Jim Beaver is an American television, film, and stage actor, a playwright and screenwriter, and a film historian. He is most familiar to audiences for his roles as Ellsworth in HBO's Western drama Deadwood, Bobby Singer in the CW's Supernatural, and his work as a supporting actor in many popular films and television series. He appeared most recently as Vietnam Joe in the HBO series John From Cincinnati.
Biography
Jim Beaver (born James Norman Beaver, Jr.) was born August 12, 1950 in Laramie, Wyoming, and raised in Texas, where his father, Norman, worked as an accountant and Church of Christ minister. Although he performed in several plays in elementary school, his early interest was in film history and writing.Soon after graduating high school, Mr. Beaver joined the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a radio operator and supply chief for the 1st Marine Regiment in Vietnam.
Following his discharge from active duty in 1971, he entered Oklahoma Christian College, where he became interested in acting and theater and made his stage debut in a production of The Miracle Worker. He later transferred to Central State University and performed in numerous plays, while supporting himself with odd jobs. He also maintained his interest in film history and completed his first book, a biography of John Garfield, while still in college.
After graduating, he worked steadily on stage and in writing, eventually moving to Los Angeles to better research his biography of George Reeves, where he worked as a writer on several shows. A chance meeting led to his casting as Bruce Willis's best friend in In Country, a role that gained him prominence, and since then he has worked steadily in film, television, and on stage.
He lives in Los Angeles with his daughter and three cats: Frankie, Heidi, and Sigourney Beaver.
Trivia
- The family name was originally de Beauvoir, and Beaver is a distant cousin of author and philosopher Simone de Beauvoir and Pennsylvania governor General James A. Beaver.
- On his mother's side, Jim Beaver is Scots-German-Cherokee and a descendant of senator, governor, and three-time U.S. Attorney General John J. Crittenden.
- He was a high school classmate of ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard.
- He is a former chairmen of the board of the prestigious Hollywood theater company Theatre West.
Cecily Adams
Mr. Beaver's wife, Cecily Adams, was the daughter of actor Don Adams (Get Smart, Inspector Gadget) and an accomplished actress, teacher, and director in her own right. The two were married in 1989 and had a daughter in 2001. Tragically, Ms. Adams died of lung cancer in 2004. John From Cincinnati Credits
John From Cincinnati Opening Credits
John From Cincinnati Opening Credits from the Pilot
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Learn More About John From Cincinnati
Mr. Beaver played Vietnam Joe, a pot smoking (and growing) veteran who helps illegal immigrants cross into the US across the Mexican border.
- HBO: John From Cincinnati
- The homepage of the official website for HBO's John From Cincinnati.
- John from Cincinnati (2007)
- John from Cincinnati on IMDb
- John from Cincinnati - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- John from Cincinnati on Wikipedia
Deadwood
Deadwood was a popular Western drama on HBO that detailed the growth of Deadwood, South Dakota in the 1870's from a makeshift miner's camp to a town. It aired from 2004-2006, though two feature length TV movies are expected to air in 2007 to wrap up several series storylines.
Jim Beaver played the role of Whitney Ellsworth, a prospector and reprobate he described as "Gabby Hayes with Tourette's Syndrome."
Deadwood Promo
Ellsworth Trivia
- Ellsworth did not originally have a first name, but when one became necessary, Mr. Beaver requested the name Whitney Ellsworth in honor of the producer of George Reeves's Adventures of Superman.
Purchase Deadwood
Deadwood: The Complete Seasons 1-3
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009) 
Deadwood - The Complete First Season
Amazon Price: $37.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Deadwood - The Complete Second Season
Amazon Price: $37.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Deadwood - The Complete Third Season
Amazon Price: $37.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Supernatural
The CW's popular show Supernatural stars Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki as Dean and Sam Winchester, two road-tripping brothers on a mission to find their father and the mysterious supernatural evil that killed their mother when Sam was a baby. In his recurring role as fellow hunter Bobby Singer, Jim Beaver has become one of the show's most beloved stars.
