Jason Gerhardt

Jason Gerhardt (born April 21, 1974) is an American actor best known for his role as Cadet Cooper Barrett on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital from 2007 to 2008.^[1][2] Born in Austin, Minnesota, Gerhardt graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a degree in accounting.^[1][2] During his time at the university, he directed the UW Gospel Choir and served as the lead singer in a band.^[1] He later transitioned to acting, appearing in the spin-off General Hospital: Night Shift as the same character.^[1] Gerhardt's other television credits include a guest role on NCIS in 2018 and portraying Zack Kilmer in the ABC series Mistresses from 2014 to 2016.^[2][3] He temporarily assumed the role of Eric Brady on Days of Our Lives in 2023.^[3] In film, he played young Frank Shankwitz Sr. in the 2019 biographical drama Wish Man and Jason Hart in the thriller Stressed to Death (2019).^[2] Gerhardt is married to Chalae Gerhardt and has four children.^[2]

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

Jason Gerhardt was born on April 21, 1974, in Austin, Minnesota.^[2] Raised in a Midwestern household in Minnesota, Gerhardt grew up surrounded by close family ties.^[4] He maintains strong connections to the state, where his parents, a sister, and extended relatives including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins reside.^[5] During his high school years, Gerhardt experienced his parents' divorce, a significant family event.^[6]

University years and initial interests

Jason Gerhardt attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he pursued a degree in accounting, reflecting a practical career path influenced by his Midwestern upbringing.^[1][7] During his undergraduate years, Gerhardt balanced rigorous academic coursework in business and finance with extracurricular pursuits that highlighted his emerging artistic inclinations. A key aspect of his university experience involved leadership in musical ensembles, where he served as director of the UW Gospel Choir for two years, fostering a community of performers through gospel music traditions.^[1][8] Additionally, he performed as the lead singer in a campus band for three years, contributing vocals to live performances that showcased his vocal talent and stage presence.^[1][7] These roles allowed Gerhardt to develop performative skills amid his accounting studies, though no specific awards or notable performances from this period are widely documented. While Gerhardt's formal education emphasized quantitative analysis and corporate preparation, his active involvement in choir and band direction revealed a contrasting passion for the arts, particularly music and performance.^[1] This duality became evident post-graduation, as he initially entered the workforce as an accountant at Sprint in the Kansas City area, before redirecting toward acting and music, signing with a talent agency in Kansas City to explore modeling, video projects, and acting classes.^[1][7][9]

Acting career

Breakthrough in soap operas

In late 2006, Gerhardt auditioned for the role of Logan Hayes on the ABC soap opera General Hospital; impressed by his screen test, producers instead crafted the new character of Cadet Cooper Barrett specifically for him, marking his professional debut in daytime television.^[1][10] Gerhardt first appeared as Cooper Barrett on General Hospital on January 26, 2007, portraying a veteran of the Iraq War who arrived in Port Charles amid the Metro Court Hotel hostage crisis orchestrated by Jerry Jacks in February 2007. As one of the masked gunmen—known initially as "Number Three"—Cooper participated in the heist to retrieve a briefcase, but became trapped in a vault with Maxie Jones, forging an unexpected bond that humanized his criminal involvement. With Maxie's assistance, he evaded detection as a hostage-taker, stole a police exam from her father (Police Commissioner Mac Scorpio) to qualify as a cadet with the Port Charles Police Department (PCPD), and transitioned into a legitimate role spying for mobster Sonny Corinthos while navigating his post-war adjustment.^[11][12] Throughout 2007, Cooper's arcs intertwined romance and intrigue; he developed a relationship with Maxie, marked by her help in covering his past and their reconciliation after conflicts, including her health scares tied to the hostage aftermath. By early 2008, amid the Text Message Killer mystery, Cooper was found hanged in the PCPD locker room on January 25, 2008, in what appeared to be suicide but fueled suspicions of his involvement in the killings—later disproven as Diego Alcazar's doing—providing a dramatic exit that underscored themes of redemption and hidden trauma. Gerhardt's portrayal emphasized Cooper's vulnerability as a soldier-turned-criminal-turned-cadet, contributing to the show's exploration of war veterans in soap narratives.^[11][12] Gerhardt reprised Cooper in the General Hospital spinoff Night Shift, which premiered on SOAPnet in July 2007 and focused on the hospital's overnight staff; in the series, Cooper supported Maxie during her recovery from complications like a staph infection stemming from their encounters, while their romance evolved amid chaotic night-shift emergencies, including compromising situations and patient crises that tested their bond. This appearance extended Cooper's arc into hospital-based drama, blending his personal growth with procedural elements unique to the prime-time format.^[13][14] The role of Cooper Barrett served as Gerhardt's breakthrough in soap operas, securing him a year-long contract with General Hospital and elevating his profile within the genre, where he gained recognition for bringing depth to a multifaceted anti-hero. Though the character received no award nominations, Gerhardt later reflected that the experience honed his skills and opened doors in daytime television. Fan discussions often highlighted Cooper's chemistry with Maxie and potential ties to legacy figures like Brenda Barrett, contributing to his memorable, if short-lived, impact on the Port Charles canvas.^[15][16]

