Jesse Spencer

{{For|the American pornographic actor born Jesse Spencer|Mr. Marcus}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jesse Spencer

| image = Jesse Spencer 2009.jpg

| image_size = 200px

| caption = Spencer in 2009

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|2|12|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Melbourne, Australia

| citizenship = {{hlist|Australia|United States{{Cite web |date=2023-04-05 |title=Inside the Impressive Life and Career of Chicago Fire's Jesse Spencer |url=https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/what-to-know-about-jesse-spencer-young-life-family-career |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=NBC Insider Official Site |language=en-US}}}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|musician}}

| years_active = 1991–present

| spouse = {{marriage|Kali Woodruff Carr|2020}}

| children = 1

}}

Jesse Gordon Spencer (born 12 February 1979) is an Australian actor. He is known for his roles as Billy Kennedy on the Australian soap opera Neighbours (1994–2000, 2005, 2022), for which he was nominated for two Logie Awards, Dr. Robert Chase on the American medical drama House (2004–2012) and Captain Matthew Casey on the American drama Chicago Fire (2012–2024).

Early life

Jesse Gordon Spencer was born in Melbourne on 12 February 1979, the son of Robyn and radiologist Rodney Spencer. His parents were the founders of the Australians Against Further Immigration party{{Cite web |date=21 March 2003 |title=Anti-immigrants with a green tinge |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/anti-immigrants-with-a-green-tinge-20030321-gdggxd.html |access-date=26 April 2021 |archive-date=26 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426135945/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/anti-immigrants-with-a-green-tinge-20030321-gdggxd.html |url-status=live }} and later contested the 1998 Australian federal election for the right-wing populist party Pauline Hanson's One Nation.{{Cite web |title=Federal Elections 1998 |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/binaries/library/pubs/rp/1998-99/99rp09.pdf |website=aph.gov.au |access-date=9 January 2023 |archive-date=9 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109035817/https://www.aph.gov.au/binaries/library/pubs/rp/1998-99/99rp09.pdf |url-status=live }}

Spencer attended Canterbury Primary School, Malvern Central School and Scotch College. While there, he auditioned for the long-running soap opera Neighbours. He completed his VCE and gained a place at Monash University but deferred to pursue acting.{{cite journal |last=McComas |first=Campbell |date=December 1998 |title=Revisions of boyhood |url=https://www.scotch.vic.edu.au/greatscot/1998decGS/p46SitA.htm |journal=Great Scot |publisher=Scotch College, Melbourne |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=16 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402193731/https://www.scotch.vic.edu.au/greatscot/1998decGS/p46SitA.htm |url-status=live }}

Career

=Acting=

File:Jesse Spencer.jpg

Spencer starred as Billy Kennedy in the Australian soap opera Neighbours from 1994 to 2000. He later reprised his role in 2005, in an episode celebrating the show's 20th anniversary. His character was the son of long-term iconic Ramsay Street residents Dr. Karl Kennedy and Susan Kennedy.{{Cite web |date=26 April 2021 |title=Chicago Fire's Jesse Spencer - what you might not know about him |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20210426111904/chicago-fire-jesse-spencer-everything-you-need-to-know/ |access-date=6 August 2021 |website=HOLA |language=en}}

After his time on Neighbours, he co-starred in films such as Winning London with the Olsen twins, Uptown Girls and Swimming Upstream.

Spencer starred as intensive care specialist and surgeon Dr. Robert Chase on the Fox medical drama House from 2004 to 2012. He played Chase for the show's entire run, becoming the second longest-serving member of the title character's team.

