Justin Baldoni
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Justin Louis Baldoni (born January 24, 1984) is an American actor.
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[edit] Early life
Baldoni was born in Los Angeles, California of half Italian and half Jewish ancestry.[1] He was raised in Medford, Oregon, Baldoni was soccer and track star in high school, as well as a radio disc jockey at a local top 40 radio station. Unfortunately, his hopes of playing professional sports were foiled when he tore his hamstring his senior year. Even with his injury, Baldoni was still given the chance to run for the Long Beach State track team his freshman year at California State University. However, he wasn't able to heal his hamstring in time and Baldoni left Long Beach for Los Angeles. While moving into a new apartment building, Baldoni met a manager who advised him to pursue a career in acting.
[edit] Movie career
Baldoni's breakout role was in the television movie Spring Break Shark Attack, in which he starred as a sexual predator opposite Shannon Lucio (The O.C.). Other television credits include a lead role in the television movie Wedding Daze, opposite John Larroquette, and guest-starring roles on such television programs as JAG and The WB's Charmed. He also had a recurring part on the daytime drama The Young and the Restless. These prior television credits, provided him with the experience and confidence to land his first regular acting job on The WB series, Everwood. He was cast as Reid Bardem, a med student, who caught Amy Abbott's (Emily VanCamp) eye.
Baldoni has appeared in several independent films, including Yesterday's Dreams, A Long Walk Down, and The Helix...Loaded and is currently in pre-production with fellow Everwood cast member Chris Pratt to co-produce and act in two short films. He will be starring in The Tribe.
[edit] Personal life
When he's not working, Baldoni enjoys, running, mountain biking, golfing, playing soccer, and working out at the gym. He is also learning to play the acoustic guitar and plans on taking singing lessons. Justin also enjoys cheering on his favorite football team Notre Dame. After landing the role on Everwood, he moved from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, Utah, where the show is filmed. Off screen, Baldoni leads a quiet life and has declared in interviews that he doesn't drink, take drugs, smoke or engage in premarital sex. The main reason for this are his strong religious values of the Bahá'í Faith.[2]
