James Patrick Caviezel Jr. (popularly known as Jim Caviezel) was born September 26, 1968, in Mount Vernon, Washington. His parents were James Patrick Caviezel Sr. and Ellen Caviezel. His father was a chiropractor, while his mother was a housewife and sometimes as a stage actress. A large Catholic family, Caviezel was one of five children including a twin brother, Timothy. Caviezel was subsequently raised in Conway, Washington.
Caviezel went to Mount Vernon High School for two years before moving to Seattle in pursuit of his basketball career at O’Dea High School. He transferred yet again to John F. Kennedy Memorial High. He was, without surprise, the star of their basketball team, graduating in 1987. He pursued his secondary education at Bellevue Community College, where he again starred on the basketball team. However, a foot injury brought an abrupt end to Caviezel’s hopes of playing basketball professionally. After this injury, he transferred to the University of Washington where he began seriously studying acting.
Caviezel made his onscreen debut with the Gus Van Sant directorial project My Own Private Idaho in 1991, opposite River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves. He had another bit part in Wyatt Earp with an all-star cast that included Kevin Costner, Dennis Quaid, Gene Hackman, Michael Madsen, Catherine O Hara, Bill Pullman, Isabella Rossellini, and Tom Sizemore.
Caviezel’s next successful film (although his part was nothing short of a cameo) was The Rock with Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, and David Morse. The following year, he earned a slightly more prominent role in the action/drama GI Jane. The film was essentially a critical flop for stars Demi Moore, Viggo Mortensen, and Anne Bancroft.
The year 1998, however, would prove his breakout year. With Adrien Brody, Ben Chaplin, George Clooney, Nick Nolte, Sean Penn, John C Reilly, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Cusack, the war drama The Thin Red Line was well received by critics and the public alike.
But 2000 would be an even better year for Caviezel, with his highly successful sci-fi thriller Frequency. Playing opposite Wyatt Earp co-star Quaid, it was another commercial and critical hit. His other 2000 endeavor was similarly well received. Pay It Forward was a career boost for the entire cast, including Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, Haley Joel Osment, Jay Mohr, Jon Bon Jovi, and Angie Dickinson.
In 2001, he had a hit with Madison and a flop with Angel Eyes, opposite Jennifer Lopez and Terrence Howard. This led up to one of his most critically lauded roles as the lead in The Count of Monte Cristo. The film adaptation of the Alexandre Dumas novel also included Guy Pearce, Richard Harris, and Luis Guzman.
The year 2003 brought the success I Am David, based on the beautiful and heart wrenching novel by Anne Holm. He also took a starring role in the intense sci-fi film The Final Cut, with Robin Williams (in a rare dramatic turn) and Mira Sorvino.
The following year brought the much talked about film The Passion of the Christ, which he starred in with Monica Bellucci.
His most recent film was Déjà vu with Denzel Washington and Val Kilmer.
In his personal life, Caviezel married Kerri Browitt in 1997. They are currently still together. Outside the world of film, Caviezel is almost equally as known for his outspoken, conservative political views.
YUDDY
