TOP 10: Reasons We Love Joshua Jackson
BY Amy Pilott & Joelle Boedecker
Amy: I have proudly loved Joshua Jackson at all stages of his career. From The Mighty Ducks to “Dawson’s Creek,” to “Fringe,” to “The Affair,” and now “Doctor Odyssey,” Jackson has shown me time and again that I am a creature of habit with a clear type. 😜
Joelle: Same! Somehow he is just always on TV. There are roles I missed. I never watched “Fringe,” but hear he was the best part of it. Recently, Joshua Jackson has been running in the limited-series TV engine, some of which I’ve missed. After seeing him in Episode 1 of “Doctor Odyssey,” I’m ready to go back and see him in “Dr. Death,” “Fatal Attraction,” and “Little Fires Everywhere.”
Amy: Something tells me we are not alone. Let’s dive in and explore all the ways Joshua Jackson has been breaking Elder Millennial hearts for more than 30 years.
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10. Bottle-Blonde Joshua Jackson in Cruel Intentions
We must never forget Blaine Tuttel, the gay, bottle-blonde imp that Joshua Jackson played in Cruel Intentions. Seducing the “Gregster”, wheeling and dealing, and doing it with all the charm, ‘rizz (as the children say), and a little smirk that would be his signature for most of his career.
9. Shipping Joshua Jackson and Margot Finley in TWO Movies
In 1996 and 1997, Canadian actress Margot Finley would have the distinct honor of playing Joshua Jackson’s love interest in two movies. D3: The Mighty Ducks is the oft-forgotten installment of the Ducks franchise. The highlights would include private school-hijinks and Charlie Conway’s first kiss. The very next year, a made-for TV adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, called Ronnie and Julie, would star the pair as the famous star-crossed lovers. So much swoon.
8. Mickey Joseph in When They See Us
The limited series “When They See Us,” about The Exonerated Five, involved some absolutely heart-breaking and infuriating scenes of brutal racism, blind prejudice, and childhood trauma for five very unlucky young boys. One of the good ones in this story full of terrible and ineffective adults was lawyer Michael “Mickey” Joseph, defending Antron, played by Joshua Jackson. He brought warmth and compassion to a very cruel story. He didn't need his smirk or charm to prove himself. With an early 90’s haircut that Pacey Witter would never have been caught dead in, the, middle-aged Joshua Jackson caught our attention yet again.
7. Playing Himself in Ocean’s Eleven
In 2001, Joshua Jackson was fully a household name, and so when a huge movie needed a bunch of young, hot celebrities to play poker with George Clooney and Brad Pitt, they OF COURSE had to go to our beloved Joshua Jackson. The cigar-smoking, cocky, poker-playing version of Joshua Jackson instantly became a core memory for all of us Pacey Witter fangirls.
6. “The Affair”’s Cole Lockhart
In 2014, Jackson began his portrayal as “The Affair”’s troubled Cole Lockhart. Seemingly back as the supporting hot actor, Jackson smoldered through the Showtime drama, proving once again that he may not have been the the leading man in the script, but he has always been the leading man in our dreams. Even sporting a too-scruffy-for-my-taste look throughout the series, the tattooed good son of Montauk showed us his signature soft side.
5. Peter Bishop in “Fringe”
To prove he was more than a teen heartthrob, Jackson took to the sci-fi scene as the LEADING man in “Fringe.” And you know what? A whole bunch of rom-com fans suddenly took interest in JJ Abrams’ sci-fi series and learned all about fringe science! In the prime and parallel universes, Peter was stealing hearts once again. Joshua Jackson was so charismatic as Peter that even erasing him from history was not enough to erase him from our hearts.
4. Hockey-Loving Mighty Duck Charlie Conway
Though just a peewee player, Joshua Jackson was appealing to preteen girls and hockey players alike in his breakout role in The Mighty Ducks franchise. It was here that Jackson developed his trademark sarcastic edge with a heart of gold. Playing the only child of a single mom, Joshua as Charlie Conway blossoms as a hockey player, and future heartthrob, under Coach Bombay’s guidance. Charlie continues to develop as a player, and Teen Beat cover model, throughout the franchise's three films. In the first movie we meet a young, absolutely adorable, cherub-faced Joshua Jackson. By the second movie, he's in his mid-teens era and he's got some shaggy hair plus that chiseled chin has already started. And in the third movie he's an absolute heartthrob. There was no wonder he would soon be cast for “Dawson's Creek.”
3. Luke McNamara in The Skulls
Once again playing the brunette with a tough backstory to Paul Walker’s high-society blonde, in The Skulls Jackson’s Luke finds himself involved in a mysterious secret society at the prestigious university he is attending on scholarship. Did anyone watch this movie for any reason other than the eye candy of Joshua Jackson and Paul Walker? There was rowing involved, right?
2. Pacey Witter’s Chemistry with Every Woman on “Dawson’s Creek”
“Oh, Pacey!” Said every teenage girl ever in the late '90s. He was responsible for a generation of women thinking they can fix every troubled young man. When we first meet Pacey Witter, he is having an affair with his English teacher. When that scandal subsides, we meet the anxious Andie McPhee, the girl that Pacey loves to save. All the while, he and Joey Potter have a love-to-hate relationship that eventually develops into beautiful love and sparkling chemistry. To fall in love with Joey and Pacey falling in love was to be only human at the turn of the millennium.
1. “Doctor Odyssey” Himself, Dr. Max Bankman
Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached peak leading man. As his fans have progressed from sipping Zimas to merlot, Joshua Jackson is back and has aged like the fine wine to which we are now accustomed. We are just one episode in to Ryan Murphy’s new drama, “Doctor Odyssey,” and it is clear that Dr. Bankman knows exactly how to cure our 40-something ailments. Gone is the scruff and the down-on-his-luck persona; Jackson is finally in his “McDreamy” era proudly playing a strong, smart, and sexy doctor looking for fun aboard a luxury cruise ship. Needless to say, you can find us below deck until further notice!
With so many of our teen heartthrobs gone too soon (RIP Luke Perry), overstaying their welcome (sorry, Jared Leto, but you'll always be Jordan Catalano), or escaping the spotlight (where are you, JTT?) Joshua Jackson is truly serving the community by ascending the throne of 90’s teen heartthrobs. Had AI existed in the 90’s, it could never have predicted the once cocky Charlie Conway would become the stunning and sexy leading man he is today.
What are your favorite Joshua Jackson roles? Drop a comment below.