On September 13, 1996, Jason George, a 24-year-old graduate student at Philadelphia's Temple University, attended a casting call that would soon change his life. The call was part of a nationwide search for undiscovered talent to star in a new NBC daytime drama called "Sunset Beach."

While George had been working toward his master's degree in acting and had accumulated numerous stage credits, he never thought he would actually beat out the 2,000 would-be actors who auditioned that day in Philadelphia's Franklin Mills Mall, let alone the 14,000 who auditioned nationally. But two weeks later, he got the call that he had won a trip to Los Angeles and an official screen test, and a few days after that, he had captured the role of lifeguard Michael Bourne. Within 24 hours, he had packed all his personal belongings and was on his way back to Los Angeles -- this time to stay. "Whirlwind" doesn't begin to describe George's first days as a professional actor: he'll tell you it has been more like a hurricane. But George has weathered it well and with good humor and optimism. Born in Virginia Beach, Va., George completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia. While there, he took an acting class and a well-respected theater instructor commented that George was capable of acting professionally. This was all the prompting he needed. At the University/Regional Theater Association, George auditioned for a number of theater graduate schools and received 28 call-backs, but it was fate that brought him to Philadelphia, one of only eight cities to host the nationwide casting call for "Sunset Beach."George has appeared in several commercials and has lent his voice to numerous voiceover projects. He is certified instage combat and fight choreography, and the day before moving to Los Angeles, he completed work on his first feature film, "Fallen," with Denzel Washington.When he's not on stage, George, who is single, remains in close contact with his mom and two brothers in Virginia. He's a talented dancer and is also skilled at juggling, tumbling, martial arts and such sports as track and football.