Biography
Judson Mills was born in Washington, DC, and raised in northern Virginia in a home built by George Washington, a young surveyor in the area. The house is now a historical landmark. Growing up, Mills enjoyed hunting, fishing, and was especially passionate about sports, particularly football.
For his junior and senior years, Judson attended High Mowing, a private Waldorf school in Wilton, New Hampshire, known for its rich history and focus on the arts. He only became involved in theater during his senior year after being encouraged to perform in his first play, where his brief cameo earned a standing ovation.
Encouraged by this positive reception, Mills decided to pursue acting. He initially enrolled at Barry University, a liberal arts college in Miami, Florida, but soon realized that he needed training in New York to succeed.
He relocated to Long Island to attend the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA). After auditioning, he was accepted; the program admits only 250 students in the first year, with just 60 returning for the second and final year. After two years at AADA, just two weeks before graduation, Mills faced challenges due to his bold and sometimes reckless nature—traits that would both help and hinder his career.
Although being reprimanded for tardiness and absences was humbling, it motivated him further. Shortly after, the soap opera As the World Turns (1956) contacted AADA seeking an actor for a summer romance storyline. A faculty member recommended Mills for the audition, which he won.
Mills spent two and a half years on the show, building the foundation of his career. He later appeared in an episode of Law & Order (1990). Seeking broader opportunities, he moved to Hollywood.
Soon after arriving, the confident young actor landed a role in a made-for-TV movie starring Alyssa Milano and Jamie Luner. However, his brash attitude and turbulent personal life continued to challenge him. Over the next decade, Mills appeared on over 30 TV shows, including NYPD Blue (1993), JAG (1995), Murder, She Wrote (1984), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990), The X-Files (1993), and CSI: Miami (2002). He also broke into feature films, starting with independent titles such as American Perfekt (1997), alongside Paul Sorvino, Robert Forster, Amanda Plummer, and David Thewlis, and Joyride (1997), starring Tobey Maguire, Benicio Del Toro, and Adam West.
Mills’ first starring role was as surfer and pitcher Hog Ellis in Major League: Back to the Minors (1998), the third film in the Major League series. He also worked with notable actors like Cuba Gooding Jr. in Chill Factor (1999), Sir Ian McKellen and Brendan Fraser in the Academy Award-nominated Gods and Monsters (1998), and Charlize Theron and Bill Paxton in Disney’s Mighty Joe Young (1998). Additionally, he spent two years in Dallas filming the final 52 episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) alongside Chuck Norris. His connection with the Norris family—Chuck, his brother Aaron, and son Eric—proved valuable, leading to collaboration on the TV movie The President's Man: A Line in the Sand (2002), which drew 16 million viewers opposite the Golden Globe Awards. Plans for a spin-off series were halted due to the events of 9/11.
Judson resides in Los Angeles with his two sons: Jagger, with his wife Morgan, and Dalton, from his previous marriage to Julie. He remains close to his parents, who have been married nearly 40 years, as well as his brother and sister-in-law.