Spencer starred as firefighter Captain Matthew Casey in the NBC drama Chicago Fire from 2012{{Cite web |last1=Porter |first1=Rick |date=21 October 2021 |title='Chicago Fire' Bids Farewell to an Original Castmember |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/chicago-fire-jesse-spencer-200th-episode-1235034455/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=7 January 2022 |archive-date=7 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107141141/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/chicago-fire-jesse-spencer-200th-episode-1235034455/ |url-status=live }} to 2021.{{cite web |last=Gelman |first=Vlada |date=20 October 2021 |title=Chicago Fire Star, EP Talk [Spoiler]'s Exit in 200th Episode ('It Was a Difficult Decision') — and a Possible Return |url=https://tvline.com/2021/10/20/jesse-spencer-leaving-chicago-fire-matt-casey-season-10-interview/ |work=TVLine |access-date=21 October 2021 |archive-date=21 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021020245/https://tvline.com/2021/10/20/jesse-spencer-leaving-chicago-fire-matt-casey-season-10-interview/ |url-status=live }}

In 2022, it was confirmed that Spencer would return to Neighbours as part of the series finale.{{Cite tweet|number=1550933773239271424|user=neighbours|title=We've got a few more familiar faces making an appearance in the finale [...] Don't miss the #Neighbours finale on 10 and 10Peach on Thursday, July 28 at 7.30pm and a one-hour primetime finale episode on Friday, July 29 at 9.00pm on Channel 5|access-date=24 July 2022}}

In 2024, Spencer was confirmed as part of the cast for Disney+ series Last Days of the Space Age.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-07 |title=Last Days of the Space Age: Australian Disney+ series coming soon {{!}} ScreenHub Australia - Film & Television Jobs, News, Reviews & Screen Industry Data |url=https://www.screenhub.com.au/news/news/last-days-of-the-space-age-australian-disney-series-coming-soon-2648945/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=www.screenhub.com.au |language=en-AU |archive-date=7 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807073646/https://www.screenhub.com.au/news/news/last-days-of-the-space-age-australian-disney-series-coming-soon-2648945/ |url-status=live }}

=Music=

Spencer began his musical career with the Australian Boys Choir, performing with them from 1986 to 1992.{{cite web |title=Australian Boys Choir |url=http://www.australianboyschoir.com.au |access-date=5 March 2014}} He plays the violin in Band from TV, a group that includes his former House co-star Hugh Laurie. They play at various events, giving the money they earn to charity. The band played on Idol Gives Back in April 2008.{{cite web |date=2008 |title=Grunberg a Nervous Hero as Band from TV Joins "Idol Gives Back" |url=http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/fashion-and-entertainment/hollywood-exclusive/grunberg-a-nervous-hero-as-band-from-tv-joins-idol-gives-back-farina-busy-in-films-but-will-never-sa.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208061345/http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/fashion-and-entertainment/hollywood-exclusive/grunberg-a-nervous-hero-as-band-from-tv-joins-idol-gives-back-farina-busy-in-films-but-will-never-sa.html |archive-date=8 December 2015 |access-date=27 November 2015 |website=Creators.com}}{{cite web |title="Before He Cheats" (Teri Hatcher) – 4/9/2008, 'American Idol Gives Back' |url=http://www.bandfromtv.org/band-from-tv-on-american-idol-gives-back/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002207/http://www.bandfromtv.org/band-from-tv-on-american-idol-gives-back/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=27 November 2015 |work=Band From TV.org}}

Personal life

Spencer began dating American actress Jennifer Morrison, who played his character's love interest in House, in July 2004; he proposed to her at the Eiffel Tower during Christmas 2006,{{cite web |last=Jordan |first=Julie |date=5 January 2007 |title=House Costars Engaged |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20007189,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108051323/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20007189,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 January 2007 |access-date=19 February 2013 |website=People}} but they called off their engagement in August 2007. He also dated Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira from 2010 to 2013.{{Cite web |title=Maya Gabeira: 35 little-known facts about the Brazilian big wave surfer |url=https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/maya-gabeira-35-little-known-facts-about-the-brazilian-big-wave-surfer |website=Surfertoday.com |access-date=9 July 2020 |archive-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228003934/https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/maya-gabeira-35-little-known-facts-about-the-brazilian-big-wave-surfer |url-status=live }}

