[ biography ]
   Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Padalecki developed an interest in acting in middle school when he began taking drama classes and performing in school plays. During high school, he competed in drama competitions, garnering regional, state and even national awards. He won the 2000 Presidential Scholar Award for the National Foundation for Advancement of the Arts in a theate competition with over 7,000 entrants.

   It was a national talent search that sent Padalecki on a fateful trip to Hollywood. He auditioned in a local Planet Hollywood and won the chance to be a trophy presenter for the first Teen Choice Awards. The summer before his senior year of high school, Padalecki appeared on the awards show and caught the attention of a talent manger.
   After graduating high school, he came out to Los Angeles and that summer landed the role on Gilmore Girls. On television, he also guest-starred in an episode of ER playing an auto accident victim opposite Jim Belushi as his father. He spent two months in Australia filming the lead in the television movie Ring of Endless Light, based on the novel by Madeline L'Engle.
   On the big screen, Padalecki appeared in the independent baseball movieA Little Inside, starring Kathy Baker.
   The Texas native now lives in Los Angeles and hides his deep Southern drawl for the role of Dean. When he's not working, Padalecki enjoys playing sports, reading and visiting his family.
   Next up for Jared, he will be appearing on more big screen projects such as New York Minute, Cry Wolf and Flight of the Phoenix which are now in post-production and will be released in 2004. He will continue to guest-star on some episode of Gilmore Girls but is no longer a series regular. After 2004, Jared will be working on the film Moonlight Drive with Shawn Ashmore which will be released in 2005.
      - (most info was taken from the WB.)