John Corbett
With his easygoing charm and towering presence, he became America's quintessential romantic foil and dependable small-town guy.
Born 1961 (age 65)·American actor and country music singer·Birthday: May 9·Baby Boomers
Biography
John Corbett didn't just play likable men; he defined a specific, deeply appealing archetype: the grounded, handsome, and genuinely good guy. His breakout role as the philosophical DJ Chris Stevens on 'Northern Exposure' made him a star, showcasing a rare blend of folksy wisdom and sex appeal. Hollywood quickly typecast him, but in the best way possible. As Aidan Shaw on 'Sex and the City', he presented the mature, furniture-building alternative to Mr. Big, becoming a fan favorite and a symbol of reliable romance. He leveraged that warmth into the beloved father in the 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' franchise. While acting remained his primary focus, he also ventured into country music, recording an album that reflected his personal passions. Corbett's career is a testament to the power of authenticity; he never needed to play the villain to prove his range because his strength was making decency compelling.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
John was born in 1961, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When John Was Born
The biggest hits of 1961
#1 Movie
101 Dalmatians
Best Picture
West Side Story
#1 TV Show
Wagon Train
John's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1961Born
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1966Started school
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1974Became a teenager
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Could drive
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
1979Could vote
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Turned 21
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1991Turned 30
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 40
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 50
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 60
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 65 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his role as Chris Stevens on 'Northern Exposure'.
- Portrayed the beloved character Aidan Shaw across multiple series in the 'Sex and the City' universe.
- Starred as Ian Miller in the blockbuster film 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' and its sequels.
- Released a country music album, 'John Corbett', in 2006 which charted on the Billboard Country list.
Did You Know?
He worked as a delivery driver for a florist and in a steel mill before becoming an actor.
He is a licensed embalmer, having studied mortuary science after high school.
He has been in a long-term relationship with actress Bo Derek since 2002.
He played the guitar and sang on several episodes of 'Northern Exposure'.
“I'm just a guy from Wheeling who got lucky and knows it.”
