Posts Tagged ‘Burn Notice’

Amesbury native Jeffrey Donovan, 44, recently announced his engagement to his longtime girlfriend, model Michelle Woods, 20.

The extremely active and athletic pair have been spotted at numerous events together, including everything from polo matches in Palm Beach to riding in a helicopter at the USPA Piaget Gold Cup, and attending the Blacks’ Annual Gala in Miami. The long and lean lovers have even competed together in various charity triathlon events throughout the southern Florida area. Both attended New York University.

The pair have been seeing each other for some time and are now reportedly planning a late summer wedding.

Woods, a model/actress, began her modeling career as a teen in New York City. After moving to California, she landed a bit part on the TV series “Frasier,” and went on to land small roles in movies like Wedding Crashers and Knocked Up.

Donovan, has still been busy professionally, continuing work as excommunicated spy Michael Westen on the hit USA Network show, “Burn Notice,” and portraying fellow Massachusetts native Robert Kennedy in the movie J. Edgar last year with Leonardo DiCaprio.

Donovan was born and raised in Amesbury, Massachusetts, where he attended Amesbury High School, where he helped start the school’s drama club. He went on to attend Bridgewater State University before transferring to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he graduated with a BA in theater. He later earned his MFA from New York University’s Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School of the Arts.

Jeffrey Donovan, Amesbury, MA native and star of USA’s “Burn Notice” is back for the show’s fifth season, premiering June 23.  Donovan stars as Michael Westen, “burned” spy, forced to start over in his hometown, Miami.

Donovan comes from humble beginnings in Amesbury, where he graduated from Amesbury High School as a member of the school’s drama program.  Thanks to a private scholarship he was able to attend a summer theatre program that jump started his acting career.  He began his college career at Bridgewater State University before transferring to University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he graduated with a BA in theatre.

Giving back to the community that spurred his career, Donovan donated to the Amesbury Education Foundation to create a $10,000 for ten students each year pursuing a fine arts education.

★ Amherst’s Eric Mabius, of “Ugly Betty” fame, talks to Boston Common magazine.

★ Conan O’Brien gets 2 covers for the price of one in the new Improper Bostonian.

★ Amesbury’s Jeffrey Donovan charged with a DUI.

★ Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne stop by Boston to promote their new movie.

★ Brendan Fraser flaunts his bountiful belly around Boston.

★ Mark Wahlberg shirtless and showing it off in Lowell.

USA Network’s “Burn Notice” star Jeffrey Donovan knows the importance of giving back. As a former Amesbury High student, who received a scholarship that enabled him to participate in a summer program that helped pave the way for his acting career, Donovan wanted to pay it forward, quite literally, by helping to establish a $100,000 scholarship through The Amesbury Educational Foundation Inc. The generous donation will provide a $10,000 scholarship each year for 10 years to a deserving student entering the fine arts. In order to be considered, students provided applications that included a portfolio and audition tape, which will be judged by Donovan, who will then determine the recipient.

According to the guidelines established for the scholarship, consideration is based 70 percent on need and 30 percent on talent and desire. Though only seniors were eligible this year, it will be open to juniors as well, next year. There are no stipulations regarding what the money must be spent on, so long as it goes towards something that will further the student’s potential in a career in the arts. Donovan, a AHS class of 1986 graduate, and recent star in the movie Changeling, even showed up at his alma mater in order to make the surprise announcement, much to the delight of the students. The winners of the scholarship will be revealed on graduation day, June 5.