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Background:
Brown-haired, with a blend of brooding punk appeal and traditional All-American
good looks, Jason Behr, who first noticed as Tyler Baker in the Showtime series
“Sherman Oaks” (1995), is best known to TV audiences as Max Evans, one of three
aliens camouflaging as high school students, in the popular science fiction
series “Roswell” (The WB, 1999-2001; UPN, 2001- ). He also guest starred in such
hit shows as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” the long-running series “7th Heaven”
(both in 1997) and “Dawson’s Creek,” as well as appeared in the TV film Alien
Nation: Millennium (1996).
On the wide screen, the American actor is remembered as Sarah Michelle Gellar’s
boyfriend in the successful The Grudge (2004). Additionally, he played roles in
such films as Gary Ross’s Pleasantville (1998), Rites of Passage (1999), Happily
Even After (2004), D-War (2005, Man of God (2005) and Shooting Livien (also in
2005).
The Roswell star is set to star in the movie Skinwalkers (2006), a horror film
by James Isaac, and play Michael Warden in CBS’s dramatic pilot “The Way”
(2006).
Off screen, Behr is an animal lover. He has a brown spotted Dalmatian named
Joplin and an Akita dog named Ronin. As for his private life, the Paul Newman
fan was once linked to Roswell costar Katherine Heigl (together 2003-2004).
Jay
Childhood and Family:
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jason Nathaniel Behr was born on December 30, 1973.
Along with his three siblings, John, Aaron and Andrew, he spent his childhood in
several different states until the divorce of his parents. With his mother, he
then moved back to Minneapolis where he enrolled at Richfield High School. He
graduated in 1992 and was chosen “Most Destined for Fame” by his graduating
class.
Jason Behr, whose nickname is Jay, knew he wanted to be an actor from an early
age. At age 5, he was discovered performing his first play and spent his teen
days working on numerous local theater productions and commercials.
In his spare time, Jason enjoys attending concerts and sports, especially golf,
basketball and tennis. He also likes hiking with his dog Ronin.
The Way
Career:
A native of Minnesota, Jason Behr began acting at a very young age. As a
teenager, he did a number of regional theater productions and made over 75
commercials while attending high school. One of his memorable works was the
Cloralit gum commercial Body Search, which was produced by Great Gums for
Italian Chewing Gum. At age 19, after high school graduation and a chance
meeting with Hollywood manager Marvin Dauer, Behr packed his bags and headed for
Los Angeles to follow his dream of becoming an actor.
Surviving with only 200 dollars in his pocket during his early days in
Hollywood, Behr finally landed his first TV acting job in 1994 with a recurring
role in “Step by Step,” and a year later, he moved on to a regular role in the
Showtime series “Sherman Oaks,” a satirical verite-style documentary of American
family life. His role in the show, where he was cast as Tyler Baker, won Behr
notice. He continued to make guest appearances in “Pacific Blue” (1996), “JAG,”
“Profile,” “Cracker,” and the popular series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “7th
Heaven” (all in 1997). He also had his TV movie debut with the FOX sci-fi film
Alien Nation: Millennium (1996, portrayed a menacing teen) and two years later,
he kicked off his film career after undertaking a small part in writer/director
Gary Ross’s Pleasantville (1998), starring Spider Man star Tobey Maguire and
Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon. Also in 1998, Behr assumed his own
short-lived series, starring as Dempsey Easton in “Push.” The same year, he
joined the cast of WB’s hit series “Dawson’s Creek,” a teen drama that launched
the career of such teen actors as James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes and Michelle
Williams, in the recurring role of Chris Wolfe, an arrogant, but somewhat
foolish student.
Behr’s big breakthrough eventually arrived when he was hired to star in the
science fiction drama series “Roswell” (The WB, 1999-2001; UPN, 2001-2002).
Playing Max Evans, an alien posing as a normal high school student, Behr won
attention and popularity. Among his costar were Shiri Appleby, Katherine Heigl,
Brendan Fehr and Majandra Delfino.
With newfound fame, the young actor tried his luck on the big screen. In 1999,
he starred in the Victor Salva-directed Rites of Passage. In 2001, he added The
Shipping News, a drama film starring Kevin Spacey and Julianne Moore, to his
acting resume.
After Roswell ended in 2002, Behr took some time off and returned to film in
2004 with a starring role in the comedy-romance Happily Even After. His career
achieved a much-needed boost when he was cast opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar, as
Gellar’s boyfriend Doug, in the surprise thriller hit The Grudge, that same
year. In 2005, Behr made three films: D-War, Man of God and Shooting Livien. He
will soon star with Elias Koteas, Rhona Mitra and Kim Coates in James Isaac’s
horror Skinwalkers (2006). On the small screen, the actor will return to
television with the CBS dramatic pilot “The Way,” playing Michael Warden, the
show’s male lead.
Awards:
- Young Hollywood: Standout Performance by a Young Actor – Male, 2002
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