Joshua Carter Jackson (born June 11, 1978)[2] is a Canadian-American actor. He is known for his portrayal of Pacey Witter on The WB's teen drama Dawson's Creek (1998–2003), Peter Bishop in the Fox science fiction series Fringe (2008–2013), Cole Lockhart on Showtime's The Affair (2014–2018), Dan Gallagher in the Paramount+ series Fatal Attraction, and Dr. Christopher Duntsch in the Peacock crime drama series Dr. Death (2021). For the latter, he was nominated for the 2022 Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Limited Series. He currently stars as Dr. Max Bankman in the ABC series Doctor Odyssey (2024-). His other credits include When They See Us (2019), and Little Fires Everywhere (2020).

Joshua Jackson
Jackson in 2010
Born
Joshua Carter Jackson

(1978-06-11) June 11, 1978 (age 46)
Citizenship
  • Canada
  • United States
  • Ireland
OccupationActor
Years active1991–present
Spouse
(m. 2019; sep. 2023)
PartnerDiane Kruger (2006–2016)[1]
Children1

Outside of television, he played Joshua Black in Magic in the Water in 1995. Jackson came to prominence playing Charlie Conway in the Mighty Ducks film series (1992–1996). His other film appearances include Apt Pupil (1998), Urban Legend (1998), Cruel Intentions (1999), The Skulls (2000), Gossip (2000), The Safety of Objects (2001), The Laramie Project (2002), Cursed (2005), Bobby (2006), and Shutter (2008). For his performance in the Canadian independent drama One Week (2008), Jackson won the 2010 Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.

Early life

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Jackson was born on June 11, 1978, in Vancouver to parents John and Fiona. His mother is a casting director. Jackson's father is from Texas,[3] and his mother is a native of Ballyfermot, a surburb of Dublin, Ireland. She immigrated to North America in the late 1960s. He has a younger sister, Aisleagh, and two older half brothers, Jonathan and Lyman.[4] He was raised Roman Catholic.[5][6]

Jackson lived in California until the age of 8. He moved to Vancouver with his mother and younger sister. He attended Ideal Mini School and later switched to Kitsilano Secondary School. He attended high school with actor Ryan Reynolds.[7]

Career

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Jackson at the premiere of Bobby, Toronto International Film Festival, 2006

Jackson started acting in a small role in the film Crooked Hearts in 1991. The next year, he played the role of Charlie in a musical version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. At this point, with the help of the play's casting director Laura Kennedy, he joined the William Morris Agency.[8] Soon after, he landed the role of Charlie (#96) in The Mighty Ducks series, playing a young and aspiring hockey player.

Jackson went on to appear as Pacey Witter on Dawson's Creek, which was created by Kevin Williamson and ran on the WB network from 1998 to 2003, and also starred James Van Der Beek, Michelle Williams, and Katie Holmes.[9] While the show was on hiatus, he appeared in several movies including Cruel Intentions (an adaptation of Les Liaisons dangereuses that also starred Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe), The Skulls, The Safety of Objects, The Laramie Project and a short cameo in the remake of Ocean's Eleven in which he appears as himself in a poker scene with Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Holly Marie Combs. In 2000, he also guest-starred in Season 12 of The Simpsons, voicing the character of Jesse Grass, a "hunky environmentalist" and love interest for Lisa Simpson in the episode "Lisa the Tree Hugger".[10] He also was cast as "Beau" in the movie Gossip in 2000 with actors James Marsden, Kate Hudson and Norman Reedus.

Shortly after Dawson's Creek ended in 2003, Jackson played the lead role in films alongside Dennis Hopper (Americano), Harvey Keitel (Shadows in the Sun), and Donald Sutherland (Aurora Borealis). In 2005, Jackson moved to the UK and made his stage debut on the London West End with Patrick Stewart in David Mamet's two-man play, A Life in the Theatre. The play was a critical and popular success, and ran from February to April of that year. Jackson said that he would consider returning to the stage, to try his hand on Broadway. His next film role was in Bobby, directed by Emilio Estevez, Jackson's co-star from The Mighty Ducks. He played a lead role in Shutter, a U.S. remake of film of the same name. He starred and acted as executive producer in the Canadian independent film One Week, which opened on March 6, 2009.[11][12]

