Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Jennifer Garner
Discover the career path of Jennifer Garner, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Jennifer Garner is an American actress born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Charleston, West Virginia. She studied theater at Denison University and started her acting career as an understudy in New York City. She gained recognition for her starring role in the Fox teen drama series *Time of Your Life* (1999–2000) and supporting roles in films such as *Pearl Harbor* (2001) and *Catch Me If You Can* (2002).
1992: Summer Stock at Timber Lake Playhouse
In 1992, Jennifer Garner worked at the Timber Lake Playhouse in Mount Carroll, Illinois during college summer.
1993: Summer Stock at Barn Theatre
In 1993, Jennifer Garner worked at the Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan during college summer.
1994: Summer Stock at Georgia Shakespeare Festival
In 1994, Jennifer Garner worked at the Georgia Shakespeare Festival in Atlanta, Georgia during college summer.
1995: Moved to New York City
In 1995, Jennifer Garner moved to New York City and began working as an understudy and made her first on-screen appearance in Zoya.
1996: Roles in Harvest of Fire and Dead Man's Walk
In 1996, Jennifer Garner played an Amish woman in the television movie Harvest of Fire and a shopkeeper in the Western miniseries Dead Man's Walk.
1997: First Leading Role in Rose Hill
In 1997, Jennifer Garner moved to Los Angeles, gained her first leading role in the television film Rose Hill, and made her first feature film appearance in Washington Square.
1998: Appearance in Fantasy Island and Significant Others
In 1998, Jennifer Garner appeared in an episode of Fantasy Island and was cast in Significant Others, which was canceled after three episodes.
1999: Time of Your Life Starring Role
In 1999, Jennifer Garner secured a starring role on the Fox teen drama series Time of Your Life.
1999: Cast in Time of Your Life
In 1999, Jennifer Garner was cast as a series regular in the Fox drama series Time of Your Life, but it was canceled midway through the first season. She also appeared in Aftershock: Earthquake in New York and The Pretender.
2000: Time of Your Life Continued
In 2000, Jennifer Garner continued her starring role in the Fox teen drama series Time of Your Life.
2000: Appearance in Dude, Where's My Car?
In 2000, Jennifer Garner played the girlfriend of Ashton Kutcher's character in the comedy Dude, Where's My Car?
2001: Role in Pearl Harbor and Casting in Alias
In 2001, Jennifer Garner appeared in Stealing Time and had a small role in Pearl Harbor. She was also cast as the star of Alias.
2001: Roles in Pearl Harbor
In 2001, Jennifer Garner had a supporting role in the film Pearl Harbor.
2001: Rising to Fame with Alias
In 2001, Jennifer Garner rose to fame for playing Sydney Bristow in the ABC action thriller series Alias.
2002: Political Advertisement
In 2002, Jennifer Garner filmed a television advertisement for Corey Palumbo, a Democratic candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates.
2002: Role in Catch Me If You Can
In 2002, Jennifer Garner had a supporting role in the film Catch Me If You Can.
2002: Alias Performance
In 2002, Jennifer Garner sang "Since I Fell For You" in an episode of Alias, titled "Rendezvous", to which she wrote her own lyrics.
2003: Role in Daredevil and The Simpsons
In 2003, Jennifer Garner played Elektra in Daredevil, and voiced herself in an episode of The Simpsons.
2003: Saturday Night Live Performance
In 2003, Jennifer Garner sang "My Funny Valentine" when hosting Saturday Night Live.
2004: Leading Role in 13 Going on 30
In 2004, Jennifer Garner played the leading role in the romantic comedy 13 Going on 30, which was widely praised and grossed $96 million worldwide.
2005: Reprising Elektra in Daredevil spin-off
In 2005, Jennifer Garner reprised the character of Elektra in the Daredevil spin-off film Elektra; it was a box office and critical failure.
