{{Short description|American actor}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox person | image = | birth_place = Ossining, New York, U.S. | education = The Gunnery | alma_mater = New York University | occupation = Actor, director | years_active = 1990–present }}
'''Jesse Lee Soffer''' is an American actor and television director. He is known for portraying Will Munson on the CBS soap opera ''As the World Turns,'' and received three Emmy nominations for his work on the show.<ref>{{cite news |title=As the World Turns – Awards |url=https://www.nytimes.com/tv/show/153507/As-the-World-Turns/awards |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The National Television Academy Announces 33rd Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations |url=http://emmyonline.com/day_33rd_nominations |publisher=emmyonline.com |date=February 8, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=34th Annual Daytime Emmy Winners |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/34th-annual-daytime-emmy-winners/ |publisher=CBS |date=March 14, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The National Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences Announces 35th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Award Nominations |url=http://emmyonline.com/day_35th_nominations |publisher=emmyonline.com |date=April 30, 2008 |access-date=August 30, 2015 |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918104348/http://emmyonline.com/day_35th_nominations |url-status=dead}}</ref> From 2014 to 2022, he starred as Jay Halstead on the NBC drama ''Chicago P.D.'' and guest-starred on ''Chicago P.D.'' crossover episodes with ''Chicago Med'' and ''Chicago Fire'', as part of the main cast. He is also known for his role as Bobby Brady in the comedy ''The Brady Bunch Movie'' and its sequel ''A Very Brady Sequel''. In 2024, Soffer played Wesley "Wes" Mitchell, the new International Fly Team leader on the fourth season of CBS drama ''FBI: International'', after the departure of Luke Kleintank, who played Scott Forester.
==Early life and education== Jesse Lee Soffer was born in Ossining, New York, to Jill Hindes (née Bruning) and Stan Soffer. His father died in 1993, when he was nine years old. Soffer has two younger half-sisters, Shayne and Jenna Hindes, from his mother's second marriage. He also has two older half-siblings from his father's first marriage, Craig and Melissa Soffer.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vix |first1=Bill |title=10 Things You Didn't Know about Jesse Lee Soffer |url=https://www.tvovermind.com/jesse-lee-soffer/ |website=TVOvermind |date=November 22, 2019 |access-date=April 28, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jesse Lee Soffer |url=https://familytron.com/jesse-lee-soffer/ |website=FamilyTron |date=March 6, 2019 |access-date=April 28, 2021}}</ref> Soffer spent part of his childhood in Tarrytown, New York, and later moved to Newtown, Connecticut, at age 10.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Valenta |first1=Kaaren |title=By Kaaren Valenta |url=https://www.newtownbee.com/10172001/by-kaaren-valenta-5/ |website=The Newtown Bee |access-date=April 28, 2021}}</ref>
Soffer boarded at The Gunnery, graduating in 2003.<ref>{{cite news |title=Class Notes |url=https://issuu.com/thegunnery/docs/gunbullfa13 |work=The Gunnery Bulletin |publisher=The Gunnery |date=Autumn 2013 |page=40 |archive-date=February 20, 2025 |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220082210/https://issuu.com/thegunnery/docs/gunbullfa13 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He played soccer in school and was named to the all-star team (prep school category) during his senior season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Soccer All-stars |url=https://www.courant.com/2002/11/28/soccer-all-stars-2/ |work=Hartford Courant |date=November 28, 2002}}</ref> He took classes at New York University (NYU).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/dunphysoffer/meetjessesoffer.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905002218/http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/dunphysoffer/meetjessesoffer.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 5, 2014 |title=Articles-Jesse Soffer |last=Lenhart |first=Jennifer |work=Soap Opera Digest Weekly Online |date=2004}}</ref>
==Career== Soffer's acting career began at age 6 when he landed a Kix cereal commercial.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dfw.com/2014/01/18/860001/five-questions-with-actor-jesse.html |title=Five questions with actor Jesse Lee Soffer |last=Martindale |first=David |work=DFW.com |date=January 18, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012094405/http://www.dfw.com/2014/01/18/860001/five-questions-with-actor-jesse.html |archive-date=October 12, 2014}}</ref> In 1993 aged eight, he made his feature film debut with John Goodman and Cathy Moriarty in the comedy ''Matinee''.{{cn|date=November 2025}}
