Jesse Spencer

Jesse Spencer
Name	Jesse Spencer
Caption	Spencer in 2012
Birth date	12 February 1979
Birth place	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation	Actor, musician
Years active	1991–present
Spouse	Kali Woodruff Carr, 2020

Jesse Spencer is an Australian actor and musician, best known for his roles in prominent American television series. He gained international recognition for portraying firefighter Matthew Casey on the long-running NBC drama *Chicago Fire*, a role he held from 2012 to 2021. Earlier in his career, he achieved fame in his native country for his role as Billy Kennedy on the popular Australian soap opera Neighbours.

Early life and education

Jesse Spencer was born in Melbourne and grew up in the suburb of Lilydale. He demonstrated an early aptitude for music, learning to play the violin from the age of eight and later mastering the piano and guitar. His secondary education was at Luther College, a co-educational independent school in Croydon. During his youth, he was a member of the Australian Boys Choir and performed with the Victorian State Opera, laying a foundation for his future artistic pursuits. He was subsequently accepted into the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art but deferred his place to pursue his acting career on Neighbours.

Career

Spencer's professional career began in 1991 with a guest role on the Australian series The Henderson Kids. His breakthrough came in 1994 when he was cast as Billy Kennedy on Neighbours, a role he played for over six years, earning a Logie Award nomination. Seeking to expand his career internationally, he relocated to the United States and secured a leading role in the 2004 Fox medical drama *House*, playing Dr. Robert Chase for eight seasons alongside Hugh Laurie. This role cemented his status in American television. In 2012, he was cast as Lieutenant Matthew Casey in Dick Wolf's *Chicago Fire*, becoming a central figure in the expanding *Chicago* franchise and making crossover appearances in Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med. He departed the series in 2021. His film work includes roles in *Swimming Upstream* and Uptown Girls.

Personal life

Spencer is a trained classical musician and has performed with bands such as Band from TV, a charity musical group featuring fellow television actors. He married American neuroscientist and health policy advisor Kali Woodruff Carr in a ceremony in Napa Valley in 2020. The couple resides primarily in Chicago, Illinois, a city he became closely associated with through his work on *Chicago Fire*. An avid supporter of firefighting charities, he has participated in numerous events for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and other organizations. He holds dual citizenship in Australia and the United States.

Filmography

A selected list of his screen credits includes: * Neighbours (1994–2000, 2005) as Billy Kennedy * Swimming Upstream (2003) as Tony Fingleton * House (2004–2012) as Dr. Robert Chase * Chicago Fire (2012–2021) as Lieutenant Matthew Casey * Chicago P.D. (2014–2021) as Lieutenant Matthew Casey (crossover) * The Runaway (2011) as Thomas O'Rourke

Discography

Spencer's musical contributions are primarily linked to his television work and charitable performances. He performed the song "Don't Give Up on Us" for a storyline on Neighbours. As a member of Band from TV, he has performed at events for charities like Habitat for Humanity and Global Down Syndrome Foundation. He contributed musically to several episodes of *House*, showcasing his violin and guitar skills on the soundtrack.

Awards and nominations

Throughout his career, Spencer has received recognition from various award bodies. For his work on Neighbours, he was nominated for the Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent in 1998. His performance on *Chicago Fire* earned him a People's Choice Award nomination for Favorite Dramatic TV Actor in 2014. He and the cast of *House* were nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2009.

Category:Australian male television actors Category:Australian male film actors Category:Australian emigrants to the United States Category:1979 births Category:Living people