Jesse Bradford has spent most of his life working in film and television. American audiences may remember him best as Cliff Pantone in Bring It On. His career, however, started years before that popular 2000 teen comedy.
He was born on May 28, 1979, in Norwalk, Connecticut, and is an American actor. He began appearing on camera as a baby and made his film debut in 1984. His best-known credits include King of the Hill, Hackers, Romeo + Juliet, Bring It On, Clockstoppers, and Swimfan.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
| Full name | Jesse Bradford Watrouse |
| Date of birth | May 28, 1979 |
| Age | 47 as of September 2026 |
| Birthplace | Norwalk, Connecticut, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor |
| Education | Columbia University |
| Notable movies | Bring It On, Hackers, Clockstoppers, Swimfan |
| Wife | Andrea Watrouse |
| Children | One daughter |
| Career start | Child acting and modeling |
These details reflect publicly available biographical information from established entertainment sources. His career has covered more than four decades, including childhood and adult roles. That longevity helps explain why different generations recognize him from different projects.
Who Is Jesse Bradford?
He was born Jesse Bradford Watrouse in Norwalk, Connecticut. His parents, Terry Porter and Curtis Watrouse, also worked as actors. That family connection introduced him to entertainment at an unusually young age.
His first on-camera experience reportedly came in infancy. He appeared in a Q-Tip commercial when he was about eight months old. He later began modeling and auditioning for acting jobs as a child.
His first movie appearance came in Falling in Love (1984). The film starred Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep. Bradford played the son of De Niro’s character, beginning a career that continued into adulthood.
Early Life and Education
Growing up in Connecticut, Bradford managed school while working as a young actor. He attended Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk. His interests there extended beyond performing and included tennis.
He later attended Columbia University in New York City. According to IMDb, he graduated in 2002 with a degree in film. His education gave him formal exposure to filmmaking while his professional acting career was already established.
That combination makes his early career unusual among former child performers. He continued working while finishing school rather than leaving for full-time acting. Readers interested in other media careers can also explore Magazinozo’s profile of journalist and podcast producer Sruthi Pinnamaneni, whose career followed a different route through storytelling and media.
Movies That Defined His Career
Bradford’s childhood filmography included several projects that gave him substantial dramatic work. One important breakthrough was Steven Soderbergh’s King of the Hill in 1993. His performance also earned him recognition as he transitioned from child roles to teenage parts.
He appeared as Joey Pardella in Hackers (1995). The cyber-themed movie featured Jonny Lee Miller and Angelina Jolie. It later developed a cult following beyond its original theatrical release.
The following year brought another recognizable supporting role. Bradford played Balthasar in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. The film starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in its modern interpretation of Shakespeare’s tragedy.
Why Bring It On Remains a Signature Role
For many American viewers, Bring It On remains his most familiar movie. He played Cliff Pantone, the guitar-playing romantic interest of Kirsten Dunst’s Torrance Shipman. The teen comedy arrived in theaters in 2000 and became an enduring part of its era’s pop culture.
Cliff differed from several of the more dramatic characters the actor had played earlier. The role let him bring a relaxed comedic style to a mainstream studio movie. It also introduced him to audiences who had missed his earlier childhood performances.
Interest in the original movie has continued decades after its release. The film marked its 25th anniversary in 2025, prompting renewed attention toward its original cast. Bradford continued acting long after the movie rather than disappearing from the industry.
Clockstoppers, Swimfan, and Adult Leading Roles
The early 2000s gave the actor several leading roles following the success of Bring It On. In 2002, he starred in the science-fiction adventure Clockstoppers. He played Zak Gibbs, a teenager who discovers technology that can change his perception of time.
That same year, he appeared in the psychological thriller Swimfan. The film cast him in a darker story about obsession and dangerous consequences. Together, the two projects demonstrated his ability to work across contrasting genres.
His later film credits included Happy Endings, Flags of Our Fathers, W., and The Year of Spectacular Men. He also continued accepting television roles instead of focusing exclusively on movies. This mix helped him maintain a steady screen career beyond his early years as a leading man.
