Jason Gedrick (born Jason Michael Gedroic on February 7, 1965 in Chicago, Illinois) is a contemporary American actor best known for his work on the television series Murder One and Boomtown, as well as the motion picture Iron Eagle.
Gedrick began his career as an extra in films such as Bad Boys (1983) and Risky Business (1983). After roles in The Heavenly Kid (1985), Iron Eagle (1986), Iron Eagle II (1988 in an uncredited role for the first few minutes of the movie), Born on the Fourth of July (1989) and Backdraft (1991), Gedrick appeared in television series such as Class of '96 (1993) and Sweet Justice (1994).
In 1994 Gedrick starred in the film The Force with Yasmine Bleeth and Kim Delaney.
Gedrick's big break was in Steven Bochco's innovative 1995 series Murder One. The series followed the trial of Gedrick's character, bad-boy actor Neil Avedon, alleged to have murdered a 15-year-old girl. The series, which also starred talent such as Daniel Benzali, Patricia Clarkson, Mary McCormack, Dylan Baker and Stanley Tucci was a runaway success. Due to this, a second season was commissioned. Due to network concerns, the new season featured several small cases rather than one big one. Anthony LaPaglia stepped in to replace the cast such as Benzali, Tucci and Gedrick, who had left, and the series was canceleld midway through its second season.
Gedrick next took roles in television series such as EZ Streets (1996), Falcone (2000) and The Beast (2001). None of them were successes, however. In 1999, he guest starred on Ally McBeal as the "hot car wash guy". Also appearing in Mario Puzo's 1997 mini-series, The Last Don and in its sequel, The Last Don II. Gedrick returned to television screens as Tom Turcotte in 2002's Boomtown. The innovative series, which also starred Donnie Wahlberg and Neal McDonough was a moderate success, but ratings plummeted - particularly after the second season suffered a format change, and Boomtown was cancelled.
In 2003, Gedrick played Andrew Luster, the infamous rapist in a Lifetime movie based on his trial, A Date with Darkness. Gedrick is part of the cast of the 2006 NBC television series Windfall also starring Luke Perry and Gedrick's former Boomtown alumni, Lana Parrilla. In 2007 Gedrick again starred along side Donnie Wahlberg in the A&E original movie Kings of South Beach. He is also the new manager, head chef, and love interest at Scavo's Pizzeria in Desperate Housewives Season 3 on ABC.
Has a brother Joel and a sister Dawne.
3 sons: Jian (1991), Garrett (b. 1994) and latest addition Ty (b. 1995).
Enrolled as a business major at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, to appease his parents. But after his freshman year, he quit to concentrate on acting full time and moved to Hollywood. Since he hadn't yet been diagnosed with dyslexia he found his first year of college extremely different and had help from his then girlfriend to get through one year of college.
Lethal on a basketball court.
Graduated from Gordon Technical High School in 1982.
He was born in Cook County Hospital. He spent his early years in northwest suburban Mount Prospect, before moving to the Uptown neighborhood.
He suffers from dyslexia.
His last name is pronounced GED-rik.
His parents divorced when he was young, and his older brother and sister went to live with his father. He was raised by his mom in Chicago.
