# Jerry O'Connell

Jeremiah O'Connell (born February 17, 1974) is an American actor and TV show host. He is known for his roles as Quinn Mallory in the television series Sliders, Andrew Clements in My Secret Identity, Vern Tessio in the film Stand by Me (1986), Joe in Joe's Apartment (1996), Frank Cushman in Jerry Maguire (1996), Derek in Scream 2 (1997), Michael in Tomcats (2001), Charlie Carbone in Kangaroo Jack (2003), and Detective Woody Hoyt on the NBC drama Crossing Jordan. He starred as Pete Kaczmarek in the single 2010–2011 season of The Defenders. He also had a starring role in the comedy horror film Piranha 3D (2010). Currently, he voices Commander Jack Ransom on the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks, is co-host of The Talk, and hosts a version of Pictionary syndicated on Fox stations.

## Early life

O'Connell was born in New York City, the eldest son of Linda, a Special Education teacher in New Jersey, and Michael O'Connell, an advertising agency art director originally from the United Kingdom. He is of half Irish, one quarter Italian, and one quarter Polish ancestry. O'Connell's paternal grandfather was from County Cork, Ireland while his maternal grandmother was from Belfast, Northern Ireland. His maternal grandfather was Charles S. Witkowski, the 34th mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey. O'Connell was raised in Manhattan with his younger brother, actor Charlie O'Connell. As a teenager, he attended Manhattan's Professional Children's School. He attended New York University from 1991 to 1994, majoring in film. While there, he studied screen writing and competed on the fencing team, serving a stint as captain of the sabre squad. He graduated in 1995.

## Career

O'Connell began his acting career at a young age. As a child, he did commercial work for Duncan Hines cookies. Shortly after turning eleven, he landed his first feature film role as the character Vern Tessio in Rob Reiner's Stand by Me. In 1987, O'Connell appeared in a commercial for Frosted Flakes. He starred in the Canadian science-fiction sitcom My Secret Identity from 1988 to 1991 as the teen hero who develops superhuman traits. During a summer break from NYU, Jerry starred in the feature film Calendar Girl alongside Jason Priestley and Gabriel Olds. He also appeared in the short-lived ABC sitcom Camp Wilder, with Jay Mohr and Hilary Swank, in 1992. During his junior year, O'Connell auditioned for the television pilot Sliders (also filmed in Canada). He was offered the role of Quinn Mallory in the series, which ran for three seasons on Fox and two seasons on the Syfy Channel. He served as producer during his fourth season, and is credited with writing and directing several episodes.
O'Connell has since gone on to star in such films as Jerry Maguire, Body Shots, Mission to Mars, Tomcats, Scream 2, and Kangaroo Jack. O'Connell also guest-hosted in the late 90s on the late night talk show Later. O'Connell has also tried his hand at screenwriting and sold his first screenplay, for First Daughter, to New Regency in 1999. The film was released in 2004 by 20th Century Fox-based Davis Entertainment. O'Connell served as executive producer and received a "story by" credit on the film, which starred Katie Holmes and Michael Keaton.
O'Connell starred as Detective Woody Hoyt on the NBC crime drama Crossing Jordan (2001) until its cancelation in May 2007, and was engaged to actress Rebecca Romijn. He starred opposite her in the Ugly Betty episode "Derailed". He played Hoyt in several episodes of Las Vegas. In 2004, he wore a diaper on Last Call with Carson Daly, during a mock commercial skit for the GoodNites bedwetting product. The National Enquirer caught him filming the skit and printed a photo of him in his diaper.
In 2005, O'Connell guest-starred in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Clash", voicing Captain Marvel. He reprised the role in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies short film Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam alongside George Newbern, who reprised the role of Superman, having done the voice for the animated series. Jerry's younger brother, Charlie has appeared in several productions in which his brother starred, such as in Sliders and Crossing Jordan. In 2007–2008 O'Connell starred in ABC's Carpoolers, which ran from October 2, 2007, to March 4, 2008. In early 2008, O'Connell participated in a widely circulated Internet video parody of the leaked Tom Cruise video on Scientology. Cruise was O'Connell's co-star in Jerry Maguire.
O'Connell co-wrote and appeared in a video parody called "Young Hillary Clinton", satirizing Hillary Clinton's 2008 primary campaign. On February 2, 2008, O'Connell hosted VH1's Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash, which aired the night before Super Bowl XLII and featured musical guests Maroon 5 and Mary J. Blige. On April 28, 2008, he appeared as a guest star on ABC's Samantha Who?. In late 2008 O'Connell starred in Fox's Do Not Disturb, co-starring Niecy Nash, but Fox cancelled the show after only three episodes.
O'Connell appeared in the 2009 thriller film Obsessed as "Ben", the best friend and co-worker of the film's protagonist Derek Charles (Idris Elba). He appeared in Eastwick on ABC, on which his wife Romijn starred in the series. He portrayed Derrick Jones in Alexandre Aja's Piranha 3D, which also stars Adam Scott and Elisabeth Shue.
O'Connell co-starred with David Tennant in the pilot for legal drama Rex Is Not Your Lawyer, which was not picked up for production. In 2010, O'Connell starred with Jim Belushi in the CBS comedy drama The Defenders, which was cancelled on May 15, 2011, after one season.
O'Connell appeared on Broadway at the Golden Theatre in Seminar, written by Theresa Rebeck. The play, directed by Sam Gold, opened on November 20, 2011, starring Alan Rickman, Lily Rabe, Hamish Linklater and Hettienne Park. On June 4, 2012, it was announced that O'Connell would play Herman Munster in a reboot of The Munsters, titled Mockingbird Lane; the remake series was never picked up for production; however, the pilot would air as a Halloween special on October 26. On May 15, 2013, it was announced that O'Connell would play Stuart Strickland on We Are Men, alongside Tony Shalhoub.
In April 2015, O'Connell returned to Broadway in the comedy Living on Love, with Renee Fleming, Anna Chlumsky and Douglas Sills. It closed after 37 performances.
In 2017, O'Connell was the main love interest in the Hallmark film Love Locks, co-starring his real-life wife Rebecca Romijn.
He also starred in a Canadian police comedy-drama series called Carter, which was North Bay, Ontario and aired for two seasons.
In January 2020, O'Connell appeared in the Roundabout's American Airlines Theatre's Broadway revival of A Soldier's Play as Captain Taylor in an ensemble cast headed by David Alan Grier and Blair Underwood.
In 2020, he began starring in commercials for Bob Evans grocery items alongside Alfonso Ribeiro.
In July 2021, CBS announced that O'Connell would be joining The Talk as a permanent co-host, replacing Sharon Osbourne. That same month, he hosted a test-run of a new syndicated version of Pictionary on Fox stations, which was successful enough to launch with a full season in fall 2022. He and wife Romijn hosted The Real Love Boat on CBS, in 2022.

