James Patrick Caviezel was born on September 26, 1968 in Mount Vernon, Washington. He was one of five children born to Margaret . The show instantly clicked with audiences, becoming one of the highest rated shows on television. From an outcast actor to a respected film star to a television star, James Caviezel is continuing to give his best to play challenging roles. Off screen, Jim lives with his wife, Kerri, a school teacher whom he met on a blind date in 1993 and married in 1996, and their adopted children.
Grew up in a tight-knit Catholic family. His father is Jim and his mother is Maggie. He has three sisters, Ann, Amy and Erin, and one brother, Tim.
3 sisters-Ann, Amy, Erin 1 brother-Tim.
His father is of Swiss and Slovak descent and his mother is of Irish ancestry. His surname is Swiss Romansch (Rhaeto-Romanic).
Met his wife, Kerri, on a blind date in 1993 orchestrated by Caviezels sister Amy. They have adopted 3 Chinese children.
Played basketball in college, but took up acting after injuring his foot.
Drove the pace car in the Indy 500 Race in May of 2002
Dislocated his shoulder during the filming of The Passion of the Christ .
Received an honorary degree from Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA at their commencement on 18 May 2003. Gave a fire-and-brimstone speech based on his interpretation of Catholicism.
Was struck by lightning during the filming of Mel Gibson s The Passion of the Christ . Assistant director Jan Michelini was also hit (for the second time during the shoot). A crew member said "Im about a hundred feet away from them when I glance over and see smoke coming out of Caviezels ears."
His co-star Elizabeth Mitchell who played his mother in Frequency said about him, "Jim is the perfect son, if I had a son like him I would be a very proud mother."
Was hand-picked by Jennifer Lopez to play the role of Catch in Angel Eyes .
Shortly after accepting the role of Jesus Christ in the Mel Gibson film, The Passion of the Christ , he realized his initials were the same as that of Jesus (J.C.) and that he was the same age most historians and religious scholars claim Jesus was when he was killed (33).
Surname pronounced ka-VEE-zel.
Nearly gave up acting after struggling for so long, before he got a phone call from director Terrence Malick who directed him in The Thin Red Line .
Was a waiter and did some modeling for The Gap early in his career.
Once on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" said when asked by fans if he was Jesus Christ, he responds by saying no, but that he is the Count of Monte Cristo.
Was initially cast as Cyclops in X-Men , but turned it down to appear in Frequency .
He attended the University of Washington and USC
Was seriously considered for the lead role in Superman Returns . The part went to Brandon Routh.
He is a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
Spokesman for "Redeem the Vote," the conservative and Christian counterpart of "Rock the Vote."
Adopted a 5-year-old boy and a girl from the Ghangzhou region and a baby boy from China who overcame a high stage sarcoma.
Expressed great interest in the role of Superman/Clark Kent in Superman Returns but director Bryan Singer refused to cast him, insisting that Caviezel was "too famous" after The Passion of the Christ .
After the success of The Passion of the Christ he was asked to be a spokesman for the Heavenly clothing line but he refused because he felt it would be an insult to people who felt that the film had something meaningful to offer.
Jims wifes brother-in-law, Scott Linehan , is the former head coach of the NFLs St. Louis Rams ; Jims wife (Kerri) and Scotts wife (Kristen) are sisters.
During a special assembly, he spoke to the Jesuit High School of New Orleans student body and faculty on March 20, 2006 while he was in town filming Deja Vu .
Father Jim is a chiropractor.
While filming the whipping scene in The Passion of the Christ , one of the whips missed the steel board on Jims back and cut a 13-inch gash into his back.
Portrayed Jesus Christ a second time in the Word of Promise audio bible.
Chosen as People Magazines one of the Sexiest Man Alive [2004] and was stated as "The Sexiest Savior.".
Friend of John Schneider.
Did some modeling for The Gap.
Has 14 nieces and nephews.
Republican.
During the filming of The Passion of the Christ , he was struck by lightning, had pneumonia, and suffered hypothermia.
Jim told an interviewer that he had been challenged by a friend who was not pro-life to live up to his professed pro-life convictions and adopt a disabled child. The friend told Caviezel that if he did that, then he would change to the pro-life position. When Caviezel and his wife, Kerri, went to China to adopt not one, but eventually two orphans suffering from brain tumors, the friend reneged on the deal. Caviezel, however said, "It didnt matter to me because the joy that we had from (Bo) - hes like our own."
(June 2006) Taking summer classes at the University of Notre Dame in the hopes of getting his college degree.
(December 2009) On December 6-7 of 2009, he visited Bayside of Granite Bay to be interviewed live by Pastor Ray Johnston in front of the audience in each service about his role in The Passion of the Christ .
If you watch the Person of Interest blooper reel for season one, youll see that Jim does an excellent Christopher Walken impersonation.
