Jensen Ackles has made his mark on television through his best characters, as the actor stands out in every TV show he’s in. Whether they’re heroes or villains, the characters the actor portrays in Ackles’ best movies and TV shows are elevated by the actor’s inherent charisma and the commitment he brings to each role. Though we love to see him as the good guy, Ackles is just as capable of being morally ambiguous or even evil.
Beau Arlen – Big Sky (2020–2023)
Ackles’ character in Big Sky, Beau Arlen, takes center stage in the series’ third and final season, but it’s worth watching every installment of the show to get there. Running for three seasons on ABC, Big Sky brought the book series The Highway to life, grappling with crime and drama in Montana.
Beau appears in season 2, and Ackles is a welcome addition to the cast, becoming the interim Sheriff and giving his all to protecting the community. He works well with Katheryn Winnick’s Jenny Hoyt, who serves as the protagonist of the series, and quickly finds a niche for himself within the mystery show, and is an emotional anchor in the episodes leading up to the series finale.
It’s easy to love Beau throughout Big Sky season 3, and if the series has returned for a fourth season, we would’ve wanted to see a lot more from Beau. There are elements of Beau that might remind fans of his earlier work, and it makes sense that Big Sky would tap him for the role of Beau, as the show only got stronger as the seasons progressed.
Ben & Alec McDowell – Dark Angel
For most of his time on Dark Angel, the short-lived but iconic science fiction series, Ackles plays Alec, one of the transgenic supersoldiers who populate the cast of Dark Angel. However, he also briefly appears as Alec’s clone, Ben, who is also an X5, but has a much darker story arc, giving Ackles the chance to dig into many interesting facets of the characters.
Dark Angel might have only run for two seasons, but it’s considered a cult classic within the sci-fi genre today. Co-created by James Cameron, a filmmaker known for his ambitious projects and massive set pieces, Dark Angel is as richly complex and compelling as fans of the director would expect. With Jessica Alba starring as Max, another X5, Dark Angel is full of iconic actors.
The relationship between Alec and Max and their desire to come to terms with their pasts as genetically engineered humans, and the other children who suffered the same fate. In Dark Angel, audiences can see how this project and Ackles’ work as Alec would come to influence his later, more famous, work in the speculative fiction genre.
C.J. Braxton – Dawson’s Creek (1998–2003)
As far as teen heartthrobs go, it makes sense that Ackles was tapped to be one of them in Dawson’s Creek, even if it was only for a single season. Dawson’s Creek is a TV show that defined the 1990s and early 2000s, especially within the teen drama genre. Between the love triangles and very special episodes, the series is still a classic today.
Ackles’ character, C.J., joined the cast as a recurring character in season 6, as a love interest for Jen, and Ackles proves himself to have strong chemistry with Michelle Williams. However, C.J. was a controversial character on Dawson’s Creek​​​​​​, as he was very hot-and-cold with Jen, and didn’t seem to have a strong understanding of what he wanted, making it hard for him to commit to others.
Of course, the best relationships on Dawson’s Creek revolved around the Pacey, Joey, and Dawson love-triangle, so the arc between C.J. and Jen wasn’t the most compelling on the series’ final season. However, it’s fun to revisit Dawson’s Creek and see the young Ackles be part of a show that’s so firmly rooted in reality.
Mark Meachum – Countdown (2025–Present)
In the years since Supernatural ended, Ackles has primarily been cast in recurring or supporting roles in his new TV shows. However, Countdown is notable because it centers on the actor as the protagonist, Detective Mark Meachum​​​​​, who’s tapped to be part of a task force in Los Angeles following the death of a Homeland Security officer.
The action series is one of Prime Video’s latest attempts to capture the magic of projects like Reacher and capitalize on the momentum of these exciting shows that revolve around crime and conspiracy. Since Ackles has plenty of experience with fight choreography and criminal investigations onscreen, he seamlessly fits into the world of Countdown​​​​​​.
