Jensen Ackles’ 10 Best Characters That Aren’t Dean Winchester
Jensen Ackles played Dean Winchester on the hit TV show Supernatural for fifteen seasons, but he’s played many great characters other than Dean. As his career has evolved, Ackles has taken on more mature and complex roles, aging out of the teen heartthrob archetype he embodied as a younger performer. A large part of this is thanks to Supernatural, which changed a great deal over its many seasons and allowed Dean to go through significant character development, showcasing Ackles’ dramatic abilities. Dean was a completely different person from the start of the series to the end.
Though he easily steps into serious work and has strong ties to the action genre, Ackles is a hilarious performer with excellent comedic timing.
While he starred on the show, Ackles had some great Dean quotes on Supernatural and was a fan-favorite character for a reason. Though he easily steps into serious work and has strong ties to the action genre, Ackles is a hilarious performer with excellent comedic timing. Additionally, he consistently has strong chemistry with his costars, which allowed him to step into guest spots on many famous TV shows. He’s predominantly found fame on television, but Ackles has also found success in a few films that have become cult classics for fans of the actor.
Devour (2005)
As Jake Gray
Without Ackles, the film would be much worse, as his performance is central to the story.
It’s a rite of passage for most actors to star in a B-movie horror film, and Ackles’ happened to come out the same year as Supernatural season 1. Devour sees Ackles take on the role of Jake Gray, a typical horror protagonist who discovers his life is connected to a Satanic cult. One of the more interesting aspects of Devour is that the part of the Devil is played by a woman, in an innovative twist on classic Satanic horror movies like Rosemary’s Baby. However, Devour is not remembered fondly and faded to relative obscurity after its negative reception.
Without Ackles, the film would be much worse, as his performance is central to the story. Ultimately, Devour makes Jake and the audience question what was real and what was imagined throughout the plot. However, it’s fun to see Ackles’ roots in horror and thriller material, as much of his work prior to Supernatural fell into the teen drama genre. It’s in Devour that the actor gets to delve into the types of stories that would later make his career.
My Bloody Valentine 3D (2009)
As Tom Hanniger
The remake of the 1981 film My Bloody Valentine generated interest because it utilized 3D technology when it was just becoming popular in cinemas. However, there were other aspects of the film that deserved recognition, as Ackles anchors the movie in his role as Tom. Though My Bloody Valentine doesn’t tread any new territory for the horror genre, it’s not boring and makes good use of its cast, who are all dedicated to leaning into the campy nature of the story.
Interestingly, Ackles chose to take on the role in the middle of filming Supernatural, but it might have been an attempt to distinguish himself as an actor who could embody different characters. Tom is a significantly different character, as he turns out to be the killer in My Bloody Valentine despite being initially positioned as the hero. Overall, the movie is a faithful tribute to the slasher films of the 1980s that served as its predecessors.
Days Of Our Lives (1965–Present)
As Eric Brady
While soap operas are frequently poked fun at in other media for their overly dramatic narratives and over-the-top acting styles, they’re a great training ground for up-and-coming actors.
There are a surprising number of actors who got their start on soap operas, but Ackles is inarguably one of them. He played the young Eric Brady during his tenure on the long-running series Days of Our Lives, and though it wasn’t his first foray into television, it was his breakout role. He garnered strong recognition for his performance and easily captured the hearts of audience members with his charm and emotional vulnerability as Eric.
He was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series several times throughout the seasons. While soap operas are frequently poked fun at in other media for their overly dramatic narratives and over-the-top acting styles, they’re a great training ground for up-and-coming actors. It was a steady job that taught Ackles how to handle a show with many different storylines and consistent episodes. The endurance he gained from shows like Days of Our Lives would come in handy later on when Supernatural was continually renewed.
Smallville (2001–2017)
As Jason Teague
Though Ackles seems like the perfect candidate to portray a hero like Superman, he was passed over to play Clark Kent in favor of Tom Welling, who’s become synonymous with the role. However, Ackles was still part of the series as Jason Teague, a character who was only on the series for a short time but made an impact. Portraying Jason was a good transitional role for Ackles, as it was more serious and high-profile work than Days of Our Lives and Dawson’s Creek, but it didn’t eclipse his biggest role as Dean.
Jason was in a relationship with Lana throughout his time in Smallville, but he’s mostly remembered for being one of the antagonists of season 4. It’s contradictory that Ackles was almost tapped to play Clark and instead became one of the villains fighting against him, but this prepped him well for Supernatural. Diving into stories with more fantastical and outlandish elements was in line with the subject matter on Supernatural. Additionally, Smallville already had plenty of strong performers, and it was important for Ackles to find a vehicle that would center his talents.
Dark Angel (2000–2002)
As Alec, X5-494 & Ben, X5-493
Dark Angel has almost faded completely from memory, but for audiences familiar with the sci-fi TV series created by James Cameron, it will never be forgotten. The show was canceled after season 2, but it made an impression and helped further the careers of Ackles and the series’ protagonist, Jessica Alba. Alba’s character, Max, was frequently compared to other well-known female warriors on television, as she was a fearsome warrior who fought against the corruption of a secret government agency that did human experimentation.
