Jesse Spencer
Spencer in 2009
Born	(1979-02-12) 12 February 1979 (age 44) Melbourne, Australia
Citizenship	Australia United States (since 2021)[1]
Occupations	Actor musician
Years active	1991–present
Spouse	Kali Woodruff Carr ​ (m. 2020)​

Jesse Gordon Spencer (born 12 February 1979) is an Australian-American^[1] actor and musician. He is known for his roles as Billy Kennedy on the Australian soap opera Neighbours (1994–2022), for which he was nominated for two Logie Awards, Dr. Robert Chase on the American medical drama House (2004–2012) and Captain Matthew Casey on the American drama Chicago Fire (2012–2023).

Early life

Jesse Gordon Spencer was born in Melbourne on 12 February 1979, the son of Robyn and radiologist Rodney Spencer. His parents were the founders of the far-right party Australians Against Further Immigration,^[2] and would both later contest the 1998 federal election for the right-wing populist party Pauline Hanson's One Nation.^[3] He is the only member of the family who opted not to work in the medical field; his older brother Tarney is an oculoplastic surgeon, his other older brother Luke is an orthopaedic surgeon, and his younger sister Polly is an anaesthetist.

Spencer attended Canterbury Primary School, Malvern Central School, and the private Scotch College. While there, he auditioned for the long-running soap opera Neighbours. He completed his VCE and had gained a place at Monash University but deferred to pursue acting.^[4]

Career

Acting

Spencer starred as Billy Kennedy in the Australian soap opera Neighbours from 1994 to 2000. He later reprised his role in 2005, in an episode celebrating the show's 20th anniversary. His character was the son of long-term iconic Ramsay Street residents Dr. Karl Kennedy and Susan Kennedy.^[5]

After his time on Neighbours, he co-starred in films such as Winning London with the Olsen Twins, Uptown Girls and Swimming Upstream.

Spencer starred as intensive care specialist and surgeon Dr. Robert Chase on the Fox medical drama House from 2004 to 2012. He played Chase for the show's entire run, becoming the second longest-serving member of the title character's team.

Spencer starred as firefighter Matthew Casey in the NBC drama Chicago Fire from 2012^[6] to 2021.^[7]

In 2022, it was confirmed that Spencer would return to Neighbours as part of the series finale.^[8]

Music

Spencer began his musical career with the Australian Boys Choir, performing with them from 1986 to 1992.^[9] He plays the violin in Band from TV, a group that includes his former House co-star Hugh Laurie. They play at various events, giving the money they earn to charity. The band played on Idol Gives Back in April 2008.^[10][11]

Awards and nominations

For Neighbours, Spencer was nominated for "Most Popular Actor" at the 1998 and 1999 Logie Awards. For House, he was nominated for "Choice TV Breakout Performance – Male" at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards and "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series" at the 2008 Screen Actors Guild Awards. He received a "Golden Boomerang" at the 2006 Australians in Film Breakthrough Awards for his work on House.^[12] In 2007, he was included in People Magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People issue.

Personal life

Spencer began dating American actress Jennifer Morrison, who played his character's love interest in House, in July 2004; he proposed to her at the Eiffel Tower during Christmas 2006,^[13] but they called off their engagement in August 2007. He then dated English actress and singer Louise Griffiths from 2008 to 2010, and Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira from 2010 to 2013.^[14]

Spencer began dating neuroscientist Kali Woodruff Carr in 2014, and they were engaged in 2019. They married on 27 June 2020.^[15]

Spencer became a U.S. citizen in November 2021.^[1]

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Stage

Awards and nominations