Josh Duhamel has at all times had an easygoing attraction, the sort that makes you consider he might simply as flawlessly lead a army unit into battle as he might fumble by way of diaper obligation in a rom-com. With a profession spanning over 20 years, Duhamel has established himself as a likable star by enjoying a on line casino exec, a rancher, and a supportive dad. He’s introduced a formidable degree of sincerity to each function, and that solely makes the plots really feel extra relatable.
His first shot to fame got here within the early 2000s as Danny McCoy on NBC’s Las Vegas. Then he transitioned into films, starring in blockbuster hits like Transformers, the place he performed a task that may span a number of sequels. However Duhamel is rarely one to stay to 1 lane and, most lately, he took a dramatic flip in Netflix’s Ransom Canyon, portraying a grief-stricken rancher named Staten Kirkland. It goes with out saying that, over time, Josh Duhamel has appeared in all kinds of flicks and TV reveals. This listing explores the highlights of his profession.
Listed here are Josh Duhamel’s 10 greatest films and TV reveals.
10
‘When in Rome’ (2010)
Beth Martin is a profitable and pushed artwork curator on the Guggenheim, however she’s jaded by failed relationships. Impulsively, she takes a spontaneous journey to Rome for her sister’s wedding ceremony, and after a drunken misunderstanding involving Nick Beamon, the very best man, she steals cash from the Fountain of Love. Again in New York, Beth is pursued by a sequence of eccentric suitors as a result of they’re all underneath the spell of the fountain, however she’s nonetheless questioning Nick’s real efforts.
A Zany Little Rom-Com
Rom-com is an overcrowded style, and it’s commonplace for a film to fly underneath the radar. When in Rome is especially price revisiting as a result of it’s bought all of the makings of a great rom-com: two charming leads, a whimsical wedding ceremony in Paris, a fountain dive, and a dance-filled finale. Josh Duhamel is a heat, barely goofy protagonist and the grounding power in a film in any other case full of magical absurdity, and his chemistry with Kristen Bell is playful and plausible.
9
‘Protected Haven’ (2013)
On this Nicholas Sparks adaptation, Julianne Hough performs Katie, a girl operating away from a violent previous and discovering refuge within the sleepy coastal city of Southport, North Carolina. There, she meets Duhamel’s Alex Wheatley, a widowed father of two who runs an area normal retailer. As Katie slowly lowers her guard, she turns into part of Alex’s household and rediscovers love.
A Poignant Tear-Jerker Romance
Protected Haven could adhere to the creator’s signature melodramatic system, however Josh Duhamel’s delicate and layered portrayal of the grieving but hopeful Alex elevates the fabric past its inherent sappiness. He navigates the character’s emotional journey and emerges as the last word inexperienced flag. Though critics had been divided, some viewers think about the film a consolation watch due to its emotional authenticity and romantic components.
8
‘Transformers’ (2007)
Michael Bay directed this explosive sci-fi blockbuster in 2007 and launched us to a world the place alien robots had been waging struggle on Earth. The story of Transformers facilities on teenager Sam Witwicky, who turns into the important thing to finding a robust artifact often known as the AllSpark, which can also be being sought by each the noble Autobots and the villainous Decepticons.
Brings Humor to a Blockbuster Spectacle
Transformers is undisputedly a panoramic begin to a franchise, and the film earned a number of technical accolades. It pairs high-octane motion with moments of humor and coronary heart, ending with a city-wide showdown that redefines the dimensions of sci-fi. As for Duhamel, he performs a talented army chief named Captain William Lennox who joins the struggle after surviving a Decepticon assault in Qatar. He’s a grounded, tactically sharp, and funky character, and he turned iconic throughout the sequence.
7
‘Las Vegas’ (2003 – 2008)
Created by Gary Scott Thompson for NBC, Las Vegas takes place contained in the Montecito Resort and On line casino, and it follows a workforce of workers managing all the things from movie star meltdowns to safety breaches, all whereas coping with their private shortcomings and defending the on line casino’s pursuits. On the coronary heart of it’s Danny McCoy, a former Marine turned surveillance knowledgeable, who rises by way of the ranks underneath Ed Deline’s mentorship.
By no means Fails to Entertain
Josh Duhamel’s Danny McCoy is the present’s beating coronary heart. He’s suave, loyal, and sophisticated. Whether or not he’s diffusing a hostage state of affairs or sharing a quiet second with Molly Sims’s Delinda, he brings the sort of attraction that anchors the present’s flashier components. And his chemistry with the ensemble solid, particularly Caan and Nikki Cox, is simply wonderful. Las Vegas earned a faithful fanbase and stable rankings, and it’s a defining chapter in Duhamel’s TV profession.
6
‘Ransom Canyon’ (2025)
In Netflix’s latest providing, Ransom Canyon, the rugged great thing about Texas Hill Nation turns into the backdrop of a Western drama rooted in grief and legacy. We observe Staten Kirkland, a stoic rancher haunted by the dying of his son, as he finds himself caught in a bitter feud between three highly effective ranching households. The one solace he can discover is in Quinn O’Grady, a longtime pal and dancehall proprietor. Their connection is fleeting however comforting.
