The American actor who played the role of Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson’s 2004 film Passion of the Christ is none other than Jim Caviezel. The film was described by Jami Bernard of the New York Daily News as the most virulent anti-Semitic film since the German propaganda films of World War II.
Jim Caviezel Bio, Wiki
Born on September 26, 1968, as Jim Patrick Caviezel in Mount Vernon, Washington, United States, Jim is a devout Catholic who stands up for the defense of his faith everywhere. His main interests during his childhood were religion and basketball, but after a foot injury in his second year of college, he changed his focus to acting.
Caviezel attended Mount Vernon High School for two years between 1984 and 1985 before moving to Seattle, Washington, to play basketball at O’Dea High School, a Catholic school for boys. In 1985 he moved again to another Catholic school, John F. Kennedy Memorial High School, Burren Washington, where he also played basketball and finally graduated in 1987. For college, he enrolled at Bellevue, where he played college basketball.
Later, after a foot injury that ended his dream of becoming an NBA player, Jim transferred to the University of Washington as a sophomore. With the switch, he changed his focus to acting and earned a degree in theater studies. Although he couldn’t play professional basketball, Jim said it gave him the direction and discipline he needed in life.
Acting Career
Jim Caviezel’s film career began with a play in Seattle that earned him a Screen Actors Guild card with a supporting role in the 1991 film My Own Private Idaho. He then moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. He would have given up acting had it not been for a phone call from Terrence Malick, who cast and directed him in the World War II film The Thin Red Line (1998), which helped him make his breakthrough.
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Jim also appeared in other notable films, including G.I. Jane (1997), Ride with the Devil (1999), a film about the American Civil War, Count of Monte Cristo (2002), and High Crimes (2002). He later portrayed the role of Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson’s film Passion of the Christ (2004). He claimed that his role in the film put a brake on his acting career because there were no leading roles after that role. Gibson warned him not to take on the role and declared that he would never work in Hollywood again, to which he replied that we all had to embrace our cross.
Jim is a man who upholds his faith and respects his wife both on-screen and everywhere else. He does not compromise on principles and does not play love roles with nude scenes. One case was when he refused to shoot love scenes with his screen wife Ashley Judd in High Crimes because it would be contrary to his strong Catholic faith. And in “Angel Eyes” Jim also refused to shoot a love scene with Jennifer Lopez because she was naked.
In 2006 Caviezel enrolled in at least one class as a part-time student at the University of Notre Dame.
Family
Jim’s is a closely-knit Catholic family. His mother Margaret was a former stage actress of Irish descent and his father is James Patrick Caviezel, a chiropractor of Slovak and Swiss descent. His family name is of Romanesque origin. Jim grew up with his four siblings, a younger brother, Timothy, and three sisters, Ann, Amy, and Erin, in Conway, Washington.
Jim Caviezel’s Wife, Children
Caviezel is married to Kerri Browitt, an English teacher and flutist. Isn’t it a wonder an actor is married to a high school teacher? We will solve this mystery for you. Jim’s sister Amy set them up on a blind date in 1993. It may not have been love at first sight, but their relationship flourished after the date and led to many other dates.
Three years later, on July 20, 1996, they got married at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Roslynn, Washington, and their love lasted for more than two decades without a rumor of divorce insight.
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Kerri is a graduate of Western Washington University. Jim and Kerri have adopted three children, two boys, and a girl from China. Their two children were diagnosed with a brain tumor, while the third child has sarcoma. However, this in no way deterred Jim. Their names are Lyn Elizabeth, David, and Bo. He was offered a healthy newborn girl when he wanted to adopt his daughter, but he chose the five-year-old Lyn Elizabeth, who had a brain tumor. Jim describes his wife as beautiful and kindness personified.
When asked why they did not adopt healthy children, the couple said they knew that the healthy children would find a good home, but the sick girl most likely would not. They are both devout Catholics who strongly oppose abortion. He also appeared in an advertisement against embryonic stem cell research and therapy in Missouri, which is otherwise legal under federal law.
Jim Caviezel Net Worth and Height
Jim is very hardworking and focused. He gives his best in whatever role he plays and is worth $25 million.
Height: 1.88 m (6’2″).