 
Jackson at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con

From 2008 to 2013, Jackson played the lead role of Peter Bishop in the science-fiction series Fringe,[13] created by J. J. Abrams, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.[14] The series was the second-highest rated new show of the 2008–2009 season after The Mentalist. BuddyTV ranked him #9 on its "TV's 100 Sexiest Men of 2010" list,[15] #19 in 2011[16] and #14 in 2012.[17]

Jackson was nominated for a Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for the film One Week.[18] He won the award on April 12, 2010.[19] He held and hosted the satirical Pacey-Con in 2010, directly across the street from the Comic-Con, sporting a bowling shirt and giving out fan fiction, written by Dawson's Creek fans, to those waiting in the Comic-Con entrance line. Footage of the event was recorded for a video, entitled 'Pacey-Con', which he was filming for Will Ferrell's Funny or Die celebrity humor website.[20] In 2013, Jackson appeared in the IFC film Inescapable with Marisa Tomei and Alexander Siddig.[21] Jackson wrote the first story from the comic book trilogy Beyond the Fringe, titled "Peter and the Machine".[22] Jackson starred in the successful television show The Affair, where he played Cole Lockhart, the protagonist husband of the unfaithful Alison Lockhart.[23]

In March 2018, Jackson made his theatrical debut on Broadway in Children of a Lesser God, where he played James Leeds, an unconventional teacher at a school for the deaf who gets in a conflicted professional and romantic relationship with a deaf former student, Sarah Norman (Lauren Ridloff). The play ran through May 2018.[24]

In 2019, Jackson starred as defense attorney Mickey Joseph in the miniseries When They See Us.[25]

In 2020, Jackson co-starred with Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington in the miniseries Little Fires Everywhere based on the novel by Celeste Ng.[26]

Jackson was cast as Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a neurosurgeon who was convicted of intentionally maiming his patient, in Dr. Death which was based on the podcast of the same name, replacing Jamie Dornan.[27]

In 2023, Jackson played the lead in the series Fatal Attraction with Lizzy Caplan, inspired by the 1980s thriller film of the same name.[28]

Personal life

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Jackson with his then wife, Jodie Turner-Smith in February 2020

Jackson was in a relationship with Dawson's Creek co-star Katie Holmes during the first two seasons of the show's run. Holmes said that Jackson was her first love.[29]

From 2006 to 2016, he was in a relationship with German actress Diane Kruger.[30]

Jackson began a relationship with British actress Jodie Turner-Smith in 2018. They married on August 18, 2019. On April 13, 2020, the couple welcomed their daughter.[31][32] In October 2023, it was revealed that Turner-Smith had filed for divorce from Jackson.[33]

In December 2023, Jackson and fellow actor Lupita Nyong'o confirmed they are dating.[34] In October 2024, Nyong'o announced they were no longer together.[35]

Jackson owns his childhood home in Topanga, California.[36] He previously lived in Wilmington, North Carolina, where Dawson's Creek was filmed, and in New York City, where Fringe filmed its first season. In 2009, he moved back to Vancouver to shoot four seasons of the show before the last episode was aired on January 18, 2013.

