Jennifer Love Hewitt Biography

Name:Jennifer Love Hewitt

Date of Birth:February 21, 1979

Place of Birth:Waco, Texas, U.S

Jennifer Love Hewitt  is an American actress, producer, television director and former singer-songwriter. Hewitt began her acting career as a child by appearing in television commercials and the Disney Channel series Kids Incorporated. She rose to fame in teenage popular culture in her roles in the Fox series Party of Five as Sarah Reeves Merrin, and films I Know What You Did Last Summer and its sequel as Julie James.

Jennifer Love Hewitt starred on the hit CBS television program Ghost Whisperer as Melinda Gordon, for which she won a Saturn Award in 2007 and 2008 for Best Actress on Television. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her television movie The Client List. Hewitt has served as a producer on some of her film and television projects. As a singer, Hewitt's most successful single on the Billboard Hot 100 is the 1999 release "How Do I Deal", which peaked at No. 59. She has contributed music to the promotion or soundtracks of acting projects.

Early Life

Hewitt was born in Waco, Texas, and is the daughter of Patricia Mae (née Shipp), a speech-language pathologist, and Herbert Daniel Hewitt, a medical technician.Hewitt grew up in Nolanville, Texas. Hewitt received her middle name after her mother promised her college friend (named "Love") that if she had a daughter, she would name her after her. Her older brother, Todd Hewitt, chose the name "Jennifer" as a homage to a crush he had at the time she was born. After the divorce of her parents, Hewitt and her brother were brought up by her mother.

As a young girl, Hewitt was attracted to music, which led to her first encounters with the entertainment industry. At the age of three, she sang "The Greatest Love of All" at a livestock show. Just a year after that, at a restaurant-dance hall, she entertained an audience with her version of "Help Me Make It Through the Night". By the time she was five, Hewitt already had tap dancing and ballet in her portfolio. At nine, she became a member of the Texas Show Team (which also toured in the Soviet Union). At the age of ten, at the suggestion of talent scouts and after gaining the title of "Texas Our Little Miss Talent Winner", she moved to Los Angeles with her mother to pursue a career in both acting and singing.In Los Angeles, Hewitt attended Lincoln High School where her classmates included Jonathan Neville, who became a talent scout and recommended Hewitt for her role in Party of Five.

Career

Acting After moving to Los Angeles, Hewitt appeared in more than twenty television commercials, including some for Mattel toys. Her first break came as a child actor on the Disney Channel variety show Kids Incorporated (1989–1991), where she was credited as "Love Hewitt". She later appeared in the live action video short Dance! Workout with Barbie (1992), released by Buena Vista.

She played Pierce Brosnan's daughter in a pilot for NBC called Running Wilde (1993), which featured Brosnan as a reporter for Auto World magazine whose stories cover his own wild auto adventures. However, the series was not picked up and the pilot never aired. Hewitt later had roles in several short-lived television series, such as Fox's Shaky Ground (1992–1993), ABC's The Byrds of Paradise (1994), and McKenna (1994–1995), and finally became a young star after landing the role of Sarah Reeves Merrin on the popular Fox show Party of Five (1995–1999).She assumed the role of Sarah after joining that show during its second season and continued it on the short-lived Party of Five spin-off, Time of Your Life (1999), which she also co-produced. The show was cancelled after half a season.

Hewitt's first feature film role was in the independent film Munchie (1992).A year later, she achieved her first starring film role in Little Miss Millions (1993). She appeared as a choir member in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993). Hewitt became a film star after a lead role in the horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), which enjoyed great box office success ($125,000,000 USD). Hewitt and her co-stars gained popular exposure from the film. She appeared in the sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998), which, though not as successful as the first film, took in more money on its opening weekend.She starred in the high-school comedy Can't Hardly Wait (1998).

Hewitt starred in The Audrey Hepburn Story (2000). That same year, she was the "most popular actress on television" due to her Q-rating (a measurement of a celebrity's popularity) of 37. Noting her "Q-rating", Nokia chose her to become its spokesperson.