In 1994, Soffer co-starred as Percival in the drama ''Safe Passage''. In 1995, Soffer co-starred as Bobby Brady in the comedy ''The Brady Bunch Movie'' and reprised his role in ''A Very Brady Sequel'' a year later.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/sports-illustrated/video/2014/05/13/si-now-jesse-lee-soffer-why-soap-opera-fans-are-crazier-sports-fans |title=SI Now:Jesse Lee Soffer on why soap opera fans are crazier than sport fans |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=May 13, 2014}}</ref> Continuing the pattern of working with Oscar-calibre and A-list talent, Soffer starred as a runaway-turned-sleuth Jamie Kincaid in the TV movie ''From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler''. He worked with director Richard Shepard in the AMC TV movie ''The Royale''. In 1998, Soffer was cast as Taylor Donovan with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen on the ABC sitcom ''Two of a Kind''. He also originated the role of Max Nickerson on the CBS soap opera ''Guiding Light'' in 1999. After four months on the show, he left to focus on his studies.{{cn|date=November 2025}}
After graduating from high school, Soffer returned to his television career. In 2004, he took over the role of troubled youth Will Munson on the CBS soap opera ''As the World Turns''. He played the role until April 4, 2008. He was nominated three times for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series for his work on ATWT as well as a Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Younger Lead Actor in 2005.{{cn|date=November 2025}} In 2007, Soffer returned to his film career and co-starred with Carly Schroeder in Davis Guggenheim's sports drama ''Gracie'', based on a true story. In July 2010, Soffer reprised his role as Will Munson on ''As the World Turns''. During his time on ''As the World Turns'', he was cast in an episode of Dick Wolf's ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit''. However, he was unable to film due to a clash in filming commitments.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/tJ3ouasThuY Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200603035153/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ3ouasThuY&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ3ouasThuY |title="Chicago P.D." Star Jesse Lee Soffer Goes Over Season Seven Of The NBC Series |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2011, Soffer co-starred in the dystopian science fiction action thriller ''In Time''.
Soffer guest-starred on a number of television series including ''CSI: Miami'', ''The Mentalist'' and ''Rizzoli & Isles''. In 2012, he co-starred with Jordana Spiro in the short-lived Fox medical drama ''The Mob Doctor'' as Nate Devlin, the streetwise brother of Dr. Grace Devlin (Spiro).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/news/a367479/james-carpinello-jesse-lee-soffer-join-fox-medical-drama-pilot.html#~oOCdvEoiUG9sIE |title=James Carpinello, Jesse Lee Soffer join Fox medical drama pilot |last=Wightman |first=Catriona |work=US TV News |date=February 23, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-Jm5ugsxy0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/g-Jm5ugsxy0 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |title=The Mob Doctor - Jesse Lee Soffer - Nate Devlin's Troubles |work=Synergistic Productions, Inc. |date=September 17, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Later that year, he co-starred as Travis Alexander in Lifetime's original movie ''Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2013/04/lifetimes-jodi-arias-movie-casts-tania-raymonde-as-arias-jesse-lee-soffer-as-travis-alexander-476788 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903211133/http://deadline.com/2013/04/lifetimes-jodi-arias-movie-casts-tania-raymonde-as-arias-jesse-lee-soffer-as-travis-alexander-476788/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 3, 2014 |title=Lifetime's Jodi Arias Movie Casts Tania Raymonde and Jesse Lee Soffer |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |work=DEADLINE |date=April 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDSf4cB15v0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/eDSf4cB15v0 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |title=Exclusive Jodi Arias movie news! |work=HLN |date=June 11, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
In June 2013, it was reported Soffer had joined the cast of the NBC police procedural drama ''Chicago P.D.'', the first spin-off show from the drama ''Chicago Fire'' as Det. Jay Halstead.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvline.com/2013/06/13/chicago-pd-season-1-jesse-lee-soffer-cast-melissa-sagemiller-out/ |title=Exclusive: NBC's Chicago Fire Spin-Off Drops Melissa Sagemiller, Adds Jesse Lee Soffer |last=Ausiello |first=Michael |work=TV Line |date=June 13, 2013 |access-date=October 19, 2013 |archive-date=July 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727170029/http://tvline.com/2013/06/13/chicago-pd-season-1-jesse-lee-soffer-cast-melissa-sagemiller-out/ |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.click2houston.com/news/actor-jesse-lee-soffer-speaks-on-first-season-of-nbcs-chicago-pd |title=Actor Jesse Lee Soffer speaks on first season of NBC's 'Chicago PD' |date=January 9, 2014 |work=click2houston.com |url-status=dead |access-date=November 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225064742/https://www.click2houston.com/news/actor-jesse-lee-soffer-speaks-on-first-season-of-nbcs-chicago-pd |archive-date=February 25, 2018}}</ref> Halstead was introduced in the second-season premiere of ''Chicago Fire''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2014/01/08/chicago-pd-premiere-jesse-lee-soffer-interview/ |title='Chicago PD' Star Jesse Lee Soffer Interview - Talks Action, Love & Hank Voight |last=Longeretta |first=Emily |work=Hollywood Life |date=January 8, 2014}}</ref> ''Chicago P.D.'' premiered on January 8, 2014.