Jim Caviezel
26 September 1968
Mount Vernon, Washington, USA
6' 2" (1.88 m)
The following spring, he transferred again to Burien Kennedy High School in Burien, Washington where he was a star on the basketball team and graduated in 1987. While at O'Dea and Kennedy, he stayed with family friends. Following high school Jim enrolled at Bellevue Community College where he again played on the basketball team. A foot injury in his sophomore season put an end to Jim's basketball career and his dreams of playing in the N.B.A. Shortly after this, he turned his focus toward acting. In 1990, he auditioned for a part in the independent film Mi Idaho privado (1991). He won a very small role as a foreign airline clerk after he told casting agents that he was a recent Italian immigrant. The following year, Jim moved to Los Angeles where he worked as a waiter between auditions. He landed small roles in El golpe perfecto (1992) and Wyatt Earp (1994) and guest starring roles on Aquellos maravillosos años (1988) and Se ha escrito un crimen(1984).
He continued to go relatively unnoticed in small roles and even thought about quitting acting until 1998 when he received critical recognition for his role as idealist Private Witt in La delgada línea roja (1998). The following year, he gained further recognition with roles in Cabalga con el diablo (1999) and Frequency (2000). In 2001, his role as Jennifer Lopez's love interest in Mirada de ángel (2001) helped to establish him as a versatile actor and leading man. It wasn't until 2002 that Jim made his strong religious beliefs known. While filming Toda la verdad (2002), he refused to do any love scenes with on-screen wife Ashley Judd because it conflicted with his strong Catholic faith. It was also around this time when he was chosen by Mel Gibson to star as Jesus Christ in La pasión de Cristo (2004).
The movie made headlines and broke box-office records around the world, becoming one of the highest grossing films of all time. Although the movie dealt with controversial matters, Caviezel's performance was acclaimed by both critics and viewers. Jim's next big role would be on the small screen. In 2011, he landed the lead role in the CBS crime drama Person of Interest (2011). The show instantly clicked with audiences, becoming one of the highest rated shows on television. From an outcast actor to a respected film star to a television star, James Caviezel is continuing to give his best to play challenging roles. Off screen, Jim lives with his wife, Kerri, a school teacher whom he met on a blind date in 1993 and married in 1996, and their adopted children.
James Patrick Caviezel was born on September 26, 1968 in Mount Vernon, Washington. He was one of five children born to Margaret (Lavery), a former stage actress, and James Caviezel, a chiropractor. The Caviezels are a closely knit Catholic family. He is of Irish (mother) and Swiss and Slovak-Romansh (father) descent; the surname, "Caviezel", is Romansh. As a youngster, Jim was described as being "very intense." His two main interests growing up were sports and religion. - IMDb Mini Biography By: SteveG and The Old Fox {by_oldfox@yahoo.com}
Spouse
Kerri Lyn Elizabeth Browitt (20 July 1996 - present) (3 children)
Trivia
Grew up in a tight-knit Catholic family. His father is Jim and his mother is Maggie. He has three sisters, Ann, Amy and Erin, and one brother, Tim.
3 sisters-Ann, Amy, Erin 1 brother-Tim.
His father is of Swiss and Slovak descent and his mother is of Irish ancestry. His surname is Swiss Romansch (Rhaeto-Romanic).
Met his wife, Kerri, on a blind date in 1993 orchestrated by Caviezel's sister Amy. They have adopted 3 Chinese children.
Played basketball in college, but took up acting after injuring his foot.
Drove the pace car in the Indy 500 Race in May of 2002
Dislocated his shoulder during the filming of La pasión de Cristo (2004).
Received an honorary degree from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA at their commencement on 18 May 2003. Gave a fire-and-brimstone speech based on his interpretation of Catholicism.
Was struck by lightning during the filming of Mel Gibson's La pasión de Cristo (2004). Assistant director Jan Michelini was also hit (for the second time during the shoot). A crew member said "I'm about a hundred feet away from them when I glance over and see smoke coming out of Caviezel's ears."
