Jonathan Jackson

Jonathan Stevens Jackson (born May 11, 1982) is an American actor, musician, and author. He is best known for his role as Lucky Spencer in the television soap opera General Hospital (1993–1999, 2009–2011, 2015, 2024–2025), which won him six Daytime Emmy Awards. He is also known for his roles in the films The Deep End of the Ocean, Tuck Everlasting (2002), Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004), and Riding the Bullet (2004), as well as the television series Nashville (2012–2018), for which he received a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination.

Early life Jackson was born in Orlando, Florida, the son of Jeanine (née Sharp), an amateur ventriloquist and businesswoman, and Dr. Rick "Ricky Lee" Jackson, a family physician, Jackson was raised in Battle Ground, Washington, with his brother Richard Lee Jackson, now an actor and musician, and his sister Candice Jackson, now a lawyer, an author, and formerly served as an official in the Trump administration as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Operations and Outreach in the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education, the Office's Acting Assistant Secretary from April 2017 to July 2018; and the Deputy General Counsel of the Department of Education from July 2018 to January 2021. Jonathan attended Meadow Glade Elementary School. and again in 1998 and 1999, making him the record holder for both nominations and wins for the Younger Actor category. He also won Soap Opera Digest Awards in 1995 and 1999. He was nominated for Young Artist Awards in 1996, 1997 and 1999. He won The Hollywood Reporter'''s YoungStar Award in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 1999 and was nominated in 2000. Jackson also became a popular "teen heartthrob" among fans, featured on fan magazines such as Tiger Beat and garnering many fan clubs and internet fansites. Also during this time he starred in made-for-television films The Prisoner of Zenda, Inc. and The Legend of the Ruby Silver, and made a guest appearance during Season 5 of the ABC sitcom Boy Meets World. In 1999, Jackson filmed The Deep End of the Ocean shortly before leaving General Hospital, starring opposite Michelle Pfeiffer. Deep End director Ulu Grosbard spoke of Jackson as "an enormously gifted actor. He brought a weight and a presence and chemistry with Michelle from the beginning. He's only 15 years old and he is a very serious actor who has both concentration and humor." Pfeiffer added, "When Jonathan and I read together, it was like he was my own son. And we just went at each other in only this way that a mother and son could do. His reading was exhilarating."

In December 1999, Newsweek magazine reported Jackson was likely to be taking on the role of Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. However, he was soon dropped from the running, and publications speculated the prior publicity had hurt his chances due to creator George Lucas' preference for privacy. Jackson continued his film career in 2000 with the independent film True Rights and the ABC television movie Trapped in a Purple Haze. In 2002, Jackson played one of his most well-known film roles as Jesse Tuck in Tuck Everlasting, which he filmed simultaneously with Insomnia. In 2004, Jackson filmed Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, and Riding the Bullet. From 2008 through 2009, he had a recurring role as Kyle Reese in the hit Fox TV show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, playing the father of John Connor before the show was cancelled.

On September 29, 2009, it was announced that Jackson would return to General Hospital on October 27 to reprise the role of Lucky Spencer. In 2011, Jackson won his fourth Daytime Emmy and first Outstanding Supporting Actor Award. On November 7, 2011, it was announced that Jackson had decided to leave General Hospital and his final airdate was on December 23, 2011. His character is not planned to be recast or killed off, leaving the door open for Jackson to return with the show in the future. In 2012, Jackson won his fifth Daytime Emmy and second consecutive win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

In 2012, he got the role of singer-songwriter Avery Barkley in the ABC drama Nashville. Along with the rest of the cast, Jackson sang and played the guitar himself on the series.

Music

As a child, Jackson took guitar lessons and taught himself to play the piano.

The ensemble morphed into Enation, where Jackson is the frontman, playing guitar, vocals and writing most of the songs. Other band members include Jackson's brother Richard (drums), and their friend Jonathan Thatcher (bass, previously of Delirious?)

As well as performing as singer, guitarist & piano Jackson also wrote the song "The Morning of the Rain" featured on episodes 7 and 19 of the first season of Nashville. Enation also landed on the Billboard Top 10 (Live From Nashville DVD, #9) and have garnered numerous radio and TV appearances including live performances on The View and VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live.

In June 2020, Jackson recorded a song dedicated to the Hilandar and Serbian Orthodox monasteries in Kosovo.

Books In the spring of 2012, Jackson released a book of poetry under the name J. S. Jackson, titled Book of Solace and Madness. In November 2014, Jackson released The Mystery of Art: Becoming an Artist in the Image of God.

Personal life

Family At age 20, Jackson married former General Hospital actress Lisa Vultaggio on June 21, 2002. Jackson told the Chicago Sun-Times, "Some people thought we were a little young to get married. But we didn't see the need to wait. When it's right, it's right."

Religion

fontsize = 88% I've never presented Jesus in a car salesman sort of way. I don't believe in that for me. I don't want to turn anyone away because they're feeling pressured. The most positive influence I've had is people seeing the kind of life I'm living and the way I treat people. If people ask where that comes from, I'll say it comes from Jesus. And I'm definitely not ashamed of that. salign = right — Jackson on his faith, in 1998 and has always been vocal about his faith. As part of his belief system, as a teen Jackson chose not to drink or do drugs. Jackson also often thanked God during his award acceptance speeches. stating that his anti-drug was faith. In 2012, Jackson and his family were baptized into the Eastern Orthodox Church. Jackson cited a trip to Romania and Rome that first brought his attention to learning about the history of Christianity. In his acceptance speech for his 2012 Daytime Emmy Award, he thanked the Holy Trinity as well as the monks on Orthodox monastic enclave Mount Athos. Jackson later explained in an interview, "These people [are] dedicating their lives to prayer, and not just praying for themselves, but truly praying for all of us. And then the thought kind of crossed my mind: with all the destruction, chaos and insanity that goes on in this world, if their prayers weren't happening, what would this world be like? I felt, personally, like I just wanted to thank them because I really believe that their prayers mean a lot."

