Biography
Who is Emily Deschanel?
Early life
Emily Deschanel was born on October 11, 1976, in Los Angeles, United States. Her parents are cinematographer and director Caleb Deschanel and actress Mary Jo Deschanel. Her sister is actress and singer-songwriter Zooey Deschanel. She attended Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences and Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles. Later, she studied at Boston University College of Fine Arts, graduating in 1998.
During her elementary school years, she attended six different schools in locations such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, the Seychelles, and London. She was raised Roman Catholic before later expressing agnostic and spiritual views. In her youth, she was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia.
Career highlights
In 1994, Emily Deschanel made her feature film debut in the romantic comedy-drama It Could Happen to You. Her father worked on the film as the chief cinematographer. She later appeared in the horror miniseries Rose Red in 2002, followed by roles in Cold Mountain, The Alamo, and Glory Road. In 2004, she played a receptionist in the superhero film Spider-Man 2 directed by Sam Raimi.
Her most well-known television role began in 2005 when she was cast as Dr. Temperance Brennan on the Fox crime procedural series Bones. The show ran for twelve seasons until March 2017. She also served as a producer on the series alongside co-star David Boreanaz. After Bones ended, she starred in the 2022 Netflix miniseries Devil in Ohio.
Activism and personal life
Emily Deschanel is a vegan and a supporter of animal rights causes. She decided to adopt a vegan lifestyle after watching the film Diet for a New America. She joined the board of directors at Farm Sanctuary in September 2014 and has collaborated with organizations like PETA to promote plant-based diets and animal welfare.
On September 25, 2010, she married actor and writer David Hornsby in a private ceremony in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. The couple has two sons together, born in September 2011 and June 2015. In May 2025, she delivered the commencement speech at Boston University and received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree.
Birthday and age
Emily Deschanel was born on October 11, 1976, which makes Emily 50 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Emily shares the date with 31 other famous people.
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