Jason O'Mara

Jim Shannon

Jason O’Mara never planned on acting as a profession. Growing up in Ireland, he was an avid rugby player and insists that he “wasn’t the theater type” until he suffered a sports injury and was sidelined for several weeks. While recovering, O’Mara tried out for the school play and won a part. The thrill of opening night sealed his fate, and his former passion for sports transferred to acting. He then attended Trinity College Dublin, where he received his degree in drama.

O’Mara most recently starred as time-traveling detective “Sam Tyler” in the U.S. adaptation of the British drama series “Life on Mars.” His additional television credits include “In Justice,” “The Agency,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Men in Trees” and “The Closer.” He made his U.S. television debut in the role of “Lt. Thomas Meehan” in the critically acclaimed miniseries “Band of Brothers.”

His British television credits include the BAFTA-winning “Playing the Field,” “Berkeley Square” and the hugely popular “Monarch of the Glen.” His film credits include “Resident Evil: Extinction,” and he will next be seen in the feature film comedy “One for the Money” opposite Katherine Heigl.

On the British stage, O’Mara has appeared in “Popcorn” at the Apollo Theatre, “The Jew of Malta” at the Almeida Theatre and “The School for Scandal” with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He went on to appear in the award-winning production of Harold Pinter’s “The Homecoming” with Ian Holm, which played in Dublin, London and at Lincoln Center in New York. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2002 Irish Theatre Awards for his performance in “Bash,” written and directed by Neil LaBute.

Married to actress Paige Turco, O’Mara has a 4-year-old son, David. The family divides their time between New York and Los Angeles, and makes frequent trips to Ireland.

Last modified on Saturday, 10-Sep-2011 11:30:17 CDT.