Happy 70th Birthday, Jeff Daniels! See the Emmy-Winning Actor's Life in Photos

Mar. 15, 2025

Jeff Daniels attends the 70th annual Emmy Awards in September 2018.Photo:David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty

David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty

Jeff Danielscan do it all — screen and stage, comedy and drama.

Even with his career success, Daniels has been open about how family comes first. He currently lives in his hometown Chelsea, Michigan, with his wife of 45 years,Kathleen Treado. They have three adult children together: Ben, Lucas and Nellie.

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Jeff Daniels' Childhood

Jeff Daniels in 1986.Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Jeffrey Warren Daniels was born to Marjorie and Robert Lee Daniels on Feb. 19, 1955, in Athens, Georgia, but spent most of his childhood in Chelsea, Michigan.

02of 08Jeff Daniels' Marriage to Kathleen TreadoJeff Daniels and Kathleen Treado with their kids in November 1996.Evan Agostini/LiaisonIn 1979, Daniels wed his high school sweetheart Kathleen Treado. The couple had three children, born in 1984, 1987 and 1990. Seven years into their marriage, Daniels and Treado left New York City and Hollywood to raise their family in their hometown.“It was a very dramatic move in 1986 to move to Michigan, but that was to keep the family number one. And that worked,” Danielstold PEOPLE in 2019.

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Jeff Daniels' Marriage to Kathleen Treado

Jeff Daniels and Kathleen Treado with their kids in November 1996.Evan Agostini/Liaison

Evan Agostini/Liaison

In 1979, Daniels wed his high school sweetheart Kathleen Treado. The couple had three children, born in 1984, 1987 and 1990. Seven years into their marriage, Daniels and Treado left New York City and Hollywood to raise their family in their hometown.

“It was a very dramatic move in 1986 to move to Michigan, but that was to keep the family number one. And that worked,” Danielstold PEOPLE in 2019.

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‘Terms of Endearment’

He starred in the Best Picture-winning filmTerms of Endearmentin 1983 alongsideDebra Winger,Shirley MacLaine,Jack Nicholson,Danny DeVitoandJohn Lithgow. His portrayal of young college professor Flap Horton, who marries Winger’s Emma Greenway at the beginning of the movie, vaulted him into stardom.

04of 08’The Purple Rose of Cairo’Mia Farrow and Jeff Daniels in ‘The Purple Rose of Cairo’.Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via GettyHis leading man status came in 1985 withWoody Allen’sPurple Rose of Cairo, where Daniels starred oppositeMia FarrowandDaniel Aiello. Daniels played two roles in the fantasy rom-com: film character Tom Baxter, who steps out of the screen to be with Farrow’s Cecilia, and Baxter’s actor Gil Shepherd. For his performance, he earned his first Golden Globe nomination for best actor — motion picture musical or comedy.

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‘The Purple Rose of Cairo’

Mia Farrow and Jeff Daniels in ‘The Purple Rose of Cairo’.Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty

Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty

His leading man status came in 1985 withWoody Allen’sPurple Rose of Cairo, where Daniels starred oppositeMia FarrowandDaniel Aiello. Daniels played two roles in the fantasy rom-com: film character Tom Baxter, who steps out of the screen to be with Farrow’s Cecilia, and Baxter’s actor Gil Shepherd. For his performance, he earned his first Golden Globe nomination for best actor — motion picture musical or comedy.

05of 08’Dumb and Dumber’Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels in ‘Dumb and Dumber’.Mark Fellman/New Line/Kobal/ShutterstockPrimarily known as a dramatic actor, Daniels displayed his comedic chops in the 1994 hit filmDumb and DumberwithJim Carrey, and the movie’s commercial success established his versatile emotional range. However, his agents initially weren’t too excited about the role.“It was a rare time when I didn’t take their advice,” the101 Dalmationsstartold PEOPLE in 2019. “But their position was, ‘We are trying to turn you into a serious, dramatic actor. You can do a comedy, but you can’t do a dumb comedy that’s aimed at 12-year-old boys with the guy who just did Ace Ventura.’ ”

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‘Dumb and Dumber’

Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels in ‘Dumb and Dumber’.Mark Fellman/New Line/Kobal/Shutterstock

Mark Fellman/New Line/Kobal/Shutterstock

Primarily known as a dramatic actor, Daniels displayed his comedic chops in the 1994 hit filmDumb and DumberwithJim Carrey, and the movie’s commercial success established his versatile emotional range. However, his agents initially weren’t too excited about the role.