Television Career and Recent Work
Television became an increasingly important part of Bradford’s career as he moved into adult character roles. His credits have included The West Wing, Outlaw, Guys with Kids, and Sequestered. He later appeared in programs including NCIS, Shooter, and Magnum P.I.
More recent credits show that he remains active as an actor. TV Insider reported appearances in High Potential and The Hunting Party. The latter appearance came in 2025, more than 40 years after his first film role.
His recent work illustrates an important part of his career story. He did not depend on one famous teen role or one period of Hollywood visibility. Instead, he moved between movies, network television, independent projects, and guest appearances.
Wife and Family
Bradford is married to Andrea Watrouse. IMDb lists their marriage as beginning in 2018. Public anniversary posts reported by TV Insider also place their wedding in November 2018.
Andrea has worked as an actress and has interests outside entertainment. TV Insider notes that she has also worked with animals and studied veterinary medicine. The couple generally maintains a lower public profile than many celebrity families.
They welcomed a daughter, Magnolia, commonly called Maggie, on May 29, 2021. Her birthday came one day after her father’s May 28 birthday. The parents have shared family moments while taking steps to protect their daughter’s privacy online.
How Old Is He?
The actor was born on May 28, 1979, making him 47 years old as of September 2026. His age highlights the unusual length of his professional career. He appeared on camera decades before his most famous teen and young-adult roles.
That timeline can surprise viewers who mainly associate him with early-2000s movies. His first film arrived when he was a young child in 1984. By the time Bring It On premiered, he already had extensive professional experience.
What Is His Net Worth?
Celebrity Net Worth estimates his fortune at $3 million. Treat that figure as an outside estimate rather than verified financial information. Actors rarely disclose complete details about assets, contracts, investments, and expenses publicly.
His long list of film and television credits clearly shows a lengthy working career. It does not independently confirm any specific personal wealth figure. Readers interested in how public wealth estimates are constructed around entertainment figures can compare Magazinozo’s Julia Haart net worth and career profile, which examines another public figure’s reported career and finances.
Why His Career Still Draws Interest
Bradford belongs to a relatively small group of performers who started as children and remained professionally active as adults. His filmography spans 1980s family dramas and 1990s cult movies. It then moves through major 2000s studio releases and later television work.
Nostalgia also keeps several of his movies in public discussion. Hackers, Romeo + Juliet, and Bring It On each developed audiences beyond their original releases. Those films give viewers several different entry points into his career.
His professional path also differs from the common image of a former teen star. Rather than relying only on celebrity visibility, he continued taking supporting, recurring, and guest roles. That approach has produced a screen career spanning more than four decades.
A Career That Spans Generations
Bradford’s story stretches well beyond one hit movie. His credits cover childhood dramas, teen favorites, thrillers, comedies, historical films, and network television. That range has allowed different generations of American viewers to discover his work.
For longtime fans, his early performances remain an important part of his career. Newer viewers may encounter him through recent television appearances before discovering those movies. Readers who enjoy profiles of creative figures can also visit Magazinozo’s Toby Fox biography and career overview for another look at an American entertainment creator.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bradford
What is Jesse Bradford best known for?
He is widely recognized for playing Cliff Pantone in Bring It On. He also had prominent roles in Clockstoppers, Swimfan, Hackers, and King of the Hill. His career includes both film and television.
Is he still acting?
Yes, available credits indicate that he has continued working in television. TV Insider reported appearances in High Potential and The Hunting Party—his The Hunting Party appearance aired in 2025.
Who is he married to?
He is married to Andrea Watrouse, and they have been married since2018. The couple has one daughter named Magnolia, or Maggie. She was born in May 2021.
Did he attend college?
Yes, he attended Columbia University in New York. IMDb reports that he graduated in 2002 with a film degree. He had already built a substantial acting résumé before completing college.
Was he a child actor?
Yes, his entertainment career began when he was still a baby. His first feature-film appearance came in Falling in Love (1984). He continued acting throughout childhood before successfully moving into adult roles.
