood}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/walker-texas-ranger-reboot-starring-jared-padalecki-the-cw-reimagening-chuck-norris-1202758080/|title='Walker, Texas Ranger' Reboot Starring Jared Padalecki Lands at the CW|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|publisher=Deadline|date=October 11, 2019|access-date=October 12, 2019}} The reboot was ordered to series in January 2020{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2020/01/14/walker-texas-ranger-reboot-jared-padalecki-series-ordered-the-cw/|title=Jared Padalecki's Walker, Texas Ranger Reboot Ordered to Series at The CW|last=Swift|first=Andy|publisher=TV Line|date=January 14, 2020|access-date=January 15, 2020}} and premiered in January 2021.{{Cite web |last=Haring |first=Bruce |date=January 30, 2021 |title='Walker' Debut Grows More Than 50% In Live+7 To Log the CW's Largest Viewership In More Than 2 Years |url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/the-cw-walker-debut-scores-biggest-win-in-two-years-for-network-1234684147/ |access-date=March 24, 2022 |website=Deadline}} The series was cancelled in 2024 after four seasons.{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=May 21, 2024 |title='Walker' Canceled at The CW After Four Seasons |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/walker-canceled-the-cw-4-seasons-1235905836/ |access-date=June 26, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=May 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521225437/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/walker-canceled-the-cw-4-seasons-1235905836/ |url-status=live }} A month later, Padalecki agreed to guest star on The Boys, the Amazon Prime Video superhero drama helmed by Supernatural creator, Eric Kripke.{{cite web |last=Campione |first=Katie |title=Jared Padalecki On Reteaming With Eric Kripke For 'The Boys': "The Answer Is Yes" |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/jared-padalecki-says-yes-to-the-boys-eric-kripke-1235980239/ |date=June 26, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=August 12, 2024}} In August 2024, it was announced that Padalecki would join the cast of Fire Country for a three episode guest stint with the possibility of headlining a spinoff.{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title=Jared Padalecki Joins 'Fire Country' For Guest Arc That Could Lead To New Franchise Offshoot |url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/jared-padalecki-fire-country-season-3-guest-arc-spinoff-1236034929/ |date= August 12, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=August 12, 2024}}
Personal life
Padalecki's engagement to his Supernatural co-star Genevieve Cortese was announced in January 2010. They met when Cortese guest-starred as Ruby on the show's fourth season. Padalecki proposed to her in front of their favorite painting, Joan of Arc, by French realist Jules Bastien-Lepage at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art in October 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.sunvalleymag.com/Sun-Valley-Magazine/Summer-2010/The-Perfect-Winter-Wedding/index.php?cparticle=2 |title=The Perfect Winter Wedding |last1=Cortese |first1=Genevieve |last2=Padalecki |first2=Jared |work=Sun Valley Magazine |access-date=June 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605051521/http://www.sunvalleymag.com/Sun-Valley-Magazine/Summer-2010/The-Perfect-Winter-Wedding/index.php?cparticle=2 |archive-date=June 5, 2014 }}Godwin, Jennifer, [http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b160735_jared_padalecki_genevieve_cortese_are.html Jared Padalecki and Genevieve Cortese Are Engaged] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225073719/http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b160735_jared_padalecki_genevieve_cortese_are.html |date=February 25, 2010 }}, EOnline.com, January 6, 2010; accessed February 14, 2009.Kubicek, John, [http://www.buddytv.com/articles/supernatural/notes-from-the-supernatural-10-34204.aspx Notes from the Supernatural 100th episode party] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209060436/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/supernatural/notes-from-the-supernatural-10-34204.aspx |date=February 9, 2010 }}, BuddyTV.com; February 2, 2010.
