James Patrick Caviezel, professionally known as Jim Caviezel, was born in 1968 in Washington, United States. He is the son of Margaret Caviezel, a former stage actress and homemaker, and James Caviezel, a chiropractor. Raised in a devout Catholic household, Jim was one of five siblings, including his brother Timothy and sisters Erin, Amy, and Ann.
His father is of Swiss and Slovak descent, while his mother has Irish ancestry. The surname "Caviezel" originates from the Romansh language spoken in parts of Switzerland. Jim's father played college basketball at UCLA under the legendary coach John Wooden, encouraging a family-wide interest in the sport.
Growing up, Jim Caviezel was known for his intensity and commitment, particularly in religion and sports. He was a talented basketball player and aspired to play professionally in the NBA. He attended several schools in Washington, including Mount Vernon High School and O’Dea High School, before transferring to Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien. He graduated in 1987.
Jim continued his education at Bellevue Community College, where he played on the basketball team. However, his sports career was cut short by a foot injury, prompting him to shift his focus toward acting.
In 1990, Caviezel landed a small role in the film My Own Private Idaho, portraying an airline clerk. He secured the part by improvising an Italian accent during the audition, claiming to be an immigrant. Moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting more seriously, he worked as a waiter while attending auditions.
He gradually built his resume with minor roles in films such as Wyatt Earp and Diggstown, and television appearances in shows like Murder, She Wrote and The Wonder Years. Despite early struggles and considerations of quitting, his career took a positive turn with a significant role in Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line (1998), which raised his profile in the industry.
Jim Caviezel gained widespread recognition for his role as Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson's 2004 film The Passion of the Christ. This performance solidified his reputation as a serious and committed actor. Before this role, he had already received critical praise for playing Edmond Dantès in The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) and Detective John Sullivan in the sci-fi thriller Frequency (2000).
Other notable film credits include his portrayal of famed golfer Bobby Jones in Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004), as well as roles in Angel Eyes (2001) and Déjà Vu (2006).
| Birth Date: | 26 Sep, 1968 |
| Age: | 51 yrs |
| Occupations: | Actor Film actor Basketball player Television actor |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Mount Vernon |
| Education: | University of Washington University of Notre Dame |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American actor |
| Net Worth 2021: | 25 million |