Transition to film and television

Following his established foundation in soap operas, Jason Gerhardt began expanding his portfolio into independent films and episodic television in the mid-2010s, seeking diverse roles that allowed for deeper character exploration beyond the rapid pacing of daytime drama. This shift marked a deliberate evolution in his career, emphasizing standalone projects that highlighted his versatility in dramatic and thriller genres.^[17] A pivotal role came in the 2019 biographical drama Wish Man, directed and written by Theo Davies, which chronicles the life of Frank Shankwitz, the founder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Produced by 333 Films, El Ride Productions, and Fresh Cats Productions, the film depicts Shankwitz's transformation from a troubled Arizona state trooper into a philanthropist inspired by granting the wish of a terminally ill boy who aspired to be a police officer. Gerhardt portrayed Young Frank Shankwitz Sr., capturing the character's early struggles with personal loss and redemption in a performance that contributed to the film's emotional core. Critics praised the movie's inspirational tone, with The Hollywood Reporter noting its "affecting" qualities despite some narrative detours, while The Los Angeles Times highlighted its "inherent emotional power" and ability to engage audiences through heartfelt storytelling. The film holds an 88% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, underscoring its resonance as a true-story adaptation.^[18][19][20] Gerhardt also appeared as Jason Hart in the 2019 thriller Stressed to Death, portraying the husband of a former Navy corpsman targeted in a revenge plot.^[21] Gerhardt's venture into horror-thriller territory arrived with Beyond the Darkness (2018), directed by Danny Carrales and produced under DRC Films. In this supernatural thriller, Gerhardt took the lead role of Jonah Thomas, a U.S. senator who, after surviving a terrorist explosion, becomes ensnared in a metaphysical battle between angels and demons in one realm, paralleled by real-world conflicts involving FBI agents and extremists. His portrayal of Thomas emphasized themes of faith, survival, and moral resolve, adding intensity to the film's dual-world narrative structure. The project, which explores spiritual warfare through political intrigue, showcased Gerhardt's ability to anchor high-stakes ensemble casts including Donny Boaz and Joe Estevez, contributing to its release as a faith-infused genre piece.^[22][23] Gerhardt also made a notable guest appearance on the long-running procedural NCIS in the episode "Friendly Fire" (Season 16, Episode 8, aired November 20, 2018), playing Marine Colonel Jonah Park, a military officer involved in an investigation linking domestic murders to overseas friendly fire incidents. The role required him to embody disciplined authority amid high-tension interrogations, aligning with the series' focus on naval crimes. This one-off TV stint exemplified his foray into primetime network drama, distinct from the serialized format of soaps.^[24] Transitioning from the structured, high-volume shooting schedules of soap operas—often involving 50-60 pages of dialogue per week—to the more unpredictable demands of film and episodic TV presented logistical hurdles for Gerhardt, including adapting to extended location shoots and efforts to evade typecasting from his daytime roots. These changes allowed for greater preparation time but required flexibility with irregular hours and remote productions, as seen in the on-location elements of Wish Man and Beyond the Darkness.^[15]

Notable recurring roles

Following his breakthrough in soap operas, Jason Gerhardt expanded into recurring supporting roles in procedural dramas and ensemble series, demonstrating versatility in portraying authoritative and relational figures. One of his notable arcs was as Squad Leader Anthony Hurst in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, where he appeared in two episodes across seasons 14 and 15 (2013–2014), contributing to investigations involving bomb threats and forensic challenges as a key member of the bomb squad.^[25] Gerhardt's most extended recurring television role came as Zack Kilmer in the ABC drama Mistresses (2014), a series exploring complex interpersonal dynamics among women. Portrayed as a charming contractor and friend-with-benefits to the character Savi Davis, Kilmer featured prominently in season 2, appearing in eight episodes that highlighted themes of casual relationships and emotional entanglements. This role allowed Gerhardt to showcase a more flirtatious, blue-collar persona, contrasting his earlier military-themed parts.^[26] In 2023, Gerhardt temporarily recast as Eric Brady on the long-running soap Days of Our Lives, stepping in for the regular actor during a storyline involving family conflicts and personal redemption for the priest character. His multi-episode stint, spanning late summer, marked a return to soap territory but in a mature, spiritually conflicted role that evolved from his initial cadet portrayals.^[27] These recurring appearances underscored Gerhardt's ability to integrate into ensemble casts, often collaborating with established leads in fast-paced formats like procedurals, where he provided grounded support in high-stakes narratives.^[28]

Personal life

Marriage and family

Jason Gerhardt has been married to Chalae Gerhardt since the early 2000s.^[29] The couple has four children together.^[2] Their first child, daughter Madysen Shae Gerhardt, was born in 2005.^[30] Their second child, son Hudson Lee Gerhardt, was born on December 7, 2007, weighing 8 pounds, 14 ounces.^[30] The names and birth years of their two younger children are not publicly disclosed, as the family maintains a level of privacy regarding personal details.^[2] In interviews, Gerhardt has described himself as a devoted husband and father, emphasizing the importance of open communication with his wife to support his acting career while prioritizing family security and well-being.^[29] He has noted that fatherhood, particularly with the arrival of his children, deepened his appreciation for family life and influenced his perspective on work-life balance.^[31]

Advocacy and other pursuits

Gerhardt has engaged in charitable activities, particularly supporting humanitarian efforts for children. In 2008, he designated World Vision, a Christian organization focused on aiding children in need worldwide, as his official charity, with proceeds from a General Hospital fan event directed toward the group.^[32] Beyond philanthropy, Gerhardt maintains interests in music stemming from his university years, where he served as director of the University of Wisconsin Gospel Choir and performed as the lead singer in a band.^[1] His family background in singing influenced these pursuits, and in interviews, he has expressed openness to incorporating music into his professional endeavors.^[29][5] Athletically inclined, Gerhardt enjoys playing tennis, football, basketball, and other sports, often integrating physical activities into his routine for personal fitness and recreation.^[4] He also pursues outdoor hobbies such as hiking, which provide opportunities for reflection and enjoyment outside his acting commitments.^[4]