April 4, 2006: Unexpected Dreams – Songs from the Stars Album Release
On April 4, 2006, Jennifer Garner participated in the compilation album Unexpected Dreams – Songs from the Stars, singing "My Heart Is So Full Of You".
2006: End of Alias
In 2006, Jennifer Garner concluded her role as Sydney Bristow in the ABC action thriller series Alias.
2007: Global Warming Awareness Video
In 2007, Jennifer Garner appeared in a global warming awareness video produced by the Center for American Progress Action Fund.
2007: Return to Work After a Break
In 2007, Jennifer Garner returned to work after a one-year break, starring in Juno and The Kingdom. She was also nursing her baby and was hospitalized on two occasions with heatstroke during filming in Arizona.
2007: Starring in Juno
In 2007, Jennifer Garner starred in Juno, receiving further recognition for her role.
2007: Broadway Debut in Cyrano de Bergerac and Neutrogena Spokesperson
In late 2007, Jennifer Garner played Roxanne in Cyrano de Bergerac on Broadway and became a spokesperson for Neutrogena.
2007: Release of Catch and Release
Jennifer Garner starred in the romantic drama Catch and Release, which was released in 2007 after being filmed in 2005. The film failed to recoup its production budget.
2008: Fundraisers for Barack Obama
In 2008, Jennifer Garner hosted two fundraisers for Barack Obama during the 2008 Democratic Primary.
2008: PBS Airing of Cyrano de Bergerac
In 2008, the play Cyrano de Bergerac, in which Jennifer Garner played Roxanne, was recorded before a live audience and aired on PBS.
2009: Role in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
In 2009, Jennifer Garner appeared in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, portraying the childhood friend of a famous photographer and womanizer.
2009: Save the Children Artist Ambassador
In 2009, Jennifer Garner became an artist ambassador for Save the Children USA, promoting literacy, nutrition, and early education.
2009: Role in The Invention of Lying
In 2009, Jennifer Garner played the love interest in Ricky Gervais's directorial debut, The Invention of Lying.
2010: Valentine's Day Release
In 2010, Jennifer Garner appeared in Garry Marshall's ensemble romantic comedy Valentine's Day.
2011: Supporting Role in Arthur
In 2011, Jennifer Garner had a supporting role as a villainous deranged bride in the comedy Arthur.
2011: Frigidaire Partnership
In 2011, Jennifer Garner partnered with Frigidaire as part of her work with Save the Children.
2012: Roles in The Odd Life of Timothy Green and Butter
In 2012, Jennifer Garner played a mother in The Odd Life of Timothy Green, produced and starred in Butter, appeared in the YouTube short Serena, and became a spokesperson for Luvo.
August 2013: Testimony Before California Assembly Judiciary Committee
In August 2013, Jennifer Garner testified before the California Assembly Judiciary Committee in support of a bill that would protect celebrities' children from harassment by photographers.
September 2013: California Law Protecting Celebrities' Children
In September 2013, a bill Jennifer Garner supported, protecting celebrities' children from harassment, passed in California and is now California law.
2013: Dallas Buyers Club and Max Mara Spokesperson
In 2013, Jennifer Garner reunited with Matthew McConaughey in "Dallas Buyers Club", playing a doctor treating AIDS patients, receiving acclaim and box office success. Also in 2013, she became the first celebrity spokesperson for Max Mara.
2013: Starring in Dallas Buyers Club
In 2013, Jennifer Garner starred in the film Dallas Buyers Club.
2013: Save the Children Gala
In 2013, Jennifer Garner took her eldest daughter Violet to a Save the Children gala in New York.
2014: Advocacy for Paparazzi Restrictions
In 2014, Jennifer Garner and her then-husband Ben Affleck advocated for paparazzi restrictions, including a United Kingdom-style system and the "No Kids" policy.
2014: Donation to Wendy Davis
In 2014, Jennifer Garner donated $25,000 to the campaign of Democratic politician Wendy Davis.
2014: Invest in Us Campaign
In 2014, Jennifer Garner joined the Invest in Us campaign.