Jackson is a fan of the Vancouver Canucks hockey team.[37]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1991 Crooked Hearts Tom (11 years)
1992 The Mighty Ducks Charlie Conway
1993 Digger Billy
1994 D2: The Mighty Ducks Charlie Conway
Andre Mark Baker
1995 Magic in the Water Joshua Black
1996 D3: The Mighty Ducks Charlie Conway
Robin of Locksley John Prince, Jr.
1997 Ronnie and Julie Ronnie
Scream 2 Film Class Guy #1
1998 The Battery Michael Papperman Short film
Apt Pupil Joey
Urban Legend Damon Brooks
1999 Cruel Intentions Blaine Tuttle
Muppets from Space Pacey Witter Uncredited cameo
2000 The Skulls Lucas 'Luke' McNamara
Gossip Beau Edson
2001 The Safety of Objects Paul Gold
Ocean's Eleven Himself Cameo
2002 The Laramie Project Matt Galloway
Lone Star State of Mind Earl Crest Alternative title: Cowboys and Idiots
2003 I Love Your Work John Everhart
2005 Cursed Jake Taylor
Racing Stripes Trenton's Pride Voice
Americano Chris McKinley
Aurora Borealis Duncan Shorter
The Shadow Dancer Jeremy Taylor Alternative title: Shadows in the Sun
2006 Bobby Wade Buckley
2007 Battle in Seattle Randall
2008 Shutter Benjamin Shaw
Gashole Himself Documentary
One Week Ben Tyler
2012 Lay the Favorite Jeremy
Inescapable Paul
2015 Sky Detective Ruther
2025 Karate Kid: Legends Victor Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1991 Payoff Young Mac Television film
1996 Champs Matt Mazzilli 2 episodes
Robin of Locksley John Prince, Jr. Television film
1997 Ronnie & Julie Ronnie Monroe Television film
On the Edge of Innocence Sammy Television film
The Outer Limits Devon Taylor Episode: "Music of the Spheres"
1998–2003 Dawson's Creek Pacey Witter Main role: 124 episodes
2000 Saturday Night Live Himself/host Episode: "Joshua Jackson/NSYNC"
The Simpsons Jesse Grass Voice, episode: "Lisa the Tree Hugger"
2006 Capitol Law Mark Clayton Unsold TV pilot
2008–2013 Fringe Peter Bishop Main role: 96 episodes
2014–2018 The Affair Cole Lockhart Main role: 29 episodes
2016 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Purvis Episode: "Kimmy Goes to a Hotel!"
Years of Living Dangerously Himself Episode: "Collapse of the Oceans"
2019 When They See Us Mickey Joseph Episode: "Part Two"
2020 Little Fires Everywhere Bill Richardson Miniseries; 7 episodes
2021 Dr. Death Dr. Christopher Duntsch Main role (season 1): 8 episodes
2023 Fatal Attraction Dan Gallagher Lead role; Miniseries
2024 Doctor Odyssey Dr. Max Bankman Main role, also executive producer

Stage

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Year Title Role Notes
2005 A Life in the Theatre John David Mamet play with Patrick Stewart
2016 Smart People Brian play by Lydia R. Diamond at Second Stage Theater[38]
2017, 2018 Children of a Lesser God James Leeds Berkshire Theatre Festival with Kenny Leon
Studio 54[39]

