Jeremy Sisto: The Story Behind the Emerging Star of NBC’s Kidnapped

Jeremy Sisto is stepping out of the shadows and into the limelight with his starring role on the NBC series “Kidnapped.” Known primarily for his supporting work as the troubled photographer Billy Chenowith on the hit HBO series “Six Feet Under,” Jeremy Sisto is an accomplished actor who has mastered difficult and varied roles across the realms of television, films, and stage. “Kidnapped” will feature Jeremy Sisto in the lead role as a kidnap retrieval expert, privately employed by kidnap victims’ families to bring their loved one back, safe and sound. Now that Jeremy Sisto is stretching his acting vocabulary to include a classic TV action hero, his work is likely to attract a wider audience than ever before. With “Kidnapped” on the rise, there’s never been a better time to get to know Jeremy Sisto.

Jeremy Merton Sisto was born October 6th, 1974 in a small Northern California town called Grass Valley. For the first six years of his life, Jeremy Sisto lived in a house made entirely out of rock, set into the jagged peaks of the Lower Sierra Nevada Mountains. When his parents divorced, six year old Jeremy moved with his mother and older sister to Chicago, Illinois. His sister, Meadow, got bitten by the acting bug, and brought her younger brother with her to auditions. Together, they landed supporting roles in a local production of Tennessee Williams’ play “House Not Meant To Stand” at the prestigious Goodman Theatre. Jeremy Sisto made his stage debut in this high-caliber production at the tender age of eight years old, and a future star was born.

Once Jeremy Sisto had fallen in love with acting, there was no turning back. Although he didn’t foresee a future as an actor, Jeremy Sisto amassed an impressive series of credits in his youth. He landed a spot in the music video “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by the band Twisted Sister, and found himself on the Goodman stage again a few years later in a production of Bertolt Brecht’s “Galileo” alongside Brian Dennehy. Jeremy Sisto continued to act through his teenage years, and appeared in the film “Grand Canyon” at the tender age of 16, juggling his shooting schedule with the demands of attending Francis W. Parker High School. Finally, he decided to try and make it as an actor, and headed to UCLA to study his craft, staying in Los Angeles after graduation to act full time.

Once Jeremy Sisto committed to the craft of acting, he began landing role after role. However, there seems to be very little consistent rhyme or reason behind the types of roles that directors offer Jeremy Sisto. His repertoire literally spans from privileged brat (White Squall) to the son of God (the TV miniseries Jesus). He’s also played Julius Caesar, and numerous psychotic killers. Many emerging stars build a fan base by playing one similar role after another, gradually developing a larger-than-life persona that signals what viewers can expect from their performances and their projects. However, Jeremy Sisto has continually chosen to try new things and take new risks, asking his devoted fans to follow him from Ancient Rome to the Beverly Hills of “Clueless.” Jeremy Sisto has shown enough versatility and talent to avoid getting pigeonholed or stereotyped by Hollywood into any particular category.This engaging actor always keeps moving, returning to the stage in 2004 to perform at the Geffen Playhouse in the hit play “Take Me Out,” about homosexuality in baseball.

Now that Jeremy Sisto is poised to make the leap to full-fledged stardom with “Kidnapped,” he is once again taking things in a new direction. Along with carrying the lead in this major network drama, Jeremy Sisto is pursuing projects with Dima Entertainment, the production company he recently founded. He sings and plays guitar in a band, and has stated that they are working towards releasing an album. The question of what the future has in store for Jeremy Sisto is an exciting one; in a recent statement, the actor welcomed his growing opportunities, not for the increase in money or fame that they bring, but for the increase in creative choice. No matter what Jeremy Sisto chooses to do beyond “Kidnapped,” you can be certain of one thing: it won’t be what you, or anyone, expects