# Jerry O'Connell
**Jerry O'Connell** (real name Michael Jeremiah O'Connell, born 1974 in Manhattan, New York) is an American actor, director, and television personality whose career runs from child stardom in *[Stand by Me](https://www.edgepedia.org/stand-by-me-film)* (1986) through leading television roles, animated voice work, and daytime hosting[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jerry_oconnell) • [2](https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1431814/jerry-oconnell-reveals-real-full-name-why-he-goes-by-jerry). He has described his working life bluntly: "I'm a little bit of a failed actor... my acting career has gone through a couple of downturns," yet he has worked continuously across film, scripted television, animation, and hosting since childhood[3](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/how-jerry-oconnell-career-mirrors-his-sliders-character).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1974, Manhattan, New York[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jerry_oconnell) |
| Breakthrough role | Vern Tessio in Rob Reiner's *Stand by Me* (1986), his first film, at age 11[4](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=jerry-oconnell) |
| Education | Bachelor of Fine Arts, New York University[4](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=jerry-oconnell) |
| Signature TV role | Quinn Mallory in *Sliders* (Fox, 1995–2000); also directed and produced episodes[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jerry_oconnell) |
| Voice work | Commander Jack Ransom in *Star Trek: Lower Decks* (Paramount+); Superman/Clark Kent in DC animated films including *The Death of Superman* (2018)[4](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=jerry-oconnell) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jerry_oconnell) |
| Hosting | Host of CBS's *The Talk*; host of the syndicated game show *Pictionary*, premiered September 2022[4](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=jerry-oconnell) |
| Family | Married to actress Rebecca Romijn, with twin daughters; resides in Los Angeles[4](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=jerry-oconnell) |
| Citizenship | Dual British/American, through his British-born father[5](https://www.earthprime.com/article/ticket-to-slide-tvzone/) |
## Child actor and *Stand by Me*
Born and raised in New York City, O'Connell began acting at age 11 when he co-starred as Vern Tessio, one of four boys searching for a missing teenager, in [Rob Reiner](https://www.edgepedia.org/rob-reiner)'s 1986 film *Stand by Me*, an adaptation of [Stephen King](https://www.edgepedia.org/stephen-king)'s novella *[The Body](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-body-king-novella)*[4](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=jerry-oconnell) • [6](https://apnews.com/article/1e98a5d32d8a49399c70a5cae448adcd). Rotten Tomatoes places the debut at age twelve; Paramount's biography, Nipissing University's convocation program, and the AP all state he was 11[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jerry_oconnell) • [4](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=jerry-oconnell) • [7](https://www.nipissingu.ca/sites/default/files/2020-06/Nipissing_University_Convocation_2020_Program.pdf). The film cost him some typecasting; a 1997 profile noted that the 6-foot-3 actor was still best known for "the fat kid" role despite his later physique[8](https://www.deseret.com/1997/1/18/19290333/fat-kid-image-giving-way-to-older-and-newer-roles/).
The film became his career's anchor. In later reflections on Reiner, who died in December, O'Connell said, "Everything I have in my life is because of *Stand by Me*," crediting the director with opening every door that followed[9](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/jerry-oconnell-remembers-rob-reiner-impact-his-hollywood-career). In a later interview he said he could not look at a poster for the film without "abject sadness," linking it to the deaths of his co-star [River Phoenix](https://www.edgepedia.org/river-phoenix) and of Reiner[10](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/features/jerry-o-connell-interview-rob-reiner-summers-last-resort-b3007512.html).
The production itself had a narrow escape. The only reason it was made was [Norman Lear](https://www.edgepedia.org/norman-lear), who funded it himself, "to the tune of '$8 million and change,'" after his company's new owner refused to put up the money; the film earned over $52 million in its initial late-summer 1986 run[6](https://apnews.com/article/1e98a5d32d8a49399c70a5cae448adcd).
