After roles in a string of action/sci-fi shows, handsome Texan Jensen Ackles used his moody persona and bad boy looks to snag a starring role in the WB hit “Supernatural” (2005 - ). The Dallas native, born in 1978, grew up in an acting family. His father Alan Ackles, was an actor who made recurring appearances on “Walker, Texas Ranger” (CBS, 1994 - 2000) and “Dallas” (CBS, 1984-1988). Ackles started modeling when he was two years old and also did some commercial work, appearing in print and TV ads for Wal-Mart, Nabisco and Radio Shack, but didn't begin to fully realize his potential until fifteen years later, where he broke hearts and won fans portraying Eric Brady on the NBC daytime drama "Days of Our Lives" (from 1997 to 2000). After his preschool foray in to the modeling world, Ackles stayed out of the spotlight until 1995, when he was signed by an agent after being spotted at a Dallas actors' workshop. His TV acting debut came shortly thereafter, appearing in an episode of the Dallas-lensed PBS series "Wishbone", starring a talking dog who acts out literary classics for kids. After completing high school, Ackles moved to Los Angeles, where he landed a guest role on "Sweet Valley High" (syndicated) and a regular part on the high school-set sitcom "Mr. Rhodes" (NBC, 1996-97), in which a hip writer takes a job teaching at a prep school--Ackles played one of the students who were more disciplined than his teacher was. Though the series was troubled from its beginnings and enjoyed only a short run, Ackles used the part as an important jumping off point, and was soon essaying the role of Eric on "Days of Our Lives". Walking in the shoes of a character who hadn't been seen onscreen since infancy, Ackles was a good counterpoint to his evil twin sister Sami (Alison Sweeney), who shared his freshly-scrubbed, golden blond good looks, but unconvincingly hid a poisoned heart. The far more sympathetic and charming Eric quickly gained favor with fans of the soap. He garnered three Daytime Emmy nominations during his tenure as the teenage Eric. While Ackles played the part, the character overcame a rape charge, worked as a photographer, fell in love again and again and had a near-death experience. Ackles left the series in 2000, when his character's storylines stalled. He appeared in the CBS 2001 miniseries "Blonde", based on Joyce Carol Oates' fictionalized biography of Marilyn Monroe, as the spoiled, irresponsible son of a famous actor who has an affair with Monroe in the show and almost bankrupts her with his lavish ways. That same year he became a series regular on the popular Fox sci-fi adventure series "Dark Angel". Having first appeared on the series the season year before as a doomed X5 escapee Ben who has difficulties integrating into the real world, Ackles reemerged as Alec, a genetically engineered superhuman with a sarcastic sense of humor designed to be Alba’s mate until she spurned his advances. Ackles’ first gig at The WB, the network that would make him famous, was a recurring role on Dawson’s Creek with James Van der Beek and Katie Holmes. He played a drug and alcohol counselor (WB, 2002-2003) as well as Michelle Williams’ love interest. The actor made his producing debut in “The Plight of Clownana” (2004) and also acted in the film, about a dancing clown who is the mascot for a banana store. The same year, he starred in a mid-season Fox replacement series wasn’t picked up. “Still Life” was history of a family from the perspective of its dead son. Ackles played the son who skipped town with his brother’s ashes and later tries to find a way to reconcile with his parents. Ackles was cast in a recurring role on “Smallville” (WB, 2004-2005) as Lana Lang’s jealous, kryptonite-wielding, sometimes boyfriend. After meeting Lana in Paris, Ackles’ character relocated from Metropolis to Smallville where he became the high school football coach, well-positioned to make trouble for the budding superhero Tom Welling Ackles’ first mass market feature was "Devour" (2005) also starring Dominique Swain He played a college student who was drawn into an online game that soon made his nightmares a reality. It was a critical disaster, but his big break came next. Paired with “Gilmore Girls” Jared Padalecki “Supernatural” (WB, 2005 - ) was a hit with Generation Y females, who loved the stars, as well as male viewers, who liked the damsels in distress. His character Dean Winchester was a gruff, wreckless and stubborn young man whose life decision to save people from supernatural evils doesn’t seem to fit his personality, even though a demon killed his mother when he was a toddler. Ackles and Padalecki made a sympathetic pair, however, and the good script and production quality made for an exciting hour.