Justin Chambers
Justin Willman Chambers (born July 11, 1970) is an American actor and former model. He is best known for his role as Dr. Alex Karev in the ABC television medical drama Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2020. Born in Ohio, he went to Southeastern High School, South Charleston, and later studied acting at New York's HB Studio.[1] Chambers began modeling after being approached by a modeling scout in Paris. He went on to represent fashion brands including Calvin Klein, Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana. Chambers began his acting career with a recurring role in the soap opera Another World and made his feature film debut with a supporting role in the comedy drama Liberty Heights (1999).
Justin Chambers | |
|---|---|
Chambers at the Festival de Monte Carlo in 2014 | |
| Born | Justin Willman Chambers July 11, 1970 Springfield, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1995–present |
| Spouse | Keisha Chambers (m. 1993) |
| Children | 5 |
In 2005, he was cast as Dr. Alex Karev in the ABC medical drama series Grey's Anatomy. Chambers gained widespread recognition as the series progressed and the character became one of the most popular from the hit series, earning multiple nominations and the 2017 Best TV Network Drama Actor at the People's Choice Awards as well as nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Award.
Early life and education edit
Chambers was born in Springfield, Ohio, on July 11, 1970,[2] to Pamela Sue (Willman) and John William Eugene Chambers II, who were both deputy sheriffs.[2][3] Chambers was raised in Springfield. He aspired to be a dentist. He has a fraternal twin brother, Jason; one older brother, John Jr. (Chip); and two older sisters, Mia and Susan. The twins were frequently hospitalized as children due to persistent bouts of pneumonia.[4] He and Jason attended Southeastern High School in South Charleston, Ohio. Justin later moved to New York, where he studied for four years at HB Studio and Ron Stetson Studios.[5]
Career edit
Chambers was discovered by a modelling scout on the Paris Metro and went on to star in advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein's fragrance range. He worked throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States for Calvin Klein, Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana.[6] After deciding on an acting career, he relocated to New York City in the early 1990s, where he studied at the HB Studio.[7] Studios and Ron Stetson Studios for four years.
His first major acting role was in the music video "Ants Marching" by Dave Matthews Band in 1995. He went on to land a few television roles, including a contract role as the original Nicholas Hudson in the NBC soap opera Another World, and New York Undercover. In 1998, he was cast as series regular in the short-lived CBS primetime soap opera Four Corners. Chambers has also appeared in several television movies, such as Harvest of Fire, Rose Hill, and Seasons of Love.
Chambers starred in several movies, notably Liberty Heights (1999, as Trey, alongside Adrien Brody), The Wedding Planner (2001, as Massimo, alongside Jennifer Lopez), The Musketeer (2001), Southern Belles (2005), The Zodiac (2005), and the HBO original movie Hysterical Blindness (2002). In 2003, Chambers was cast as one of the leads in the CBS crime drama Cold Case but left after appearing in only three of the show's first four episodes.
In August 2004, Chambers was cast as surgical intern Alex Karev in Shonda Rhimes's medical drama series Grey's Anatomy, opposite Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, and T. R. Knight.[8] In 2006, along with other cast members, he was awarded a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.[7] In 2009, he also guest-starred on the Grey's Anatomy spin-off, Private Practice, for the Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice crossover event.[9] On January 10, 2020, Chambers officially announced his departure from Grey's Anatomy and that his final episode had aired on November 14, 2019,[10] with a farewell episode airing on March 5, 2020.
