Joshua David Duhamel ( ; born November 14, 1972) is an American actor. After various modeling work, he made his acting debut as
Leo du Pres on the
ABC daytime soap opera ''
All My Children
''All My Children'' (often shortened to ''AMC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from January 5, 1970, to September 23, 2011, and on The Online Network (TOLN) from April 29 to September 2, 2 ...
'' for which he won a
Daytime Emmy Award
The Daytime Emmy Awards, or Daytime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NA ...
and later starred as
Danny McCoy on
NBC's ''
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
''.
Duhamel has ventured into film, appearing as one of the main protagonists in four of the
''Transformers'' films, most recently in the fifth entry, ''
Transformers: The Last Knight'' (2017). He has also appeared in ''
When in Rome'' (2010), ''
Life as We Know It'' (2010), ''
New Year's Eve
In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve refers to the evening, or commonly the entire day, of the last day of the year, 31 December, also known as Old Year's Day. In many countries, New Year's Eve is celebrated with dancing, eating, drinkin ...
'' (2011), ''
Safe Haven'' (2013), and ''
You're Not You'' (2014). In 2015, Duhamel co-starred on the short-lived
CBS crime drama ''
Battle Creek''. He has also starred in several video games, most notably ''
Call of Duty: WWII'' (2017). In 2018, he appeared in the coming of age film ''
Love, Simon
''Love, Simon'' is a 2018 American teen romantic comedy drama film directed by Greg Berlanti from a screenplay by Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker, based on the 2015 novel '' Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda'' by Becky Albertalli. The fi ...
''. In 2021, Duhamel starred in the role of Sheldon Sampson in the
Netflix
Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
superhero series ''
Jupiter's Legacy''. He also portrayed the role of Jacob Lee in the 2022 survival horror game ''
The Callisto Protocol''.
Early life
Duhamel was born in
Minot, North Dakota
Minot ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ward County, North Dakota, United States, in the state's north-central region. It is most widely known for the Air Force base approximately north of the city. With a population of 48,377 at the 2 ...
. His mother, Bonnie L. (Bachmeier) Kemper, is a retired teacher and local businesswoman, and his father, Larry Duhamel, is an advertising salesman. Duhamel's family is
Catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
.
His parents divorced during his youth. He was raised by his mother and stepfather George Kemper. He has a younger sister and two younger maternal half-sisters. After graduating from
Minot High School in 1991, Duhamel attended
Minot State University and played backup quarterback for the
university's football team.
[ He planned to attend dental school,] but dropped out one-and-a-half credits shy of his undergraduate degree. He later completed his credits, and received his degree in 2005.
Career
Duhamel has stated, "After college, I followed an ex-girlfriend to northern California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
, did a bunch of odd jobs." He won the title of Male Model of the Year in an International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) competition in 1997 (the runner-up was actor Ashton Kutcher).
Duhamel began his acting career as an extra in the music videos for Donna Summer
Donna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948May 17, 2012), known professionally as Donna Summer, was an American singer and songwriter. She gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s and became known as the "Queen of Disco", while her music ...
's "I Will Go With You (Con te partirò
Con or CON may refer to:
Places
* Commonwealth of Nations, or CON, an association of primarily former British colonies
* Concord Municipal Airport (IATA airport code CON), a public-use airport in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States
* ...
)" and Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera ( , ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer-songwriter, actress and television personality. Recognized as Cultural impact of Christina Aguilera, an influential figure in music and having received Public imag ...
's " Genie in a Bottle" in 1999. Josh trained with Scott Sedita Acting Studios. Later that year, he won the role of Leo du Pres on the ABC soap opera ''All My Children
''All My Children'' (often shortened to ''AMC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from January 5, 1970, to September 23, 2011, and on The Online Network (TOLN) from April 29 to September 2, 2 ...
''. His work on the show, especially his character's pairing with Greenlee Smythe (portrayed by actress Rebecca Budig), garnered critical acclaim. In 2000, he posed fully nude for Greg Gorman's ''As I See It'' photography book.
In 2003, he received a Daytime Emmy Award
The Daytime Emmy Awards, or Daytime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NA ...
nomination for the Special Fan Award for America's Favorite Couple in 2002, shared with Budig, and a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Leo du Pres. Duhamel left ''All My Children'' in 2002 to pursue other acting opportunities. In 2003, Duhamel landed a primetime role on the NBC show ''Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
'', playing the head of security for the Montecito Casino, Danny McCoy. His character succeeded James Caan
James Edmund Caan ( ; March 26, 1940 – July 6, 2022) was an American actor. He came to prominence playing Sonny Corleone in ''The Godfather'' (1972), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Academy Award an ...
