James Lafferty
Encyclopedia
James Martin Lafferty is an American
actor
, director
and producer
. He currently portrays Nathan Scott
on the CW
television drama One Tree Hill
. In addition to his role on the young adult drama, Lafferty is also known for his appearance as Justin in S. Darko
, the 2009 sequel to the 2001 film Donnie Darko
.
, to parents Jeff and Angie Lafferty, who own a local construction company. He has a younger brother, actor Stuart Lafferty
. After attending Hemet High School
until 2003, Lafferty enrolled and graduated from California State University, Long Beach
. At the age of eighteen, he moved to Wilmington, North Carolina
, after he was cast as Nathan Scott
on the teenage drama One Tree Hill
on The WB
.
, Get Real
, and Boston Public
. This was followed by his role as Steve Alford
in the ESPN
made-for-television movie A Season on the Brink
, a basketball film about the 1985-1986 season of Indiana University
's men's basketball
team. It was based on the book by John Feinstein
.
In 2003, Lafferty was cast in The WB
's new teenage drama One Tree Hill
, where he portrayed the younger half-brother to series lead Lucas Scott
(Chad Michael Murray
), bad boy basketball star Nathan Scott
. Of the original five main cast members who portrayed students at the fictional Tree Hill High School, he was the only teenager when the show debuted in September 2003. Chad Michael Murray
and Bethany Joy Galeotti
(then known as Bethany Joy Lenz) were both twenty-two, while Sophia Bush
and Hilarie Burton
were twenty-one.
In 2009, Lafferty starred in the Donnie Darko
sequel S. Darko: A Donnie Darko Tale
as Iraq Jack.
, where One Tree Hill is filmed. He is an ardent basketball player, and played for the New Orleans basketball team at the 2008 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
alongside Ne-Yo
, Terrell Owens
, Taylor Hicks
, and Master P
. They defeated the Hornets 51-50 with Owens being named MVP
. He is a supporting partner of the professional basketball team, the Wilmington Sea Dawgs
, part of the Premiere Basketball League. From 2003-2008, he hosted a yearly charity basketball event in Wilmington. However, in 2009, he announced that he was canceling the event, stating: "As a result of constant harassment and gross invasions of privacy via e-mail and telephone, targeting myself, my friends and even my family, I no longer feel comfortable holding a fundraiser in such an intimate setting with fans."
On October 27, 2008, Chad Michael Murray
, Sophia Bush
's ex-husband and fellow One Tree Hill co-star, confirmed a romance between Bush and Lafferty. "Sophia and I are both professional and mature enough to get through it," he said. "And now it's just easy. We're just friends. She's got James, and James and I are friends." In October 2009, it was reported that Lafferty and Bush's romance had ended.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
and producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
. He currently portrays Nathan Scott
Nathan Scott
Nathan Royal Scott is a fictional character on The CW television series One Tree Hill, portrayed by James Lafferty. He was the second protagonist during the first six seasons; but following Lucas Scott's departure, Nathan has become the main character and central figure of the show. Nathan is Lucas...
on the CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
television drama One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
. In addition to his role on the young adult drama, Lafferty is also known for his appearance as Justin in S. Darko
S. Darko
S. Darko: A Donnie Darko Tale is a 2009 direct-to-video film directed by Chris Fisher and stars Daveigh Chase, Briana Evigan, and Ed Westwick. It is the sequel to the 2001 cult hit Donnie Darko...
, the 2009 sequel to the 2001 film Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko is a 2001 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Richard Kelly and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Noah Wyle, Jena Malone, and Mary McDonnell...
.
Early life
James Martin Lafferty was born in Hemet, CaliforniaHemet, California
Hemet is a city in the San Jacinto Valley in Riverside County, California, United States. It covers a total area of , about half of the valley, which it shares with the neighboring city of San Jacinto. The population was 78,657 at the 2010 census....