Personal life edit
In 1993, he married Keisha Chambers, a former model agency booker. The two met while Chambers was working for ad campaigns for Calvin Klein and Keisha was working at a modeling agency.[11] They have five children:[6] Isabella (b. December 1994), twins Maya and Kaila (b. June 1997), Eva (b. March 1999) and Jackson (b. January 2002). They have adopted two rescue dogs and own a beagle.[11][12]
Chambers is involved with the nonprofit organization Pentecostal Christian Church mission Dream Center of Los Angeles.[12] In late January 2008, he revealed that he suffered from a sleep disorder and had checked himself into UCLA Medical Center to treat exhaustion after a period of only two hours of sleep each week.[13] Chambers practices hot yoga.[12]
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Liberty Heights | Trey Tobelseted | |
| 2001 | The Wedding Planner | Massimo Lenzetti | |
| The Musketeer | D'Artagnan | ||
| 2002 | Leo | Ryan Eames | |
| 2003 | For Which It Stands | German Soldier | Short film |
| 2005 | Southern Belles | Rhett Butler | |
| The Zodiac | Inspector Matt Parish | ||
| 2008 | Lakeview Terrace | Donnie Eaton | |
| 2010 | The Happiest Man Alive | Sherman | Short film |
| 2013 | Broken City | Ryan Blake | |
| Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox | The Flash / Barry Allen | Direct-to-video |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Another World | Nicholas 'Nick' Hudson #1 | Episode: "#1.7922" |
| 1996 | New York Undercover | Officer Nick Caso | Episode: "Unis" |
| Harvest of Fire | George | Television movie | |
| Swift Justice | Rick | Episode: "Stones" | |
| 1997 | Rose Hill | Cole Clayborne | Television movie |
| 1998 | Four Corners | Caleb Haskell | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Seasons of Love | Adult Hocking | Television movie |
| 2002 | Hysterical Blindness | Rick | Television movie |
| 2003 | Cold Case | Chris Lassing | Main role (season 1); 3 episodes |
| 2004 | The Secret Service | Charles Brody | Unsold TV pilot |
| 2005–2020[14] | Grey's Anatomy | Dr. Alex Karev | Main role (season 1–16); 341 episodes |
| 2009 | Private Practice | Episode: "Ex-Life" | |
| 2012 | Shameless | Unnamed gangster | Episode: "May I Trim Your Hedges?" |
| 2022 | The Offer | Marlon Brando | Miniseries |
Awards and nominations edit
| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Breakout Performance | Grey's Anatomy | Nominated |
| 2006 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (Shared with cast) | Nominated | |
| Gold Derby Awards | Ensemble of the Year (Shared with cast) | Nominated | ||
| Satellite Awards | Best Ensemble in Television (Shared with cast) | Won | ||
| 2007 | Gold Derby Awards | Ensemble of the Year (Shared with cast) | Nominated | |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (Shared with cast) | Won | ||
| Golden Nymph Award | Outstanding Actor - Drama Series | Nominated | ||
| 2008 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (Shared with cast) | Nominated | |
| Prism Awards | Performance in a Drama Series Episode | Nominated | ||
| 2009 | Performance in a Drama Multi-Episode Storyline | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | Male Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline | Won | ||
| 2015 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Dramatic TV Actor | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Nominated | |||
| 2017 | Won | |||
| 2018 | The Male TV Star of 2018 | Nominated |
References edit
- ^ HB Studio Alumni
- ^ a b "Justin Willman Chambers". Moose Roots U.S. Census Records. Archived from the original on May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
- ^ "Justin Chambers Biography (1970–)". filmreference.com. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
- ^ "Justin Chambers on ellen". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
- ^ "Justin Chambers". TV.com. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ a b "Justin Chambers Biography". Buddytv.com. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
- ^ a b "Justin Chambers Biography". TVguide.com. November 28, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
- ^ Chambers takes 'Anatomy,' cops lead in 'Belles', August 19, 2004
- ^ "Justin Chambers Credits". TVguide.com. November 28, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 10, 2020). "Justin Chambers Leaving 'Grey's Anatomy' After 15 Years". Deadline.com. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ^ a b Friedman, Molly (May 31, 2015). . Wetpaint. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ a b c "Justin Chambers: 25 Things You Don't Know About Me". US Magazine. April 11, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ "Justin Chambers Opens Up About Sleep Disorder". People. March 27, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
- ^ "Justin Chambers' Last Grey's Anatomy Episode Has Already Aired — No Big Sendoff Ahead for Alex". January 10, 2020.
External links edit
- Justin Chambers at IMDb