Jeremiah "Jerry" O'Connell, born on February 17, 1974, in New York, is an American actor, director, and television host. He began his career at a very young age, gaining international fame at just 12 years old for his role as Vern Tessio in the cult film *Stand by Me* (1986). In the 1990s, he solidified his fame as the lead in the science fiction series *Sliders* and appeared in successful films such as *Jerry Maguire* (1996), for which the cast received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, and *Scream 2* (1997). His television career continued with notable roles in series like *Crossing Jordan*, as Detective Woody Hoyt. He has also distinguished himself as a voice actor, voicing Superman in several DC animated films and Commander Jack Ransom in the animated series *Star Trek: Lower Decks*. More recently, he has embarked on a career as a host, becoming one of the co-hosts of the American talk show *The Talk*.