Jackie Earle Haley

Jackie Earle Haley, born Jack Earle Haley on July 14, 1961, in Northridge, California, began his acting career at a young age. His earliest role came at age five, voicing Dennis the Menace in animated commercials, and he later appeared in episodes of “Curiosity Shop.” He gained early recognition as a child actor in the 1970s, notably portraying Kelly Leak in “The Bad News Bears” (1976) and its sequels, “The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training” (1977) and “The Bad News Bears Go to Japan” (1978). He also played Moocher in Peter Yates’ acclaimed film “Breaking Away” (1979) and its subsequent TV series. Throughout the 1970s, Haley was often cast in roles depicting tough, long-haired misfits.

Haley’s acting career experienced a hiatus during the 1990s and early 2000s, during which he relocated to San Antonio and shifted his focus to directing, successfully producing and directing television commercials. His return to acting in 2006 marked a significant turning point, spurred by a recommendation from Sean Penn. This comeback included a supporting role in Steven Zaillian’s “All the King’s Men” (2006) and a critically acclaimed performance as a recently paroled sex offender, Ronald James McGorvey, in Todd Field’s “Little Children” (2006). This role earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 2007, leading to an invitation to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Following his resurgence, Haley took on several prominent roles, including the antihero Rorschach in Zack Snyder’s “Watchmen” (2009), horror icon Freddy Krueger in the remake of “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (2010), and George Noyce in Martin Scorsese’s “Shutter Island” (2010). He also portrayed Willie Loomis in Tim Burton’s “Dark Shadows” (2012) and Alexander H. Stephens in Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” (2012). His television work includes series regular roles as Guerrero in “Human Target” (2010-2011), Odin Quincannon in “Preacher” (2016), and The Terror in “The Tick” (2016-2017). Haley owns a production company, JEH Productions, in San Antonio, further diversifying his contributions to the entertainment industry.