<ref name="Chicago PD">{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/10/18/nbc-yanks-ironside-community-to-premiere-january-2-chicago-p-d-january-8/210019/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021032645/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/10/18/nbc-yanks-ironside-community-to-premiere-january-2-chicago-p-d-january-8/210019/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |title='Ironside' & 'Welcome to the Family' Canceled by NBC; 'Community' to Premiere January 2, 'Chicago P.D.' January 8 |last=Bibel |first=Sara |work=TV by the Numbers |date=October 18, 2013 |access-date=October 18, 2013}}</ref> On March 19, 2014, NBC renewed the series for a second season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/03/19/chicago-fire-chicago-p-d-grimm-renewed-by-nbc/246434 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320015900/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/03/19/chicago-fire-chicago-p-d-grimm-renewed-by-nbc/246434/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 20, 2014 |title='Chicago Fire', 'Chicago P.D.' & 'Grimm' Renewed; NBC Confirms Renewals of 'Parks & Recreation' & 'Celebrity Apprentice' |work=TV by the Numbers |last=Bibel |first=Sara |date=March 19, 2014 |access-date=March 20, 2014}}</ref> NBC officially announced that the second season would premiere on September 24, 2014. Soffer did his own stunts on the show.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chicagopd-fan.org/jesse-lee-soffer-dishes-on-chicago-p-d-stunts-and-more-on-veria-living-live-today/ |title=Jesse Lee Soffer Dishes on Chicago P.D., Stunts |work=Veria Living Live |date=May 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012065756/http://chicagopd-fan.org/jesse-lee-soffer-dishes-on-chicago-p-d-stunts-and-more-on-veria-living-live-today/ |archive-date=October 12, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://michiganavemag.com/the-latest/talk-of-the-town/postings/q-and-a-jesse-lee-soffer-on-the-blackhawks-police-training-and-the-brady-bunch |title='Chicago PD' Star Jesse Lee Soffer Talks About Police Training and His Role in 'The Brady Bunch Movie' |last=Sarran |first=Emma |work=MICHIGAN AVENUE |date=September 23, 2014}}</ref>
On August 30, 2022, it was announced that season 10 of ''Chicago P.D.'' would be the last one for Soffer.<ref>[https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/jesse-lee-soffer-exits-chicago-pd-season-10-nbc-1235354035/], Jesse Lee Soffer to Exit ‘Chicago P.D.’ in the Fall — Season 10 Will Be His Last (EXCLUSIVE).</ref> His last appearance was on October 5, 2022, on episode 3.<ref>[https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/chicago-pd-jesse-lee-soffer-exit-jay-halstead-army-bolivia-1235394353/], How Jesse Lee Soffer’s Character Jay Halstead Was Written Off ‘Chicago P.D.’.</ref> On October 20, 2022, ''Variety'' reported Soffer would be back to ''Chicago P.D.'' as a director. He directed episode 16 titled "Deadlocked", which aired on March 22, 2023, marking his directorial debut.<ref>[https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/jesse-lee-soffer-chicago-pd-directing-1235410009/], Jesse Lee Soffer Returning to ‘Chicago P.D.’ to Direct in Season 10 (EXCLUSIVE)’.</ref> In March 2024, it was announced that Soffer would direct another episode of ''Chicago P.D.'' He directed episode 12 titled "Inventory", which aired on May 15, 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dumaraog |first1=Ana |title=Jesse Lee Soffer Confirms Chicago PD Season 11 BTS Return With New Set Image |url=https://screenrant.com/chicago-pd-season-11-jesse-lee-soffer-return-set-image/ |access-date=March 26, 2024 |work=ScreenRant |date=March 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240325170638/https://screenrant.com/chicago-pd-season-11-jesse-lee-soffer-return-set-image/ |archive-date=March 25, 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
On June 20, 2024, Variety announced Soffer would join the cast of ''FBI: International'' for Season 4 as a new series regular after replacing Luke Kleintank, who played Scott Forrester, since its debut and left near the end of Season 3.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/jesse-lee-soffer-fbi-international-chicago-pd-1236041846/ |title=Jesse Lee Soffer Joins 'FBI: International' After 'Chicago P.D.' Exit |date=June 20, 2024 |website=Variety |access-date=June 20, 2024}}</ref>
==Filmography==
===Actor===