It dealt with themes of governmental corruption, the dangers of technology, and the importance of young people fighting for what they believed in.
Ackles plays the identical twins Ben and later Alec after Ben is killed in season 1. He and Alba worked well together, and in many ways, the show was well ahead of its time. It dealt with themes of governmental corruption, the dangers of technology, and the importance of young people fighting for what they believed in. Unfortunately, the show isn’t brought up as much as comparable series of its time, but it will hopefully get a second wave of popularity if it’s added to a streaming service in the future.
Batman: Under The Red Hood (2010)
As Jason Todd / Red Hood
Ackles briefly pivoted to voice work for Batman: Under the Red Hood in 2010 when he played the titular character, the Red Hood. His deep, gravelly voice added depth and intrigue to his portrayal of the film’s central villain, and it was easy to separate his past work from this character as only his voice was featured. After so many years on Supernatural, it can sometimes be difficult to differentiate Ackles’ Dean from his other characters, but this wasn’t a problem in his animated Batman movie.
Many argue that this performance proves Ackles would be perfect for the DCU and that he should be the next actor to play Batman in a live-action film. The DCU has had problems finding the right actors to bring their comic book characters to life, but turning to a major film franchise like Batman could be a great next move for Ackles’ career. He’s already proved himself capable of handling comic material with Batman: Under the Red Hood and The Boys, so portraying Batman could be a logical next step.
Dawson’s Creek (1998–2003)
As C.J. Braxton
After leaving the soap opera Days of Our Lives, Ackles joined the equally melodramatic Dawson’s Creek but did good work while acting in the teen drama. Dawson’s Creek is best known for its four core characters, Dawson (James Van Der Beek), Pacy (Joshua Jackson), Joey (Katie Holmes), and Jen (Michelle Williams), but it also featured many actors in guest and recurring roles. Some of these performers, like Ackles, would go on to receive great acclaim for their work on other projects, but it’s significant that so many started on Dawson’s Creek.
He eventually left the show when he and Jen broke up following Jen needing to take care of her grandmother, but their relationship is one of the more positive romantic entanglements Jen has on the show.
His character, C.J., is a love interest of Jen’s at college in season 6, but it takes a long time before he reciprocates her feelings. Some of his defining traits include that he’s sober after grappling with alcoholism in high school and cares deeply about helping others through their difficult moments. He eventually left the show when he and Jen broke up following Jen needing to take care of her grandmother, but their relationship is one of the more positive romantic entanglements Jen has on the show.
Ten Inch Hero (2007)
As Priestly
Despite its tongue-in-cheek name and comedic tone, Ten Inch Hero has some surprisingly strong emotional beats, and Ackles is capable of delivering them. Though he isn’t the protagonist of the film, his character, Priestly, is part of the secondary couple, and his love story is just as compelling. For most of the film, Priestly’s styling is over-the-top, but it doesn’t distract from Ackles’ performance, and he’s able to work with his character’s quirks instead of against them.
In many of his roles, Ackles is cast as the handsome and charming leading man, which doesn’t allow him to delve into his sense of humor. This archetypal characterization isn’t used in Ten Inch Hero, as though being a secondary lead doesn’t provide him with as much screen time, the moments he is front and center are all the more fun. Also starring great actors like Clea DuVall, Ten Inch Hero is an unexpected addition to the rom-com genre that tackles important subjects.
Tracker (2024–Present)
As Russell Shaw
The protagonist of Tracker, Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley), has unique skills and abilities that qualify him to find missing people and things for the highest bidder. Despite living on the fringes of society as a lone wolf, Colter has a strong moral code. These morals are put on display when he interacts with his older brother Russell, who is played by Ackles. Ackles slips right into the role of brother, as it’s one he inhabited for so long on Supernatural. Though Tracker is a formulaic show, it still captures the audience’s interest with its character dynamics.
As Russell, Ackles is a great part of the show and is believable as a foil to Colter. Any episode that features Ackles is bound to be a good one because it centers on Colter’s past and reveals more about who he was before the audience met him. Context like this is vital for the audience, and using Russell to deliver this backstory and exposition is a great way to provide information without it feeling forced. In both flashbacks and the present, Ackles distinguishes himself as an instrumental part of Tracker.
The Boys (2019–Present)
As Soldier Boy
His character, Soldier Boy, was introduced in The Boys season 3 and was initially positioned as an ally to the central group who potentially had enough power to kill Homelander.
It’s unsurprising that Eric Kripke, the creator of Supernatural, would find a role for Ackles in his latest hit series, The Boys. His character, Soldier Boy, was introduced in The Boys season 3 and was initially positioned as an ally to the central group who potentially had enough power to kill Homelander. After being imprisoned and in a coma-like state since the Cold War, Soldier Boy grappled with the violence of his past and the torture he faced for many years. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for him to turn on the very people who freed him.
It was interesting to see Jensen Ackles take on a villainous role. He’s become synonymous with heroism because of Supernatural. However, unlike Supernatural, The Boys pushes the line of the character’s moral ambiguity even further. The series incorporates high-budget action sequences alongside violent visual effects. A hallmark of The Boys is this gratuitous violence. Despite this, there are funny and poignant character moments throughout the show, and Soldier Boy provides quite a few of them.
