Biography of Jensen Ackles
Jensen Ackles is an American actor, director, singer, and producer. He shot to fame playing Dean Winchester, part of a fearless family of hunters battling supernatural creatures, in the hit series "Supernatural." He headlined the show for fifteen years. His credits also include Eric Brady on the soap opera "Days of Our Lives," Alec in the drama "Dark Angel," antihero Soldier Boy in the sci-fi action series "The Boys," and Boaz "Baz" Priestly in the drama "Ten Inch Hero."
Childhood, Adolescence, Family
Jensen Ross Ackles was born in the spring of 1978 to actor and radio host Alan Roger Ackles and Donna Joan Shaffer in the Texas city of Richardson, a suburb of Dallas. The future star's ancestors were English, German, and Scottish.Jensen is the middle child, with an older brother Joshua and a younger sister Mackenzie, who both later became actors.
From age two, the future star worked as a model, appearing in print ads. By age four, he was appearing in TV commercials. He could be seen in commercials for brands like Nabisco, RadioShack, and Wal-Mart.
During his school years, Jensen also developed an interest in acting—inspired by his actor father. He watched Alan study scripts and picked up industry "tricks" from him. Ackles admits he inherited both his dramatic and comedic talents from his father:
Ackles graduated from Dartmouth Elementary School, Apollo Junior High, and Lloyd V. Berkner High School. In high school, he began taking drama classes, where he claimed he was the only student in the department.My dad is a big fan of sketches, and as a child, I watched a lot of comedies with Steve Martin and Chevy Chase, there was also 'The Pink Panther' and 'Monty Python', a lot of that kind of rough humor, and dad loved to laugh about it. And I realized that if I could make my dad laugh, I'd be happy.
During his sophomore year, a friend invited Jensen to attend a local acting workshop. Actor Craig Wargo and agent Michael Einfeld took an interest in Jensen's talent and offered him to go with them to Los Angeles.
Ackles figured Craig and Michael had forgotten about him, but when he moved to Los Angeles, they provided invaluable help. In 1996, he landed minor roles in the series 'Wishbone' (as Michael Duss), 'Mr. Rhodes' (as Malcolm), and 'Sweet Valley High' (as Brad Rollins).
Supernatural Career
Jensen Ackles scored a major breakthrough in his budding acting career when he landed the role of Eric Brady in the long-running soap opera "Days of Our Lives." Before Ackles, several child actors had played the part, and he auditioned multiple times before finally being cast in July 1997.
After three years on the set and 448 episodes, he left the show in July 2000 to work on the miniseries "Blonde," though the showrunners later asked him to return briefly, which he declined. In the film about the legendary Marilyn Monroe, Jensen played Eddie G, a corrupt "golden boy" and an entirely negative character, save for his incredibly handsome appearance.
In 2000, he appeared as the serial killer Ben in James Cameron's sci-fi action show "Dark Angel." His character, the brother of the main heroine played by Jessica Alba, dies and then reappears as the clone Alec McDowell. Ackles stayed with the series until it ended in 2002.
He landed the main role of a guy named Max Morgan in the drama series "Still Life," and in 2005, he starred alongside his father in the horror movie "Devour." Reflecting on working together, Jensen noted:
Then came the casting for the new supernatural series "Supernatural," and Jensen landed the lead role of Dean Winchester. Jared Padalecki became his screen brother for the next 15 years. However, when filming began, no one imagined the series would become such a massive success and last so long. "Supernatural" creator Eric Kripke changed the concept several times, trying to better match the series to American urban legends.This thriller had a ridiculously small budget; I can't imagine how they managed. I remember when I saw the result, I was amazed: 'Look what they've put together! I don't even remember shooting this.' Working with my father was really great, something I always wanted to do. I learned all my tricks from him, so acting in the same movie was easy. He thinks I outperformed him on screen, I think the opposite.