Bobby runs Singer's Salvage Yard in South Dakota, but his real expertise is in fighting demons. Although his relationship with the boys' father, John, seems to have been difficult at best (Dean mentions at one point that the last time he saw Bobby, Bobby was threatening to fill John with buckshot), he obviously loves Sam and Dean like his own sons, and the boys turn to him for help and advice more than anyone else.
Supernatural Season Three Promo
Bobby Trivia
- The name 'Bobby Singer' is a reference to Supernatural's executive producer, Robert Singer.
- Bobby owns a blue Ford tow-truck with Lawrence County, South Dakota plates, probably a reference to Beaver's role in Deadwood. Deadwood is the county seat of Lawrence County.
- Bobby's dog, Rumsfeld, is a reference to former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
Purchase Supernatural
Supernatural - The Complete First Season
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Supernatural - The Complete Second Season
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Supernatural - The Complete Third Season
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Supernatural: The Official Companion Season 1
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/06/2009)
Learn More About Supernatural
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Supernatural (Season #3)
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Season 3 is here fellow fans! If the first episode is any indication of the rest of this season, then we are in for one hell of a gruesome ride. Can Sam find a way to reverse Dean's deal with the Crossroads Demon? Has Sam changed into some sort of pa...
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Supernatural (season #1)
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What more can you want from a show? The WB's "Supernatural" has it all: ghosts, demons, muscle cars, guns, awesome rock and roll, and another season! Supernatural (season #1) follows two estranged brothers on their hunt for their father, who...
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Supernatural (Season #2)
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Season 2 finally started 09/28/06 and it started with one hell of a geat episode! We'll be looking forward to some new characters this season and some great guest stars as well. Make sure to keep checking back for news on the show, its stars, and the...
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Supernatural (Season 4)
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Season 4 has started and so have the episode spoilers and guide. So far all I have to say about this season is WOW! As always, if you have any news that can be verified, please drop me a line. Once I check it out, I will not only include the news, b...
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Supernatural Music
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In its four seasons on the air, Supernatural has acquired a dedicated following due to its thrilling storylines, great family drama, and charismatic young stars. For many people, the brilliant soundtrack of classic rock, metal, country, and blues hit...
Other Roles
A partial filmography
Films
The Life of David Gale (2003) - Duke Grover
Adaptation (2002) - Ranger Tony
Magnolia (1999) - Smiling Peanut Patron #1
Bad Girls (1994) - Pinkerton Detective Graves
Sister Act (1992) - Detective Clarkson
In Country (1989) - Earl Smith
Turner and Hooch (1989) - Plant Manager
Silkwood (1983) - Plant Manager
Television
John From Cincinatti (recurring) - Vietnam Joe
Day Break (recurring) - 'Uncle' Nick Vukovic
Big Love (recurring) - Carter Reese
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (recurring) - Stanley Tanner
Crossing Jordan (Revealed) - Ranger Diggory
Monk (Mr. Monk Gets Married) - Sheriff Mathis
Six Feet Under (Twilight) - Prison Officer
Days of Our Lives (recurring) - Father Timothy Jansen
The West Wing (Manchester, Part 1) - Carl
Star Trek: Enterprise (Broken Bow, Part 1) - Admiral Daniel Leonard
That 70's Show (Who Wants It More) - Tony
The Trouble With Normal (recurring) - Gary
The Young and the Restless (recurring) - Leo Sylvestri
Third Rock From the Sun (recurring) - Happy Doug
The X-Files (Field Trip) - Coroner
Melrose Place (Amanda's Back) - Ranger Virgil
NYPD Blue (Tailight's Last Gleaming) - Jesus Christ
Home Improvement (Doctor in the House) - Duke Miller
Thunder Alley (recurring) - Leland DuParte
Reasonable Doubts (recurring) - Detective Earl Gaddis
Perry Mason (The Case of the Lady in the Lake) - Motel Manager
