Who is Jared Padalecki? The Vital Stats:
- Name: Jared Tristan Padalecki
- Nicknames: Sasquatch, Jare, J-Rod, Moose
- Height: 6’4″
- Age: 29
- Born: July 19, 1982 in San Antonio, Texas
- Profession: Actor
- Status: married to actress Genevieve Cortese (Padalecki) who is pregnant with the couple’s first child.
- Filmography (year, title, role):
1999: A Little Inside (Matt Nelson) – feature film
2000: Silent Witness (Sam) – made for TV movie
2000-2005: Gilmore Girls (Dean Forester) – television series
2001: Close to Home – made for TV movie
2001: ER (Paul Harris) – television series, 1 episode “Piece of Mind”
2002: A Ring of Endless Light (Zachary Gray) – made for TV movie
2003: Young MacGyver (Clay MacGyver) – made for TV movie
2003: Cheaper By the Dozen (Bully) – feature film, uncredited
2004: New York Minute (Trey Lipton) – feature film
2004: Flight of the Phoenix (John Davis) – feature film
2005: House of Wax (Wade) – feature film
2005: Cry Wolf (Tom) – feature film
2005: Supernatural (Sam Winchester, Lucifer, Gary Frankle)
2007: House of Fears (J.P.) – uncredited
2008: Christmas Cottage (Thomas Kinkade) – feature film
2009: Friday the 13th (Clay Miller) – feature film
2011: Supernatural: The Animation (Sam Winchester) – television series
This week, Supernatural has officially tied The Vampire Diaries as the television show with the most Man Candy Monday winners thanks to Jared Padalecki’s victory over the likes of Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom. He follows in the footsteps of Man Candy Hall of Famers Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins and, just like last week, I couldn’t be happier to be doing this profile. I have been a huge Jared Padalecki fan for nearly twelve years now, first falling in love with him as Dean on The Gilmore Girls and loving him more with everything I’ve seen him in since then.
Like a whole lot of people, I went to see House of Wax for one reason – to see Paris Hilton die a violent, gory death. I kid, of course. I kind of like Paris in a very ‘guilty pleasure’ sort of way. The truth is, I am not a horror movie fan by any stretch of the imagination. I’m a timid, cowardly and supremely paranoid person so horror movies and I just don’t mix. One way to guarantee this girl will be watching your horror movie? Put Jared Padalecki in it. He is the sole reason I rented (and actually really enjoyed) House of Wax and sold me on Cry Wolf and Friday the 13th. I enjoyed all of them so I suppose you could say that Jared has opened my eyes to a whole new genre of films to enjoy. Or not, but at least I enjoyed those ones … although I did have nightmares about being encased in wax for months on end.
On Supernatural, Jared really gets the chance to shine. There would be no show without Sam and Dean Winchester (although it’s a little hard to fathom a Supernatural without Castiel, but that’s an argument for another time). Jared brings a lot to the role – and I’m talking about more than looks. One of the most appealing things about Jared, for me anyway, is that he doesn’t just rely on his good looks to get by. He’s a talented actor and always delivers a solid performance. I’d easily consider Jared one of my favorite actors for that reason. Even when I don’t love the project he’s in, I always love Jared’s performance in it. He’s just that kind of actor.
Beyond talent and good looks, Jared is appealing because he seems to be such a down to earth, every day kind of guy. He loves his friends. He loves his family. He loves his fans. I’m a total Padalecki addict. I watch as many interviews as I possibly can. In exchange for my loyalty, Jared always rewards me with a highly entertaining back and forth with whoever’s interviewing him. In situations like this one, with three men from the same show featured on Man Candy it’s tempting to pick a favorite. If I were forced, I might have to choose Jared but it would be so very close. Jensen, Jared and Misha are three very different people and are appealing for very different reasons and that’s what makes their onscreen chemistry work.
Here’s the deal with Supernatural. It gets so overlooked by just about everyone in the industry and that’s a shame. The entire cast is great, the stories are always entertaining and fans get invested emotionally in all of the characters. That isn’t an easy thing for a television show to accomplish. It inspires a rabid fan base, willing to fight tooth and nail to support the show and its cast and that alone is proof that this show is a lot more important than people give it credit for. How someone like Jared Padalecki isn’t the most in demand actor in Hollywood is something I will never, ever understand.
Before we get to the super sized Jared Padalecki gallery, I want to take a moment to thank all of you who voted last week. The poll for this week is going to look a bit different than it has in the past. More people are turning out to vote and I need to make slightly adjustments for that. You can read more about this week’s poll, this week’s nominees (with a picture of each candidate), and cast your vote by heading over to my personal blog, Girl In Stereo.