'''Film''' <div style="font-size: 100%"> {| class="wikitable" ! Year !! Film !! Role !! Other notes |- | rowspan="2"| 1993 || ''Matinee'' || Dennis Loomis || Credited as Jesse Lee |- | ''The Silent Alarm'' || Boy || Short film<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o51VdX5Ntv4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/o51VdX5Ntv4 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |title=Pat Metheny Film Scores: The Silent Alarm |work=PatMethenyMedia |date=August 28, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> |- | 1994 || ''Safe Passage'' || Percival, age 9 and 10 || rowspan="3"| Credited as Jesse Lee |- | 1995 || ''The Brady Bunch Movie'' || rowspan="2"| Bobby Brady |- | 1996 || ''A Very Brady Sequel'' |- | 2007 || ''Gracie'' || Johnny Bowen || |- | 2011 || ''In Time'' || Webb || |} </div>
===Television=== <div style="font-size: 100%"> {| class="wikitable" ! Year !!Title!! Role !!Notes |- | rowspan="2"| 1995 || ''Wings'' || Bobby Brady || Episode: "A House to Die For" <small> (credited as Jesse Lee)</small> |- | ''From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler'' || Jamie Kincaid (James) || rowspan="2"| Television film <small> (credited as Jesse Lee)</small> |- | 1996|| ''The Royale'' || Billy |- | 1998|| ''Two of a Kind'' || Taylor Donovan ||Recurring role; 6 episodes |- | 1999 || ''Guiding Light'' || Max Nickerson #1 || Recurring role <small> (credited as Jesse Lee)</small> |- | 2004–2008; 2010 || ''As the World Turns'' || Will Munson || Regular role; 502 episodes |- | rowspan="2"| 2008 || ''The Awakening of Spring'' || Michael || Television film |- | ''CSI: Miami'' || Shane Huntington || Episode: "And How Does That Make You Kill?" |- | 2009 || ''The Philanthropist'' || Dean Fitzsimmons || Episode: "San Diego" |- | 2010 || ''The Whole Truth'' || Young lover || Episode: "Young Love" |- | rowspan="2"| 2011 || ''The Mentalist'' || Alan Dinkler || Episode: "Strawberries and Cream: Part 1" |- | ''Rizzoli & Isles'' || Jacob Wilson || Episode: "Remember Me" |- | 2012–2013 || ''The Mob Doctor'' || Nate Devlin || Main role; 13 Episodes |- | rowspan="2"| 2013 || ''Hatfields & McCoys'' || Patrick McCoy || Unaired pilot<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/world-turn-star-jesse-lee-soffer-joins-nbcs-hatfields-mccoys-pilot-78796/ |title='As the World Turns' Star Jesse Lee Soffer Joins NBC's 'Hatfields & McCoys' Pilot |last=Kenneally |first=Tim |work=TheWrap |date=February 22, 2013 |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=August 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826094211/http://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/world-turn-star-jesse-lee-soffer-joins-nbcs-hatfields-mccoys-pilot-78796/ |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/08/nbc-hatfields-and-mccoys-passes-charlize-theron_n_3241127.html |title=NBC Will Not Pick Up 'Hatfields And McCoys': Network Passes On Charlize Theron-Produced Pilot And Six Others |work=Huffpost TV |date=May 8, 2013}}</ref> |- | ''Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret'' || Travis Alexander || Television film |- | 2013–2022, 2026 || ''Chicago Fire'' || rowspan=4|Detective Jay Halstead ||Recurring role; 19 episodes |- | 2014–2015 || ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit''||Guest role; 2 episodes |- | 2014–2023, 2026 || ''Chicago P.D.''|| Main role; 190 Episodes |- | 2015–2022, 2026 || ''Chicago Med''|| Recurring role; 29 episodes |- |2024–2025 |''FBI: International'' |Supervisory Special Agent Wesley ‘Wes’ Mitchell || Main role (season 4) |} </div>
===Director=== <div style="font-size: 100%"> {| class="wikitable" ! Year !!Title!!Notes |- | rowspan="2"| 2023–2025|| ''Chicago P.D.'' || Season 10, Episode 16: "Deadlocked"<br>Season 11, Episode 12: "Inventory"<br>Season 13, Episode 2: "Open Wounds" |- |}</div>
==Awards and nominations== *Daytime Emmy Award nomination, Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series (2006, 2007, 2008)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2006/film/news/emmy-noms-wide-eyed-1117937701/ |title=Emmy noms wide Eyed |work=Variety.com |date=February 8, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000206/2007 |title=Daytime Emmy Awards (2007) |work=imdb |date=June 14, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Daytime-Emmy-Nominations-Announced-20080430 |title=Daytime Emmy Nominations Announced! |work=BWW News Desk |date=April 30, 2008}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0497522|Jesse Lee Soffer}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070510183457/http://www.soapcentral.com/atwt/theactors/soffer.php Bio at SoapCentral.com] *[https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jesse-lee-soffer/bio/283340 Bio at TVGuide.com] *[http://www.nbc.com/chicago-pd/about/bio/jesse-lee-soffer/ Bio at NBC.com]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Soffer, Jesse Lee}} Category:20th-century American male actors Category:21st-century American male actors Category:American male child actors Category:American male film actors Category:American male soap opera actors Category:American male television actors Category:The Frederick Gunn School alumni Category:Living people Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Year of birth missing (living people)