Jesse Lee Soffer
Born
Ossining, New York, U.S.
EducationThe Gunnery
Alma materNew York University
Occupation(s)Actor, director
Years active1990–present

Jesse Lee Soffer is an American actor and television director. He is known for portraying Will Munson on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns, and received three Emmy nominations for his work on the show.[1][2][3][4] From 2014 to 2022, he starred as Jay Halstead on the NBC drama Chicago P.D. and guest-starred on Chicago P.D. crossover episodes with Chicago Med and Chicago Fire, as part of the main cast. He is also known for his role as Bobby Brady in the comedy The Brady Bunch Movie and its sequel A Very Brady Sequel.

Early life and education

Jesse Lee Soffer was born in Ossining, New York, to Jill Hindes (née Bruning) and Stan Soffer. His father died in 1993, when he was nine-years-old. Soffer has two younger half-sisters, Shayne and Jenna Hindes, from his mother's second marriage. He also has two older half-siblings from his father's first marriage, Craig and Melissa Soffer.[5][6] Soffer spent part of his childhood in Tarrytown, New York, and later moved to Newtown, Connecticut, at age 10.[7]

Soffer boarded at The Gunnery, graduating in 2003.[8] He played soccer in school and was named to the all-star team (prep school category) during his senior season.[9] He took classes at New York University (NYU).[10]

Career

Soffer's acting career began at age 6 when he landed a Kix cereal commercial.[11] In 1993 aged eight, he made his feature film debut with John Goodman and Cathy Moriarty in the comedy Matinee.

In 1994, Soffer co-starred as Percival in the drama Safe Passage. In 1995, Soffer co-starred as Bobby Brady in the comedy The Brady Bunch Movie and reprised his role in A Very Brady Sequel a year later.[12] Continuing the pattern of working with Oscar-calibre and A-list talent, Soffer starred as a runaway-turned-sleuth Jamie Kincaid in the TV movie From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. He worked with director Richard Shepard in the AMC TV movie The Royale. In 1998, Soffer was cast as Taylor Donovan with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen on the ABC sitcom Two of a Kind. He also originated the role of Max Nickerson on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light in 1999. After four months on the show, he left to focus on his studies.

After graduating from high school, Soffer returned to his television career. In 2004, he took over the role of troubled youth Will Munson on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns. He played the role until April 4, 2008. As of 2008, he was nominated three times for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series for his work on ATWT as well as a Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Younger Lead Actor in 2005. In 2007, Soffer returned to his film career and co-starred with Carly Schroeder in Davis Guggenheim's sports drama Gracie, based on a true story. In July 2010, Soffer reprised his role as Will Munson on As the World Turns. During his time on As the World Turns, he was cast in an episode of Dick Wolf's Law & Order: SVU. However, he was unable to film due to a clash in filming commitments.[13] In 2011, Soffer co-starred in the dystopian science fiction action thriller In Time.

Since then, he has guest-starred on a number of television series including CSI: Miami, The Mentalist and Rizzoli & Isles. In 2012, he co-starred with Jordana Spiro in the short-lived Fox medical drama The Mob Doctor as Nate Devlin, the streetwise brother of Dr. Grace Devlin (Spiro).[14][15] Later that year, he co-starred as Travis Alexander in Lifetime's original movie Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret.[16][17]

In June 2013, it was reported Soffer had joined the cast of the NBC police procedural drama Chicago P.D., the first spin-off show from the drama Chicago Fire as Det. Jay Halstead.[18][19] Halstead was introduced in the second season premiere of Chicago Fire.[20] Chicago P.D. premiered on January 8, 2014.[21] On March 19, 2014, NBC renewed the series for a second season.[22] NBC officially announced that the second season would premiere on September 24, 2014. Soffer does his own stunts on the show.[23][24]

On September 24, 2014, Soffer appeared in the second-season premiere of the YouTube comedy/talk webseries Talking Marriage with Ryan Bailey.