Uncooked and Unforgettable
Like every other Western TV present, this one is heavy on themes of survival and legacy. Developed by April Blair, it balances sweeping landscapes with intimate arcs and atmospheric storytelling. And whereas Ransom Canyon didn’t attain the identical heights of recognition because the Yellowstone universe, it showcases Duhamel’s potential to convey ache with out melodrama. His tense standoff with Eoin Macken’s Davis Collins is the spotlight of the sequence.
5
‘Life as We Know It’ (2010)
One other heartfelt romantic comedy, Life as We Know It begins with a disastrous blind date between Holly Berenson, a bakery proprietor, and Eric Messer, a laid-back sports activities director. Regardless of not having something in frequent and main radically totally different life, they’re named joint guardians of child Sophie after their greatest buddies die in a automobile accident. As co-parents, Holly and Eric study to navigate life collectively.
Extra Than Only a Love Curiosity
Duhamel’s Eric is messy, however finally endearing. He brings a pure ease to the function, and it doesn’t matter if he’s fumbling by way of a broadcast with a crying child or quietly investing in Holly’s bakery, you can’t assist however root for him. He shares a playful but honest chemistry with Katherine Heigl. Their journey from reluctant roommates to loving mother and father is marked by late-night hospital runs and awkward Thanksgiving dinners, however it’s all price it in the long run.
4
‘11.22.63’ (2016)
Based mostly on Stephen King’s novel, 11.22.63 is an eight-episode miniseries that follows Jake Epping, a highschool instructor who discovers a time portal in a diner’s pantry that transports him to 1960. Tasked by a dying pal to stop the assassination of JFK, he immerses himself into the complexities of the previous, adopts a brand new identification, and forges relationships, all whereas dodging suspicion and racing towards time to trace Lee Harvey Oswald.
Good Showcase of Vary
Though James Franco, Sarah Gadon, Chris Cooper, and Daniel Webber play central characters within the present, considered one of its most haunting arcs includes Josh Duhamel’s Frank Dunning. He’s a violent alcoholic whose actions in Kentucky grow to be Jake’s first take a look at in altering historical past. His efficiency is terrifyingly actual. In episode two, “The Kill Flooring,” throughout a confrontation within the slaughterhouse, you witness simply why the function is a large departure from those Duhamel has performed to this point.
3
‘Bandit’ (2022)
A biographical crime drama directed by Allan Ungar, Bandit tells the true story of Gilbert Galvan Jr., an enthralling felony who escapes from a Michigan jail and reinvents himself as Robert Whiteman in Canada. Struggling to supply for his girlfriend, he turns to robbing banks, and after 59 profitable heists with the assistance of Tommy Kay, he earns the nickname “The Flying Bandit” and the eye of a relentless detective.
Crime Caper With Model and Substance
In Bandit, Josh Duhamel delivers a career-best efficiency as Galvan. He’s slick, morally conflicted, and unpredictable. Your entire film’s attraction lies in him balancing Galvan’s roguish attraction and daring exploits with precision. He additionally shares a pure chemistry with co-stars Elisha Cuthbert and Mel Gibson. Bandit obtained reward for its brisk storytelling and retro aesthetic and it topped streaming charts throughout platforms, changing into Redbox’s most-watched authentic of 2022.
2
‘Battle Creek’ (2015)
Battle Creek is a unusual crime dramedy from Vince Gilligan and David Shore. It pairs two wildly totally different lawmen in a small Michigan city to deal with all the things from syrup-related murders to hostage crises. Josh Duhamel performs the optimistic and well-resourced Particular Agent Milt Chamberlain, and Dean Winters is the cynical, scrappy, and perpetually underfunded Detective Russ Agnew.
Easy Odd-Couple Chemistry
Because the smooth-talking Milt, Duhamel is a delight to observe. His sunny disposition and crisp fits distinction with the backdrop of Battle Creek, and as they remedy one absurd case after one other, his evolving bromance with Winters’ Russ turns into the present’s greatest factor. Although short-lived, the sequence was met with good reception, and its intelligent writing was lauded all through. Its 96% Rotten Tomatoes approval ranking is a testomony to its recognition amongst lovers of crime comedies.
1
‘Love, Simon’ (2018)
Love, Simon is a landmark teen coming-of-age film that facilities on Simon Spier, a closeted highschool pupil navigating friendship, household dynamics, and a secret on-line romance with an nameless classmate named Blue. When one other classmate discovers his emails and blackmails him, Simon is compelled to take care of a cascade of lies and emotional fallout. However he additionally finds the braveness to return out.
Shines in an Inclusive Coming-of-Age Story
Greg Berlanti’s film is humorous, heartfelt, and very honest, and it ends with a symbolic Ferris wheel scene. Duhamel performs Jack Spier, Simon’s father, with an understated degree of heat and nuance. His character grows from a clueless dad making awkward jokes to a deeply supportive guardian. The scenes the place Jack apologizes to Simon, saying he missed the indicators and desires he’d been extra current, are highly effective and poignant.
Ransom Canyon
- Launch Date
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April 17, 2025
- Community
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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April Blair
