Supernaturalstar Jensen Ackles teamed up withThe Rookie’s Nathan Fillion to surprise his daughter on her birthday. Ackles' has three children with his wife of 15 years, Danneel, and it turns out his eldest daughter, 12-year-old Justice, is a huge fan of The Rookie, prompting him to make her wish come true. Meanwhile,Fireflystar Fillion has led thecast ofThe Rookieas John Nolan since it premiered in October 2018, and the ABC police procedural has become a big hit. WithThe Rookieseason 8 renewed, the show will be returning for the 2025-26 television season.
In an interview withE! Online,Ackles revealed that his daughter is his biggest fan, but also confessed her obsession with Fillion’s show. He said that because Justice and her friends love the show so much, he decided to call Fillion and request a Happy Birthday video for his daughter. Ackles stated that not only did Fillion come through on the video, but he also got the entire cast to send individual happy birthday videos too. Check out Ackles' comments below:
“I called Nathan up and I said, ‘Hey buddy, I don’t know why but my 12-year-old and all her girlfriends are super into your show. Would you mind sending her a happy birthday video?' Not only did he send one, he got the entire cast to send individual ‘Happy Birthdays.’ So that’s about the best gift a father could have given. And it cost me a phone call—so it was free.”
What This Means For The Rookie’s Legacy
The Show Continues To Be As Popular As Ever
One of the most interesting things about Ackles' comments is that his daughter and her friends are huge fans of the show, and they are young kids. This shows thatThe Rookiehas an appeal to viewers of all age groups, which is likely to help it considerably when it comes to the longevity and enduring popularity of the show. This is a testament to the strong storytelling and character arcs the show has managed to craft during its run, and there’s a good bet thatThe Rookie’s central Chenford romancealso plays a big role in its popularity as well.
WithThe Rookieseason 8set for release, the show doesn’t look to be coming to a close any time soon, and there will be hopes it can keep younger viewers for its entire run.Ackles' comments also illustrate how much actors like to share passions with their kids, and goes a long way to show Fillion’s friendly and welcoming personality. They are two men who’ve spent years in the industry, and understand the power film and TV can have on young people, and Ackles will be hoping this incident will help keep his daughter inspired, and perhaps feel as strongly about his shows in the future.
Our Take On Fillion’s The Rookie Birthday Video
It’s A Sweet Move That Shows He Likes To Connect With Fans
This is an incident that shows the role actors play, aside from simply their characters. They can often be sources of influence for young people, and are in a position to really connect with fans, both young and old.Fillion going the extra mile for Justice’s birthday video could be because he and Ackles are friends, but it may simply be that he loves engaging with his fans. Either way, the gesture showcases the impact shows likeThe Rookiehave had on audiences, and will continue to have for as long as the show is on air.
The Rookie
Cast
The Rookie follows John Nolan, a small-town man who embarks on a new career as an LAPD officer after a life-changing event. As the force’s oldest rookie, Nolan faces skepticism from superiors who view his pursuit as a midlife crisis.
