Kerr Smith
He brought a grounded, emotional intensity to teen television as the complex and beloved Jack McPhee on Dawson's Creek.
Born 1972 (age 54)·American actor·Birthday: March 9·Generation X
Biography
Kerr Smith emerged from the world of daytime soaps, landing a role on As the World Turns, but it was his casting on the WB's cultural touchstone Dawson's Creek that defined his early career. As Jack McPhee, Smith portrayed one of network television's first openly gay teenagers in a major storyline, navigating coming out and acceptance with a raw vulnerability that resonated deeply with audiences. His performance moved beyond a 'very special episode' trope, offering a sustained and nuanced portrait that earned him a dedicated following. After the series ended, Smith smoothly transitioned into a steady career in genre television, appearing in shows like Charmed, The Fosters, and Riverdale, often playing authoritative or morally complex figures. He has also cultivated a presence in film, notably in the thriller Final Destination, proving his versatility beyond the Capeside wharf.
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.
Kerr 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 Kerr Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Kerr'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
- Portrayed Jack McPhee, one of the first openly gay teenage characters in a major primetime TV series, on Dawson's Creek.
- Starred as Carter Horton in the hit supernatural drama series Charmed during its eighth season.
- Played a lead role in the horror film Final Destination, which spawned a major film franchise.
- Had a recurring role as Assistant District Attorney Will Hayes on the legal drama The Fosters.
Did You Know?
He is a licensed pilot and owns his own plane.
Before acting, he studied aerospace engineering at the University of Vermont.
He is an avid snowboarder and outdoorsman.
He played college lacrosse at the University of Vermont.
“It was important to tell that story with honesty and without apology.”