On November 16, 2021, Soffer joined Will Lowery and Doug Smith on the podcqst Beyond the Fairway to discuss the similarities between acting and golf, how he got into the game, discovers Will hits cross handed, and much more![25]

On August 30, 2022, it was announced that season 10 of Chicago PD will be the last one for Soffer.[26] His last appearance was on October 5, 2022, on episode 3.[27]

On October 20, 2022, Variety announced Soffer will be back to Chicago P.D. as a director. He directed episode 16 titled "Deadlocked", which aired on March 22, 2023. This episode marked his directorial debut.[28]

Personal life

Soffer was in a relationship with Chicago P.D. co-star Sophia Bush from May 2014 to November 2016.[29]

Soffer began dating Chicago Med star Torrey DeVitto, officially confirming their romance in August 2018, after a year of dating. The pair announced they had ended their relationship in May 2019.[30][31]

Filmography

Actor

Film

Year Film Role Other notes
1993 Matinee Dennis Loomis Credited as Jesse Lee
The Silent Alarm Boy Short film[32]
1994 Safe Passage Percival, age 9 and 10 Credited as Jesse Lee
1995 The Brady Bunch Movie Bobby Brady Credited as Jesse Lee
1996 A Very Brady Sequel Bobby Brady Credited as Jesse Lee
2007 Gracie Johnny Bowen  
2011 In Time Webb  

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Wings Bobby Brady Episode: "A House to Die For" (credited as Jesse Lee)
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Jamie Kincaid (James) Television film (credited as Jesse Lee)
1996 The Royale Billy Television film (credited as Jesse Lee)
1998 Two of a Kind Taylor Donovan Recurring role; 6 episodes
1999 Guiding Light Max Nickerson #1 Recurring role (credited as Jesse Lee)
2004–2008; 2010 As the World Turns Will Munson Regular role; 502 episodes
2008 The Awakening of Spring Michael Television film
CSI: Miami Shane Huntington Episode: "And How Does That Make You Kill?"
2009 The Philanthropist Dean Fitzsimmons Episode: "San Diego"
2010 The Whole Truth Young lover Episode: "Young Love"
2011 The Mentalist Alan Dinkler Episode: "Strawberries and Cream: Part 1"
Rizzoli & Isles Jacob Wilson Episode: "Remember Me"
2012–2013 The Mob Doctor Nate Devlin Main role; 13 Episodes
2013 Hatfields & McCoys Patrick McCoy Unaired pilot[33][34]
Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret Travis Alexander Television film
2013–2022 Chicago Fire Jay Halstead Recurring role; 18 episodes
2014–2023 Chicago P.D. Main role; 189 Episodes
2014–2015 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Guest role; 2 episodes
2015–2022 Chicago Med Recurring role; 28 episodes

Director

Year Title Notes
2023 Chicago P.D. Season 10, Episode 16: “Deadlocked”

