Justin Baldoni

Justin Louis Baldoni (born January 24, 1984) is an American actor. Baldoni has acted in films such as "Wedding Daze" and in the television series "Everwood".

Early life

Baldoni was born in Los Angeles, California of half Italian and half Jewish ancestry.cite news | last =Boursaw| first =Jane Louise| coauthors=| title =Fall TV| pages=| publisher =Northern Express|date= | url =http://www.northernexpress.com/editorial/features.asp?id=1412| accessdate =2006-11-30 ] He was raised in Medford, Oregon, Baldoni was soccer and track star in high school, as well as a radio disc jockey at a local top 40 radio station. Unfortunately, his hopes of playing professional sports were foiled when he tore his hamstring his senior year. Even with his injury, Baldoni was still given the chance to run for the Long Beach State track team his freshman year at California State University. However, he wasn't able to heal his hamstring in time and Baldoni left Long Beach for Los Angeles. While moving into a new apartment building, Baldoni met a manager who advised him to pursue a career in acting. [Cite web |url=http://www.everwoodonline.com/cast/justinbaldoni.php |title=Justin Baldoni as Reid Bardem |accessdate=2008-07-08 |publisher=FanBolt Entertainment]

Movie career

Baldoni's breakout role was in the television movie "Spring Break Shark Attack", in which he starred as a sexual predator opposite Shannon Lucio ("The O.C."). Other television credits include a lead role in the television movie "Wedding Daze", opposite John Larroquette, and guest-starring roles on such television programs as "JAG" and The WB's "Charmed". He also had a recurring part on the daytime drama "The Young and the Restless". These prior television credits, provided him with the experience and confidence to land his first regular acting job on The WB series, "Everwood". He was cast as Reid Bardem, a med student, who caught Amy Abbott's (Emily VanCamp) eye. He also starred in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody as Diago.

Baldoni has appeared in several independent films, including "Yesterday's Dreams", "A Long Walk Down", and "The Helix...Loaded" and is currently in pre-production with fellow "Everwood" cast member Chris Pratt to co-produce and act in two short films. He will be starring in "The Tribe".

Personal life

When he's not working, Baldoni enjoys, running, mountain biking, golfing, playing soccer, and working out at the gym. He is also learning to play the acoustic guitar and plans on taking singing lessons. Justin also enjoys cheering on his favorite football team Notre Dame. After landing the role on "Everwood", he moved from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, Utah, where the show is filmed. Off screen, Baldoni leads a quiet life and has declared in interviews that he doesn't drink, take drugs, smoke or engage in premarital sex. The main reason for this are his strong religious values of the Bahá'í Faith.Cite web |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2004/0905/life/stories/03life.htm |title=Mail Tribune The ‘Daze’ of his life |publisher="Mail Tribune" |last=Varble |first=Bill |date=2004-09-05 |accessdate=2008-07-08]

Footnotes

External links

*imdb|1682573