## Personal life

On July 14, 2007, O'Connell married actress and former super model Rebecca Romijn. Their twin girls were born in 2008.
O'Connell enrolled in Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles in August 2009, but dropped out to return to acting full-time.
O'Connell has dual American and British citizenship.
O'Connell is a regular and commonly recurring guest on the Barstool Sports podcast Pardon My Take, where he discusses his passion for fantasy football and his fandom for the show. He maintains the official position of Fantasy Football Expert for the show. As of January 2025, O'Connell's role as general manager of PMT's fantasy team is in jeopardy due to results of the 2024 season.
O'Connell was once roommates with actor and comedian TJ Miller.

## Filmography
### Film

List of film credits :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1986 | Stand by Me | Vernon "Vern" Tessio | |
| 1988 | Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach | Kid at Beach | Uncredited |
| 1993 | Calendar Girl | Scott Foreman | |
| 1995 | Blue River | Lawrence Sellars | |
| 1996 | Joe's Apartment | Joe | |
| 1996 | Jerry Maguire | Frank "Cush" Cushman | |
| 1997 | Scream 2 | Derek Feldman | |
| 1998 | Can't Hardly Wait | Trip McNeely | Uncredited |
| 1999 | The Beast of Today | Fabian | |
| 1999 | Body Shots | Michael Penorisi | |
| 2000 | Clayton | | |
| 2000 | Mission to Mars | Phil Ohlmyer | |
| 2001 | Tomcats | Michael Delaney | |
| 2002 | The New Guy | Highland Party Twin | |
| 2002 | Buying the Cow | David Collins | |
| 2003 | Kangaroo Jack | Charlie Carbone | |
| 2004 | Fat Slags | Sean Cooley | |
| 2004 | First Daughter | N/A | Producer, screenwriter |
| 2005 | Yours, Mine & Ours | Max Algrant | |
| 2006 | The Alibi | Businessman | |
| 2006 | Man About Town | David Lilly | |
| 2006 | Room 6 | Lucas Dylan | |
| 2008 | The Parody Video Tom Cruise Wants You to See | Tom Cruise | Short film |
| 2009 | Baby on Board | Curtis | |
| 2009 | Obsessed | Ben | |
| 2010 | Piranha 3-D | Derrick Jones | |
| 2010 | Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam | Captain Marvel | Voice, short film |
| 2013 | Scary Movie 5 | Christian Grey | |
| 2014 | Veronica Mars | Sheriff Dan Lamb | |
| 2014 | Space Station 76 | Steve | |
| 2014 | The Lookalike | Joe Mulligan | |
| 2015 | Justice League: Throne of Atlantis | Clark Kent / Superman | Voice |
| 2016 | Justice League vs. Teen Titans | Clark Kent / Superman | Voice |
| 2016 | Trolland | Hayden | Voice |
| 2017 | Justice League Dark | Clark Kent / Superman | Voice |
| 2017 | The Lego Batman Movie | Martian Manhunter | Voice, uncredited |
| 2017 | A Mermaid's Tale | Matt | |
| 2017 | Wish Upon | Alex | Uncredited |
| 2018 | The Death of Superman | Clark Kent / Superman | Voice |
| 2018 | Deep Murder | Doug Dangler | |
| 2019 | Reign of the Supermen | Clark Kent / Superman, Cyborg Superman | Voice |
| 2019 | Satanic Panic | Samuel Ross | |
| 2019 | Batman: Hush | Clark Kent / Superman | Voice |
| 2020 | Justice League Dark: Apokolips War | Clark Kent / Superman | Voice |
| 2020 | The F**k It List | Jeffrey | |
| 2020 | The Secret: Dare to Dream | Tucker | |
| 2020 | Ballbuster | Rich | |
| 2021 | Endangered Species | Mitch Hanover | |
| 2021 | Pups Alone | Charlie | Voice |
| 2022 | Play Dead | Coroner | |
| 2023 | The Donor Party | Tim |

