Leaving an impression. Jared Padalecki has experienced career success with roles in Gilmore Girls and Supernatural — but the actor has also had people talking off screen.
After rising to stardom for playing Dean Forester in Gilmore Girls, Padalecki made a transition to The CW’s Supernatural in 2005. The Texas native and his costar Jensen Ackles quickly won over fans with the fictional brother bond between Sam Winchester and Dean Winchester.
After a decade on the small screen as Sam, Padalecki made headlines when he got candid about his personal battle with depression. “I, in the past, have had my own struggles of not [being] so happy with where I am in life,” he told Variety in March 2015. “Maybe a lot of people don’t know this, but season 3, we were shooting an episode, and I went back to my trailer to get changed and just kind of broke down.”
The New York Minute actor continued: “A doctor came to set and talked to me for about 30 minutes or 45 minutes and said, ‘Jared, I think you’re clinically depressed. I think I should write you a note and we can shut down production for five days and then we can take it from there.'”
The experience inspired Padalecki’s online campaign titled Always Keep Fighting. The online fundraiser featured a shirt for fans to purchase in order to support the nonprofit To Write Love On Her Arms — an organization that offers outreach to people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.
“There’s no shame in having to fight every day,” Padalecki told Variety at the time. “But fighting every day, and presumably, if you’re still alive to hear these words or read this interview, then you are winning your war. You’re here. You might not win every battle. There are going to be some really tough days. There might be several tough times in any given single day, but hopefully, this will help somebody to think, ‘This isn’t easy; it is a fight, but I’m going to keep fighting.'”
The CW star continued to use his connection with his followers to offer updates on his life. In March 2019, the cast of Supernatural confirmed that the show would be ending after 15 seasons. At the time, Padalecki noted that it would be a “bittersweet” experience saying goodbye to the series.
“The reality of being here, fielding questions about the show’s last season, is reminding me that it’s the show’s last season coming up!” he exclusively told Us Weekly ahead of The CW’s Upfront presentation in May 2019, adding that he would miss his costars the most. “We really have become a family. Over 15 years, we’ve cut the fat. We didn’t fire anybody but if they didn’t like being there, they move on. So the people that are there want to be there.”
For Padalecki, wrapping up Supernatural after such a lengthy run was “rough” for everyone. “We’ve known [each other] for 15 years. We’ve seen births and deaths and divorces and marriages. I mean, I met my wife in season 4 and we have three kids! So much has happened,” he continued. “I feel such a deep connection with everybody.”
After parting ways on screen, Padalecki and his former costar Ackles shocked followers when they argued over The Winchesters spinoff series. In June 2021, Padalecki expressed his disappointment with not knowing that Ackles was involved in the next chapter of the franchise.
“Dude. Happy for you. Wish I heard about this some way other than Twitter. I’m excited to watch, but bummed that Sam Winchester had no involvement whatsoever,” he tweeted in June 2021.
The Smallville alum, for his part, later clarified that the longtime friends were able to figure out their issues. “Love you @jarpad … Miss these talks. I forgot how much face time we always used to get. And I miss that too. I know you’re busy…as am I, but you’re still my brother. I miss you, pal.”
The duo reunited when Ackles directed an episode of Padalecki’s series Walker in April 2022.
Scroll down for Padalecki’s ups and downs through the years:
Padalecki played Dean Forester on Gilmore Girls from 2000 to 2005. He was a main cast member in seasons 2 and 3 before taking on a recurring role for season 5. Frank Ockenfels/Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock
While filming Flight of the Phoenix in Africa, the Christmas Cottage actor later revealed that he flipped his car in a 2004 near-death experience. During a con appearance in 2017, Padalecki recalled running away from the car because he expected it to explode. Gregory Pace/Shutterstock
After his time on Gilmore Girls, Padalecki joined Supernatural in the leading role of Sam Winchester. The supernatural series followed Sam and his brother, Dean Winchester (Ackles), as they hunted down demons, ghosts, monsters and more. Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock
While filming season 4 of Supernatural, the Friday the 13th star met his now-wife, Genevieve Cortese. Padalecki proposed at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2009 and they tied the knot less than one year later. Jim Smeal/Shutterstock
The pair welcomed their son Thomas in March 2012. Kristina Bumphrey/Starpix/Shutterstock
Cortese gave birth to their second son, Austin, in December 2013. Jack Dempsey/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
After opening up about his mental health journey, the ER alum launched three different campaigns to fundraise for charity. In July 2015, Padalecki's fans surprised him at Comic Con when they unexpectedly lit candles in the audience during a panel to honor him. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Padalecki reprised the role of Dean Forester in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Netflix/Kobal/Shutterstock
Padalecki and Cortese welcomed their daughter, Odette, in March 2017. Shutterstock
“Dear #spnfamily. Season 1 @jensenackles and I want you to know that next season, season 15, will be the last season of #supernatural. I am so incredibly grateful for the family that we’ve all built together," Padalecki tweeted. "I love y’all and am more appreciative of y’all than my meager vocabulary could hope to describe. I’m also typing through tears. So, please forgive me. ‘Til next time. #WinchestersNeverDie.” Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock
In 2018, Padalecki opened up a '90s-themed bar in Austin, Texas, titled Stereotype. The following year, Padalecki was taken into custody for public intoxication and assault with injury charges following a physical altercation at his bar. He was charged with two misdemeanor counts and later addressed the situation. "I think what happened is I just was blacked out — didn't know what was going on. I saw me getting pulled down by my hair in the video and then I think I thought I was in a fight," Padalecki explained during the "Inside Of You" podcast in September 2020, noting that he watched TMZ footage from that night to piece together what happened. "I thought I was being attacked, I thought I was being shoved and pushed." At the time, Padalecki admitted that he hadn't "had a drink since" the incident. Uncredited/AP/Shutterstock
Padalecki continued his involvement with The CW when he joined Walker as the lead and executive producer. The reboot has aired two seasons since its premiere in January 2021. Rebecca Brenneman/The CW
After a potential Supernatural spinoff was announced with Ackles involved, Padalecki responded to a fan who asked if his response was a “bad joke." “No. It’s not. This is the first I’ve heard about it. I’m gutted," he tweeted in June 2021. Ahead of The Winchesters' pilot order, Ackles took to social media to confirm that the former costars were on good terms once again. Jack Rowand/The CW
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