Joshua Jackson, the heartthrob of the nineties known for his role as Pacey John Witter in Dawson’s Creek, has remained a firm favourite among millennials. Now, he is back with a fresh TV offering.
The 46 year old actor and father stars in a new medical drama Doctor Odyssey by Ryan Murphy, where he plays Max Bankman, an onboard doctor on the luxury cruise ship The Odyssey. As the head of a small medical team, Bankman navigates through unusual medical crises, aided by Hamilton’s Phillipa Soo (who plays a nurse practitioner), Miami Vice star Don Johnson (as the ship’s captain), and Skins’ Sean Teale (another onboard nurse).
Doctor Odyssey, which will be available on Disney+ from October 24, boasts a star-studded cast and a line-up of stellar guest stars. Viewers can look forward to appearances from pop icon Shania Twain, soap legend John Stamos and Glee star Chord Overstreet.
Off-screen, Joshua has remained in the limelight due to his high-profile romances and various TV roles, reports the Mirror.
We delve into the actor’s life both on and off-screen, including updates on his dating life, his divorce from a well-known British actress, and other shows you might have seen him in.
Joshua Jackson’s early life and career.
Joshua Jackson stars as Max Bankman in Doctor Odyssey (Image: Disney )
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Born in Vancouver to an Irish mother and American father, Joshua began his acting career at the tender age of 13 in the 1991 film Crooked Hearts.
His mother, Fiona, was part of the casting crew on the drama, which featured a young Joshua playing a younger version of the main character, portrayed by Peter Berg.
Joshua’s career took off in 1998 when he landed the lead role in Dawson’s Creek. He subsequently starred in a variety of films and TV shows, including Cruel Intentions, Ocean’s Eleven and The Simpsons.
Is Joshua Jackson married?
The pair spent four years married (Image: Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)
Joshua was wedded to actress Jodie Turner-Smith (Queen and Slim) from 2019 to 2023. The duo first crossed paths at a Hollywood birthday bash in October 2018 and tied the knot in August 2019, reportedly before their relationship was public knowledge.
Joshua later disclosed that Jodie popped the question on New Year’s Eve in Nicaragua. During an appearance on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, he revealed: “She asked me, yeah, on New Year’s Eve.”
“We were in Nicaragua. It was very beautiful and incredibly romantic. We were walking down the beach and she asked me to marry her.” When quizzed if he saw the proposal coming, he responded: “I didn’t know. But she was quite adamant. And, she was right.”
The pair maintained a public relationship, frequently expressing their affection for each other and sharing snippets of their life together on social media. In 2020, they became parents to a daughter named Juno.
Jodie initiated divorce proceedings in October 2023, citing September 13 as the date of their separation. The couple share joint custody of their daughter.
Lupita Nyong’o romance.
Lupita Nyong’o and Joshua Jackson briefly dated (Image: Getty)
Joshua was romantically involved with Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o from 2023 to 2024. In December 2023, insiders close to the couple confirmed to The Daily Mail that they were an item.
Following the whispers surrounding their romance, the duo was seen hand-in-hand on several occasions, all but confirming they were an item.
But then came a twist in October 2024; Lupita Nyong’o gave a telling interview to Harper’s Bazaar where she hinted at a split, revealing: “My love for my cat is singular. If I’m ever so lucky to be in a romantic relationship again, it’ll be because of him.”
She elaborated on her changed perspective on love: “I was ready to shut that door and lock it and bolt it. He has ensured that my heart remains open.”
What else has he starred in?
Joshua Jackson has starred in various TV series in the last few years (Image: BANG Showbiz.)
Joshua Jackson made headlines with his turn in the Hulu limited series ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ opposite Reese Witherspoon in 2020. Fans cheered his major role after a spate of TV guest spots.
His portrayal captured hearts anew, especially a buzzed-about scene featuring him in white boxers which set social media ablaze, affirming his enduring appeal as a teen idol well into his forties. Jackson took to ‘Live with Kelly and Ryan’ to reflect on the frenzy from adoring fans, quipping, “Who knew that all these years what was missing from my career was parading around in my tighty-whities.”
With tongue in cheek, he added: “I’m in my 40s now. I enjoy getting objectified.”
He has also shone in Peacocks ‘Dr Death’ and the Paramount+ thriller ‘Fatal Attraction’, continuing to captivate audiences across various platforms.
Doctor Odyssey will be available to stream on Disney+ from October 24
