Full Name: James Norman Beaver, Jr.
Date of Birth: August 12, 1950
Place of Birth: Laramie, Wyoming, USA
Jim Beaver has had a long history in the world of the arts, boasting his skills on stage as well as in film and television. In addition to being an actor, Beaver is a nationally recognised playwright, screenwriter and film historian. He has published two books, John Garfield and Movie Blockbusters, and is currently working on his third book, the content of which is a biography on George Reeves, television’s original Superman.
The role that thrust him into the spotlight was in Norman Jewison’s much-admired film, In Country, where Beaver was cast as Earl Smith, best friend of the lead character Emmett Smith (Bruce Willis), a Vietnam War veteran. It may be a call of fate that Beaver gained prominence in the industry through this film as he was the only actual Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam among the primary cast of In Country.
Some of his other film appearances include Sister Act, Sliver, Geronimo: An American Legend, Blue Chips, Bad Girls, Magnolia, Joy Ride, Adaptation, The Life of David Gale, Next and Cooties.
In the realm of television, Beaver guest-starred in various shows such as Matlock, The Young Riders, Father Dowling Mysteries, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Home Improvement, The X-Files, The Division, Star Trek: Enterprise and Six Feet Under. He had recurring roles in Santa Barbara, Thunder Alley, 3rd Rock from the Sun, The Young and the Restless, and Days of Our Lives.
Beaver’s starring role as Whitney Ellsworth in the HBO Western drama series Deadwood has brought him much acclaim after years in the business. The cast of Deadwood was nominated in the category of Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at the Screen Actors Guild Awards this year.
Beaver had a recurring role in HBO’s John from Cincinnati as Vietnam Joe and can presentlly be seen in his role as Bobby Singer in The CW’s hit series Supernatural.