Jared Padalecki joined the cast of Supernatural when he was 23 years old. The fantasy horror series ran for 15 seasons, and, by the end of the show, Padalecki was 38.
Both Padalecki and Ackles, who played Sam and Dean Winchester, respectively, were young when the show started. The show’s loyal fandom kept it on the air for so long, while the stars grew up, got married, and started their own families. During the MEGACON Orlando, Jared Padalecki highlighted the importance and sacrifices he’s made for Supernatural, per CBR, who was at the convention.
Padalecki: “I think 20 years ago today, we were shooting the pilot. There were a lot of sacrifices. There’s been a lot of sh*t. But in hindsight, I’m so grateful to the [fans] because I was public with what I was going through and you were all supportive.”
— CBR (@CBR) February 9, 2025
The Supernatural actors who attended the convention beside Padalecki were Mark Sheppard (Crowley), Ruth Connell (Rowena), Jim Beaver (Bobby Singer), Alexander Calvert (Jack Kline), DJ Qualls (Garth Fitzgerald), Samantha Smith (Mary Winchester), and Genevieve Padalecki (Ruby).
One of the questions was how the show changed the actor’s lives. Padalecki acknowledged the hardships and the good things. “I think 20 years ago today, we were shooting the pilot,” he recalled. “There were a lot of sacrifices. There’s been a lot of sh*t.”
The actor added, “But in hindsight, I’m so grateful to the [fans] because I was public with what I was going through and you were all supportive.” Padalecki has been very open about his journey with depression and started the “Always Keep Fighting” campaign to donate to different non-profit organizations that help people struggling with depression.
Supernatural Did Become a Family Business
One of the most popular lines of Supernatural is “saving people, hunting things, the family business.” The quote was in the intro recap for the first couple of seasons, and it remained a staple of the show. However, as this was an ongoing line in the series, it ended up being true, with the actors becoming very close.
Padalecki also met his wife, Genevieve Padalecki (former Cortese) during the series, where she had a recurring role as the second Ruby, after Katie Cassidy’s short-lived take on the role. The two met in 2008, and started dating soon after. They got married in 2009 and share three children. Unsurprisingly, the Padaleckis aren’t the only couple on the show, proving another Supernatural quote, that family don’t end in blood.
During the same convention, Qualls highlighted, “This job changed my life the most. My partner is from the show.” He got engaged to fellow Supernatural star Ty Olsson, who played the vampire Benny, after meeting at a convention for the series, since they never shared any scenes together. The two were friends at the beginning and revealed their relationship in 2024.
Connell also highlighted, “I went from being a terrible mother on the show to being an actual mother because of the show.” Connell played Rowena, Crowley’s mother, is dating Rob Benedict, who played Chuck/ God. The two welcomed a daughter together in 2024. Thanks to the show, Mark Sheppard also met his wife, Sarah Louise Fudge. Although she was not part of the cast and crew, they met at a convention and fell in love.
Jensen Ackles also brought his real life, Danneel Ackles (former Harris) to the show, and she played Sister Jo/ Anael. The two married in 2010, while Ackles was on the show. He also introduced Supernatural co-star Jeffrey Dean Morgan to Harris’ One Tree Hill’s co-star Hilarie Burton, and they have been together since 2009.
Source: cbr.com