Justin Willman Chambers (born July 11, 1970) is an American actor and former model best known for his role as Dr. Alex Karev in Grey's Anatomy (2005–2020). Born in Ohio, he went to Southeastern High School, South Charleston, and later studied acting at New York's HB Studio.HB Studio Alumni Chambers began modeling after being approached by a modeling scout in Paris. He went on to represent fashion brands including Calvin Klein, Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana. Chambers began his acting career with a recurring role in the soap opera Another World and made his feature film debut with a supporting role in the comedy drama Liberty Heights (1999).

In 2005, he was cast as Dr. Alex Karev in the ABC medical drama series Grey's Anatomy. Chambers gained widespread recognition as the series progressed and the character became one of the most popular from the hit series, earning multiple nominations and the 2017 Best TV Network Drama Actor at the People's Choice Awards as well as nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Award.

Early life and education Chambers was born Justin Willman Chambers in Springfield, Ohio, on July 11, 1970, to Pamela Sue (née Willman) and John William Eugene Chambers II, who were both deputy sheriffs. Chambers was raised in Springfield. He aspired to be a dentist. He has a fraternal twin brother, Jason; one older brother, John Jr. "Chip"; and two older sisters, Mia and Susan. The twins were frequently hospitalized as children due to persistent bouts of pneumonia. He and Jason attended Southeastern High School in South Charleston, Ohio. Justin later moved to New York, where he studied for four years at HB Studio and Ron Stetson Studios.

Career

Chambers was discovered by a modelling scout on the Paris Metro and went on to star in advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein's fragrance range. He worked throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States for Calvin Klein, Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana. After deciding on an acting career, he relocated to New York City in the early 1990s, where he studied at the HB Studio.

His first major acting role was in the music video "Ants Marching" by Dave Matthews Band in 1995. He went on to land a few television roles, including a contract role as the original Nicholas Hudson in the NBC soap opera Another World, and New York Undercover. In 1998, he was cast as series regular in the short-lived CBS primetime soap opera Four Corners. Chambers has also appeared in several television films, such as Harvest of Fire, Rose Hill, and Seasons of Love.

Chambers starred in several films, notably Liberty Heights (1999, as Trey, alongside Adrien Brody), The Wedding Planner (2001, as Massimo, alongside Jennifer Lopez), The Musketeer (2001), Southern Belles (2005), The Zodiac (2005), and the HBO film Hysterical Blindness (2002). In 2003, Chambers was cast as one of the leads in the CBS crime drama Cold Case but left after appearing in only three out of the show's first four episodes.

In August 2004, Chambers was cast as surgical intern Alex Karev in Shonda Rhimes's medical drama series Grey's Anatomy, opposite Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, and T. R. Knight. In 2006, along with other cast members, he was awarded a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. In 2009, he also guest-starred on the Grey's Anatomy spin-off, Private Practice, for the Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice crossover event. On January 10, 2020, Chambers officially announced his departure from Grey's Anatomy and that his final episode had aired on November 14, 2019, with a farewell episode airing on March 5, 2020.

In 2022, Chambers played actor Marlon Brando in the Paramount+ series The Offer, a biographical drama about the production of The Godfather.

In 2024, Chambers appeared in an episode of the anthology series Accused along with Taylor Schilling.

Personal life

In 1993, he married Keisha Chambers, a former model agency booker. The two met while Chambers was working for ad campaigns for Calvin Klein and Keisha was working at a modeling agency. They have five children: Isabella (b. December 1994), twins Maya and Kaila (b. June 1997), Eva (b. March 1999), and Jackson (b. January 2002). They have adopted two rescue dogs and own a beagle.

Chambers is involved with the nonprofit organization Pentecostal Christian Church mission Dream Center of Los Angeles. In late January 2008, he revealed that he suffered from a sleep disorder and had checked himself into UCLA Medical Center to treat exhaustion after a period of only two hours of sleep each week. Chambers practices hot yoga.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1999Liberty HeightsTrey Tobelseted 2001The Wedding PlannerMassimo LenzettiThe MusketeerD'Artagnan 2002LeoRyan Eames2003For Which It StandsGerman SoldierShort film 2005Southern BellesRhett ButlerThe ZodiacInspector Matt Parish 2008Lakeview TerraceDonnie Eaton 2010The Happiest Man AliveShermanShort film 2013Broken CityRyan BlakeJustice League: The Flashpoint ParadoxThe Flash / Barry Allen (voice)Direct-to-video

Television Year Title Role Notes 1995Another WorldNicholas 'Nick' Hudson #1Episode: "#1.7922" 1996New York UndercoverOfficer Nick CasoEpisode: "Unis"Harvest of FireGeorgeTelevision filmSwift JusticeRickEpisode: "Stones"1997Rose HillCole ClayborneTelevision film1998Four CornersCaleb Haskell2 episodes1999Seasons of LoveAdult HockingTelevision film2002Hysterical BlindnessRickTelevision film2003Cold CaseChris Lassing Main role (season 1); 3 episodes2004The Secret ServiceCharles BrodyUnsold TV pilot2005–2020Grey's Anatomy Dr. Alex Karev Main role (season 1–16); 341 episodes2009Private PracticeEpisode: "Ex-Life"2022The OfferMarlon BrandoMiniseries2024AccusedTylerEpisode: "April's Story"

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Work Result 2005 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Breakout Performance Grey's Anatomy 2006 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (Shared with cast) Gold Derby Awards Ensemble of the Year (Shared with cast) Satellite AwardsBest Ensemble in Television (Shared with cast) 2007 Gold Derby Awards Ensemble of the Year (Shared with cast) Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (Shared with cast) Golden Nymph Award Outstanding Actor - Drama Series 2008 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (Shared with cast) Prism Awards Performance in a Drama Series Episode 2009 Performance in a Drama Multi-Episode Storyline 2014 Male Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline 2015 People's Choice Awards Favorite Dramatic TV Actor 2016 2017 2018 The Male TV Star of 2018

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