, to parents Jeff and Angie Lafferty, who own a local construction company. He has a younger brother, actor Stuart Lafferty
Stuart Lafferty
Stuart Lafferty is an American actor. He is the younger brother of James Lafferty.-Early life:Stuart was born on October 1, 1987 in Hemet, California. He attended Hemet High School. Like his older brother, he had also played basketball for the Bulldogs.-Career:He has modeled for stores such as...
. After attending Hemet High School
Hemet High School
Hemet Senior High School is a public high school of approximately 2,500 students located in East Hemet, California and is part of the Hemet Unified School District. The school was first founded in 1894 and has been moved to different campus sites in the past. The school has been operating at its...
until 2003, Lafferty enrolled and graduated from California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
. At the age of eighteen, he moved to Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, after he was cast as Nathan Scott
Nathan Scott
Nathan Royal Scott is a fictional character on The CW television series One Tree Hill, portrayed by James Lafferty. He was the second protagonist during the first six seasons; but following Lucas Scott's departure, Nathan has become the main character and central figure of the show. Nathan is Lucas...
on the teenage drama One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
on The WB
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
.
Career
In 2001, James Lafferty was cast in the short-lived television series Emeril, where he portrayed Emeril's son Justin. He has also made guest appearances on Once and AgainOnce and Again
Once and Again is an American television series that aired on ABC from September 21, 1999 to April 15, 2002. It depicts the family of a single mother and her romance with a single father...
, Get Real
Get Real (TV series)
Get Real is a short-lived comedy-drama on the FOX Network centering on the fictional Green family of San Francisco. It ran from September 1999 to April 2000...
, and Boston Public
Boston Public
Boston Public is an American drama television series created by David E. Kelley and broadcast on Fox. It centered on Winslow High School, a fictional public high school located in Boston, Massachusetts. The show was named for the real public school district in which it takes place...
. This was followed by his role as Steve Alford
Steve Alford
Stephen Todd Alford is a retired American basketball player and the current head coach of the University of New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team...
in the ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
made-for-television movie A Season on the Brink
A Season on the Brink
A Season on the Brink is a book by John Feinstein which detailed the 1985-86 season of Indiana University's men's basketball team, led by the controversial coach Bobby Knight...
, a basketball film about the 1985-1986 season of Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
's men's basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
team. It was based on the book by John Feinstein
John Feinstein
John Feinstein is an American sportswriter, author and sports commentator who wrote the top two best-selling non-fiction sports books in history, A Good Walk Spoiled and A Season on the Brink.-Early life:...
.
In 2003, Lafferty was cast in The WB
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
's new teenage drama One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
, where he portrayed the younger half-brother to series lead Lucas Scott
Lucas Scott
Lucas Eugene Scott is a fictional character and formerly the main protagonist from The CW television series One Tree Hill, portrayed by Chad Michael Murray. Lucas is a talented basketball player and writer. He is rival to half-brother Nathan Scott, before the two eventually become close friends...
(Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray is an American actor, former fashion model and spokesperson. Murray is well known for portraying Lucas Scott in The CW young adult drama series One Tree Hill, in addition to the commercially successful films A Cinderella Story, Freaky Friday and House of Wax...
), bad boy basketball star Nathan Scott
Nathan Scott
Nathan Royal Scott is a fictional character on The CW television series One Tree Hill, portrayed by James Lafferty. He was the second protagonist during the first six seasons; but following Lucas Scott's departure, Nathan has become the main character and central figure of the show. Nathan is Lucas...
. Of the original five main cast members who portrayed students at the fictional Tree Hill High School, he was the only teenager when the show debuted in September 2003. Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray is an American actor, former fashion model and spokesperson. Murray is well known for portraying Lucas Scott in The CW young adult drama series One Tree Hill, in addition to the commercially successful films A Cinderella Story, Freaky Friday and House of Wax...
and Bethany Joy Galeotti
Bethany Joy Galeotti
Bethany Joy Galeotti is an American actress, musician, director, writer, and producer.Galeotti is best known for her on screen portrayals of Michelle Bauer Santos on Guiding Light and Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill...