He followed the film with the sitcoms *My Secret Identity* (CTV, 1988–1991), playing teen superhero Andrew Clements, and *Camp Wilder* (ABC, 1992–93)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jerry_oconnell). He entered Manhattan's Professional Children's School in 1987 and later majored in film and television at New York University[11](https://www.earthprime.com/article/acting-his-age/).
## The 1990s and the leap to leading roles
**Sliders.** While a junior at NYU film school, O'Connell auditioned for and won the lead as physics graduate Quinn Mallory in *Sliders*, the Fox parallel-universe series that ran from 1995 to 2000 and made him a recognizable name for a generation of genre fans; he also directed and produced several episodes[12](https://www.earthprime.com/article/jerry-who/) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jerry_oconnell). During the show's five-season run he took the lead in *[Joe's Apartment](https://www.edgepedia.org/joes-apartment)* (1996), the comedy about a man and his talking cockroaches[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jerry_oconnell).
**Film support roles.** He received critical acclaim as cocky quarterback Frank Cushman in *Jerry Maguire* (1996)[4](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=jerry-oconnell), played the ill-fated Derek in *Scream 2* (1997), and appeared as a clubber accused of date rape in *Body Shots* (1999)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jerry_oconnell). Later film credits include *Tomcats* (2001), *Kangaroo Jack* (2003), *Yours, Mine and Ours*, *Obsessed*, and *Piranha 3-D*[4](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=jerry-oconnell). In 2004 he sold his screenplay for *[First Daughter](https://www.edgepedia.org/first-daughter-2004-film)* to New Regency Films and served as executive producer on the film, which starred [Katie Holmes](https://www.edgepedia.org/katie-holmes)[7](https://www.nipissingu.ca/sites/default/files/2020-06/Nipissing_University_Convocation_2020_Program.pdf).
## Television steady work and voice acting
O'Connell starred for six seasons as Detective Woody Hoyt on NBC's *Crossing Jordan*, a character who also crossed over to *Las Vegas*[7](https://www.nipissingu.ca/sites/default/files/2020-06/Nipissing_University_Convocation_2020_Program.pdf). Guest and recurring parts followed across *Scream Queens* (FOX), *Mistresses* (ABC), *Billions* (Showtime), *The Mysteries of Laura* (NBC), and *[Carter](https://www.edgepedia.org/carter-tv-series)*[4](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=jerry-oconnell). On *The Big Bang Theory* (CBS) he appeared as George Cooper, the resentful older brother of Dr. [Sheldon Cooper](https://www.edgepedia.org/sheldon-cooper)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jerry_oconnell).
His voice career has two large strands. As Superman, he voiced Kal-El/Clark Kent in a run of DC animated films including *The Death of Superman* (2018), *Reign of the Supermen* (2019), *Batman: Hush* (2019), and *Justice League Dark: Apokolips War* (2020)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jerry_oconnell). On *Star Trek: Lower Decks* (Paramount+) he voices Commander Jack Ransom[4](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=jerry-oconnell).
He also worked on stage: his Broadway debut came in 2011 in Theresa Rebeck's *Seminar*, opposite [Alan Rickman](https://www.edgepedia.org/alan-rickman), and he starred in the Broadway play *A Soldier's Play* in early 2020[7](https://www.nipissingu.ca/sites/default/files/2020-06/Nipissing_University_Convocation_2020_Program.pdf) • [4](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=jerry-oconnell).
## Hosting career
Hosting became a second career after O'Connell impressed as a stand-in host on *The Wendy Williams Show*; Bravo then gave him his own talk show, *Real Men Watch Bravo* (2018)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jerry_oconnell). He hosted his own daytime program, *Jerry O*, in 2019, and in 2022 co-hosted CBS's reality dating series *The Real Love Boat* with his wife, actress [Rebecca Romijn](https://www.edgepedia.org/rebecca-romijn)[4](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=jerry-oconnell). He serves as host of CBS's Daytime Emmy Award-winning *The Talk* alongside Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, and [Sheryl Underwood](https://www.edgepedia.org/sheryl-underwood), and hosts *Pictionary*, the syndicated CBS Media Ventures game show based on the Mattel game, which premiered in September 2022 across Fox stations[4](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=jerry-oconnell).
