Jason O'Mara
A versatile Irish actor who has quietly become a dependable leading man across American sci-fi, western, and superhero television.
Born 1972 (age 54)·Irish actor·Birthday: August 6·Generation X
Biography
Jason O'Mara built his career not on flash, but on a steady, grounded presence that commands the screen. After training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, he initially worked in UK theatre and television before making the leap to Hollywood. He possesses a classic, leading-man quality reminiscent of a bygone era, which has made him a reliable anchor for genre television. He led the ambitious dinosaur-family drama 'Terra Nova,' brought law and order to the retro 'Vegas,' and stepped into the boots of Batman himself for the animated 'DC Universe Movies' series. O'Mara excels at portraying authority figures—soldiers, sheriffs, agents—with a core of decency and weariness. His performance in 'The Siege of Jadotville' as Commandant Pat Quinlan showcased his ability to carry a film with quiet, resolute strength, earning him critical recognition in his home country.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jason was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jason Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Jason's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won an Irish Film & Television Award (IFTA) for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'The Siege of Jadotville' (2016).
- Voiced the character of Batman in a series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies, starting with 'Justice League: War' (2014).
- Starred as the lead in Steven Spielberg's high-concept television series 'Terra Nova' (2011).
Did You Know?
He is a dual citizen of Ireland and the United States.
Before acting, he considered a career in law and studied political science at University College Dublin.
He is married to actress Paige Turco, whom he met on the set of 'The Agency.'
“The work is in the preparation; the performance is just the final step.”