(then known as Bethany Joy Lenz) were both twenty-two, while Sophia Bush
Sophia Bush
Sophia Anna Bush is an American actress, director and spokesperson. She currently stars in the CW television series One Tree Hill where she portrays Brooke Davis. Bush is additionally known for her film portrayals in the 2007 remake The Hitcher, John Tucker Must Die and The Narrows.-Early...
and Hilarie Burton
Hilarie Burton
Hilarie Ross Burton is an American actress. A former host of MTV's Total Request Live, she portrayed Peyton Sawyer on The CW drama One Tree Hill for six seasons...
were twenty-one.
In 2009, Lafferty starred in the Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko is a 2001 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Richard Kelly and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Noah Wyle, Jena Malone, and Mary McDonnell...
sequel S. Darko: A Donnie Darko Tale
S. Darko
S. Darko: A Donnie Darko Tale is a 2009 direct-to-video film directed by Chris Fisher and stars Daveigh Chase, Briana Evigan, and Ed Westwick. It is the sequel to the 2001 cult hit Donnie Darko...
as Iraq Jack.
Personal life
Lafferty currently resides in Wilmington, North CarolinaWilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, where One Tree Hill is filmed. He is an ardent basketball player, and played for the New Orleans basketball team at the 2008 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
2008 NBA All-Star Game
-Eastern Conference roster:The Boston Celtics, the team with the league's best record, came into New Orleans with three players. Kevin Garnett, top vote-getter in the league with 2,399,148 votes, was selected as a starter, while Paul Pierce and Ray Allen were selected as reserves by the coaches of...
alongside Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
, Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
, Taylor Hicks
Taylor Hicks
Taylor Reuben Hicks is an American singer who achieved fame in 2006, when he won the fifth season of American Idol. Hicks got his start as a professional musician in his late teens and performed around the Southeastern United States for well over the span of a decade, during which he also released...
, and Master P
Master P
Percy Robert Miller , better known by his stage name Master P or his business name P. Miller, is an American rapper, actor, entrepreneur, investor, and producer. He is the founder of the popular label No Limit Records, which went bankrupt and was relaunched as New No Limit Records through Koch...
. They defeated the Hornets 51-50 with Owens being named MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
. He is a supporting partner of the professional basketball team, the Wilmington Sea Dawgs
Wilmington Sea Dawgs
The Wilmington Sea Dawgs are a team of the Tobacco Road Basketball League in Wilmington, North Carolina. The Sea Dawgs began play in 2006 as a member of the American Basketball Association and later played as a founding member of the Premier Basketball League and a founding member of the...
, part of the Premiere Basketball League. From 2003-2008, he hosted a yearly charity basketball event in Wilmington. However, in 2009, he announced that he was canceling the event, stating: "As a result of constant harassment and gross invasions of privacy via e-mail and telephone, targeting myself, my friends and even my family, I no longer feel comfortable holding a fundraiser in such an intimate setting with fans."
On October 27, 2008, Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray is an American actor, former fashion model and spokesperson. Murray is well known for portraying Lucas Scott in The CW young adult drama series One Tree Hill, in addition to the commercially successful films A Cinderella Story, Freaky Friday and House of Wax...
, Sophia Bush
Sophia Bush
Sophia Anna Bush is an American actress, director and spokesperson. She currently stars in the CW television series One Tree Hill where she portrays Brooke Davis. Bush is additionally known for her film portrayals in the 2007 remake The Hitcher, John Tucker Must Die and The Narrows.-Early...