### Television

List of television credits :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1987 | The Room Upstairs | Carl | Television film |
| 1988 | The Equalizer | Bobby | Episode: "The Child Broker" |
| 1988 | Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss | Ralph Parker | Television film |
| 1988‍–‍1991 | My Secret Identity | Andrew Clements | Main role |
| 1989 | Charles in Charge | David Landon | Episode: "The Organization Man" |
| 1992‍–‍1993 | Camp Wilder | Brody Wilder | Main role |
| 1995 | The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky | Mac | Television film |
| 1995 | Blue River | Lawrence Sellars | |
| 1995‍–‍1999 | Sliders | Quinn Mallory | Main role Producer (1998–1999) Director: "Stoker", "Slidecage", "Lipschitz Live", "Data World", "Roads Taken" Writer: "Way out West" |
| 1997 | Later | Himself (guest host) | |
| 1997 | What the Deaf Man Heard | Reverend Perry Ray Pruitt | Hallmark Hall of Fame television film |
| 1999 | The '60s | Brian Herlihy | Television film |
| 2001 | Night Visions | Andy | Episode: "Rest Stop" |
| 2002 | Going to California | Pete Rossock | Episode: "Searching for Eddie Van Halen" |
| 2002 | Rome Fire | Ryan Wheeler | Television film |
| 2002‍–‍2007 | Crossing Jordan | Detective Woody Hoyt | Main role |
| 2003, 2008 | MADtv | Ted Levin, John Edwards | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Without a Trace | Joe Gibson | Episode: "Hawks and Handsaws" |
| 2004 | The Screaming Cocktail Hour | Singer | |
| 2004 | Las Vegas | Detective Woody Hoyt | 5 episodes |
| 2005 | Justice League Unlimited | Captain Marvel | Voice, episode: "Clash" |
| 2007 | On the Lot | Jerry 'The Move' | Episode: "6 Cut to 5 & 5 Directors Compete" |
| 2007 | Ugly Betty | Joel | Episode: "Derailed" |
| 2007 | The Batman | Nightwing | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2007‍–‍2008 | Carpoolers | Laird | Main role |
| 2008 | Samantha Who? | Craig | Episode: "The Gallery Show" |
| 2008 | Do Not Disturb | Neal | Main role |
| 2009 | Midnight Bayou | Declan Fitzpatrick | Television film |
| 2009 | Eastwick | Colin Friesen | Episode: "Magic Snow and Creepy Gene" |
| 2010‍–‍2011 | The Defenders | Pete Kaczmarek | Main role |
| 2011 | G.I. Joe: Renegades | Barbecue | Episode: "Fire Fight" |
| 2011 | Fish Hooks | Sterling Hamsterton | Voice, episode: "Pamela Hamster Returns" |
| 2011 | NTSF:SD:SUV:: | Mental Man | Episode: "Up Periscope, Down With San Diego" |
| 2013‍–‍2015 | Jake and the Never Land Pirates | Pip the Pirate Genie | Voice, 7 episodes |
| 2013 | Burning Love | Henry | Season 2 cast member |
| 2013 | King & Maxwell | Jerry Walkeiwicz | Episode: "Stealing Secrets" |
| 2013 | Satisfaction | David | Episode: "Penis Face Cat Funeral" |
| 2013 | We Are Men | Stuart Strickland | Main role |
| 2014‍–‍2019 | Drunk History | Thomas Jefferson, Grigori Rasputin, Ken McElroy | 4 episodes |
| 2014 | The League | Father Muldoon | Episode: "The Heavenly Fouler" |
| 2015 | The Librarians | Young Lancelot | Episode: "And the Loom of Fate" |
| 2015 | Workaholics | Teddy | Episode: "Gayborhood" |
| 2015 | Marry Me | Daniel | Episode: "Friend Me" |
| 2015 | Significant Mother | Bob Babcock | Episode: "Home Is Where the Lamp Is" |
| 2015 | Fresh Beat Band of Spies | Arizona Jones | Voice, episode: "Mummy Mayhem" |
| 2016 | The Mysteries of Laura | Jon Dunham | 2 episodes |
| 2016‍–‍2019 2022 | Billions | Steven Birch | 10 episodes |
| 2016 | Young & Hungry | Nick Diamond | Episode: "Young & Parents" |
| 2016 | Gay for Play Game Show Starring RuPaul | Himself | Episode: "Featuring Rebecca Romijn" |
| 2016 | Mistresses | Robert | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | Scream Queens | Dr. Mike | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Love Locks | Jack Burrow | Television film |
| 2017 | Justice League Action | Ray Palmer / Atom | Voice, 5 episodes |
| 2017 | Andi Mack | Director | Episode: "Dad Influence" |
| 2017 | Infomercials | Ted Apples | Episode: "Cool Dad" |
| 2017 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | TV Detective #2 | Episode: "The Shucker" |
| 2018‍–‍2019 | The Big Bang Theory | George Cooper Jr. | 3 episodes |
| 2018‍–‍2019 | The Wendy Williams Show | Himself (guest host) | 7 episodes |
| 2018‍–‍2019 | Carter | Harley Carter | Main role |
| 2019 | Jerry O' | Himself (host) | |
| 2019 | Where's Waldo? | Jerry | Voice, episode: "Hit or Miss In Greece" |
| 2020–2024 | Star Trek: Lower Decks | Commander Jack Ransom | Voice, main role |
| 2020‍–‍2023 | The Ready Room | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2021‍–‍present | Tab Time | Coach Goodgame | Episode: "Winning & Losing" |
| 2021‍–‍2024 | The Talk | Himself (co-host) | |
| 2022 | The Lake | Gil the Thrill | Episode: "Mommy Queerest" |
| 2022 | The Real Love Boat | Himself (Host) | Main role |
| 2022‍–‍present | Pictionary | Himself (Host) | Main role |
| 2023 | The Neighborhood | Himself | Episode: "Welcome to the Milestone" |
| 2023 | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | Commander Jack Ransom | Voice, episode: "Those Old Scientists" |
| 2023 | The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills | Himself | Episode: "Sutton-ly Suspicious" |
| 2024 | Big Brother | Himself (Host) | Fill-in for Julie Chen Moonves on Season 26, episode 27 |

