Jesse James Keitel

Jesse James Keitel is an American actress, writer, and artist,[2] known for starring in Asher Jelinsky's award-winning short film Miller & Son (2019), the ABC crime drama Big Sky (2020) and on Queer as Folk (2022).

Jesse James Keitel
Born
Manorville, New York
Alma materPace University
Occupation(s)Actress, writer, artist
Years active2013–present
RelativesHarvey Keitel[1]

Early life

Jesse James Keitel is from Manorville, New York and was involved in local theater as a performer during her childhood.[1] She graduated from Pace University with a BFA in Acting in 2015.[3] After college, she was a drag performer in New York City with the stage name Peroxide.[1]

Career

In 2019, Keitel starred in the world premiere of Martin Moran's play Theo at Two River Theater.[4] She also starred in Miller & Son (2019), which won the BAFTA Student Film Award and gold medal for "Best Narrative" (Domestic) at the 2019 Student Academy Awards.[5][6] Keitel played the leading role in the 2020 MadRiver Pictures sci-fi series, Forever Alone.[3] Keitel also appeared in Linda Yellen's 2019 Showtime feature film Fluidity, starring Nico Tortorella.[2] In 2022, Keitel debuted the role of Ruthie in Peacock's Queer As Folk.[7]

Keitel has performed in drag under the stage name Peroxide,[1] a member of the House of Femanon.[8] As Peroxide Femanon, she has appeared in Logo TV's Fill In The Blank docuseries and in Sasha Velour's NYFW SS19 collaboration with Opening Ceremony.[9][8][10]

Beginning in 2020, Keitel starred as Jerrie Kennedy in the David E. Kelley-created crime thriller Big Sky, which made her one of the first non-binary actors to play a non-binary series regular on primetime television.[1][11] In 2022, she appeared in an episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, playing a non-binary villain. In an interview, she said of the role: "I understand that queer people have had a really long and complicated history with TV and film, and they’ve been very mistreated in the media....That being said, I think it’s high time we let queer people be villains, you know?"[12]

Awards and accolades

Keitel was honored in Out magazine's OUT100 in 2018 for her portrayal of queer characters in the Ben Stiller-produced Netflix film Alex Strangelove, as well as playing TV Land's first non-binary character on Younger.[13][14]

Personal life

In 2020, Keitel was described as a non-binary and transgender actor "who uses she/her and they/them pronouns".[1] As of 2022, she identifies as a transgender woman and uses she/her pronouns.[15][16]

According to NBC News, Keitel is a "distant relative" of Harvey Keitel.[1]

Filmography
Film & Television Roles
Year Title Role Notes
2013 Celebrity Ghost Stories David Episode "Coco/Craig Kilborn/Diana DeGarmo/Tommy Davidson"
2016 What Would You Do? Closeted Gay Teen Episode #11.7
2018 Alex Strangelove Sidney Film
2018 Younger Tam Episode #505: "Big Little Liza"
2019 Miller & Son Ryan Miller Film
2019 Fluidity Kevin Film
2019 Like Glass Zion Film
2020 Forever Alone Adrian 6 episodes
2020–2022 Big Sky Jerrie Kennedy Main role (2020–2021), special guest star (2021–2022)[2]
2021 This Is Me: Pride Celebration Spectacular Herself Special
2022 Queer as Folk Ruthie O'Neil Main role
2022 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Dr. Aspen/Captain Angel Episode: "The Serene Squall"[17]

References
  1. Gao, Max (December 1, 2020). "Nonbinary actor Jesse James Keitel on groundbreaking 'Big Sky' role". NBC News. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  2. Petski, Denise (March 10, 2020). "'The Big Sky': Jesse James Keitel To Co-Star In David E. Kelley's PI Drama Series For ABC". Deadline. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  3. "PaceCast with Marvin Krislov: Episode 8 - Pace University's Podcasts". Himalaya. September 16, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  4. Levitt, Hayley (February 1, 2019). "Martin Moran's Theo Announces World-Premiere Cast". TheaterMania. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  5. "BAFTA Announces Winners Of The 2019 Student Film Awards". BroadwayWorld. July 10, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  6. Wheat, Lorraine (October 20, 2019). "Rory Kennedy, Gregory Nava Celebrate Films Creating Social Change at 2019 Student Academy Awards". Variety. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  7. Brown, Evan Nicole (June 9, 2022). "'Queer as Folk' Star Jesse James Keitel on Playing a One-Time Party Girl Navigating Adulthood". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  8. Regensdorf, Laura (September 10, 2018). "All the Drag Star Makeup Tips From Backstage at Opening Ceremony". Vogue. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  9. "Fill In The Blank: Drag Relationships - Fill In The Blank (Video Clip)". Logo TV. February 28, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  10. Yotka, Steff (September 10, 2018). "Opening Ceremony Spring 2019 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show". Vogue. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  11. Andreeva, Nellie (September 17, 2020). "ABC Sets Fall Drama Premiere Dates; 'For Life' Replaces Canceled 'Stumptown' On Schedule, 'The Rookie' Pushed". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  12. Joest, Mick (June 20, 2022). "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Jesse James Keitel Explains Why Playing Angel Was 'Refreshing'". Cinemablend. Future US Inc. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  13. Besanvalle, James (June 24, 2018). "Genderqueer actor Jesse James Keitel is the new star of Younger". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  14. "OUT100: 2018". Out. November 14, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  15. "'Queer as Folk' Star Jesse James Keitel on Playing Trans Role That's Not Villainized". June 9, 2022.
  16. Keitel, Jesse James. "Jesse James Keitel (@jessejameskeitel)". Instagram. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  17. "'Queer as Folk' Star Jesse James Keitel to Appear on 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' as Nonbinary Character (EXCLUSIVE)". June 7, 2022.
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