American actor Jeffrey Donovan was born on May 11, 1968 in Amesbury, Massachusetts. He graduated from University of Massachusetts–Amherst with a theater degree, and later earned an MFA degree in acting from New York University. He made his acting debut in 1995, appearing in the independent crime film Throwing Down; it received the top jury prize from that year’s Hamptons Film Festival. This was followed by multiple appearances in both film and television—notably recurring roles in The Pretender and Spin City—as well as some roles on New York stage productions.
After roles in films like Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, Bait and Sam & Joe, Donovan earned his first regular work on television. He appeared in the drama series Touching Evil, an adaptation of the British series which revolved around a police officer who had the ability to sense criminals. He played the lead role, David Creegan, although the American version departed from the original, and the lead was instead stripped of impulse control and sense of shame. Despite critical success, the series was axed after one season. He then took on a villainous role in the short-lived science fiction series Threshold.
Donovan’s later career was marked by several successes. After playing a role in the hit Will Smith-starrer Hitch, he took a recurring role in the drama series Crossing Jordan. For five episodes, he starred as charming lawyer William Ivers, who’s tasked with investigating questionable behavior in the morgue, and leads to the implementation of a smaller budget. In 2007, he joined the cast of the drama series Burn Notice, where he played the lead role, of “burned” spy Michael Westen. He then appeared in the film Changeling, which starred Angelina Jolie and was directed by Clitn Eastwood; it competed at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.
Amesbury,Massachusetts,USA
Graduated from New York University's Graduate Acting Program, where he received an MFA.
Currently lives in Los Angeles.
Attended UMass Amherst and Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts.
Enjoys gardening
2003 Won Best Supporting Actor
# Hindsight (2008) (completed) .... Paul
# "Burn Notice" .... Michael Westen (25 episodes, 2007-2008)
- Trust Me (2008) TV episode .... Michael Westen
- Turn and Burn (2008) TV episode .... Michael Westen
- Breaking and Entering (2008) TV episode .... Michael Westen
- Rough Seas (2008) TV episode .... Michael Westen
- Loose Ends, Part 1 (2007) TV episode .... Michael Westen
(20 more)
# Changeling (2008) .... Capt. J.J. Jones
# "Crossing Jordan" .... William Ivers (5 episodes, 2007)
- Dead Again (2007) TV episode .... William Ivers
- Isolation (2007) TV episode .... William Ivers
- Hubris (2007) TV episode .... William Ivers
- Mr. Little and Mr. Big (2007) TV episode .... William Ivers
- Shattered (2007) TV episode .... William Ivers
# "Law & Order" .... Edward Nicodos / ... (2 episodes, 1995-2007)
... aka Law & Order Prime (USA: informal title)
- Good Faith (2007) TV episode .... Jacob Reese
- Jeopardy (1995) TV episode .... Edward Nicodos
# "Monk" .... Steve Wagner (1 episode, 2006)
- Mr. Monk and the Astronaut (2006) TV episode .... Steve Wagner
# Believe in Me (2006) .... Clay Driscoll
# "Yes, Dear" .... Fan #2 (1 episode, 2006)
- The Limo (2006) TV episode (as Jeff Donovan) .... Fan #2
# "Threshold" .... Dr. Julian Sloan / ... (2 episodes, 2006)
- Alienville (2006) TV episode .... Dr. Slone
- Vigilante (2006) TV episode .... Dr. Julian Sloan
# Come Early Morning (2006) .... Cal Percell
# "Enemies" (1 episode, 2006)
- Pilot (2006) TV episode
# "CSI: Miami" .... Todd Kendrick (1 episode, 2005)
- Nothing to Lose (2005) TV episode .... Todd Kendrick
# Hitch (2005/I) .... Vance Munson
# "Touching Evil" .... Detective David Creegan (12 episodes, 2004)
- Mercy (2004) TV episode .... Detective David Creegan
- Grief (2004) TV episode .... Detective David Creegan
- Entropy (2004) TV episode .... Detective David Creegan
- Boston (2004) TV episode .... Detective David Creegan
- Attachment (2004) TV episode .... Detective David Creegan
(7 more)
# Touching Evil (2004) (TV) .... Detective Inspector Dave Creegan
# Sam & Joe (2003) .... Eric
# Final Draft (2003) (as Jeff Donovan) .... Pascal
# "Witchblade" .... Daniel Germaine (1 episode, 2002)
- Lagrimas (2002) TV episode .... Daniel Germaine
# Purpose (2002) .... Robert Jennings
# Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000) .... Jeffrey Patterson
... aka BW2 (USA: promotional abbreviation)
... aka BWP2 (USA: promotional abbreviation)
... aka Book of Shadows: Blair Witch Project 2 (USA: video title)
# Bait (2000) .... Julio
... aka Pi?g? (Canada: French title)
# "The Beat" (2000) TV series .... Brad Ulrich (unknown episodes)
# "Spin City" .... Tom (2 episodes, 1999)
- The Mayor May Not (1999) TV episode .... Tom
- These Shoes Were Made for Cheatin' (1999) TV episode .... Tom
# "The Pretender" .... Kyle (4 episodes, 1997-1999)
- Mr. Lee (1999) TV episode .... Kyle
- Red Rock Jarod (1998) TV episode .... Kyle
- Dragon House: Part 1 (1997) TV episode .... Kyle
- Dragon House: Part 2 (1997) TV episode .... Kyle
# When Trumpets Fade (1998) (TV) .... Bobby
... aka Hamburger Hill 2 (Australia)
# Witness to the Mob (1998) (TV) .... Agent #1
# "Another World" (1964) TV series .... Dwayne 'Popper' Collins (unknown episodes, 1997)
... aka Another World: Bay City
# Catherine's Grove (1997) .... Thomas Mason
# "Millennium" .... Bobby Webber (1 episode, 1997)
- The Wild and the Innocent (1997) TV episode .... Bobby Webber
# Critical Choices (1996) (TV) .... Randy
# Sleepers (1996) .... Henry Addison
# "Homicide: Life on the Street" .... Miles Dell / ... (1 episode, 1995)
... aka Homicide (USA: informal short title)
- Thrill of the Kill (1995) TV episode .... Newton/Miles Dell
# Throwing Down (1995) .... Pete Gulley