He began dating neuroscientist Dr. Kali Woodruff Carr in 2014, and they were engaged in 2019. They were married on 27 June 2020.{{cite web |last=Hockey |first=Maddison |date=21 October 2020 |title=Neighbours' Jesse Spencer gets hitched |url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/entertainment/entertainmenttv/neighbours-jesse-spencer-gets-hitched/ar-BB1aeKjn |access-date=11 June 2024 |website=MSN |archive-date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405161737/https://www.msn.com/en-au/entertainment/entertainmenttv/neighbours-jesse-spencer-gets-hitched/ar-BB1aeKjn |url-status=live }} In April 2022, the couple welcomed their first child, a boy.{{cite web |last=Pham |first=Jason |date=6 April 2023 |title=Jesse Spencer’s Kid Was Born 7 Months After He Quit Chicago Fire — He Left the Show to ‘Take Care’ of His Family |url=https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/667188/jesse-spencer-kids/ |access-date=30 May 2025 |website=Soaps |archive-date=|archive-url=}}{{cite web |last=Trepel |first=Skyler |date=21 April 2024 |title=Who Is Jesse Spencer's Wife? All About Kali Woodruff Carr |url=https://people.com/who-is-kali-woodruff-carr-jesse-spencer-wife-8563991 |access-date=30 May 2025 |website=People |archive-date=|archive-url=}}{{cite web |last=Schonter |first=Allison |date=24 April 2024 |title=‘Chicago Fire’ Alum Jesse Spencer Secretly Welcomed a Child With Wife Kali in 2022 |url=https://popculture.com/celebrity-parents/news/chicago-fire-alum-jesse-spencer-secretly-welcomed-child-wife-kali-2022/ |access-date=30 May 2025 |website=popculture. |archive-date=|archive-url=}}

Spencer became an American citizen in November 2021.

Recognition

For Neighbours, Spencer was nominated for "Most Popular Actor" at the 1998 and 1999 Logie Awards. For House, he was nominated for "Choice TV Breakout Performance – Male" at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards and "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series" at the 2008 Screen Actors Guild Awards; he received a "Golden Boomerang" at the 2006 Australians in Film Breakthrough Awards for his work.{{cite web |title=Australians In Film Announces Honorees for 2007 Breakthrough Awards |url=http://www.prleap.com/pr/73425/ |access-date=28 October 2019 |website=Australians in Film |archive-date=28 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928061406/http://www.prleap.com/pr/73425/ |url-status=live }} In 2007, he was included in People Magazine{{'s}} 100 Most Beautiful People issue. For Chicago Fire, he was again nominated at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards for "Choice TV Actor – Action".

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
2000 \|Lorna Doone \|Marwood de Whichehalse \|
rowspan="2" \|2001 \|Curse of the Talisman \|Jeremy Campbell \|
Winning London \|Lord James Browning, Jr. \|
2002 \|Stranded \|Fritz Robinson \|TV film
rowspan="2" \|2003 \|Swimming Upstream \|Tony Fingleton \|
Uptown Girls \|Neal Fox \|
2004 \|Action Man: Robot Atak \|Flynt (voice) \|Animated tie-in
rowspan="2" \|2006 \|Flourish \|Eddie Gator \|
The Script \|Ben \|Short film
2010 \|Tell-Tale \|Lover \|Short film
2013 \|Skum Rocks! \|David Lockhart \|
2015 \|The Girl Is in Trouble \|Nicholas Feinstein \|
2021 \|Queer Fish in God's Waiting Room \|Liam \|Short film

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

2000

|Lorna Doone

|Marwood de Whichehalse

rowspan="2" |2001

|Curse of the Talisman

|Jeremy Campbell

Winning London

|Lord James Browning, Jr.