Quote: "Jared Padalecki talking sweetly about his recent engagement to former co-star Genevieve Cortese"; accessed February 14, 2010.{{cite news|last1=Jakle|first1=Jeanne|title=Hollywood Stars Love the Spurs Too|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/entertainment_columnists/jeanne_jakle/article/Fun-star-moments-Spurs-S-A-Sharknado-5669870.php|newspaper=Mysa|access-date=September 9, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910200323/http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/entertainment_columnists/jeanne_jakle/article/Fun-star-moments-Spurs-S-A-Sharknado-5669870.php|archive-date=September 10, 2014|date=August 5, 2014}} The pair married on February 27, 2010, in Cortese's hometown of Sun Valley, Idaho. They have three children.{{Cite news|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/807583/jared-padalecki-and-wife-genevieve-cortese-expecting-baby-no-3|title=Jared Padalecki and Wife Genevieve Cortese Expecting Baby No. 3|work=E! Online|access-date=December 12, 2017|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014153938/http://www.eonline.com/news/807583/jared-padalecki-and-wife-genevieve-cortese-expecting-baby-no-3|archive-date=October 14, 2017}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/838992/supernatural-s-jared-padalecki-and-wife-genevieve-cortese-give-birth-to-a-baby-girl-odette-elliott-padalecki|title=Jared Padalecki & Wife Genevieve Cortese Welcome Baby No. 3|work=E! Online|access-date=December 12, 2017|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903222310/http://www.eonline.com/news/838992/supernatural-s-jared-padalecki-and-wife-genevieve-cortese-give-birth-to-a-baby-girl-odette-elliott-padalecki|archive-date=September 3, 2017}}
Padalecki supported Beto O'Rourke for the 2018 Senate election in Texas alongside Supernatural co-stars Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins{{cite tweet|user=mishacollins|last=Collins|first=Misha|author-link=Misha Collins|number=1058588434145533952|title=@jarpad, @JensenAckles, & I want YOU to vote this Tuesday! |date=November 3, 2018}}
=Always Keep Fighting=
In March 2015, Padalecki launched his Always Keep Fighting campaign through Represent.com. His first campaign raised funds for To Write Love on Her Arms, which supports people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. The cause is particularly close to Padalecki, who has been candid about his own struggles with depression.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2263579/supernatural-fan-always-keep-fighting/|title=How Jared Padalecki's 'Always Keep Fighting' Helped This Fan Battle Depression|work=MTV News|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017111114/http://www.mtv.com/news/2263579/supernatural-fan-always-keep-fighting/|archive-date=October 17, 2015}} For the second campaign in the Always Keep Fighting series in April 2015, Padalecki partnered with co-star Jensen Ackles to release a shirt featuring both of their faces, to benefit their newly formed joint charitable fund. Over 70,000 shirts were sold.{{cite web|url=https://represent.com/jaredjensen|title=Jared & Jensen Always Keep Fighting - Represent|work=represent.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907234947/https://represent.com/jaredjensen|archive-date=September 7, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/article/supernatural-jensen-ackles-finale-charity-jared-padalecki|title=Supernatural: Jensen Ackles on the Finale and His Charity with Jared Padalecki : People.com|work=PEOPLE.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415064928/http://www.people.com/article/supernatural-jensen-ackles-finale-charity-jared-padalecki|archive-date=April 15, 2016}} Later, Padalecki launched a third campaign selling a further 40,000 shirts.{{cite web|url=https://represent.com/jared|title=Jared Padelecki's Love Yourself First Hoodie - Represent|work=represent.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151008012921/https://represent.com/jared|archive-date=October 8, 2015}}
During San Diego Comic-Con 2015, more than 6,000 fans surprised Padalecki at the Supernatural panel by holding up candles for him, after having revealed his battle with depression earlier in the year.{{cite web|url=http://www.etonline.com/news/167850_fans_support_jared_padalecki_fight_against_depression_with_incredibly_moving_comic_con_tribute/|title=Fans Support Jared Padalecki's Fight Against Depression With Incredibly Moving Comic-Con Tribute|work=Entertainment Tonight|date=July 13, 2015 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917071326/http://www.etonline.com/news/167850_fans_support_jared_padalecki_fight_against_depression_with_incredibly_moving_comic_con_tribute/|archive-date=September 17, 2015}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"|Notes |
|---|
| 1999
|{{sortname|A|Little Inside|nolink=1}} |Matt Nelson | |
| 2003
|High School Bully |
| rowspan=2|2004
|Trey Lipton | |
| Flight of the Phoenix
|John Davis | |
| rowspan=2|2005
|Wade Felton | |
| Cry Wolf
|Tom Jordan | |
| 2007
|J.P. |Uncredited{{citation needed|date=February 2017}} |
| 2008
| |
| 2009
|Clay Miller | |
| 2015
|Lieutenant Alex |Voice role |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"|Notes |
|---|
| 2000
|Silent Witness |Sam |Television film |
| 2000–2005
|Recurring role (seasons 1, 4 & 5); main role (seasons 2 & 3); 63 episodes |
| 2001
|ER |Paul Harris |Episode: "Piece of Mind" |
| 2002
|Zachery Gray |Television film |
| 2003
|Young MacGyver |Clay MacGyver |Unsold television pilot |
| 2004
|Himself |Documentary miniseries |
| 2005–2020
|Main role; 327 episodes |
| 2007
|Himself |Host; 8 episodes |
| 2011
|Supernatural: The Anime Series |Sam Winchester |Main role, voice role; 22 episodes |
| 2015, 2018
|The Hillywood Show |Dancer / Himself / Ghostbuster |Guest role; 2 episodes |
| 2016
|Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life |Dean Forester |Episode: "Fall" |
| 2017
|Kings of Con |Jaden Jaworski |Episode: "Arlington, VA" |
| 2021–2024
|Cordell Walker |Main role, 69 episodes; also executive producer |
| 2023
|Unnamed |
| 2024
| Camden | Guest role; 3 episodes |
| 2026
|{{TableTBA}} |{{TableTBA}} |
Awards and nominations
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=February 2017}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|655585}}
- {{twitter|JarPad}}
- [http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Friday+the+13th%3A+Jared+Padalecki/ Interview with Jared Padalecki] at SuicideGirls.com
{{Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Padalecki, Jared}}
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:Male actors from San Antonio
Category:American expatriates in Canada
Category:American male film actors
Category:American people of Polish descent
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:American people of German descent
Category:American people of Scottish descent