CRASH

Jake McLaughlin  

 
Jake McLaughlin burst onto the scene with his acting debut in Paul Haggis’ war movie In the Valley of Elah, playing Spc. Gordon Bonner, the most remorseful of a group of squad members that threaten and ultimately participate in the death of their former infantry member. Being a former dismount infantry S.A.W. gunner in Iraq in real life, McLaughlin read for the role after hearing that Haggis was auditioning actual vets for several parts.

Born in Paradise, California, McLaughlin worked on a crab boat in Oregon and as a security guard at Universal Studios before joining the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division. He was living in Chico, California, doing concrete work and with $200 in his checking account when he heard about the casting session for In the Valley of Elah.

Since then the athletic six-foot-one actor, now 26, has played a valet-turned-killer on “CSI: Miami,” an Iraqi war vet shot by a civilian contractor on “Leverage”; a rookie cop on “Criminal Minds,” a drinking-contest participant alongside Hayden Panettiere on “Heroes”; and a military academy drill instructor breaking down new cadets on the two-part 2009 season finale of “Cold Case.” He also recently completed Gavin O’Connor’s feature Warrior, slated for fall 2009 release.

McLaughlin was written about in the 2004 novel “Thunder Run,” about the push to Baghdad, Iraq. He currently lives in Los Angeles.

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