- 2009: Co-starred with Jennifer Garner in the romantic comedy, "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past"
- 2008: Re-teamed with Kate Hudson to star in "Fool's Gold"
- 2008: Played Ben Stiller's loyal agent in "Tropic Thunder"
- 2006: Starred in "We Are Marshall" as head coach Jack Lengyel who helped resurrect the Marshall University football squad after a 1970 plane crash that killed most of the players and coaches
- 2006: Played a thirtysomething slacker, who still lives with his parents in the romantic comedy, "Failure to Launch"
- 2005: Starred with Steve Zahn and Penélope Cruz in "Sahara"
- 2003: Co-starred with Kate Hudson in the romantic comedy "How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days"
- 2001: Acted opposite Jennifer Lopez in "The Wedding Planner"
- 2001: Played an ambitious young lawyer in the ensemble drama, "13 Conversations About One Thing"
- 2000: Starred as Lt Andrew Tyler, executive officer to Lt Commander Mike Dahlgrin (Bill Paxton) in "U-571"
- 1999: Portrayed the lead in Ron Howard's "EDtv"
- 1998: Directed (also wrote and co-starred) the 20-minute short "The Rebel"
- 1998: Re-teamed with Linklater as one of "The Newton Boys"
- 1997: Co-starred with Bullock in her short film "Making Sandwiches"; also co-produced
- 1997: Played Jodie Foster's love interest in "Contact" and an attorney defending the rebellious slaves of the "Amistad"
- 1996: Portrayed Sheriff Buddy Deeds, suspected of killing his predecessor (Kris Kristofferson), in John Sayles' "Lone Star"
- 1996: Breakthrough role as lawyer, Jake Brigance in "A Time to Kill"; based on John Grisham's novel and co-starring Sandra Bullock
- 1995: Co-starred with Renee Zellweger in "The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (later edited and reissued in 1997)
- 1995: Cast in "Boys on the Side" as Drew Barrymore's love interest, policeman Abe Lincoln
- 1993: First significant film role, Richard Linklater's "Dazed and Confused"; character initially in only three scenes but role grew to more than 300 lines
- 1993: Feature acting debut, "My Boyfriend's Back"
- 1991: Appeared in student films and local commercials in Texas
- Enrolled in film studies at University of Texas
- Formed J.K. Livin' Productions; name taken from his "Dazed and Confused" character's motto, "just keep livin'"
- Travelled to Australia after high school
- After meeting casting director Don Phillips in an Austin bar he was cast in "Dazed and Confused" (1993)
- Raised in Longview, Texas




