Jeremiah O’Connell

Vitals

Born: February 17, 1974

Birthplace: New York City, NY

Height: 6 foot 3 inches

Family:

Father: Michael O’Connell, Art Director

Mother: Linda O’Connell, Teacher

Brother: Charles O’Connell, Actor-model, drama graduate from NYU; New York State junior fencing champion.

Raised: Greenwich Village, NY. and Toronto, Ont.

Education: Attended Professional Children's School in New York, NY (1987). Attended HB Studio in New York, NY. Studied with Herbert Berghof. Studied acting with Maria Greco. Attended New York University in New York, NY. Majored in film and television (BFA 1995).

Interests: Surfing, sailing, windsurfing, fencing, baseball, basketball, football, running, writing.

Discerring Marks: a scar over the left side of his lip, he was bitten by a dog at age 11. The injury required 72 stitches to close.

Dislikes: math, science

Milestones:

1980: Began taking acting and dance classes at age six (date approximate)

1982: Appeared in first TV commercial at age eight Stage debut in the off-Broadway production, "Water Music"

1986: Made feature film debut playing Vern in "Stand By Me"

1987: First TV-movie, "The Room Upstairs"

1988: Had first TV episodic guest shot on "The Equalizer"

1988-1991: Made TV series debut, starred in the syndicated fantasy "My Secret Identity"

1993: Returned to features (in older roles) with "Calendar Girl"

1995: Won praise for playing a character who ages nearly twenty years in "Blue River", a Fox TV-movie

1995-: Starred in the sci-fi series "Sliders" (Fox, 1995-97; Sci-Fi Channel 1998- )

1995: First starring feature role, "Joe's Apartment"

Biography:

A veteran of over ten years of professional experience in New York theater and commercials, O'Connell made an auspicious feature film debut at age 11 playing the chubby, winsome Vern Tessio of Rob Reiner's "Stand By Me" (1986). While he held his own against such future feature heavyweights as River Phoenix and Kiefer Sutherland, O'Connell found much of his subsequent employment in TV.

After several TV-movies, including a lively adaptation of humorist Jean Shepherd's twisted nostalgic story "Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss" (Disney Channel/PBS, 1988), O'Connell landed the lead in the fantasy series, "My Secret Identity" (syndicated, 1988-91). His Andrew Clements was an ordinary teen bestowed with super powers, including the ability to fly, after a run-in with a photon beam. This marked the beginning of O'Connell's regular employment as a TV juvenile lead. After starring in the short-lived "Camp Wilder" (ABC, 1992), O'Connell co-starred with Jason Priestly in the feature "Calendar Girl" (1993), as Scott 'The Dood' Foreman, an eighteen-year-old with a wooden leg. He delivered a solid comic performance in this coming-of-age tale about three boys' search for their idol, Marilyn Monroe.

O'Connell's returned to TV in "Blue River" (Fox, 1995), based on the novel by Ethan Canin. Showcasing his pumped-up physique, the actor believably played both the youthful and middle-aged versions of an unstable man coping with a dysfunctional family. O'Connell also headed the cast of the sci-fi adventure series, "Sliders" (Fox, 1995-97; Sci-Fi Channel 1998- ), as a physics grad student who unknowingly creates a doorway to parallel universes. His sculpted body was even more evident when he donned "Rambo" gear to battle some pesky roaches in "Joe's Apartment" (1996). Based on the popular MTV short of the same name, the film featured a lovelorn protagonist whose life is ruined by his "friendly" insect roommates. He also won the coveted role of a football player handled by sports agent Tom Cruise in "Jerry Maguire" (1996). Next he'll appear alongside his young contemporaries in Wes Craven's "Scream 2."

Notes & Quotes:

While filming "Joe's Apartment" O'Connell had a scene in which cockroaches romp inside his mouth. Rather than use the rubber fakes, he elected to use live ones, and told Entertainment Weekly (June 30-July 7, 1995): "I suggested we use live ones. Otherwise it would've looked fake. I could feel their feelers against the roof of my mouth." Writer-director John Payson added, "He did two takes."

"I look at all my friends that I graduated college with and they're still living at home and they can't get a job at McDonald's. So I'm pretty lucky right now." -- O'Connell quoted in Time Out New York, July 17-24, 1996

"Get a date with Sarah Michelle Gellar." -- on what he would do if if he was the most powerful person in Hollywood. (Entertainment Weekly 11/7/97)

Fan Club:

National Association of Fan Clubs

P.O. Box 7487

Burbank, CA

91510-7487

Or try this:

Jerry O'Connell

151 El Camino Dr.

Beverly Hills, CA

90212

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