His mother was a casting director, and displayed initial uncertainty about his career choice. She had witnessed firsthand how difficult and unyielding the profession could be. Nonetheless, she took him to his first audition, for which he ended up winning the role. Jackson broke into show business by appearing in a Keebler’s potato chip commercial. Ever since, he has enjoyed a full and varied career.
When he was only eleven, Jackson appeared in Crooked Hearts as the child version of a main character. At this early age, the film exposed Jackson to working with many successful actors. Peter Berg, Vincent D’Onofrio, Noah Wyle, and Juliette Lewis all starred in this 1991 tearjerker drama. Jackson worked a little in television, including the television series Payoff, but it wasn’t long before a successful film would come his way.
In 1992, Jackson landed the lead in The Mighty Ducks. Playing Charlie Conway, Jackson shared the screen with Emilio Estevez, the real life brother of Charlie Sheen and son of Martin Sheen. The sequel D2: The Mighty Ducks, followed in 1994. He then landed a role in Andre, the charming family-geared film about a young girl and her adopted seal.
Unfortunately, like any actor, some of his roles probably should have been passed on. Such was the case with the 1995 film Magic in the Water. The movie felt very similar to his earlier hit Andre, but it lacked the charm and originality that made his other film so much fun. But Jackson was resilient and followed this stumble with more television work and the third installment of the Mighty Ducks series in 1996.
Two years later, Jackson landed the role that would make him a star. He accepted the role of Pacey Witter on Dawson’s Creek, a show that ran for six seasons and capture the heart of teens across the nation. Other stars you might recognize from the show are James Van Der Beek, Michelle Williams, and Katie Holmes (whom Jackson dated).
The success of this television series garnered Jackson a host of film roles. He starred in Apt Pupil in 1998, Urban Legend in 1998, Cruel Intentions in 1999, and The Skulls in 2000. When Dawson’s Creek came to an end in 2003, Jackson just kept doing what he had been doing since the age of eleven. He continued to make films and appear in television.
Throughout the 90s, Jackson found his niche with teenage drama films and television series. He knew his angle, and he knew how to exploit it to his greatest end. He was even named one of Teen People’s 21 Hottest Stars Under 21 in 1999.
But as Jackson grows older, his career seems to be maturing with him. He auditioned for the title role in Batman Begins starring former Dawsoncast mate Katie Holmes. While the role eventually went to Christian Bale, it’s a nod to the kind of characters and films Jackson wants to associate himself with. Jackson was involved in post-production for Bobby, a film concerning the assassination of Senator Robert F Kennedy in1968. It was both written and directed by former Mighty Ducks costar Emilio Estevez.
Towards the end of 2006 Jackson’s project was Meet the Devil, a story that revolves around even more intense material. Jackson played a cop whose military service in Iraq and wife’s suicide lead him into a tainted bargain with a dangerous criminal.
YUDDY