Jennifer Love Hewitt starred alongside Sigourney Weaver in the romantic comedy Heartbreakers (2001). She appeared in The Hunchback of Notre Dame II (2002) as Madellaine, the main protagonist's love interest. Hewitt wrote and performed "I'm Gonna Love You" for the film; the song won "Best Original Song" at the DVD Premiere Awards. She starred alongside Jackie Chan in The Tuxedo (2002), which received negative reviews from critics but was a box office success. Hewitt appeared in If Only (2004) and co-wrote and performed "Love Will Show You Everything" and "Take My Heart Back" for the film's soundtrack. She starred in Garfield (2004), which became her highest-grossing film to date ($200,804,534 USD). She reprised her role for the sequel, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties (2006), which, though not performing as well as its predecessor, achieved a strong box office gross.

Hewitt starred in the television series Ghost Whisperer (2005–2010), which ran on CBS for five seasons before being canceled by the network in May, 2010. She reunited with her I Know What You Did Last Summer co-star, Freddie Prinze Jr., in Delgo (2008). The film was a massive box office bomb ($694,782 USD domestically). After a two-year absence from feature films, Hewitt led the independent drama Café (2010) with her then-boyfriend Jamie Kennedy. She starred in the Lifetime film The Client List (2010), for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. The next year, Hewitt starred in the Hallmark Hall of Fame film The Lost Valentine (2011).

Hewitt will direct the film Wait Till Helen Comes (2012) based on the novel by Mary Downing Hahn. This will be Hewitt's feature film directorial debut (she previously directed three episodes of Ghost Whisperer). She is also set star alongside Ivan Sergei and Joel David Moore in the independent comedy Jewtopia (2012) and will star in the television series The Client List (2012).

Music 

Hewitt in 2002

Hewitt was one of the back-up singers in Martika's number-one single, "Toy Soldiers" (1989).

At the age of 12, Meldac funded the recording of Hewitt's first album, Love Songs (1992). The album was released exclusively in Japan, where Hewitt became a pop star. Her explanation for her success in Japan is that the Japanese "love perky music. The poppier the music, the better."

After she joined the cast of Party of Five, she signed to Atlantic Records, who rushed her second album, Let's Go Bang (1995), out in October.The album and its three singles failed to chart. Juggling her music career with her acting career, she recorded and released her follow-up album, Jennifer Love Hewitt (1996). The album, along with its four singles, failed to chart and Atlantic dropped Hewitt, who did not return to the music scene for three years.

She recorded the single "How Do I Deal" (1999) for the I Still Know What You Did Last Summer soundtrack. The song became Hewitt's first charting single, climbing to No. 59 on the Hot 100 and No. 36 on the Top 40 Mainstream. It reached No. 8 in Australia.Hewitt also recorded a cover of the Gloria Gaynor song "I Will Survive", which features briefly in the film.

She appeared in the LFO video for "Girl on TV" (1999), a song which was written for her by a member of the band. She also appeared in the music video for the Enrique Iglesias song, "Hero" (2001), as the singer's love interest.

In 2002, Hewitt signed to Jive Records and recorded her fourth album with singer, songwriter and producer Meredith Brooks. The first single, "BareNaked" (2002), became her biggest radio hit to date when it peaked at No. 24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, No. 31 on the Adult Top 40 and No. 25 on the Top 40 Mainstream. It climbed to No. 6 in Australia, remaining there for two weeks, and reached No. 33 in the Netherlands.The song later featured in two episodes of Ghost Whisperer: "The Vanishing" (Season 1, episode 20) and "The Collector" (Season 2, episode 20). The moderate success of the single propelled the album to peak at No. 37 on the Billboard 200 and No. 31 in Australia. However, it only remained on the chart for three weeks. The second single, "Can I Go Now" (2003), failed to chart in the US, while managing to peak at No. 8 in the Netherlands and No. 12 in Australia.

Since 2004, Hewitt has remained inactive from the music industry, but the compilation album Cool with You: The Platinum Collection (2006) was released in Asia. Another compilation, Hey Everybody (2007), was released in Brazil. In 2009, reports surfaced that Hewitt was planning on making a country album and was in the process of writing material for it. Jamie Kennedy, Hewitt's boyfriend at the time, said: "I really want to make her a new demo for her music, because I think she should do singing again. She's so good." However, nothing has of yet come of the reports and Hewitt has remained absent from the music scene.

