Jesse Spencer
Jesse Gordon Spencer (born 12 February 1979) is an Australian-American actor and musician. He is known for his roles as Billy Kennedy on the Australian soap opera Neighbours (1994–2000, 2005, 2022), Robert Chase on the American medical drama House (2004–2012) and Captain Matthew Casey on the American drama Chicago Fire (2012–present).
Jesse Spencer | |
|---|---|
 Spencer in 2009 | |
| Born | Jesse Gordon Spencer 12 February 1979 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Citizenship |
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| Alma mater | Scotch College |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse |
Kali Woodruff Carr (m. 2020) |
Early life
Spencer was born in Melbourne on 12 February 1979 to Rodney Spencer, a radiologist, and Robyn Spencer, who were founders of the Australians Against Further Immigration political party,[2] and would both later contest the 1998 federal election for One Nation.[3]
He is one of four siblings. Spencer has two older brothers: Tarney Spencer, an oculoplastic surgeon, and Luke Spencer, an orthopaedic surgeon. His younger sister, Polly Spencer, is an anaesthetist. Growing up, he attended Canterbury Primary School, Malvern Central School, and the private Scotch College. While there, he auditioned for the long-running soap opera Neighbours. He completed his VCE and had gained a place at Monash University but deferred to pursue acting.[4]
Career
Acting
Spencer starred as Billy Kennedy in the Australian soap opera Neighbours from 1994 to 2000. He later reprised his role in 2005, in an episode celebrating the show's 20th anniversary. His character was the son of long-term iconic Ramsay Street residents Dr. Karl Kennedy and Susan Kennedy.[5]
After his time on Neighbours, he co-starred in films such as Winning London with the Olsen Twins, Uptown Girls and Swimming Upstream.
Spencer starred as intensive care specialist and surgeon Dr. Robert Chase on the Fox medical drama House from 2004 to 2012. He played Chase for the show's entire run, becoming the second longest-serving member of the title character's team.
Spencer starred as firefighter Matthew Casey in the NBC drama Chicago Fire from 2012[6] to 2021.[7]
In 2022, it was confirmed that Spencer would return to Neighbours as part of the series finale.[8]
Music
Spencer began his musical career with the Australian Boys Choir, performing with them from 1986 to 1992.[9] He plays the violin in Band from TV, a group that includes his former House co-star Hugh Laurie. They play at various events, giving the money they earn to charity. The band played on Idol Gives Back in April 2008.[10][11]
Awards
For Neighbours, Spencer was nominated for "Most Popular Actor" at the 1998 and 1999 Logie Awards. For House, he was nominated for "Choice TV Breakout Performance – Male" at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards and "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series" at the 2008 Screen Actors Guild Awards. He received a "Golden Boomerang" at the 2006 Australians in Film Breakthrough Awards for his work on House.[12] In 2007, he was included in People Magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People issue.
Personal life
Spencer met his House co-star, American actress Jennifer Morrison, in March 2004 at Vancouver International Airport when they were on their way to film the pilot episode of House. They began dating in July 2004 and became engaged while vacationing in Paris at the Eiffel Tower during Christmas 2006,[13] but in August 2007, Spencer and Morrison announced they had called off their engagement.