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ^ "As the World Turns – Awards". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "The National Television Academy Announces 33rd Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations". emmyonline.com. February 8, 2006.
  3. ^ "34th Annual Daytime Emmy Winners". CBS. March 14, 2007.
  4. ^ "The National Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences Announces 35th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Award Nominations". emmyonline.com. April 30, 2008. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  5. ^ Vix, Bill (22 November 2019). "10 Things You Didn't Know about Jesse Lee Soffer". TVOvermind. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Jesse Lee Soffer". FamilyTron. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  7. ^ Valenta, Kaaren. "By Kaaren Valenta". The Newtown Bee. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Class Notes". The Gunnery Bulletin. The Gunnery. Autumn 2013. p. 40.
  9. ^ "Soccer All-stars". Hartford Courant. November 28, 2002.
  10. ^ Lenhart, Jennifer (2004). "Articles-Jesse Soffer". Soap Opera Digest Weekly Online.
  11. ^ Martindale, David (January 18, 2014). "Five questions with actor Jesse Lee Soffer". DFW.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014.
  12. ^ "SI Now:Jesse Lee Soffer on why soap opera fans are crazier than sport fans". Sports Illustrated. May 13, 2014.
  13. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: ""Chicago P.D." Star Jesse Lee Soffer Goes Over Season Seven Of The NBC Series". YouTube.
  14. ^ Wightman, Catriona (February 23, 2012). "James Carpinello, Jesse Lee Soffer join Fox medical drama pilot". US TV News.
  15. ^ "The Mob Doctor - Jesse Lee Soffer - Nate Devlin's Troubles". Synergistic Productions, Inc. September 17, 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  16. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 17, 2013). "Lifetime's Jodi Arias Movie Casts Tania Raymonde and Jesse Lee Soffer". DEADLINE.
  17. ^ "Exclusive Jodi Arias movie news!". HLN. June 11, 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  18. ^ Ausiello, Michael (June 13, 2013). "Exclusive: NBC's Chicago Fire Spin-Off Drops Melissa Sagemiller, Adds Jesse Lee Soffer". TV Line.
  19. ^ "Actor Jesse Lee Soffer speaks on first season of NBC's 'Chicago PD'". click2houston.com. January 9, 2014. Archived from the original on February 25, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  20. ^ Longeretta, Emily (January 8, 2014). "'Chicago PD' Star Jesse Lee Soffer Interview - Talks Action, Love & Hank Voight". Hollywood Life.
  21. ^ Bibel, Sara (October 18, 2013). "'Ironside' & 'Welcome to the Family' Canceled by NBC; 'Community' to Premiere January 2, 'Chicago P.D.' January 8". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  22. ^ Bibel, Sara (March 19, 2014). "'Chicago Fire', 'Chicago P.D.' & 'Grimm' Renewed; NBC Confirms Renewals of 'Parks & Recreation' & 'Celebrity Apprentice'". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 20, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  23. ^ "Jesse Lee Soffer Dishes on Chicago P.D., Stunts". Veria Living Live. May 20, 2014. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014.
  24. ^ Sarran, Emma (September 23, 2014). "'Chicago PD' Star Jesse Lee Soffer Talks About Police Training and His Role in 'The Brady Bunch Movie'". MICHIGAN AVENUE.
  25. ^ [1], Actor Jesse Lee Soffer Beyond the Fairway.
  26. ^ [2], Jesse Lee Soffer to Exit ‘Chicago P.D.’ in the Fall — Season 10 Will Be His Last (EXCLUSIVE).
  27. ^ [3], How Jesse Lee Soffer’s Character Jay Halstead Was Written Off ‘Chicago P.D.’.
  28. ^ [4], Jesse Lee Soffer Returning to ‘Chicago P.D.’ to Direct in Season 10 (EXCLUSIVE)’.
  29. ^ "Sophia Bush & Jesse Lee Soffer Spark Romance Rumors Again". E! Online. September 28, 2015. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
  30. ^ "Torrey DeVitto, Jesse Lee Soffer Split After 8 Months". Us Weekly. 2019-05-14. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  31. ^ "Chicago P.D.'s Jesse Lee Soffer Opens Up About Torrey DeVitto Relationship". Us Weekly. 2018-09-06. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  32. ^ "Pat Metheny Film Scores: The Silent Alarm". PatMethenyMedia. August 28, 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  33. ^ Kenneally, Tim (February 22, 2013). "'As the World Turns' Star Jesse Lee Soffer Joins NBC's 'Hatfields & McCoys' Pilot". TheWrap.
  34. ^ "NBC Will Not Pick Up 'Hatfields And McCoys': Network Passes On Charlize Theron-Produced Pilot And Six Others". Huffpost TV. May 8, 2013.
  35. ^ "Emmy noms wide Eyed". Variety.com. February 8, 2006.
  36. ^ "Daytime Emmy Awards (2007)". imdb. June 14, 2007.
  37. ^ "Daytime Emmy Nominations Announced!". BWW News Desk. April 30, 2008.

External links

Authority control databases
Categories