WritingIn November 2009, Hewitt made a foray into comic books. Veteran writer Scott Lobdell scripted the 5-issue anthology, Jennifer Love Hewitt's Music Box (2009–2010), based on Hewitt's ideas. The series has been published by IDW Publishing, and has been compiled in a trade paperback.

Hewitt wrote a book entitled The Day I Shot Cupid (2010), in which she speaks of her experiences with love and dating. During a January 2010 interview on Lopez Tonight, Hewitt said that there was a chapter in the book about "vajazzling" her "vajayjay" (decorating her vulva with Swarovski crystals). Hewitt was attributed with popularizing the trend.The book became a New York Times Bestseller the week of its release. She announced via her Twitter page that she is currently penning a follow-up.

Image and Personal Life 

Hewitt has been lauded as one of the most attractive women in the entertainment industry. She was identified as the "#1 reader choice" on the November 1999 and May 2009 covers of Maxim. TV Guide named her the sexiest woman on television in 2008.

Relationships Hewitt has dated many high-profile celebrities such as Carson Daly, John Mayer and Jamie Kennedy.

Hewitt began a relationship with Scottish actor Ross McCall, whom she met when he made an appearance on Ghost Whisperer in late 2005. After two years of dating, they became engaged in late 2007, while vacationing in Hawaii. Paparazzi photographs taken of Hewitt in a bikini at that time led to harsh criticism of her body by bloggers. Hewitt responded: "I've sat by in silence for a long time now about the way women's bodies are constantly scrutinized....What I should be doing is celebrating some of the best days of my life and my engagement to the man of my dreams, instead of having to deal with photographers taking invasive pictures from bad angles." Several celebrities supported her views. During her engagement, Hewitt reportedly said: "I’m getting ready to turn 30 and get married and all those things. This year was my year to try to glow from within and feel better." People magazine reported that Hewitt called off their engagement in late 2008.

StalkingIn 2002, conspiracy theorist and former social worker Diana Napolis was arrested for stalking and uttering death threats against Hewitt and Steven Spielberg after "verbally confronting" the actress at the 2002 Grammy Awards, and the subsequent day attempting to pose as one of Hewitt's friends to enter the premiere of The Tuxedo. Napolis admitted to becoming involved in a shoving match with Hewitt's mother while confronting the actress. Napolis accused Hewitt, along with director Spielberg, of controlling her thoughts through "cybertronic" technology and being part of a Satanic conspiracy against her. Napolis was charged with six felonies related to the incidents. After a year of involuntary commitment, Napolis pleaded guilty and was released on bail with a condition that she was barred from contact with both Spielberg and Hewitt.

Filmography/Television

1992 Munchie Andrea Kurtz Credited as Love Hewitt 

1993 Little Miss Millions Heather Lofton Credited as Love Hewitt; also known Home for Christmas

1993 Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Margaret Credited as Jennifer "Love" Hewitt 

1996 House Arrest Brooke Figler

1997 Trojan War Leah Jones Also known as Rescue Me

1997 I Know What You Did Last Summer Julie James

1998 Can't Hardly Wait Amanda Beckett

1998 Telling You Deb Freidman Also known as Love Sucks

1998 Zoomates Helen Voice; short film

1998 I Still Know What You Did Last Summer Julie James

1999 Suburbans, TheThe Suburbans Cate

2000 Audrey Hepburn Story, TheThe Audrey Hepburn Story Audrey Hepburn Television film

2001 Heartbreakers Page Conners

2002 Hunchback of Notre Dame II, TheThe Hunchback of Notre Dame II Madellaine Voice; direct-to-video film

2002 Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina, TheThe Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina Thumbelina Voice; direct-to-video film

2002 Tuxedo, TheThe Tuxedo Del Blaine

2002 Groove Squad Chrissy Voice; direct-to-video film

2004 If Only Samantha Andrews

2004 Garfield: The Movie Liz Wilson

2004 Christmas Carol, AA Christmas Carol Emily Television film

2005 Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber Katya Livingston Television film; also known as The Social Climber

