Jesse James Keitel Explained

Jesse James Keitel
Birth Place:Manorville, New York
Alma Mater:Pace University
Occupation:Actress, writer, artist
Years Active:2013present
Relatives:Harvey Keitel

Jesse James Keitel is an American actress, writer, and artist,[1] known for starring in Asher Jelinsky's award-winning short film Miller & Son (2019), the ABC crime drama Big Sky (2020) and on Queer as Folk (2022).

Early life

Jesse James Keitel is from Manorville, New York and was involved in local theater as a performer during her childhood. She graduated from Pace University with a BFA in Acting in 2015.[2] After college, she was a drag performer in New York City with the stage name Peroxide.

Career

In 2019, Keitel starred in the world premiere of Martin Moran's play Theo at Two River Theater.[3] She also starred in Miller & Son (2019), which won the BAFTA Student Film Award and gold medal for "Best Narrative" (Domestic) at the 2019 Student Academy Awards.[4] [5] Keitel played the leading role in the 2020 MadRiver Pictures sci-fi series, Forever Alone.[2] Keitel also appeared in Linda Yellen's 2019 Showtime feature film Fluidity, starring Nico Tortorella.[1] In 2022, Keitel debuted the role of Ruthie in Peacock's Queer As Folk.[6]

Keitel has performed in drag under the stage name Peroxide, a member of the House of Femanon.[7] As Peroxide Femanon, she has appeared in Logo TV's Fill In The Blank docuseries and in Sasha Velour's NYFW SS19 collaboration with Opening Ceremony.[8] [9]

Beginning in 2020, Keitel starred as Jerrie Kennedy in the David E. Kelley-created crime thriller Big Sky, which made her one of the first non-binary actors to play a non-binary series regular on primetime television.[10] [11] In 2022, she appeared in an episode of , playing a non-binary villain. In an interview, she said of the role: "I understand that queer people have had a really long and complicated history with TV and film, and they’ve been very mistreated in the media....That being said, I think it’s high time we let queer people be villains, you know?"[12]

Awards and accolades

Keitel was honored in Out magazine's OUT100 in 2018 for her portrayal of queer characters in the Ben Stiller-produced Netflix film Alex Strangelove, as well as playing TV Land's first non-binary character on Younger.[13] [14]

Personal life

In 2020, Keitel was a non-binary actor and used they/them pronouns.[15] [10] As of 2022, she is a trans woman and uses she/her pronouns.[16] [17]

According to NBC News, Keitel is a "distant relative" of Harvey Keitel.[10]

Filmography

Film & Television Roles!Year !Title!Role!Notes
2013Celebrity Ghost StoriesDavidEpisode "Coco/Craig Kilborn/Diana DeGarmo/Tommy Davidson"
2016What Would You Do?Closeted Gay TeenEpisode #11.7
2018Alex StrangeloveSidneyFilm
2018YoungerTamEpisode #505: "Big Little Liza"
2019Miller & SonRyan MillerFilm
2019FluidityKevinFilm
2019Like GlassZionFilm
2020Forever AloneAdrian6 episodes
2020–2022Big SkyJerrie KennedyMain role (2020–2021), special guest star (2021–2022)
2021HerselfSpecial
2022Queer as FolkRuthie O'NeilMain role
2022Dr. Aspen/Captain AngelEpisode: "The Serene Squall"[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Petski. Denise. 2020-03-10. 'The Big Sky': Jesse James Keitel To Co-Star In David E. Kelley's PI Drama Series For ABC. 2020-03-25. Deadline. en.
  2. Web site: 2019-09-16. PaceCast with Marvin Krislov: Episode 8 - Pace University's Podcasts. 2020-03-25. Himalaya. en-US.
  3. Web site: Levitt. Hayley. 2019-02-01. Martin Moran's Theo Announces World-Premiere Cast. 2020-03-25. TheaterMania. en-US.
  4. Web site: 2019-07-10. BAFTA Announces Winners Of The 2019 Student Film Awards. 2020-03-25. BroadwayWorld. en.
  5. Web site: Wheat. Lorraine. 2019-10-20. Rory Kennedy, Gregory Nava Celebrate Films Creating Social Change at 2019 Student Academy Awards. 2020-03-25. Variety. en.
  6. Web site: Brown . Evan Nicole . 2022-06-09 . 'Queer as Folk' Star Jesse James Keitel on Playing a One-Time Party Girl Navigating Adulthood . 2022-06-11 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  7. Web site: Regensdorf. Laura. 2018-09-10. All the Drag Star Makeup Tips From Backstage at Opening Ceremony. 2020-03-25. Vogue. en.
  8. Web site: February 28, 2017. Fill In The Blank: Drag Relationships - Fill In The Blank (Video Clip). 2020-03-25. Logo TV.
  9. Web site: Yotka. Steff. 2018-09-10. Opening Ceremony Spring 2019 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show. 2020-03-25. Vogue. en.
  10. Web site: Nonbinary actor Jesse James Keitel on groundbreaking 'Big Sky' role. Max. Gao. NBC News. December 1, 2020. December 2, 2020.
  11. Web site: ABC Sets Fall Drama Premiere Dates; 'For Life' Replaces Canceled 'Stumptown' On Schedule, 'The Rookie' Pushed. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie. Andreeva. September 17, 2020. September 17, 2020.
  12. Web site: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Jesse James Keitel Explains Why Playing Angel Was 'Refreshing'. Joest. Mick. June 20, 2022. Cinemablend. Future US Inc.. July 1, 2022.
  13. Web site: Besanvalle. James. 2018-06-24. Genderqueer actor Jesse James Keitel is the new star of Younger. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20201112185525/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/genderqueer-actor-jesse-james-keitel-younger/. November 12, 2020. 2020-03-25. Gay Star News. en-GB.
  14. Web site: 2018-11-14. OUT100: 2018. 2020-03-25. Out. en.
  15. 'Queer as Folk' Star Jesse James Keitel on Playing a One-Time Party Girl Navigating Adulthood . Nicole Brown . Evan . June 9, 2022 . . January 27, 2024.
  16. Web site: 'Queer as Folk' Star Jesse James Keitel on Playing Trans Role That's Not Villainized . June 9, 2022 .
  17. Web site: How Strange New Worlds built the next great Star Trek villain . Millman . Zosha . June 18, 2022 . . January 27, 2024.
  18. Web site: 'Queer as Folk' Star Jesse James Keitel to Appear on 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' as Nonbinary Character (EXCLUSIVE) . June 7, 2022 .