2002

|Stranded

|Fritz Robinson

|TV film

rowspan="2" |2003

|Swimming Upstream

|Tony Fingleton

Uptown Girls

|Neal Fox

2004

|Action Man: Robot Atak

|Flynt (voice)

|Animated tie-in

rowspan="2" |2006

|Flourish

|Eddie Gator

The Script

|Ben

|Short film

2010

|Tell-Tale

|Lover

|Short film

2013

|Skum Rocks!

|David Lockhart

2015

|The Girl Is in Trouble

|Nicholas Feinstein

2021

|Queer Fish in God's Waiting Room

|Liam

|Short film

=Television=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
1994 \|Time Trax \|Young Bill \|Episode: "A Close Encounter"
1994–2000; 2005; 2022 \|Neighbours \|Billy Kennedy \|Main role (1994–2000); guest role (2005, 2022); 471 episodes
1998 \|Hercules \|Triton, Jr. (voice) \|Episode: "Hercules and the Son of Poseidon"
2002 \|Saishu Heiki Kanojo \|Shuji's Father (voice) \|English version; Episode: "Soshite, bokutachi wa koishiteiku"
2003 \|Death in Holy Orders \|Raphael Arbuthnot \|2 episodes; TV miniseries
2004–2012 \|House \|Dr. Robert Chase \|Main role; 171 episodes
2006 \|Blue Heelers \|Lee Cruickshank \|Episode: "Dangerous Animals"
2012–2021 \|Chicago Fire \|Captain Matthew Casey \|Lead role (seasons 1–10); guest role (seasons 11–12); 205 episodes
2013 \|Phineas and Ferb \|Liam McCracken (voice) \|Episode: "Primal Perry"
2014–2019 \|Chicago P.D. \|Captain Matthew Casey \|7 episodes
2017–2019 \|Chicago Med \|Captain Matthew Casey \|4 episodes
2024 \|Last Days of the Space Age \|Tony Bissett \|8 episodes

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

1994

|Time Trax

|Young Bill

|Episode: "A Close Encounter"

1994–2000; 2005; 2022

|Neighbours

|Billy Kennedy

|Main role (1994–2000); guest role (2005, 2022); 471 episodes

1998

|Hercules

|Triton, Jr. (voice)

|Episode: "Hercules and the Son of Poseidon"

2002

|Saishu Heiki Kanojo

|Shuji's Father (voice)

|English version; Episode: "Soshite, bokutachi wa koishiteiku"

2003

|Death in Holy Orders

|Raphael Arbuthnot

|2 episodes; TV miniseries

2004–2012

|House

|Dr. Robert Chase

|Main role; 171 episodes

2006

|Blue Heelers

|Lee Cruickshank

|Episode: "Dangerous Animals"

2012–2021

|Chicago Fire

|Captain Matthew Casey

|Lead role (seasons 1–10); guest role (seasons 11–12); 205 episodes

2013

|Phineas and Ferb

|Liam McCracken (voice)

|Episode: "Primal Perry"

2014–2019

|Chicago P.D.

|Captain Matthew Casey

|7 episodes

2017–2019

|Chicago Med

|Captain Matthew Casey

|4 episodes

2024

|Last Days of the Space Age

|Tony Bissett

|8 episodes

=Music videos=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Artist ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role
2009 \|Caitlin Crosby \|"Still Have My Heart" \|Dentist
2010 \|Katharine McPhee \|"Say Goodbye" \|Boyfriend

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Artist

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

2009

|Caitlin Crosby

|"Still Have My Heart"

|Dentist

2010

|Katharine McPhee

|"Say Goodbye"

|Boyfriend

Stage

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
1991 \|The King and I \|Louis \|State Theatre
1992 \|Winnie the Pooh \|Christopher Robin \|The Alexander Theatre
1993 \|Scrooge \|Older brother of Tiny Tim \|The Princess Theatre, Melbourne
1998–1999 \|Peter Pan \|Peter Pan \|White Rock Theatre, Hastings
1999–2000 \|Jack and the Beanstalk \|Jack \|Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
2003 \|The Modernists \|Terrance \|The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

1991

|The King and I

|Louis

|State Theatre

1992

|Winnie the Pooh

|Christopher Robin