Matlock (The Umpire) - Barney Sutler
The Life of David Gale (2003) - Duke Grover
Adaptation (2002) - Ranger Tony
Magnolia (1999) - Smiling Peanut Patron #1
Bad Girls (1994) - Pinkerton Detective Graves
Sister Act (1992) - Detective Clarkson
In Country (1989) - Earl Smith
Turner and Hooch (1989) - Plant Manager
Silkwood (1983) - Plant Manager
Television
John From Cincinatti (recurring) - Vietnam Joe
Day Break (recurring) - 'Uncle' Nick Vukovic
Big Love (recurring) - Carter Reese
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (recurring) - Stanley Tanner
Crossing Jordan (Revealed) - Ranger Diggory
Monk (Mr. Monk Gets Married) - Sheriff Mathis
Six Feet Under (Twilight) - Prison Officer
Days of Our Lives (recurring) - Father Timothy Jansen
The West Wing (Manchester, Part 1) - Carl
Star Trek: Enterprise (Broken Bow, Part 1) - Admiral Daniel Leonard
That 70's Show (Who Wants It More) - Tony
The Trouble With Normal (recurring) - Gary
The Young and the Restless (recurring) - Leo Sylvestri
Third Rock From the Sun (recurring) - Happy Doug
The X-Files (Field Trip) - Coroner
Melrose Place (Amanda's Back) - Ranger Virgil
NYPD Blue (Tailight's Last Gleaming) - Jesus Christ
Home Improvement (Doctor in the House) - Duke Miller
Thunder Alley (recurring) - Leland DuParte
Reasonable Doubts (recurring) - Detective Earl Gaddis
Perry Mason (The Case of the Lady in the Lake) - Motel Manager
Matlock (The Umpire) - Barney Sutler
Purchase Other Roles
The Life of David Gale (Widescreen Edition)
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Adaptation (Superbit Collection)
Amazon Price: $10.49 (as of 07/06/2009)
In Country
Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 07/06/2009)
Jim Beaver on Stage
Mr. Beaver is an accomplished stage actor, whose credits include both classic dramas and dinner theater. He spent five seasons with the Dallas Shakespeare Festival and has played lead roles in Macbeth and Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia on national tours. His regional theater roles include "Lachie" in The Hasty Heart, "Starbuck" in The Rainmaker, "Sgt. Trotter" in The Mousetrap, "The Inquisitor" in The Lark, and "Charley" in Charley's Aunt. He is a three-time Los Angeles Dramalogue Critics Award® winner for his work writing and acting in his own plays, Verdigris, Semper Fi, and Sidekick. Jim Beaver's Writing
Mr. Beaver has worked as a film historian and screenwriter, finishing his first book, a biography of John Garfield, while still in college. He also wrote a column for the magazine Films in Review for nearly ten years, and episodes of several television shows, including Tour of Duty, Vietnam War Story, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Currently he is at work on a definitive biography of George Reeves.
John Garfield, His Life and Films
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
Jim Beaver Interviews
A selection of interviews with Jim Beaver
- Dream Guy: An Exclusive Interview with Jim Beaver
- Warner Brothers hit series Supernatural has a brand new season three episode 'Dream a Little Dream' airing this Thursday, February 7th at 9PM EST on the CW Network and I caught up with actor Jim Beaver who plays the part of recurring character Bobby Singer, a supernatural hunter, to talk to him about his role in the episode and his take on why Bobby Singer has touched such a responsive chord in the fans of the series.
- Inside Supernatural Season 2 on DVD with Jim Beaver - Associated Content
- For the past two years, Jim Beaver has been enjoying his recurring guest starring role as ' supernatural style hunter' Bobby Singer on the exciting hit Warner Bros/CW Network action series 'Supernatural', which airs on the CW Network Thursday nights at 9PM. With the second season of this hit series now being released on DVD, Beaver takes a moment to look back on his episodes, which include 'In My Time of Dying', 'Born Under a Bad Sign', 'Tall Tales', 'All Hell Breaks Loose: Part 1' and 'All Hell Breaks Loose: Part 2'.
- Winchester Journals: Interview With Jim Beaver
- Both Jim Beaver and his character Bobby Singer are loved by the majority of fans. Jim was kind enough to take time out from his ever-busy schedule to do an interview with us for the site.
Learn More About Jim Beaver
Jim Beaver (I)
Jim Beaver (I) on IMDb: Movies, TV, Celebs, and mo more...0 points
Disclaimer
This lens is fan-made and is not affiliated in any way with Jim Beaver or any of the cast or crew of any of the tv shows or films mentioned here. All proceeds go to the Squidoo Charity Fund.
