David Boreanaz has been on your TV screen for nearly thirty years without a break. Seriously. Think about that. Most actors are lucky to survive one pilot season, but this guy has jumped from one decade-long hit to the next like it’s nothing. While younger fans might know him as the grit-covered Jason Hayes on SEAL Team, for a massive chunk of the world, he will always be Seeley Booth.
The Guy Behind the Badge: David Boreanaz Explained
Honestly, the story of how David Boreanaz became the Bones actor everyone fell for is kinda ridiculous. He didn't get the role through some grueling seven-round audition process in a cold New York casting office. He was literally walking his dog. A neighbor saw him, thought he looked the part for a brooding vampire on a new show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the rest is history.
But by the time 2005 rolled around, Boreanaz was done with the leather jackets and the "brooding creature of the night" vibe. He wanted something grounded. He found it in Seeley Booth, a classic "guy’s guy" who loved cheeseburgers, wore flashy belt buckles, and had a serious thing for colorful socks.
Why Booth Wasn't Just Another FBI Agent
If you’ve watched even one episode of Bones, you know the chemistry between Booth and Brennan (Emily Deschanel) was the actual engine of the show. It wasn't the gross-out corpses or the high-tech "Angelator" projections. It was the banter. Boreanaz has said in interviews that he modeled Booth's energy after the classic 80s film Romancing the Stone. He wanted that "loose cannon under control" feeling.
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Booth was a sniper with a dark past, a Catholic with a moral compass, and a father trying to do right. Most people forget that Boreanaz wasn't just hitting his marks and saying lines; he was a producer on the show since the third season. He actually directed 11 episodes himself, including the 200th episode and the series finale. He wasn't just the face of the show; he was the one in the "war room" making sure the budget worked and the lenses were right.
Life After the Lab
When Bones wrapped up in 2017 after 12 seasons, David didn't exactly go on a beach vacation. He jumped straight into SEAL Team. It’s a pattern with him. He’s a self-confessed "worker."
- Buffy & Angel: 1997–2004
- Bones: 2005–2017
- SEAL Team: 2017–2024
That is a 27-year employment streak. In Hollywood, that's basically a miracle.
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What’s he doing now? Well, it’s 2026, and he’s finally looking at "passion projects" rather than just the next big network procedural. He’s teased a project that pays homage to "mom-and-pop shops," which he calls the heartbeat of America. He also has a weirdly specific love for style and cars—he’s mentioned being inspired by the "dapper glamour" of shows like The Sopranos, but without the actual mob hits.
The Personal Side of the Bones Actor
Off-camera, David’s life has been a mix of long-term stability and some very public hurdles. He’s been married to actress Jaime Bergman since 2001. They have two kids, Jaden and Bella. It hasn’t always been perfect; back in 2010, he went public about an extramarital affair to get ahead of a blackmail attempt. It was messy, but he and Jaime stayed together, even starting a nail polish line called Chrome Girl with some family friends in 2013.
He's also a massive sports fan. If you ever see him in Philadelphia, he’s probably at a Flyers or Eagles game. He’s Italian and Slovene by descent, raised Catholic, and still carries that "Philly kid" energy even though he’s lived in LA for decades.
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The Myth of the Bones Reboot
The question everyone keeps asking: Is a Bones reboot actually happening?
Boreanaz has been hot and cold on this for years. In 2017, he was a hard "no," saying he doesn't like to go backwards. But more recently, he’s softened up. He’s mentioned that if the script makes sense for where Booth and Brennan would be in their lives now, he’d be open to it.
Basically, don't hold your breath, but don't close the door either.
If you're looking to follow the Bones actor's next moves, your best bet is to keep an eye on his production credits. He’s leaning hard into his "triple threat" status—acting, directing, and producing.
What you can do next: If you’ve finished your Bones rewatch and need a fix, check out the early seasons of SEAL Team on Paramount+. It shows a completely different, more tactical side of Boreanaz that explains why he’s stayed relevant for nearly three decades. Check his recent interviews from late 2025 and early 2026 to see updates on his "mom-and-pop" project, as it's the first time in years he's creating something from the ground up rather than joining an existing franchise.