Jamie Denton biography, married, wife, erin o'brien denton, children, family, awards, net worth • biography

Early Life and Education

James Thomas Denton Jr. was born on January 20, 1963, in Nashville, Tennessee, to James Denton Sr., a military veteran and dentist, and Mary Jean Woolslair Denton. He was raised in the nearby town of Goodlettsville, along with his two siblings. Denton attended Goodlettsville High School and later enrolled at the University of Tennessee, where he studied Television and Journalism. While in college, he became a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and ultimately graduated with a degree in Advertising.

Early Career and Chicago Theater Involvement

After college, Denton began working in advertising, selling airtime for two radio stations. By the age of 23, he started acting in local theater productions in Nashville. He later moved to Chicago, where he appeared in several stage plays, including “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Lapin Lapin.” He became a member of the Griffin Theatre and the Strawdog Theatre Ensemble and took on leading roles in productions such as the world premiere of "Flesh and Blood."

Denton gained further recognition in the Chicago theater scene with his performance in "The Night Hank Williams Died," for which he also composed music. His work earned him a nomination for a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actor.

Transition to Film and Television

In pursuit of an acting career, Denton relocated to Los Angeles, California. Between 1993 and 1996, he appeared in various films and television shows, including “Thieves Quartet,” “Hunter's Moon,” “Dark Skies,” “Moloney,” “Sliders,” and the popular military legal drama “JAG.” For a time, he was credited as Jamie Denton. In 1997, he appeared in the films “That Old Feeling” and the action blockbuster “Face/Off,” in addition to a role in the TV series “The Pretender.”

During this period, Denton continued his involvement in theater, performing in stage productions during breaks from film and TV work. In 1998, he portrayed the character Mitch in the political drama “Primary Colors.” Between 1999 and 2001, he collaborated with independent filmmaker Mike Petty on several projects, including “In Walked Monk,” in which he played Steven, and “Locked Up Down Shorty's,” portraying Danny.