2005 Truth About Love, TheThe Truth About Love Alice Holbrook

2006 Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties Liz Wilson

2007 Shortcut to Happiness The Devil Also known as The Devil and Daniel Webster

2008 Tropic Thunder Herself Cameo appearance

2008 Delgo Princess Kyla Voice role

2009 Magic 7, TheThe Magic 7 Erica Voice; television film

2009 Yes, Virginia Mrs. Laura O'Hanlon Voice role

2010 Café Claire

2010 Client List, TheThe Client List Samantha Horton Television film

2011 Lost Valentine, TheThe Lost Valentine Susan Allison Hallmark Hall of Fame original movie

2012 Jewtopia Alison Marks Post-production

Year(s) Title Role Notes

Television credits as an actress 1990–1991 Kids Incorporated Robin "A New Twist" (Season 7, episode 8)

"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" (Season 7, episode 9)

"Double Trouble" (Season 7, episode 17)

(credited as Love Hewitt)

1992 Dance! Workout with Barbie Herself Video short; credited as Love Hewitt 

1992–1993 Shaky Ground Bernadette Moody 17 episodes

1993 Running Wilde Unknown "Pilot" (Season 1, episode 1); unaired series

1994 Byrds of Paradise, TheThe Byrds of Paradise Franny Byrd 7 episodes

1994–1995 McKenna Cassidy McKenna "Splendor in the McKenna Grass" (Season 1, episode 2)

"The Pony" (Season 1, episode 3)

"Racing in the Streets (Season 1, episode 4)

1995–1999 Party of Five Sarah Reeves Merrin 99 episodes

1998 Boy Meets World Jennifer Love Fefferman "And Then There Was Shawn" (Season 5, episode 17)

1999 Hercules: The Animated Series Medusa Voice; "Hercules and the Gorgon" (Season 2, episode 12)

1999–2000 Time of Your Life Sarah Reeves Merrin 19 episodes

2001 The Weekenders Herself Voice; "My Punky Valentine" (Season 2, episode 17)

2002 Family Guy Herself Voice; "Stuck Together, Torn Apart" (Season 3, episode 19)

2004 American Dreams Nancy Sinatra "The 7–10 Split" (Season 2, episode 10)

"Old Enough to Fight" (Season 2, episode 14)

2004 In The Game Riley Reed Two pilot episodes; unaired series

2005–2010 Ghost Whisperer Melinda Gordon 107 episodes

2010 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Vicki Sayers "Behave" (Season 12, episode 3)

2011 Love Bites Herself "Firsts" (Season 1, episode 1)

2011 Hot in Cleveland Emmy Chase "The Emmy Show" (Season 2, episode 17)

2012 The Client List Samantha Horton Upcoming series

Year(s) Title Role Notes

Credits as a director 2009–2010 Ghost Whisperer Director "Body of Water" (Season 4, episode 13)

"Birthday Presence" (Season 5, episode 1)

"Implosion" (Season 5, episode 15)

Year(s) Title Role Notes

Credits as a producer 1999–2000 Time of Your Life Producer

2000 The Audrey Hepburn Story Co-executive producer Television film

2000 Bunny Producer

2002 One Night Producer

2004 If Only Producer

2005–2010 Ghost Whisperer Producer, executive producer Producer (83 episodes); executive producer (11 episodes)

2010 Client List, TheThe Client List Executive producer Television film

2011 Lost Valentine, TheThe Lost Valentine Executive producer Television film

Discography Studio albumsList of albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures, and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions

Love Songs Released: March 21, 1992

Label: Meldac

Formats: CD

Let's Go Bang Released: October 10, 1995

Label: Atlantic

Formats: CD

Jennifer Love Hewitt Released: September 3, 1996

Label: Atlantic

Formats: CD

BareNaked Released: October 8, 2002

Label: Jive

Formats: CD

 denotes releases that did not chart.

Compilation albumsList of albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures, and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions

Cool with You: The Platinum Collection Released: June 6, 2006

Label: Wea Int'l

Formats: CD

Hey Everybody Released: December 2007

Label: unknown

Formats: CD

denotes releases that did not chart.

