Jerry O'Connell was born in the vibrant city of New York, to Linda Witkowski, an art teacher, and Michael O'Connell, a British-born advertising agency art director. His early years were spent in the bustling streets of Manhattan, surrounded by his parents and younger brother, Charlie O'Connell, who would also follow in his footsteps and pursue a career in acting. With ancestry tracing back to one half Irish, one quarter Italian, and one quarter Polish, Jerry's diverse background would undoubtedly influence his creative pursuits.
Jerry's acting career began at a remarkably young age, with early stints in commercial and television work. He landed his breakout role as "Vern Tessio" in the iconic film Stand by Me (1986),opposite River Phoenix and Corey Feldman. This initial success paved the way for further television movie and series appearances, as well as a starring role in the popular show My Secret Identity (1988).
From 1991 to 1994, Jerry pursued his passion for film at New York University, where he majored in the subject. Although he didn't complete his degree, he continued to hone his craft, taking on various roles in film and television.
In 1993, Jerry starred in the film Calendar Girl (1993) alongside Jason Priestley. The following year, he appeared in the TV-movie western The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky (1995),and in 1996, he landed the role of "Frank Cushman" in the successful film Jerry Maguire (1996),opposite Tom Cruise.
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Jerry continued to build his resume, starring in Scream 2 (1997),making a small uncredited appearance in Can't Hardly Wait (1998),and appearing in several television movies. He also had starring roles in the TV-series Sliders (1995) and the film Body Shots (1999),opposite Sean Patrick Flanery and Tara Reid.
In 2000, Jerry appeared in the Brian De Palma film Mission to Mars (2000),alongside Gary Sinise, among others. He went on to star in a range of films, including Tomcats (2001),Buying the Cow (2002),Kangaroo Jack (2003),Yours, Mine & Ours (2005),Man About Town (2006),and Room 6 (2006).
In 2007, Jerry married actress and model Rebecca Romijn, with whom he has twin daughters.