Though Countdown has faced some criticism for being repetitive and formulaic, it scratches an itch and is a show that’s easy to watch without being boring. Meachum isn’t the most complex character that Ackles has ever played, but he still brings his characteristic charisma and high-energy performance to each episode of Countdown. Hopefully, Countdown will be renewed for season 2 soon.
Russell Shaw – Tracker (2024–Present)
In the years since Supernatural ended, Ackles has consistently acted in action-adventure shows that allow him to embrace serious, dramatic roles. In Tracker, every episode that features Ackles is a thrill for audiences, as Russell fulfills a compelling niche as Colter’s brother, and their dynamic adds an element of tension to the story.
Justin Hartley leads the cast of Tracker as Colter, and while the audience can see that he’s an expert survivalist and excels at finding people who are missing, his backstory is one of the most interesting parts of the show. By bringing his brother, Russell, into the fold, Tracker gets to dig into the character-driven drama of the story.
Jensen Ackles will return in Tracker season 3, and this bodes well for his continued presence in the series. Tracker puts an effective twist on the procedural genre, and Ackles has plenty of experience within this niche of television, allowing him to navigate the character Russell with ease, making the audience instantly connect with him. The brotherly relationship between Russell and Colter is one that Ackles knows well.
Jason Teague – Smallville (2001–2011)
Like many other actors who join TV shows on the CW, Ackles appeared in more than one series on the network, with his work as Jason on Smallville being one of his more complex characters. Introduced in season 4 as a love interest for Lana and both a friend and rival for Clark, Jason becomes something of a villain before he ultimately leaves the show.
However, fans of Smallville might know that Ackles was almost cast as Clark Kent when the show was in its infancy (via Collider). Smallville would’ve been a very different series if Ackles had played the young Superman instead of Tom Welling. However, it’s fortunate that Ackles did get to leave his mark on the show in the end.
Jason came on the scene when Smallville was evolving, as Clark was in his final year of high school, Lois was also introduced this season, and Clark is inching toward embracing his destiny as Superman. Though Ackles would leave the show because he was cast in Supernatural, this doesn’t make his time on Smallville any less memorable.
Soldier Boy – The Boys (2019–Present)
As The Boys season 5 approaches, it’s exciting to think that Ackles will soon be back on our screens as Soldier Boy, one of the best characters introduced after season 1. It makes sense that the creator of The Boys, Eric Kripke, would want to collaborate with Ackles again, as the pair had worked together in the past.
However, Soldier Boy is unlike any other character we’ve seen Ackles portray. The Boys is well known for its gore, violence, and dark themes, and Soldier Boy is no exception to these trends. With a harrowing backstory and a volatile personality that triggers the use of his considerable powers, Soldier Boy bounces between a tentative ally and a villain in need of suppressing in the narrative.
While Soldier Boy isn’t exactly likable, he’s one of the most interesting characters in The Boys, and brings the conflict between the Boys and Homelander to the next level. Since many fans of Ackles typically associate him with the gruff but ultimately kind-hearted hero archetype, seeing him so flawed and destructive is engaging and a fun challenge for Ackles.
Dean Winchester – Supernatural (2005–2020)
If there’s one character with whom Ackles will always be associated, it’s Dean Winchester. Funny, charming, and fiercely loyal to the end, it’s impossible not to fall in love with Dean throughout Supernatural‘s groundbreaking fifteen seasons. Watching Dean evolve over the years, but never lose the parts of himself that made him unique, was made possible thanks to Ackles’ performance.
There will never be another show like Supernatural, and a large part of why is the chemistry and dynamic between Ackles and his co-star, Jared Padalecki. While Sam Winchester is as interesting and complex a character as Dean, the older Winchester brother gets to be a little less serious and have fun with his work as a hunter.
There would be no Ackles without Supernatural​​​​​​, and vice versa, as the TV show and actor grew up together, establishing themselves as inextricably linked. Though playing the same character for fifteen years can be difficult for performers, the fact that it was Dean gave Jensen Ackles the opportunity to become the actor he is today.
- Birthdate
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March 1, 1978
- Birthplace
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Dallas, Texas, United States
- Professions
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Actor, Director, Producer, Singer
- Height
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6 feet 1 inch
