American actor John Francis Daley was born on July 20, 1985 in Wheeling, Illinois. The son of Broadway veteran R.F. Daley, he began acting when he was nine years old, starting out as young Tommy in the international and United States tours of the Broadway hit The Who’s Tommy. Five years later, when he was still in high school, he took a role in the short-lived comedy Freaks and Geeks. He played the role of Sam Weir, the younger brother of Lindsay Weir (Linda Cardellini) whose excellent sense of manners is coupled with his shyness outside of his circle of friends—the “geeks” in the program.
Daley’s next major television program was in another short-lived comedy, The Geena Davis Show. He played Carter Ryan, the eldest child of Max Ryan (Peter Horton), who disapproves of his new stepmother Teddie Cochran (Geena Davis) after not growing up with his late biological mother throughout most of his life. His next regular television role was in the comedy Kitchen Confidential, which was cancelled after four episodes in 2005 due to low ratings. Two years later, he joined the cast of the crime drama Bones; he played the role of Lance Sweets, a psychologist to both Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) and Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) whose mastery of psychoanalysis is balanced out by his inexperience with police work. He also had recurring roles in Boston Public and Regular Joe.
Daley’s first film was a short, entitled Allerd Fishbein’s in Love, released in 2000. He also starred in the films View from the Top, Waiting…, 5-25-77 and Burying the Ex. He has also directed his own short film, the 2001 release What Babies Do. He also has a notable career as a musician, providing vocals and playing the keyboard for the Los Angeles-based band Dayplayer.
John's father, R.F. Daley was asked by producers of The Who's "Tommy" to leave "Guys and Dolls" on Broadway (where he was part of the original revival cast) to tour with their production, with John in the title role (middle Tommy).
Auditioned several times for "Les Miserable" on Broadway - but was never tall enough to play Gavroche. By the time he was tall enough, he had lost interest.
When John appeared as a guest star on "Boston Public" (2000), his real life father, R.F. Daley, (a Broadway veteran) portrayed his TV father.
Holds a black belt in Kung Fu.
Plays piano.
Is an honor student.
Plays drums in a band.
Mother, Nancy, taught piano.
Played "Danny" in a school play of "Grease" for Nyack Middle School.
Lived in Nyack, New York.
#94 on VH1's 100 Greatest Teen Stars
Experienced his first "unemployment", due to his choice to decline to work on a 2006 pilot because the producers failed to meet his quote, thereby establishing his credibility as a bankable television personality.
Singer/Keyboardist in the alternative rock band, "Dayplayer."
1. "Bones" .... Dr. Lance Sweets (33 episodes, 2007-2009)
2. "Kitchen Confidential" .... Jim (13 episodes, 2005-2008)
3. Burying the Ex (2008) .... Zak
4. '77 (2007) .... Pat
5. "The Call" .... Tom (1 episode)
6. "Stacked" .... Kevin (1 episode, 2006)
7. Clark and Michael (2006) (V) .... Tom
8. Waiting... (2005) .... Mitch
9. "Judging Amy" .... Jace Crosby (1 episode, 2004)
10. "Regular Joe" .... Grant Binder (5 episodes, 2003)
11. View from the Top (2003) .... Rodney
12. "Spin City" .... Spencer (1 episode, 2002)
13. "The Ellen Show" .... Erik (1 episode, 2001)
14. "The Geena Davis Show" .... Carter Ryan (10 episodes, 2000-2001)
15. "Boston Public" .... Anthony Ward (5 episodes, 2000-2001)
16. The Kennedys (2001) (TV) .... Anthony
17. "Freaks and Geeks" .... Sam Weir (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
18. Allerd Fishbein's in Love (2000) .... Allerd Fishbein