's ex-husband and fellow One Tree Hill co-star, confirmed a romance between Bush and Lafferty. "Sophia and I are both professional and mature enough to get through it," he said. "And now it's just easy. We're just friends. She's got James, and James and I are friends." In October 2009, it was reported that Lafferty and Bush's romance had ended.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Annabelle's Wish Annabelle's Wish Annabelle's Wish is a 1997 animated Christmas film that revolves around a young calf who aspires to learn to fly and become one of Santa Claus' reindeer. It is narrated by Randy Travis and stars veteran voice actress Kath Soucie... |
Buster | Voice only |
| 2003 | Boys on the Run | Joe Ferguson | |
| 2009 | S. Darko S. Darko S. Darko: A Donnie Darko Tale is a 2009 direct-to-video film directed by Chris Fisher and stars Daveigh Chase, Briana Evigan, and Ed Westwick. It is the sequel to the 2001 cult hit Donnie Darko... : A Donnie Darko Tale |
Justin | |
| 2011 | Eigson Howard |
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Emeril | James | Unaired pilot |
| 2001 | Boston Public Boston Public Boston Public is an American drama television series created by David E. Kelley and broadcast on Fox. It centered on Winslow High School, a fictional public high school located in Boston, Massachusetts. The show was named for the real public school district in which it takes place... |
Michael Scott | Episode 1.18: "Chapter Eighteen" |
| 2001–02 | Once and Again Once and Again Once and Again is an American television series that aired on ABC from September 21, 1999 to April 15, 2002. It depicts the family of a single mother and her romance with a single father... |
Tad | 4 episodes |
| 2002 | Prep | Jackson | Television film |
| 2002 | First Monday First Monday First Monday was a short-lived U.S. television midseason replacement drama centered on the U.S. Supreme Court. Like another 2002 series, "The Court," it was inspired by the prominent role the Supreme Court played in settling the 2000 presidential election... |
Andrew | Episode 1.01: "Pilot" |
| 2002 | Steve Alford Steve Alford Stephen Todd Alford is a retired American basketball player and the current head coach of the University of New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team... |
Made-for-television film | |
| 2002 | Get Real Get Real (TV series) Get Real is a short-lived comedy-drama on the FOX Network centering on the fictional Green family of San Francisco. It ran from September 1999 to April 2000... |
Billy | Episode 1.22: "The Last Weekend" |
| 2003–2012 | One Tree Hill One Tree Hill (TV series) One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster... |
Nathan Scott Nathan Scott Nathan Royal Scott is a fictional character on The CW television series One Tree Hill, portrayed by James Lafferty. He was the second protagonist during the first six seasons; but following Lucas Scott's departure, Nathan has become the main character and central figure of the show. Nathan is Lucas... |
Main cast Director Nominated — Teen Choice Award Teen Choice Awards The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with... for Choice Breakout TV Star Male Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Chemistry Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Scene Stealer Male Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Parental Unit |
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–present | Wild Life: A New Generation of Wild | Himself | Web series; Executive producer |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Group | Award | Nominated/Won | TV Show | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Teen Choice Awards Teen Choice Awards The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with... |
Choice Breakout TV Star - Male | Nominated | One Tree Hill One Tree Hill (TV series) One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster... |
|
| 2005 | Teen Choice Awards Teen Choice Awards The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with... |
Choice TV Chemistry | Nominated | One Tree Hill One Tree Hill (TV series) One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster... |
Shared with Chad Michael Murray Chad Michael Murray Chad Michael Murray is an American actor, former fashion model and spokesperson. Murray is well known for portraying Lucas Scott in The CW young adult drama series One Tree Hill, in addition to the commercially successful films A Cinderella Story, Freaky Friday and House of Wax... |
| 2010 | Teen Choice Awards Teen Choice Awards The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with... |
Scene Stealer - Male | Nominated | One Tree Hill One Tree Hill (TV series) One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster... |
|
| Parental Unit | Nominated | One Tree Hill One Tree Hill (TV series) One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster... |
With Bethany Joy Galeotti Bethany Joy Galeotti Bethany Joy Galeotti is an American actress, musician, director, writer, and producer.Galeotti is best known for her on screen portrayals of Michelle Bauer Santos on Guiding Light and Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill... |
External links
- James Lafferty cast bio at CWTV.comThe CW Television NetworkThe CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...