Jesse Bradford Watrouse (born May 28, 1979) is an American actor. He began his career as a child actor at age five and received two Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film nominations for his performances in King of the Hill (1993) and Far From Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog (1995). After portraying Balthasar in the 1996 film Romeo + Juliet, he gained wider recognition starring in the teen comedy Bring It On (2000).
Early life Bradford was born Jesse Bradford Watrouse in Norwalk, Connecticut, the only child of actors Terry Porter and Curtis Watrouse, who appeared in commercials, soap operas, and industrial films. His mother also played his character's mother in Hackers (1995). Bradford's cousins are Jonathan Svec (a member of the bands Splender and Edison) and Sarah Messer, a writer and poet. He began acting at the age of eight months, appearing in a Q-Tip commercial. At his parents' encouragement, Bradford began modeling and auditioning for acting roles. His first film appearance was as Robert De Niro's son in Falling in Love (1984).
He graduated from Brien McMahon High School, where he was a self-described geology nerd. He was Homecoming King, captain of the tennis team, and was voted "best looking" and "favorite actor" by his high school class (although he was not in the drama club).Fenwick, Alexandra, "Star earns stripes: Brien McMahon graduate stars in Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers," article in The Advocate of Stamford, October 29, 2006, pp. 1, A6 He went on to attend Columbia University, from which he graduated in 2002 with a degree in film.
Career As a child actor, Bradford starred in the well-reviewed films Prancer (1989), Presumed Innocent (1990), King of the Hill (1993), Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog, and Hackers (1995). Subsequently, he has had several notable roles in motion pictures, including Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Bring It On (2000), playing the romantic interest. In 2002, he appeared as the lead in two films — Clockstoppers and Swimfan. He also had a minor role as White House intern Ryan Pierce for nine episodes during the fifth season of The West Wing.
Bradford played the role of Rene Gagnon in the 2006 film Flags of Our Fathers, based on the book of the same name by James Bradley. The film is about the Battle of Iwo Jima and was directed by Academy Award-winning director Clint Eastwood. In 2009, Bradford was cast as one of the leads in I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, based on Tucker Max's bestselling book.
Bradford was in the main cast of the short-lived NBC courtroom drama series Outlaw in 2010.
In 2016, he was in three episodes of Code Black.
Personal life Bradford is married to Andrea Leal. They have a daughter.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1984Falling in LoveJoe Raftis1989PrancerBoy #11990Presumed InnocentNat SabichMy Blue HeavenJamie1991Mike Love1993King of the HillAaron1995Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow DogAngus McCormickHackersJoey Pardella1996Romeo + JulietBalthasar1998Billy Willis (age 14)1999Speedway JunkyJohnny2000Cherry FallsRod HarperBring It OnCliff PantoneDancing at the Blue IguanaJorge2001According to SpencerSpencer2002ClockstoppersZak GibbsSwimfanBen Cronin2004EulogyRyan Carmichael2005Happy EndingsNickyHeightsAlec2006Flags of Our FathersRene Gagnon2008My Sassy GirlCharlie BellowBobby ReynoldsW.Thatcher2009Table for ThreeRyanI Hope They Serve Beer in HellDrew2010Perfect LifeJack Parsons2011You're a WolfTylerShort filmSon of MorningDavid2012Item 47Bennie PollackShort film2013Dom10 Rules for Sleeping AroundVince Johnson2015Badge of HonorMike Gallo2016Dead AwakeEvan2017The Year of Spectacular MenAaron Ezra2018The Day of Matthew MontgomeryMatthew MontgomeryShort Film2020California NoColton2022Merry Kiss CamDanny Carmody Jr.
Television Year Title Role Notes1986Classified LoveAnthonyTV film1991Walter Farmer Jr.TV film1993TribecaJoshEpisode: "The Rainmaker"2003–2004Ryan PierceRecurring role; 9 episodes2006Twenty QuestionsJackson LynchTV film2009Dr. Seth EastmanUnsold TV pilot2010OutlawEddie FranksMain role; 8 episodes2011Other People's KidsAdamTV film2012–2013Guys with KidsChrisMain role; 18 episodes2014SequesteredDanny FermanMain role; 12 episodes2016Code BlackGordon HeshmanEpisodes: "First Date", "The Fifth Stage", "Diagnosis of Exclusion"2016, 2019TeachersJacobEpisode: "Jacob" and "Thoughts and Bears"2016LoveCarlEpisode: "Party in the Hills"NCISJohn BishopEpisode: "Enemy Combatant"2017–2018ShooterHarris DowneyRecurring role2018DeceptionRafe WillemsEpisode: "Black Art"2019Magnum P.I.Neal ConlanEpisode: "Lie, Cheat, Steal, Kill"2025The Hunting PartyMark MarsdenEpisode: "Mark Marsden"2026High PotentialSolomonEpisodes: "Behind the music" “Grounded”
References
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