's as head of the casino after Caan departed the series at the end of the fourth season. The series ended in 2008.
Duhamel made his big-screen acting debut in 2004's ''Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
''Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!'' is a 2004 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Luketic, written by Victor Levin and starring Kate Bosworth, Topher Grace, Josh Duhamel, Gary Cole, Ginnifer Goodwin, Sean Hayes and Nathan Lane. T ...
'', then starred in the thriller '' Turistas'' (2006). After watching an episode of ''Las Vegas'' in which Duhamel's character had just returned from the war in Iraq, Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg ( ; born December 18, 1946) is an American filmmaker. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, Spielberg is widely regarded as one of the greatest film directors of all time and is ...
handpicked him for the role of Captain William Lennox in 2007's summer blockbuster film ''Transformers
''Transformers'' is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Tomy, Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons, two Extraterrestrials in fiction, alien robot fac ...
''[ (a film for which Spielberg was the ]executive producer
Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the production of media. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights or royalties). In film ...
). Duhamel reprised the role in three of the sequels: '' Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'', released in June 2009, '' Transformers: Dark of the Moon'', released in June 2011, and '' Transformers: The Last Knight'', released in June 2017.
Duhamel was the official pace car driver for the 2009 Indianapolis 500
The 93rd Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday May 24, 2009. It was the 14th Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League, and the premier event of the 2009 IndyCar Series season.
Hélio Ca ...
, driving the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro pace car. In 2010, he played the lead role in the film ''When in Rome'' as Nick Beamon. In 2014 Duhamel starred in the touching drama '' You're Not You'' (2014) playing the husband of Kate ( Hilary Swank), who has the degenerative disease ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or—in the United States—Lou Gehrig's disease (LGD), is a rare, terminal neurodegenerative disorder that results in the progressive loss of both upper and low ...
.
On March 23, 2013, Duhamel hosted the 2013 Kids' Choice Awards, which was broadcast live from Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
. He and his co-star from '' Safe Haven'', Julianne Hough, performed a ''Safe Haven''-themed showcase appearance via video on ''The Price is Right
''The Price Is Right'' is an American television game show where contestants compete by guessing the prices of merchandise to win cash and prizes. A 1972 revival by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman of their The Price Is Right (1956 American game ...
'' with Drew Carey
Drew Allison Carey (born May 23, 1958) is an American comedian, actor and game show host. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, Carey gained stardom in his own Situa ...
.
In 2016, he starred as Frank Dunning in the Hulu
Hulu (, ) is an American Subscription business model, subscription streaming media service owned by Disney Streaming, a subsidiary of the Disney Entertainment segment of the Walt Disney Company. It was launched on October 29, 2007, initially as ...
science fiction
Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...
thriller miniseries '' 11.22.63''.
In 2018, he appeared in a Taco Bell commercial to advertise Mexican spiced fries with nacho cheese sauce called ''Web of Fries''.
In March 2018, it was announced that Duhamel would star alongside Megan Fox
Megan Denise Fox (born May 16, 1986) is an American actress. She made her acting debut in the family film ''Holiday in the Sun (film), Holiday in the Sun'' (2001), which was followed by numerous supporting roles in film and television, such a ...
, in the independent family comedy ''Think Like a Dog''. In the same year, he starred in the romantic comedy-drama film, ''Love, Simon
''Love, Simon'' is a 2018 American teen romantic comedy drama film directed by Greg Berlanti from a screenplay by Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker, based on the 2015 novel '' Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda'' by Becky Albertalli. The fi ...
''.
On February 11, 2019, it was announced that Duhamel had been cast as Sheldon Sampson in the Netflix
Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
superhero series, '' Jupiter's Legacy''. The series premiered on May 7, 2021, and was canceled less than a month later.
In February 2021, it was announced that Duhamel would co-star opposite Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez (born July 24, 1969), also known by her nickname J.Lo, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer and businesswoman. Lopez is regarded as one of the most influential entertainers of her time, credited with breaking ...
in the film ''Shotgun Wedding
A shotgun wedding is a wedding arranged in response to pregnancy resulting from premarital sex. The phrase comes from the figurative imagining that the relatives of the pregnant bride threaten the reluctant male groom with a shotgun in order to ...
'', replacing Armie Hammer, who had left the project in January, following controversy concerning sexually explicit social media activity. In August 2021, it was announced that Duhamel joined Renée Zellweger in ''The Thing About Pam'' limited series on NBC. He was to play a defense attorney, Joel Schwartz, on this show based on a real-life crime story.
