Jensen Ackles

Jensen Ross Ackles (born March 1, 1978) was born in Dallas, Texas to Roger Alan Ackles, an actor, and Donna Joan Shaffer. Ackles has an older brother, Joshua, and a younger sister, Mackenzie. He has Irish, English and Scottish ancestry. His parents named him Jensen because it was uncommon. He graduated from Dartmouth Elementary School in 1990, Apollo Junior High School in 1993, and Lloyd V. Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas in 1996. Ackles played baseball and lacrosse in high school. He planned to study sports medicine at Texas Tech University and become a physical therapist before moving to Los Angeles to become an actor.

After modeling off and on as a young child, Ackles began to concentrate on an acting career in 1996. He appeared in several guest roles on Mr. Rhodes, Sweet Valley High, and Cybill before joining the cast of the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives as Eric Brady in 1997. He won a 1998 Soap Opera Digest Award for Best Male Newcomer and went on to be nominated three times (in 1998, 1999, and 2000) for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series for his work on Days of Our Lives.

In 2000, Ackles departed Days of Our Lives, appearing in the mini-series Blonde about the life of Marilyn Monroe. He also auditioned for the role as the young Clark Kent on Smallville, but it was offered to actor Tom Welling instead. After failing to land the part, he appeared in a guest role on the James Cameron television series Dark Angel on Fox during its first season in 2001 as Ben/X5-493, the psychopathic, serial killer "brother" of the main character Max (played by Jessica Alba). His character died after just one episode, but Ackles returned to the show as a series regular in the second season as Ben's twin, Alec/X5-494. He remained with the show until its cancellation in 2002.

Ackles worked steadily throughout 2003. He joined the cast of the WB's hit show, Dawson's Creek during the final season, playing C.J., Jen Lindley's lover. Ackles returned to Vancouver (where Dark Angel was filmed) in 2004 to become a regular on Smallville, playing Jason Teague, the romantic interest of Lana Lang, played by Kristin Kreuk. He also had a lead role in the 2005 film Devour. He currently stars as Dean Winchester on the CW's Supernatural along with Jared Padalecki.

Was a child model at age 4, then quit, and started again at age 10.

Was offered a role as Eliza Dushku's love interest on "Tru Calling" but chose to take a role on "Smallville" instead. Eric Christian Olsen was eventually given the role and the character's name was changed to Jensen.

His parent were going to name him Justin, but thought it was too common.

Is Good friends with LeAnn Rimes and Christian Kane.

Also sings and plays guitar.