American actor for film and television Jason Butler Harner was born in New York. He was born and raised in Virginia, where he also attended elementary school. Jason was very drawn to acting during his early years, working as a set designer and appearing in school plays. He obtained a fine arts degree from “Virginia Commonwealth University” and graduated. His first movie, “Trifling with Fate,” was out in 2000. He made his television debut in an episode of “Guiding Light” that same year, and he followed it up with a cameo on “Law & Order.” Although he has appeared in innumerable movies and TV shows, he has not yet established enough of a reputation as an actor. He is typically cast in supporting and small roles in big shows. “Changeling” and “Kill the Irishman” are two of his most well-known films. His most notable TV appearances have been in the shows “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Ray Donovan,” and “Alcatraz.” Despite being well-known in the entertainment business, he remains strongly connected to theater, his first love.
Early Childhood & Life
On October 9, 1970, Jason Butler Harner was born into a middle-class family in New York, USA. His mother was a stay-at-home mom, while his father was a plumber. Soon after Jason’s birth, the family relocated to Northern Virginia, where he spent most of his formative years.
He performed about average academically in school and showed a greater interest in extracurricular pursuits. Although acting was not on his radar, he enjoyed hanging out with the school’s theatrical club. He preferred setting up sets and handling other menial tasks than acting.
As he entered high school, his passion for theater grew, and he eventually became the head of his high school’s drama club. He was hooked on acting at that point and decided to do it seriously.
After completing high school, he began a job as an usher at a nearby theatrical business. According to him, he had no desire for the celebrity that comes with becoming an actor. He was merely content with his capacity to amuse or move others.
He then registered as a fine arts student at “Virginia Commonwealth University.” He kept up with his love, which was theater, throughout. He then studied fine arts and attended the renowned “Tisch School of Arts Graduate Acting Program” in 1997.
To juggle employment and school, he frequently traveled back and forth between New York and Washington, DC. He relocated to Los Angeles not long after graduating, where he encountered a protracted period of hardship. He eventually began landing substantial cinematic roles around the year 2000.
The career of Jason Butler Harner
He made his acting debut in the 2000 television series “Guiding Light.” He was cast in a role that lasted for one episode as an anonymous figure. He then had a part in “Law & Order,” one of the most enduring American crime dramas ever.
He made his acting debut the same year in the experimental movie “Trifling with Fate,” where he portrayed the part of “an artist without a muse.”
He then played relatively small parts in a number of obscure movies including “Garmento” and “The 3 Little Wolfs,” among others. Even though he received nothing particularly noteworthy from these movies, he proceeded to appear in a few TV shows, including “Law & Order” and “Hope & Faith.”
He was too active in movies and TV because of his theater commitment. His most well-known performances include those of the title character in “Hamlet” and “Amy Ryan” in “Crimes of the Heart.” He was predominantly a theatrical performer.
He played his first significant role in the science-fiction action movie “Next,” which starred Nicolas Cage in 2007. He garnered a great deal of praise from critics and viewers alike for his performance as “Jeff Baines.”
He made two series appearances in 2008: “John Adams” and “Moonlight.” He succeeded to get the lead role in the TV series “Fringe” after going through the audition process. But as luck would have it, no significant network picked the show.
Then, he had a significant part in the crime drama “Changeling,” which was based on a real event that happened in California in the 1920s. The Angelina Jolie-starring movie had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and earned a ton of praise.
He had a brief part in the 2009 action movie “The Taking of Pelham 123,” which also starred John Travolta and Denzel Washington, two A-list actors. Although Jason’s performance was valued, the film’s starring men overshadowed it.
In the 2010 film “Kill the Irishman,” which was based on the life of the infamous gangster Danny Greene, he had a significant part. Despite the movie’s failure, it eventually developed a cult following.
He appeared in another important role in the 2012 film “Alcatraz.” The science-fiction crime thriller series was praised for both its original premise and the acting of every member of the cast. Several movie reviewers made special attention to Jason’s portrayal as a deputy warden.
He began the year 2013 by appearing in three episodes of the highly regarded television program “Homeland.” He then appeared in “Betrayal,” in which he portrayed the role of “Zarek” for four episodes.
Later, he made appearances in movies including “Blackhat,” “Non-Stop,” and “The Family Fang.” After that, he played a significant role in the criminal drama series “Ray Donovan.” When the series debuted in 2013, many records were broken. In the third season of the show, Jason made an appearance as “Varick Strauss,” a significant character.
He was hired in 2017 to play a regular role in the online series “Ozark,” in which he portrayed an FBI agent. Jason is scheduled to feature in the second season of the show, which has gotten rave reviews.
In addition to acting, he narrated the audiobook edition of the Anthony Zuiker and Duane Swierczynski novel “Dark Prophecy: A Level 26 Thriller Featuring Steve Dark.”
In terms of accolades and prizes, Jason has won a good number, primarily for his performances in a variety of theater shows. He has been nominated for a “Drama Desk Award” and has won an “Obie Award” for his work in “Hedda Gabler” and “The Paris Letter,” respectively.
Individual Life of Jason Butler Harner
Despite being involved in the profession for more than two decades, Jason Butler Harner has not yet attained “star status.” Jason, though, insists that he is content not to always be in the media’s sights. He says he’s happy to be able to freely wander the streets without being seen. He asserts that he despises the industry’s use of the spotlight.
It hasn’t been reported that he’s dating anyone, and it’s unclear if he’s single or wed.
Jason Butler Harner’s Net Worth
An American actor and model by the name of Jason Butler Harner (born Jason Thomas Butler Harner). Jason Butler Harner has a $5 million net worth as of 2022. Since he has participated in several well-known theater productions, he is well-known for his theatrical career.