In early 2022, it was announced that Duhamel had been cast as a series regular on '' The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers'', for its second season, as Colin Cole, a former NHL player-turned-coach who runs the hockey institute.
On September 23, 2022, Duhamel's film ''Bandit
Banditry is a type of organized crime committed by outlaws typically involving the threat or use of violence. A person who engages in banditry is known as a bandit and primarily commits crimes such as extortion, robbery, kidnapping, and murder, e ...
'', based on the best-selling novel and true story about ''The Flying Bandit'', was released in theatres and on demand. The film received positive reviews with critics calling it a career-best performance for Duhamel.
Other ventures
In 2005, he became the co-owner of 10 North Main, a restaurant in Minot, North Dakota
Minot ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ward County, North Dakota, United States, in the state's north-central region. It is most widely known for the Air Force base approximately north of the city. With a population of 48,377 at the 2 ...
.
Duhamel is a spokesman for North Dakota
North Dakota ( ) is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota people, Dakota and Sioux peoples. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minneso ...
tourism and has appeared in promotional videos for the state over the past decade. In 2022, Duhamel was paid $75,000 to become the face of the State’s Tourism Campaign for the next two years.
Personal life
Relationships and family
Duhamel met and began dating singer Stacy Ann Ferguson, better known by her stage name Fergie, in September 2004 after Ferguson appeared on Duhamel's show ''Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
'' with her then-band The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American musical group formed in Los Angeles in 1995, composed of rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo (rapper), Taboo. Fergie (singer), Fergie was a member during the height of their popularity in the 2000s, and ...
. The couple wed on January 10, 2009, in a Catholic ceremony at the Church Estate Vineyards in Malibu, California
Malibu ( ; ; ) is a beach city in the Santa Monica Mountains region of Los Angeles County, California, about west of downtown Los Angeles. It is known for its Mediterranean climate, its strip of beaches stretching along the Pacific Ocean coa ...
. They have a son born in August 2013. On September 14, 2017, the couple announced that they had separated earlier in the year. On June 1, 2019, the couple filed for divorce after two years of separation. As of late-November 2019, their divorce was finalized.
In late 2018, Duhamel began dating former Miss World America Audra Mari. On January 8, 2022, Duhamel announced his engagement to Mari. They married on September 10, 2022. In September 2023, it was announced that the couple were expecting their first child together. Their son was born in January 2024. In a 2023 interview, Duhamel said: "That's why Audra's so great for me. We're both hardcore North Dakotans. We both love lake life."
Interests and politics
Duhamel is a practicing Catholic and attends church regularly.
On April 8, 2016, Duhamel posted a selfie in which he wore a T-shirt bearing the name of Doug Burgum
Douglas James Burgum ( ; born August 1, 1956) is an American businessman and politician who has served as the 55th United States Secretary of the Interior, United States secretary of the interior since February 1, 2025, under President Donald Tru ...
, then a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor of North Dakota
The governor of North Dakota is the head of government of North Dakota and serves as the commander-in-chief of the state's North Dakota National Guard, military forces.
The Constitution of North Dakota specifies that "the executive power is ves ...
in the 2016 election. On June 28, 2023, Duhamel endorsed Burgum, then governor of North Dakota, in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primary
Presidential primaries and caucuses of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party took place within all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and five U.S. territories between January 15, 2024, and June 4, 2024. These elections select ...
. In an Instagram story, Duhamel wrote, "I don't normally get involved in politics, but Governor Burgum has become a good friend over the years and I can't think of anyone better than him to be our president."
Residence
Duhamel owns two cabins in Minnesota
Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...
. In October 2023, in an interview on '' In Depth with Graham Bensinger,'' Duhamel said: "And the older I got, the more I wanted to come back here o North Dakota" He described his lake house as a place where he "can get back to being who I really am."
In the media
In 2012, Duhamel was inducted into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame, a signature event of Norsk Høstfest. On May 19, 2022, Minot State University named their Summer Theatre stage the "Josh Duhamel Stage" in his honor.
Filmography
Film
Television
Video games
References
External links
*
*
*
10 North Main
Duhamel's restaurant
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duhamel, Josh
Fergie (singer)
1972 births
Living people
Male actors from North Dakota
People from Minot, North Dakota
People from Ward County, North Dakota
Minot State University alumni
Male models from North Dakota
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
American male film actors
American male soap opera actors
American male television actors
American male voice actors
Daytime Emmy Award winners
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series winners
American restaurateurs
American Roman Catholics
Minot State Beavers football players
People from Brentwood, Los Angeles
20th-century Roman Catholics
21st-century Roman Catholics
Catholics from North Dakota
Minot High School alumni