“It was a rare time when I didn’t take their advice,” the101 Dalmationsstartold PEOPLE in 2019. “But their position was, ‘We are trying to turn you into a serious, dramatic actor. You can do a comedy, but you can’t do a dumb comedy that’s aimed at 12-year-old boys with the guy who just did Ace Ventura.’ ”

06of 08Return to BroadwayJeff Daniels as Atticus Finch in December 2018.Slaven Vlasic/GettyHe remained active in the theater community throughout his career, founding a non-profit theater in Chelsea called the Purple Rose Theatre Company in 1991. He returned to Broadway in 1993 for the first time since leaving New York City withRedwood Curtain.Daniels wouldn’t return to Broadway for another 16 years when he starred in the Tony-winning playGod of Carnage. He also costarred withMichelle Williamsin the two-person playBlackbirdon Broadway in 2016, and from 2018 to 2021, he led the theater adaptation ofTo Kill a Mockingbirdas Atticus Finch.

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Return to Broadway

Jeff Daniels as Atticus Finch in December 2018.Slaven Vlasic/Getty

Slaven Vlasic/Getty

He remained active in the theater community throughout his career, founding a non-profit theater in Chelsea called the Purple Rose Theatre Company in 1991. He returned to Broadway in 1993 for the first time since leaving New York City withRedwood Curtain.

Daniels wouldn’t return to Broadway for another 16 years when he starred in the Tony-winning playGod of Carnage. He also costarred withMichelle Williamsin the two-person playBlackbirdon Broadway in 2016, and from 2018 to 2021, he led the theater adaptation ofTo Kill a Mockingbirdas Atticus Finch.

07of 08Jeff Daniels Wins an Emmy for ‘The Newsroom’Jeff Daniels at the Emmy Awards in September 2013.Kevork Djansezian/GettyThe actor had a career resurgence with his acclaimed portrayal of news anchor Will McAvoy inAaron Sorkin’s HBO seriesThe Newsroom. Most notably,his monologuein the show’s pilot about why America isn’t the greatest country in the world has garnered millions of views.“I usually don’t win anything,” he joked in hisacceptance speechwhen he won an Emmy for lead actor in a drama.After thanking his wife and the network, Daniels concluded, “The great American playwright Lanford Wilson said, ‘Whatever you do with your career, make it matter, make it count.’ Aaron Sorkin makes it matter and makes it count.”He won a second Emmy in 2018 for his performance as outlaw Frank Griffin in Netflix’sGodless.

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Jeff Daniels Wins an Emmy for ‘The Newsroom’

Jeff Daniels at the Emmy Awards in September 2013.Kevork Djansezian/Getty

Kevork Djansezian/Getty

The actor had a career resurgence with his acclaimed portrayal of news anchor Will McAvoy inAaron Sorkin’s HBO seriesThe Newsroom. Most notably,his monologuein the show’s pilot about why America isn’t the greatest country in the world has garnered millions of views.

“I usually don’t win anything,” he joked in hisacceptance speechwhen he won an Emmy for lead actor in a drama.

After thanking his wife and the network, Daniels concluded, “The great American playwright Lanford Wilson said, ‘Whatever you do with your career, make it matter, make it count.’ Aaron Sorkin makes it matter and makes it count.”

He won a second Emmy in 2018 for his performance as outlaw Frank Griffin in Netflix’sGodless.

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Jeff Daniels’ Life Now

Jeff Daniels on ‘The Tonight Show’ in January 2025.Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty

Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty

Daniels and Treado remain in the Midwest, and in May 2024, hetold PEOPLEthat he has no regrets about the move.

source: people.com