## Personal life
O'Connell married actress Rebecca Romijn; the couple have twin daughters and live in Los Angeles[4](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=jerry-oconnell). He has said publicly that he struggled with alcoholism during his early fame and got sober in 2013[13](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/jerry-oconnell-says-sarah-michelle-gellar-dumped-him-after-one-date/). In a 2026 appearance on [Bill Maher](https://www.edgepedia.org/bill-maher)'s *Club Random* podcast he described an election-night political clash with his wife and their twin daughters, and after online backlash declared on X that the appearance would be his last podcast, though he quickly carved out exceptions[14](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/actor-jerry-oconnell-swears-off-podcasts-ater-maga-meltdown-on-bill-maher/).
## Recent work
In 2026 he joined the panel of *Big Brother: Unlocked*, the *Big Brother* recap show, alongside former winners Taylor Hale and Derrick Levasseur for Season 28[15](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/big-brother-unlocked-adding-celebrity-has-me-psyched-jerry-oconnell). He also headlined the Tubi original comedy *Summer's Last Resort* (2026), a project he discussed in interviews alongside his reflections on *Stand by Me*[10](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/features/jerry-o-connell-interview-rob-reiner-summers-last-resort-b3007512.html).
## References
1. [Jerry O'Connell Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jerry_oconnell)
2. [Jerry O'Connell Reveals Real Full Name, Why He Goes By Jerry, E! Online](https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1431814/jerry-oconnell-reveals-real-full-name-why-he-goes-by-jerry)
3. [How Jerry O'Connell's Career Mirrors His Sliders Character, SYFY](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/how-jerry-oconnell-career-mirrors-his-sliders-character)
4. [Jerry O'Connell biography, Paramount Press Express, CBS Entertainment](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=jerry-oconnell)
5. [Ticket to Slide, Sliders Article Archive, Earth Prime](https://www.earthprime.com/article/ticket-to-slide-tvzone/)
6. ['Stand by Me' stars reflect on the movie, Rob Reiner and its return to theaters 40 years later, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/1e98a5d32d8a49399c70a5cae448adcd)
7. [Jerry O'Connell biography, Nipissing University Convocation 2020 Program](https://www.nipissingu.ca/sites/default/files/2020-06/Nipissing_University_Convocation_2020_Program.pdf)
8. ['Fat Kid' Image Giving Way to Older and Newer Roles, Deseret News (1997)](https://www.deseret.com/1997/1/18/19290333/fat-kid-image-giving-way-to-older-and-newer-roles/)
9. [Jerry O'Connell Remembers Rob Reiner's Impact On His Hollywood Career, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/jerry-oconnell-remembers-rob-reiner-impact-his-hollywood-career)
10. [Jerry O'Connell: 'I can't look at a poster for Stand by Me without feeling abject sadness', The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/features/jerry-o-connell-interview-rob-reiner-summers-last-resort-b3007512.html)
11. [Acting His Age, Sliders Article Archive, Earth Prime](https://www.earthprime.com/article/acting-his-age/)
12. [Jerry Who?, Sliders Article Archive, Earth Prime](https://www.earthprime.com/article/jerry-who/)
13. [Jerry O'Connell Says Sarah Michelle Gellar Dumped Him After One Date, The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/jerry-oconnell-says-sarah-michelle-gellar-dumped-him-after-one-date/)
14. [Actor Swears Off Podcasts After MAGA Meltdown on Bill Maher, The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/actor-jerry-oconnell-swears-off-podcasts-ater-maga-meltdown-on-bill-maher/)
15. [Big Brother: Unlocked Is Adding An Unexpected Celebrity, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/big-brother-unlocked-adding-celebrity-has-me-psyched-jerry-oconnell)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames O to Pa*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license