2014: Draft Day, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Men, Women & Children, and Capital One spokesperson
In 2014, Jennifer Garner starred in "Draft Day" as a salary cap analyst, co-starred in Disney's "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" as the mother, and played an overprotective mother in "Men, Women & Children." In late 2014, Capital One signed Jennifer Garner as their spokesperson for their Capital One Venture Air Miles credit card.
2014: Starring in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
In 2014, Jennifer Garner starred in the film Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
2014: Save the Children Board of Trustees
Since 2014, Jennifer Garner has served on the board of trustees for Save the Children, advocating for early childhood education.
2015: A Path Appears Documentary
In 2015, Jennifer Garner appeared in A Path Appears, a PBS documentary focusing on rural poverty among children in West Virginia.
2015: Danny Collins
In 2015, Jennifer Garner played a supporting role in "Danny Collins," a drama inspired by Steve Tilston's story, receiving warm reviews.
2016: Fundraiser for Hillary Clinton
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Jennifer Garner hosted a fundraiser in support of Hillary Clinton in Bozeman, Montana, and attended voter registration and phone bank events in support of Clinton in Reno, Nevada.
2016: Miracles from Heaven and Nine Lives
In 2016, Jennifer Garner appeared in the Christian drama "Miracles from Heaven" and the comedy "Nine Lives". She also made an uncredited cameo appearance in "Mother's Day (2016)".
2016: Mother's Day Performance
In 2016, Jennifer Garner sang "Doin' It (All for My Baby)" in the Garry Marshall comedy-drama Mother's Day.
May 2017: Wakefield Premiere
In May 2017, Jennifer Garner appeared in the drama Wakefield, which premiered at TIFF and was released in May.
August 2018: Hollywood Walk of Fame and Camping
In August 2018, Jennifer Garner was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Also in August of 2018, she had a leading role in the HBO comedy series Camping.
2018: Co-founding Once Upon a Farm
In 2018, Jennifer Garner co-founded the organic, fresh baby food company Once Upon a Farm and became its chief brand officer.
2018: Love, Simon, Llama Llama, and Peppermint
In 2018, Jennifer Garner co-starred in "Love, Simon", voiced Mama Llama for Netflix's "Llama Llama", and starred in "Peppermint."
2018: Starring in Love, Simon and Peppermint
In 2018, Jennifer Garner starred in both Love, Simon and Peppermint.
2019: WIC Eligibility for Once Upon a Farm
In 2019, Once Upon a Farm became the first refrigerated baby food available to WIC-eligible families.
2020: Home Movie: The Princess Bride
In 2020, Jennifer Garner starred in the Quibi comedy miniseries Home Movie: The Princess Bride.
March 2021: Yes Day Release
In March 2021, Jennifer Garner produced and starred in the Netflix family comedy film Yes Day, directed by Miguel Arteta.
2021: Yes Day Performance
In 2021, Jennifer Garner interpreted the Four Tops's 1964 song "Baby I Need Your Loving" in the family comedy Yes Day.
2021: Starring in Yes Day
In 2021, Jennifer Garner starred in the film Yes Day.
2022: The Adam Project and Upload
In 2022, Jennifer Garner starred in "The Adam Project", and made a guest appearance in "Upload" on Amazon Prime Video.
2022: Starring in The Adam Project
In 2022, Jennifer Garner starred in The Adam Project.
November 2023: Family Switch Release
In November 2023, Jennifer Garner starred in the family comedy film Family Switch, which was released on Netflix.
2023: Party Down and The Last Thing He Told Me
In 2023, Jennifer Garner appeared in the revival of Party Down and starred in The Last Thing He Told Me on Apple TV+.
July 26, 2024: Deadpool & Wolverine Release
In 2023, it was revealed that Jennifer Garner would reprise her role as Elektra Natchios in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film Deadpool & Wolverine, which was released on July 26, 2024.
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