JARED PADALECKI

“I did not—thank God—ever have to actually work with her,” says Jared Padalecki of his House Of Wax costar Paris Hilton, thus instantly earning him props. Padalecki has bounced between cities and roles since departing his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, on his 18th birthday. Within weeks of arriving in L.A., he scored a guest spot on Gilmore Girls, where his character, Dean, proved so popular he stayed for five seasons.

A homegrown Spurs fan who recently relocated to Vancouver with his two dogs Harley and Sadie, Padalecki (whose surname is Polish, “or so they tell me”) has been shooting episodes of the soon–to–be smash Supernatural for the WB, wherein he plays a ghost–killing vagabond on a quest to find his missing father. When not playing the male version of Buffy or chasing the Olsens around the globe (the twins handpicked Padalecki as the male lead for New York Minute), the 23–year–old actor is trying to build a reputation as our generation’s Vincent Price.

Next up is the highly anticipated horror flick Cry Wolf, slated for a Halloween release. Directed by first–timer Jeff Wadlow, who won the 2002 Chrysler Million Dollar Film Festival, Wolf is being touted as this year’s Blair Witch Project. It’s also where Padalecki met his costar and current real–life love interest, Sandra McCoy. So why all the creepy career choices? “I always loved horror and stuff like The X–Files,” says Padalecki. “I like to get you scared, get your heart racing and make you lose a little sleep.”