At the September 28, 2024, annual conference of the Shakespeare Oxford Fellowship he presented "The Moral and Spiritual Vision of Edward DeVere", in which he suggests that Greek Orthodox Christianity has much in common with Devere's spiritual vision as seen in his letters, poetry, and the works of Shakespeare. In particular he explores the alignment of the thought of John Chrysostom and Baldassare Castiglione with DeVere's faith.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1994 Camp Nowhere Morris "Mud" Himmel Film debut 1996 The Prisoner of Zenda, Inc. Rudy Gatewick/Oliver Gillis TV movie The Legend of the Ruby Silver Matt Rainie 1999 The Deep End of the Ocean Vincent Cappadora - Age 16 2000 True Rights Charlie Vick TV movie Crystal Clear Eddie Short film also written and directed by Jackson Trapped in a Purple Haze Max Hanson TV movie2001 Skeletons in the Closet Seth Reed On the Edge Toby 2002 Insomnia Randy Stetz Tuck Everlasting Jesse Tuck 2004 Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights James Phelps Riding the Bullet Alan Parker 2005 Venom Eric 2006 A Little Thing Called Murder Kenny Kimes TV movie 2010 Kalamity Stanley Keller 2020 Saint Joseph the Hesychast Joseph the Hesychast 2024 Unsung Hero Eddie DeGarmo 2025 El Tonto Por Cristo Eagle

Television Year Title Role Notes 1993–19992009–201120152024–2025 General Hospital Lucky Spencer Regular role 1998 Boy Meets World Ricky Ferris 2 episodes 2001 Night Visions Devin Episode: If a Tree Falls 2003 The Twilight Zone Martin Episode: Sunrise 2008 One Tree Hill Himself Cameo with Enation 2008–2009 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Kyle Reese 4 episodes 2012–2018 Nashville Avery Barkley Main cast; 121 episodes 2017 NashChat Himself Guest host; week 4

Soundtrack appearancesThe Music of Nashville: Season 1, Volume 1 (2012) Contributed 1 track: "Twist Of Barbwire"The Music of Nashville: Season 1, Volume 2 (2013) Contributed 2 tracks: "Let There Be Lonely" and "Keep Asking Why"The Music of Nashville: Season 2, Volume 1 (2013) Contributed 2 tracks: "You Learn How To Live Alone" and "Be My Girl" with Sam PalladioThe Music of Nashville: Season 2, Volume 2 (2014) Contributed 3 tracks: "Hennessee" with Sam Palladio and Chaley Rose, "Everything I'll Ever Need" with Hayden Panettiere and "I Ain't Leavin' Without Your Love" with Sam Palladio and Chaley RoseChristmas with Nashville (2014) Contributed 2 tracks: "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" and Celebrate Me Home with the Nashville castThe Music of Nashville: Season 3, Volume 1 (2014) Contributed 1 track: "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" with Sam Palladio and Chaley RoseThe Music of Nashville: Season 3, Volume 2 (2015) Contributed 6 tracks: "Borrow My Heart" with Sam Palladio and Clare Bowen, "This Is What I Need To Say", "Hold You In My Arms" with Hayden Panettiere, "My Song" with Sam Palladio and Clare Bowen, "Novocaine" with Laura Benanti and "One By One" with Hayden PanettiereThe Music of Nashville: Season 4, Volume 1 (2015) Contributed 2 tracks: "History of My Heart" and "Sleep Tonight (A Lullaby)" with Chris CarmackThe Music of Nashville: Season 4, Volume 2 (2016) Contributed 2 tracks: "History of My Heart" and "Sleep Tonight (A Lullaby)" with Chris CarmackThe Music of Nashville: Season 5, Volume 1 (2017) Contributed 2 tracks: "Won't Back Down" and "On My Way" background vocals with Hayden PanettiereThe Music of Nashville: Season 5, Volume 2 (2017) Contributed 2 tracks: "Eye of the Storm" and "You're Mine" with Hayden Panettiere, Connie Britton, Charles Esten, Sam Palladio, Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack, Lennon Stella, Maisy StellaThe Music of Nashville: Season 5, Volume 3 (2017) Contributed 2 tracks: "Rose and Thorn" and "Nobody Cares About Your Dreams"The Music of Nashville: Season 6, Volume 1 (2018) Contributed 2 tracks: "Hold On (Not Leaving You Behind)" with Sam Palladio, Rainee Blake, and Chris Carmack and "Love is Loud" with Sam Palladio, Rainee Blake, and Chris CarmackThe Music of Nashville: Season 6, Volume 2'' (2018) Contributed 3 tracks: "The Giver", "Go" with Sam Palladio, Rainee Blake, and Chris Carmack, and "A Life That's Good" with Hayden Panettiere, Connie Britton, Charles Esten, Sam Palladio, Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack, Lennon Stella, Maisy Stella, and Ronny Cox

Awards and nominations