His co-star Elizabeth Mitchell who played his mother in Frequency (2000) said about him, "Jim is the perfect son, if I had a son like him I would be a very proud mother."
Was hand-picked by Jennifer Lopez to play the role of Catch in Mirada de ángel (2001).
Shortly after accepting the role of Jesus Christ in the Mel Gibson film, La pasión de Cristo(2004), he realized his initials were the same as that of Jesus (J.C.) and that he was the same age most historians and religious scholars claim Jesus was when he was killed (33).
Surname pronounced ka-VEE-zel.
Nearly gave up acting after struggling for so long, before he got a phone call from director Terrence Malick who directed him in La delgada línea roja (1998).
Was a waiter and did some modeling for The Gap early in his career.
Once on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) said when asked by fans if he was Jesus Christ, he responds by saying no, but that he is the Count of Monte Cristo.
Was initially cast as Cyclops in X-Men (2000), but turned it down to appear in Frequency(2000).
He attended the University of Washington and USC
Was seriously considered for the lead role in Superman Returns (El regreso) (2006). The part went to Brandon Routh.
He is a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
Spokesman for "Redeem the Vote," the conservative and Christian counterpart of "Rock the Vote."
Adopted a 5-year-old boy and a girl from the Ghangzhou region and a baby boy from China who overcame a high stage sarcoma.
Expressed great interest in the role of Superman/Clark Kent in Superman Returns (El regreso) (2006) but director Bryan Singer refused to cast him, insisting that Caviezel was "too famous" after La pasión de Cristo (2004).
After the success of La pasión de Cristo (2004) he was asked to be a spokesman for the Heavenly clothing line but he refused because he felt it would be an insult to people who felt that the film had something meaningful to offer.
Jim's wife's brother-in-law, Scott Linehan, is the former head coach of the NFL's St. Louis Rams (2006-2008); Jim's wife (Kerri) and Scott's wife (Kristen) are sisters.
During a special assembly, he spoke to the Jesuit High School of New Orleans student body and faculty on March 20, 2006 while he was in town filming Déjà vu (Cambiando el pasado) (2006).
Father Jim is a chiropractor.
While filming the whipping scene in La pasión de Cristo (2004), one of the whips missed the steel board on Jim's back and cut a 13-inch gash into his back.
Portrayed Jesus Christ a second time in the Word of Promise audio bible.
Chosen as People Magazine's one of the Sexiest Man Alive [2004] and was stated as "The Sexiest Savior.".
Friend of John Schneider.
Did some modeling for The Gap.
Has 14 nieces and nephews.
Republican.
During the filming of the Passion of the Christ, he was struck by lightning, had pneumonia, and suffered hypothermia.
Jim told an interviewer that he had been challenged by a friend who was not pro-life to live up to his professed pro-life convictions and adopt a disabled child. The friend told Caviezel that if he did that, then he would change to the pro-life position. When Caviezel and his wife, Kerri, went to China to adopt not one, but eventually two orphans suffering from brain tumors, the friend reneged on the deal. Caviezel, however said, "It didn't matter to me because the joy that we had from (Bo) - he's like our own."
Taking summer classes at the University of Notre Dame in the hopes of getting his college degree. [June 2006]
On December 6-7 of 2009, he visited Bayside of Granite Bay to be interviewed live by Pastor Ray Johnston in front of the audience in each service about his role in La pasión de Cristo (2004). [December 2009]
If you watch the Person of Interest blooper reel for season one, you'll see that Jim does an excellent Christopher Walken impersonation.
Personal Quotes
My mom's 100% Irish, and in my family we've always called acting 'blarney'.
On getting thumped for being too cocky at basket ball in Junior School, he says: 'It hurt, but I said to myself I'm never going to be like that again. I was blessed to learn that early in life.'
To prepare for this role, I went into my backyard swimming pool and practiced walking on water. - Talking about La pasión de Cristo (2004) on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno(1992) (2004).
(Gifs and photos: source_Tumblr)
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