There are a few key figures from the early 2000s that young millennials grew up and fell in love with. And one of those celebrities is Jeremy Sumpter.
When you say the name 'Jeremy Sumpter' not everyone will have a mental image immediately come to mind. But if you were to say the teenage boy from the Peter Pan movie - it clicks.
Born in 1989, Sumpter was raised in California and Kentucky, and from a young age he became a successful child model.
But Sumpter reportedly dreamed of getting into the entertainment industry - so his family moved to Los Angeles. By the age of 13, he had already been in a bunch of films including Frailty (2001) starring Matthew McConaughey and Local Boys (2002) starring NCIS leadman Mark Harmon.
Then in 2003, Sumpter received the role of a lifetime - playing Peter Pan in the hit movie of the same name.
Watch the trailer for Peter Pan (2003). Story continues below.
Reflecting on the arduous audition process, Sumpter said his mum had heard about the role and knew her son would be perfect for it.
"[As a child] I would go run around and play in cliffs and stuff with my friends and I was the leader of our pack, and all the mums in the neighbourhood knew us as Peter Pan and the lost boys. So my mum was like this is going to be perfect," he said in a Comic-Con appearance recently.
"I did the audition and I was horrible. I was young and rusty. Months and months go by and the director saw what I did and thought it was good enough for me to come back and meet him."
And during that meeting with the director, a 14-year-old Sumpter thought it would be cool to try and scale the walls of the doorway, climb to the top of the doorframe and then do a backflip from there.
This cheeky spirit managed to convince the director that Sumpter would be great for the part of Peter Pan. And after another audition trial, which this time was successful, Sumpter was told he had received the coveted part.
"In [the director's] eyes, he saw this kid that was cocky, independent, going backflips off the walls and he said 'you're my Peter Pan.' Soon after we were off to Australia to start filming the movie."
Sumpter said he looks back on the whole experience very fondly, noting that being able to learn all the cool trapeze and aerial tricks was his favourite part.
And he also spoke well about working alongside Captain Hook actor Jason Isaacs, arguably most known for his role in Harry Potter as Lucius Malfoy.
For the next few years, Sumpter would continue to act in various movies such as Soul Surfer, You're So Cupid, Into The Storm and Billionaire Ransom.
In terms of relationships, Sumpter did have a relationship for two years with his Peter Pan co-star Rachel Hurd-Wood. He said recently during an interview that the pair had become an item soon after filming, and tried to keep their relationship under wraps.
"Rachel and I fell in love on set. She was my first love; I was her first love. And it is great to know that we will always have that," he said. "That feeling you get in your heart, stomach, the butterflies - young love is the most powerful love there is."
After Hurd-Wood, Sumpter went on to date a few people not in the media sphere. And just recently, he married his long-term girlfriend Elizabeth Treadway.
The now 35-year-old actor married Treadway in October 2022, in an elaborate ceremony in Tennessee.
Speaking to PEOPLE, Sumpter said it was "the best day of my life. I got to marry the love of my life with all of my closest friends and family there to watch. It was absolutely perfect!"
The pair first met at a karaoke bar back a few years prior, and Sumpter said they immediately hit it off.
"Nobody is perfect... I know I'm not, but Elizabeth makes me want to try to be. Cause she is as close to perfect as a woman can get. I am one lucky man."
As for what Sumpter's life looks like now beyond his new marriage, he has continued to act in various films and TV shows. He also has a featured Cameo profile, where fans of his can request personalised videos from him for a fee.
Reflecting on his career, Sumpter said he never dreamed that a "kid living in a small town in Kentucky" could have made it to Hollywood.
"Looking back I never could have imagined what was in store for me. It’s been one hell of a couple of decades and I am so grateful for everyone who helped me and pushed me to never give up on my dream. I've worked with the most talented people there are. Played the most amazing characters. Had the most beautiful leading ladies. Had the best fake mums, dads, sisters and brothers while the whole time having the best real family who never left my side once," he said in an Instagram post.
He also thanked his parents for moving their lives to Los Angeles all those years ago so that his dreams of acting could come true.
"They made a new start for themselves so their son could have his dream come true. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my family. God, I love them. And I know when I have a kids one day... I'll do nothing but what I can to see their dreams come true."
Feature Image: Universal Pictures.
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