Inside Joshua Jackson's life from Lupita Nyong'o romance to Doctor Odyssey role

Nineties heartthrob Joshua Jackson, known for his role as Pacey John Witter in teen drama Dawson's Creek, has remained on millennials' radars for decades and now he has a fresh TV offering.

The 46-year-old father stars in a new Ryan Murphy medical drama that sees him as Max Bankman, an onboard doctor on the luxury cruise ship The Odyssey.

As the head of a small medical team, Bankman leads his team through unusual medical crises, helped by Hamilton's Phillipa Soo (playing a nurse practitioner), Miami Vice star Don Johnson (as the captain of the ship), and Skins' Sean Teale (as another onboard nurse).

Alongside its star-studded cast, Doctor Odyssey, coming to Disney+ on October 24, boasts a stellar guest stars. Viewers will be treated to appearances from pop mogul Shania Twain, soap legend John Stamos and Glee star Chord Overstreet.

Away from the screen, Joshua has stayed in the spotlight over the years for his A-list romances and various TV stints.

Here, we look at the actor's life on and off-screen, including the latest on his dating life, divorce from a well-known British actress and where else you may have seen him.

Joshua Jackson's early life and career

Born in Vancouver to an Irish mother and American father, Joshua sunk his teeth into acting at just 13 years old in the 1991 film Crooked Hearts.

His mother, Fiona, was part of the casting crew on the drama which saw a young Joshua as a younger version of the main character, played by Peter Berg.

Joshua's big break came in 1998, as he assumed the starring role in Dawson's Creek. He then went on to appear in various films and TV shows including Cruel Intentions, Ocean's Eleven and The Simpsons.

Is Joshua Jackson married?

Joshua was married to actress Jodie Turner-Smith (Queen & Slim) between 2019 and 2023. The pair met at a Hollywood birthday party in October 2018 and married in August 2019, reportedly before people even knew they were dating.

Joshua later revealed that Jodie proposed to him on New Year's Eve in Nicaragua. Speaking on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, he said: "She asked me, yeah, on New Year's Eve."

"We were in Nicaragua. It was very beautiful and incredibly romantic. We were walking down the beach and she asked me to marry her." When asked if he expected the proposal, he replied: "I didn't know. But she was quite adamant. And, she was right."

The couple went on to have a public relationship, often gushing about one another and sharing moments from their lives on social media. In 2020, they welcomed a daughter named Juno.

Jodie filed for divorce in October 2023, writing September 13 as the date of their separation. The pair share joint custody of their daughter.

Lupita Nyong'o romance

Joshua dated Oscar-winning actress, Lupita Nyong'o between 2023 and 2024. In December 2023 sources close to the couple confirmed to The Daily Mail that they were dating.

Following the news, the pair were spotted holding hands on several occasions, further confirming their romance. But in October 2024, Lupita hinted at the couple's breakup in a Harper's Bazaar interview. She shared: “My love for my cat is singular. If I'm ever so lucky to be in a romantic relationship again, it'll be because of him.”

She added: “I was ready to shut that door and lock it and bolt it. He has ensured that my heart remains open.”

What has Joshua Jackson been in?

Joshua joined Reese Witherspoon in the 2020 Hulu limited series, Little Fires Everywhere. Fans were thrilled to see the star in a main character role after several TV guest appearances. He subsequently went viral for a scene in the drama where he wore white boxers, proving he still had heartthrob status decades after his debut.

Speaking on the morning show Live with Kelly and Ryan, he addressed the wave of excited fans: “Who knew that all these years what was missing from my career was parading around in my tighty-whities.” He jokingly added: “I’m in my 40s now. I enjoy getting objectified.”

He also starred in Peacock's anthology series Dr Death and Paramount+ thriller Fatal Attraction.

Doctor Odyssey will be available to stream on Disney+ from October 24