Spencer dated British actress and singer Louise Griffiths from 2008 to 2010. Spencer dated Brazilian big wave surfer Maya Gabeira from 2010 to 2013.[14]
He began dating neuroscientist Kali Woodruff Carr in 2014, getting engaged in 2019. The couple married on 27 June 2020.[15]
Spencer became a U.S. citizen in November 2021.[1]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Lorna Doone | Marwood de Whichehalse |
| 2001 | Curse of the Talisman | Jeremy Campbell |
| 2001 | Winning London | Lord James Browning, Jr. |
| 2002 | Stranded | Fritz Robinson |
| 2003 | Swimming Upstream | Tony Fingleton |
| 2003 | Uptown Girls | Neal Fox |
| 2003 | Death in Holy Orders | Raphael Arbuthnot |
| 2006 | Flourish | Eddie Gator |
| 2010 | Tell-Tale | Lover |
| 2013 | Skum Rocks! | David Lockhart |
| 2015 | The Girl Is in Trouble | Nicholas Feinstein |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Time Trax | Young Bill | Episode: "A Close Encounter" |
| 1994–2000, 2005, 2022 | Neighbours | Billy Kennedy | Regular role |
| 1998 | Hercules | Triten, Jr. | Voice, episode: "Hercules and the Son of Poseidon" |
| 2003 | Death in Holy Orders | Raphael Arbuthnot | |
| 2004–2012 | House | Robert Chase | Lead role |
| 2012–2023 | Chicago Fire | Captain Matthew Casey | Lead role (seasons 1–10[16]) Guest (season 11) |
| 2013 | Phineas and Ferb | Liam | Voice, episode: "Primal Perry" |
| 2014–2021 | Chicago P.D. | Captain Matthew Casey | Recurring role |
| 2017–2021 | Chicago Med | ||
| TBC | Last Days of the Space Age | Upcoming Disney+ series |
Music videos
| Year | Artist | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Caitlin Crosby | "Still Have My Heart" | Dentist |
| 2010 | Katharine McPhee | "Say Goodbye" | Boyfriend |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | The King and I | Louis | State Theatre |
| 1992 | Winnie the Pooh | Christopher Robin | The Alexander Theatre |
| 1993 | Scrooge | Older brother of Tiny Tim | The Princess Theatre, Melbourne |
| 1998–99 | Peter Pan | Peter Pan | White Rock Theatre, Hastings |
| 1999–2000 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Jack | Wolverhampton Grand Theatre |
| 2003 | The Modernists | Terrance | The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Awards | Category | Work | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Silver Logie Awards | Most Popular TV Actor | Neighbours | Won |
| 1998 | Silver Logie Awards | Most Popular TV Actor | Neighbours | Nominated |
| 2005 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Breakout Performance – Male | House | Nominated |
| 2008 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor: Action | Chicago Fire | Nominated |
References
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [@USCIS] (1 November 2021). "Australian born actor @Jesse_Spencer has hit shows @housetv and @NBCOneChicago #ChicagoFire on his resume and now he can add #NewUSCitizen. Last week, he took the Oath of Allegiance at our Chicago Field Office. Congratulations!". Twitter. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- "Anti-immigrants with a green tinge". 21 March 2003.
- "Federal Elections 1998" (PDF). aph.gov.au.
- McComas, Campbell (December 1998). "Revisions of boyhood". Great Scot. Scotch College, Melbourne.
- "Chicago Fire's Jesse Spencer - what you might not know about him". HOLA. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- Porter, Rick (21 October 2021). "'Chicago Fire' Bids Farewell to an Original Castmember". The Hollywood Reporter.
- Gelman, Vlada (20 October 2021). "Chicago Fire Star, EP Talk [Spoiler]'s Exit in 200th Episode ('It Was a Difficult Decision') — and a Possible Return". TVLine.
- @neighbours (23 July 2022). "We've got a few more familiar faces making an appearance in the finale 😍🤫 Don't miss the #Neighbours finale on 10 and 10Peach on Thursday, July 28 at 7.30pm and a one-hour primetime finale episode on Friday, July 29 at 9.00pm on Channel 5" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 July 2022 – via Twitter.
- "Australian Boys Choir". Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- "Grunberg a Nervous Hero as Band from TV Joins "Idol Gives Back"". Creators.com. 2008. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
- ""Before He Cheats" (Teri Hatcher) – 4/9/2008, 'American Idol Gives Back'". Band From TV.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
- "Australians In Film Announces Honorees for 2007 Breakthrough Awards". Australians in Film. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- Jordan, Julie (5 January 2007). "House Costars Engaged". People.com. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
- "Maya Gabeira: 35 little-known facts about the Brazilian big wave surfer". Surfertoday.com.
- Hockey, Maddison (21 October 2020). "Neighbours' Jesse Spencer gets hitched". MSN. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
- Gelman, Vlada (20 October 2021). "Chicago Fire Star, EP Talk [Spoiler]'s Exit in 200th Episode ('It Was a Difficult Decision') — and a Possible Return". TVLine. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
External links