SinglesYear Single Chart peak positions Album

1992 "Please Save Us The World" — — — — — — Love Songs

1995 "Let's Go Bang" — — — — — — Let's Go Bang

"Couldn't Find Another Man" — — — — — —

1996 "You Make Me Smile" — — — — — —

"Cool With You" — — — — — — Jennifer Love Hewitt 

"No Ordinary Love" — — — — — —

1997 "(Our Love) Please Don't Throw It All Away" — — — — — —

"I Believe In..." — — — — — —

1999 "How Do I Deal" 59 — 8 5 — — I Still Know What You Did Last Summer Soundtrack

2002 "BareNaked" 124 31 6 26 33 — BareNaked

2003 "Can I Go Now" — — 12 — 8 69

"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

SoundtracksYear Title Track(s)

1996 House Arrest "It's Good To Know I'm Alive"

1997 Trojan War "I Hope I Don't Fall in Love With You"

"I Believe In"

1998 Can't Hardly Wait "How Do I Make You"

1998 I Still Know What You Did Last Summer "How Do I Deal"

"I Will Survive"

2002 The Hunchback of Notre Dame II "I'm Gonna Love You"

2002 Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?"

2004 If Only "Love Will Show You Everything"

"Take My Heart Back"

2004 A Christmas Carol "A Place Called Home (Reprise)"

Music videosYear Title

1992 "Please Save Us The World"

1995 "Couldn't Find Another Man"

1996 "No Ordinary Love"

1999 "How Do I Deal"

2002 "I'm Gonna Love You"

2002 "BareNaked"

2003 "Can I Go Now"

Music video appearancesYear Title Artist(s)

1998 "Can't Get Enough of You, Baby" Smash Mouth

1998 "High" (U.S. version) Feeder

1999 "Girl on TV" LFO

2001 "Hero" Enrique Iglesias

2010 "Christmas Tonight" Dave Barnes

BibliographyCredits as an author:

The Day I Shot Cupid (2010)

Other Credits:

Jennifer Love Hewitt's Music Box (2009–2010) (creator)

Awards and nominationsYear Group Award Result Film/Show

1990 Young Artist Award Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast Nominated Kids Incorporated

1993 Young Artist Award Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Youth Series or Variety Show Nominated Kids Incorporated

1994 Young Artist Award Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Cable or Off Primetime Series Won Kids Incorporated

1996 Young Artist Award Best Professional Actress/Singer Nominated

1997 YoungStar Award Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama TV Series Nominated Party of Five

1998 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Feature Film — Leading Young Actress Nominated I Know What You Did Last Summer

1998 Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Female Newcomer Won I Know What You Did Last Summer

1998 Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Actress — Horror Nominated I Know What You Did Last Summer

1999 MTV Movie Award Best Female Performance Nominated Can't Hardly Wait

1999 Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Actress — Horror Won I Still Know What You Did Last Summer

1999 Teen Choice Award Film — Choice Actress Won I Still Know What You Did Last Summer

1999 Teen Choice Award Film — Most Disgusting Scene Nominated I Still Know What You Did Last Summer

1999 Teen Choice Award TV — Choice Actress Nominated Party of Five

1999 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Feature Film — Leading Young Actress Nominated Can't Hardly Wait

2000 Kid's Choice Award Favorite Television Actress Nominated Party of Five

2000 People's Choice Award Favorite Female Performer in a New Television Series Won Time of Your Life

2001 Teen Choice Award Film - Choice Actress Nominated Heartbreakers

2003 Kids' Choice Award Favorite Female Butt Kicker Won The Tuxedo

2003 Teen Choice Award Choice Crossover Artist (Music/Acting) Nominated

2003 DVD Premiere Award Best Original Song Won The Hunchback of Notre Dame II

2006 Saturn Award Best Actress on Television Won Ghost Whisperer

2006 Kids' Choice Award Favorite Television Actress Nominated Ghost Whisperer

2006 People's Choice Award Favorite Female Television Star Nominated Ghost Whisperer

2007 Saturn Award Best Actress on Television Won Ghost Whisperer

2007 Teen Choice Award Choice: TV Drama Actress Nominated Ghost Whisperer

2007 People's Choice Award Favorite Female Television Star Nominated Ghost Whisperer

2008 People's Choice Award Favorite Female Television Star Nominated Ghost Whisperer

2008 Saturn Award Best Actress on Television Won Ghost Whisperer

2008 TV Land Award Favorite Character from the "Other Side" Nominated Ghost Whisperer

2009 Saturn Award Best Actress on Television Nominated Ghost Whisperer

2010 Saturn Award Best Actress on Television Nominated Ghost Whisperer

2010 People's Choice Award Favorite TV Drama Actress Nominated Ghost Whisperer

2010 Golden Globe Award Best Performance By An Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made For Television Nominated The Client List