Jerry O’Connell

Michael Jeremiah Witkowski O'Connell, born February 17, 1974, is an American actor and television host. He is best known for his roles as Vern Tessio in Stand by Me (1986), Quinn Mallory in Sliders, Andrew Clements in My Secret Identity, 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 holds dual American and British citizenship.

O'Connell was born in New York City to Linda Witkowski, a special education teacher, and Michael O'Connell, an advertising art director. He was raised in Manhattan alongside his younger brother, actor Charlie O'Connell. His maternal grandfather was Charles S. Witkowski, the 34th mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey. As a teenager, O'Connell attended the Professional Children's School. He attended New York University from 1991 to 1994, majoring in film, studying screenwriting, and serving as captain of the sabre fencing squad before graduating in 1995. In 2009, he briefly enrolled in Southwestern Law School before returning to acting full-time.

O'Connell began acting as a child in television commercials for Duncan Hines and Kellogg's Frosted Flakes. Shortly after turning eleven, he made his feature film debut in Stand by Me. From 1988 to 1991, he starred in the Canadian science-fiction sitcom My Secret Identity. He later appeared in the film Calendar Girl and the sitcom Camp Wilder. During his junior year at New York University, O'Connell landed the lead role of Quinn Mallory in Sliders, which ran for five seasons across Fox and the Syfy Channel. On Sliders, he served as a producer during its fourth season and wrote and directed several episodes.

His subsequent feature film credits include Body Shots, Mission to Mars, Obsessed, and Piranha 3D. He also wrote the screenplay for First Daughter, serving as executive producer and receiving a story credit. On television, O'Connell played Detective Woody Hoyt on Crossing Jordan from 2001 to 2007 and reprised the character on Las Vegas. He starred in additional series including Carpoolers, Do Not Disturb, The Defenders, We Are Men, and Carter. O'Connell voiced Captain Marvel in Justice League Unlimited and Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam, and voiced Commander Jack Ransom on Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Beyond film and television series, O'Connell has performed on Broadway in Seminar, Living on Love, and a 2020 revival of A Soldier's Play. His hosting work includes guest-hosting Later, hosting the VH1 Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash in 2008, co-hosting CBS's The Talk starting in 2021, and hosting a syndicated version of Pictionary on Fox stations. In his personal life, O'Connell married actress and supermodel Rebecca Romijn in 2007, with whom he has twin daughters. He practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Jean Jacques Machado and frequently appears on the Barstool Sports podcast Pardon My Take.