### Video games

List of video game credits :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2015 | Infinite Crisis | Shazam | |

### Music videos

* "David Duchovny" – Bree Sharp (1999)
* "Heartbreaker" – Mariah Carey (1999)
* "12 Days of Christmas" from Christmas Queens – Katya Zamolodchikova

### Podcast appearances

* Pardon My Take – August 6, 2018; August 23, 2019; July 24, 2020; September 1, 2021; February 9, 2022; September 2, 2022; December 2, 2022; March 10, 2023; September 1, 2023; February 7, 2024; May 6, 2024; May 20, 2024; August 28, 2024; January 29th, 2025; March 7th, 2025
* Comments by Celebs – September 24, 2018
* The Dan LeBatard Show with Stugotz feat. Baron Davis – August 5, 2020
* The Kinda Funny Podcast – April 8, 2021
* I’ve Had It - February 6, 2024

## Awards and nominations

List of awards and nominations received by Jerry O'Connell :
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 1987 | Young Artist Awards | Jackie Coogan (shared with River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman) | Stand by Me | Won |
| 1989 | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Actor in a Family Syndicated Show | My Secret Identity | Nominated |
| 1990 | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Actor in an Off-Primetime Family | My Secret Identity | Nominated |
| 2019 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Lead Actor – Drama Series | Carter | Nominated |
| 2020 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Lead Actor – Drama Series | Carter | Nominated |
| 2023 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host (shared with the other hosts) | The Talk | Nominated |
| 2024 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host (shared with the other hosts) | The Talk | Nominated |