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Nominated work Result
1993 Young Artist Award Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture The Mighty Ducks Nominated
1999 Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actor Dawson's Creek Won
2000 Choice Liar in a Film The Skulls Nominated
Choice TV Actor Dawson's Creek Won
Young Hollywood Award Male Superstar of Tomorrow Won
2001 Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actor Dawson's Creek Won
2002 Nominated
2003 Nominated
2005 Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival Best Actor Aurora Borealis Won
2006 Hollywood Film Festival Best Ensemble of the Year Bobby Won
Satellite Award Best Actor – Motion Picture Aurora Borealis Nominated
2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Bobby Nominated
2009 Teen Choice Award Choice Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi Fringe Nominated
2010 Genie Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role One Week Won
Teen Choice Award Choice Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi Fringe Nominated
2011 Nominated
2012 Nominated
2013 Saturn Awards Best Actor on Television Nominated
2016 People's Choice Awards Favorite Premium Cable TV Actor The Affair Nominated
2017 Nominated
2018 Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance Award Children of a Lesser God Nominated
2022 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries Dr. Death Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Gugliemi, Jodi (July 18, 2016). "Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson Have Split After 10 Years Together". People. Archived from the original on July 19, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  2. ^ Furman, Elina (1999). Joshua Jackson: An Unauthorized Biography. St. Martin's Press. p. 8. ISBN 9781466813250.
  3. ^ Shires, Sarah (March 11, 2005). "I was just six and dad filed for custody of my dog... Yes, I'm still mad; Joshua Jackson on growing up and life after Dawson's Creek". The Evening Standard. Retrieved December 10, 2007.[dead link]
  4. ^ "Joshua Jackson Biography". Movies.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  5. ^ Rothing, Hilary (September 8, 2009). "Fringe DVD Launch Party: Josh Jackson interview". UGO Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 8, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  6. ^ "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", Joshua Jackson interview May 14, 2002 (Joshua Jackson answers the Conan O'Brien question about fans websites; "Yeah, you know, I'm Irish Catholic, I have a lot of family members, that's a lot of websites.") Retrieved on April 23, 2010.
  7. ^ "Best Kisser on 'Dawson's Creek'? Katie Holmes Won't Tell (But Ryan Reynolds Will)". ET Canada. February 18, 2016. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  8. ^ Mcfadden, Kay (January 19, 1998). "The Kids Are Alright -- Jackson Has Come Far From The 'Chocolate Factory'". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  9. ^ Perkins, Bim Adewunmi, Nichole (November 29, 2019). ""Why Is This Show Not Called Pacey's Creek?"". Slate Magazine. Archived from the original on April 13, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Lisa the Tree Hugger at IMDb
  11. ^ One Week at IMDb
  12. ^ Joshua Jackson at IMDb
  13. ^ "BBC News". February 8, 2008. Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  14. ^ "Fringe Overview". Sky1.sky.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  15. ^ "TV's 100 Sexiest Men of 2010". BuddyTV. December 6, 2010. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  16. ^ "TV's 100 Sexiest Men of 2011". BuddyTV. December 7, 2011. Archived from the original on April 22, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  17. ^ "TV's 100 Sexiest Men of 2012". BuddyTV. Archived from the original on December 14, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  18. ^ "CBC News — Polytechnique tops Genie nominations". Cbc.ca. March 1, 2010. Archived from the original on March 3, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  19. ^ "Polytechnique sweeps Genie Awards" Archived October 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Toronto Star, April 12, 2010.
  20. ^ Vena, Jocelyn. "Joshua Jackson Explains Pacey-Con 'Funny Or Die' Video". MTV News. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  21. ^ Mintzer, Joshua (September 11, 2012). "Inescapable: Toronto Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  22. ^ Rogers, Vaneta (September 22, 2011). "Actor / Now-Writer Joshua Jackson Goes Beyond The Fringe". Newsarama. Archived from the original on September 27, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  23. ^ "Joshua Jackson Talks 'The Affair' Season 2 and Exploring Cole's Point of View". Collider. October 3, 2015. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  24. ^ "Children of a Lesser God". playbill.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  25. ^ Friend, David (June 4, 2019). "Joshua Jackson on the 'tragically simple' circumstances of the Central Park Five case". 660 News. Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  26. ^ Malkin, Marc (April 2, 2020). "Listen: Joshua Jackson on Tackling Race and Class in 'Little Fires Everywhere'". Variety.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  27. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 12, 2020). "'Dr. Death': Joshua Jackson To Play Title Role In Peacock Limited Series, Replacing Jamie Dornan". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 30, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  28. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 20, 2022). "Joshua Jackson To Star In 'Fatal Attraction' TV Series At Paramount+". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  29. ^ "Katie Holmes:Joshua Jackson Was "My First Love"". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on July 25, 2013.
  30. ^ Gugliemi, Jodi (July 18, 2016). "Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson Have Split After 10 Years Together". People. United States: Time Inc. Archived from the original on July 19, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  31. ^ Heller, Corinne; Dupre, Elyse (December 20, 2019). "Joshua Jackson and Jodie Turner-Smith Are Married and Expecting Their First Child". E! News. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  32. ^ Harmata, Claudia; Pasquini, Maria (April 21, 2020). "She's Here! Joshua Jackson and Jodie Turner-Smith Welcome a Daughter". People. Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on April 22, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  33. ^ "Jodie Turner-Smith Files for Divorce from Joshua Jackson After More Than 3 Years of Marriage". People. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  34. ^ Kang, Esther (December 7, 2023). "Joshua Jackson and Lupita Nyong'o Confirm Their Romance as They Step Out Together Holding Hands". People.
  35. ^ "Lupita Nyong'o and Joshua Jackson's Relationship Timeline". People.com. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  36. ^ Cockle, Jenny (November 11, 2007). "Ben Miller on Los Angeles: I love the glitz, the glamour, the quirks, the beauty". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  37. ^ Slotek, Jim (May 28, 2003). "Mighty Canuck". Canoe.ca. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  38. ^ Stasio, Marilyn (February 11, 2016). "Off Broadway Review: 'Smart People' with Joshua Jackson". Variety. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  39. ^ Aucoin, Don (July 4, 2017). "Striving to be heard in 'Children of a Lesser God'". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 20, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
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