Let's make this birthday one to remember.

50 years old (Born on February 17, 1974)

American actor; He is famous from Stand By Me, Sliders, Crossing Jordan.

Announced his engagement to actress Rebecca Romijn (September 2005). Worked with River Phoenix in Stand by Me (1986), and Sean Patrick Flanery in Body Shots (1999). Both Phoenix and Flannery have played the young Indiana Jones. Attended New York University. Graduated from in May 1995 with a degree in Film and Television. Two of the TV shows he has been in, "Sliders" (1995) and "Crossing Jordan" (2001), both have had episodes named "O, Brother, Where art Thou." While practicing his lines for Stand by Me (1986), was completely impressed that, as an 11-year-old, he was being allowed to swear.

Married girlfriend of 2 1/2 years, Rebecca Romijn, in a surprise backyard ceremony. The couple exchanged vows in front of 100 family and friends that thought that they had been invited to a barbecue.

Was number 70 on vh1's "100 Greatest Kid Stars" (2005) (mini)

Dated Debra Pelletier.

While at NYU, he was a Resident Assistant.

Brother of actor/model Charlie O'Connell.

Still hates talking about Stand by Me (1986) because he was overweight at the time.

Dated Sarah Michelle Gellar. [1998-1999]

While attending NYU, he was saber captain of the varsity fencing team. He was ranked as high as #17 in the country.

During his junior year at NYU film school (for screenwriting), Jerry went to Los Angeles, California, and decided to try out for two TV pilots: "Sliders" (1995) and a new Fox show called "Party of Five" (1994). He spent a single day in L.A. and landed the Bailey role in "Party of Five" (1994), but before he could get back to New York, the studio's first choice for "Sliders" (1995) backed out. Stuck a day before shooting without a lead, they begged Jerry to fill in. The rest is teen-idol history.

Signed by an agent at age 10 and was discovered gobbling up cookies in a Duncan Hines commercial.

He attended the Professional Children's School in New York City. His classmates included Tara Reid, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Macaulay Culkin, and Ben Taylor.

Played the "heartbreaker" in Mariah Carey's "Heartbreaker" video. The single went on to become Mariah's 14th #1 hit.

Father was an art director and mother was an art teacher.

He realy loves australia and wanted to work on the tv show water rats when he was here once but never did.