Joshua Jackson Jokes 'Chasing Around a 4-Year-Old' Is His Secret to Staying Young, Despite His 'Gray Hair' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Joshua Jacksonhas a built-in youth preserver: fatherhood!Asked about how he has kept fresh-faced over the years, the 46-year-oldDoctor Odysseyactor joked to PEOPLE at the Walt Disney Company’sEmmy AwardsCelebration on Sunday, Sept. 15, “I think it’s chasing around a 4-year-old. I think that it keeps you young.“Of his appearance, Jackson, who shares daughterJuno Rose Dianawith exJodie Turner-Smith, jokes, “The gray hair might tell you a little different.“But he also notes that happiness — and a difference in facial hair — might have something to do with his youthful look.“I think it’s just that I shaved, really,” Jackson says. “I mean, I am happy. I’m very happy, but I think it’s that I shaved. I think I look a lot younger without a full COVID beard.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Joshua Jackson during the Walt Disney Company’s Emmy Awards Celebration in Los Angeles on Sept. 15, 2024.Araya Doheny/WireImageHe goes on to discuss about what he and Juno like to do together these days, “We’re in a bigLion Kingphase right now, so that’s good,” he says. “And yeah, I mean, go to the park, sit at home, do arts and crafts.“She’s just awesome. She’s just the most fun in the world,” adds theDawson’s Creekalum, who was present at the Emmys earlier in the evening to present the teen drama’s executive producerGreg Berlantiwith the Governor’s Award.Joshua Jackson during the Walt Disney Company’s Emmy Awards Celebration in Los Angeles on Sept. 15, 2024.Araya Doheny/WireImageJuno is the only child for Jackson and Turner-Smith, 38. The former couple welcomed their daughter in 2020, after PEOPLE confirmed their marriage on Aug. 18, 2019.TheQueen & Slimactressfiled for divorcein October 2023; the following month, she and Jackson agreed tojoint physical and legal custodyof their daughter, with neither party paying child support.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Jodie Turner-Smith and Joshua Jackson in Los Angeles on March 12, 2023.Doug Peters/PA Images/GettyNext up for Jackson isDoctor Odyssey, in which hetakes on the lead role of Max, an “on-board doctor for a luxury cruise ship where the staff works hard and plays harder.“According to the series' official logline, “It’s all-hands-on-deck as Max and his small but mighty medical team navigate unique medical crises and each other, miles from shore.““It’s the first time in a very long time that I’m playing a pretty uncomplicated guy,” theDr. DeathandLittle Fires Everywherealum tells PEOPLE of the new series, which premieres Sept. 26 on ABC. “He is a good doctor and a good man trying to figure out his life.““But really, what the show [is], it’s not about heavy, dramatic backstory. It’s not about secret drug addiction or affairs. It’s a fun, sexy, beautiful, fast-pacedRyan Murphyfantasy,” he adds.SeePEOPLE’s full coverageof the 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards as they were broadcast live on ABC from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Joshua Jacksonhas a built-in youth preserver: fatherhood!

Asked about how he has kept fresh-faced over the years, the 46-year-oldDoctor Odysseyactor joked to PEOPLE at the Walt Disney Company’sEmmy AwardsCelebration on Sunday, Sept. 15, “I think it’s chasing around a 4-year-old. I think that it keeps you young.”

Of his appearance, Jackson, who shares daughterJuno Rose Dianawith exJodie Turner-Smith, jokes, “The gray hair might tell you a little different.”

But he also notes that happiness — and a difference in facial hair — might have something to do with his youthful look.

“I think it’s just that I shaved, really,” Jackson says. “I mean, I am happy. I’m very happy, but I think it’s that I shaved. I think I look a lot younger without a full COVID beard.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Joshua Jackson during the Walt Disney Company’s Emmy Awards Celebration in Los Angeles on Sept. 15, 2024.Araya Doheny/WireImage

Araya Doheny/WireImage

He goes on to discuss about what he and Juno like to do together these days, “We’re in a bigLion Kingphase right now, so that’s good,” he says. “And yeah, I mean, go to the park, sit at home, do arts and crafts.

“She’s just awesome. She’s just the most fun in the world,” adds theDawson’s Creekalum, who was present at the Emmys earlier in the evening to present the teen drama’s executive producerGreg Berlantiwith the Governor’s Award.

Juno is the only child for Jackson and Turner-Smith, 38. The former couple welcomed their daughter in 2020, after PEOPLE confirmed their marriage on Aug. 18, 2019.

TheQueen & Slimactressfiled for divorcein October 2023; the following month, she and Jackson agreed tojoint physical and legal custodyof their daughter, with neither party paying child support.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Jodie Turner-Smith and Joshua Jackson in Los Angeles on March 12, 2023.Doug Peters/PA Images/Getty

Doug Peters/PA Images/Getty

Next up for Jackson isDoctor Odyssey, in which hetakes on the lead role of Max, an “on-board doctor for a luxury cruise ship where the staff works hard and plays harder.”

According to the series' official logline, “It’s all-hands-on-deck as Max and his small but mighty medical team navigate unique medical crises and each other, miles from shore.”

“It’s the first time in a very long time that I’m playing a pretty uncomplicated guy,” theDr. DeathandLittle Fires Everywherealum tells PEOPLE of the new series, which premieres Sept. 26 on ABC. “He is a good doctor and a good man trying to figure out his life.”

“But really, what the show [is], it’s not about heavy, dramatic backstory. It’s not about secret drug addiction or affairs. It’s a fun, sexy, beautiful, fast-pacedRyan Murphyfantasy,” he adds.

SeePEOPLE’s full coverageof the 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards as they were broadcast live on ABC from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

source: people.com