In an interview, recalling his work on the series, Ackles shared some directing secrets:
Ackles and Padalecki were the only actors in that TV series who appeared in all episodes and seasons. Jensen, like Jared, performed many stunts himself, as he always paid attention to his physical fitness. In addition to the main characters, viewers also fondly remember Misha Collins (angel Castiel), Mark Pellegrino (Lucifer), Genevieve Cortese (Ruby), and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (John Winchester). The final episodes of "Supernatural" aired in 2020.As an actor, I come to the set ready to play Dean, studying every scene in detail to perform as well as possible. But when I direct... every actor, the entire set, camera movement, decisions about props, visual effects, special effects – it all focuses on me. I have twelve department heads who come to me every five minutes and ask: 'Do you want this or that? And how do you want to do it? If we do it this way, we can do it that way.' And I have to respond: 'I want this,' and explain why. As an actor, I don't have to think about all this! So, these are two completely different states.
Filming the massively popular series was incredibly demanding for the cast, but Ackles still found time to build his reputation in other projects. He delivered a standout performance as Boaz Priestly in indie director David Mackay's drama "Ten Inch Hero," earning critical acclaim for his portrayal of one of the film's most eccentric characters.
The actor, who was also a producer, commenting on the new series, mentioned the following:
In the prequel's pilot episode, young John, played by Drake Rogers, has recently returned from Vietnam to his hometown, 'where traces of his father's past lead him to a secret organization and to an entirely new war.' Meanwhile, nineteen-year-old Mary considers leaving the family business after losing a loved one – 'until her father's disappearance and the arrival of newcomer John Winchester compel her to take charge of a new team... We'll get to the waypoints in ways we probably didn't expect. It's not a soapy version. Not a sweet version of how mom and dad met. It's what could have actually happened.
Jensen Ackles' Personal Life
The actor's heartthrob status has never been questioned, and romantic storylines have always surrounded him. Ackles was rumored to have romances with various actresses, including Ashley Scott, Kristin Kreuk, and Lisa Rideg. He even brought Lisa home to meet his parents and they discussed marriage, but the wedding never happened.Jensen also dated Polish model Joanna Krupa. She openly shared intimate photos and relationship details with her followers online, which quickly put an end to their romance.
In 2010, they exchanged vows in a romantic ceremony with a string orchestra providing the soundtrack. The bride was stunning in her couture gown, and afterward, the newlyweds settled into a spacious home in Austin, Texas.
Three years later, the Ackles welcomed "royal" twins—son Zeppelin Bram and daughter Arrow Rhodes. Jensen has consistently shared in interviews that family means everything to him, and their needs always come first.
Jensen Ackles Now
By late 2023, the actor joined the cast of sci-fi action series "The Boys: Gen V" (a spin-off of "The Boys"), reprising his role as Soldier Boy.Meanwhile, "The Winchesters" was canceled after just one season, and it's unclear whether Ackles will return for other "Supernatural" universe projects.
Interesting Facts
- Jensen Ackles was blown away as a kid by his first Dallas Cowboys game. In an interview, he recalled:
It might not have been their best game, but it made the biggest impression on me. At the same stadium, I attended Michael Jackson's concert from his Thriller tour. How awesome is my mom, right? I was 6 years old, she took me to Texas Stadium, and the experience stayed with me for life. The place was packed, then these incredible monsters appeared. It was absolutely spectacular - I got it, this wasn't Disney. The next concert I went to on my own was Van Halen.
- What many people don't know is that Ackles also has stage experience. In 2007, he took the stage alongside Lou Diamond Phillips in the play "A Few Good Men," portraying Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee. With his trademark humor, Jensen shared how his stage debut went:I remember starting rehearsals, and by day two, I started to realize just how massive this role was, how much dialogue was involved. We're talking 125 pages, and I was in 98% of the scenes. That's when I panicked: what did I get myself into?! The premiere was only two weeks away, and I was pacing my hotel room, trying to figure out how to memorize it all. I don't know how I did it, but memory's a funny thing. It's very different from film or TV shows, you get this completely different energy from the audience, a vibe you just don't get from a film crew, so I have nothing but respect for it. It was certainly an unforgettable experience.
- Even if Ackles quit acting tomorrow, his family wouldn't have much to worry about. He and his wife bought some land outside Austin and built a brewery that makes all kinds of beer - ales, lagers, stouts. His buddy Jared Padalecki was hands-on with developing the business and got to be the first official taste-tester. On top of that, they built a stage for live music and serve up Southern comfort food. Jensen also has his eye on a beautiful, old ranch that he dreams of turning into a restaurant.