‘Supernatural’ star Jared Padalecki ‘lucky to be alive’ after car accident, co-star tells panel
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Jared Padalecki Jared Padalecki waives to fans before a screening of "Supernatural" during the 35th annual PaleyFest at the Dolby Theatre on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
(Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Jensen Ackles gave a heartfelt shoutout to his longtime friend and co-star Jared Padalecki during Creation Entertainment’s “Supernatural” Official Conventions panel discussion on Sunday.
“I miss my buddy,” Ackles told the East Brunswick, New Jersey, crowd before explaining that Padalecki, 39, was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a “very bad car accident” and “he’s lucky to be alive.”
“He sends his love. I spoke with him yesterday. He’s sad he can’t be here,” Ackles told the crowd, adding, “Keep him in your thoughts, send him some love if you get the chance on social, and he’ll be back with us soon.”
Fans took Ackles’ suggestion to heart and flooded social media with well-wishes for Padalecki, using the hashtags #WeLoveYouJaredPadalecki and #GetWellSoonJared, People magazine reported.
According to Ackles, Padalecki said that the accident left him feeling like he had “gone 12 rounds with [Mike] Tyson.” Ackles also told the crowd that the “airbag packs a punch” and marveled that Padalecki is recovering at home rather than in the hospital “because I saw the car,” Variety reported.
Padalecki and Ackles starred for 15 seasons on the wildly popular show, which followed the adventures of the onscreen brothers as they hunted down supernatural entities nationwide, the entertainment news outlet reported.
Padalecki currently stars in the lead role of The CW’s “Walker,” which wrapped up its second season in April and has been renewed for a third. Meanwhile, 44-year-old Ackles is slated to join the third season of “Supernatural” creator Eric Kripke’s Amazon series, “The Boys,” Variety reported.
Jared Padalecki Jared Padalecki, left, and and Jensen Ackles participate in The CW "Supernatural: Final Season" panel during the Summer 2019 Television Critics Association Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) (Richard Shotwell/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Jared Padalecki Jensen Ackles, from right, Misha Collins and Jared Padalecki pose with Scooby-Doo as they greet fans before a screening of "Supernatural" during the 35th annual PaleyFest at the Dolby Theatre on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Jared Padalecki Jared Padalecki attends the "Supernatural" special video presentation and Q&A on Day 4 of Comic-Con International on Sunday, July 27, 2014, in San Diego. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) (Richard Shotwell/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Jared Padalecki Jared Padalecki arrives at a screening of "Supernatural" during the 35th annual PaleyFest at the Dolby Theatre on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Jared Padalecki Jensen Ackles, left, and Jared Padalecki speak on stage at the 19th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards at the Barker Hangar on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP) (Frank Micelotta/Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP)
Jared Padalecki Actor Jared Padalecki talks with Aisha Tyler during a pod cast interview at the Ubisoft and Aisha Tyler Present the Girl on Guy Comic Con 2013 Players Lounge, Saturday, July 20, 2013. (Photo by PHOTOGRAPHER NAME/Invision for CLIENT NAME/AP Images) (Jack Dempsey/Jack Dempsey/Invision/AP)
Jared Padalecki Jared Padalecki, left, and Genevieve Padalecki arrive at a screening of "Supernatural" during the 35th annual PaleyFest at the Dolby Theatre on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Jared Padalecki Jared Padalecki attends The CW Network 2018 Upfront at The London NYC on Thursday, May 17, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) (Charles Sykes/Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Jared Padalecki Jensen Ackles, left, and Jared Padalecki arrive at a screening of "Supernatural" during the 35th annual PaleyFest at the Dolby Theatre on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Jared Padalecki IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR BUZZFEED - Jared Padalecki of Supernatural and Riley Smith of Frequency at the BuzzFeed/CW SRLSY Super Power Hour at Comic-Com International on Friday, July 22, 2016, in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Christy Radecic/Invision for BuzzFeed/AP Images) (Christy Radecic/Invision for BuzzFeed)
Jared Padalecki Jared Padalecki, center, presents Vanessa Anne Hudgens and Zac Efron the Choice TV Movie award for "High School Musical 2" at the Teen Choice Awards in Universal City, Calif., Sunday, Aug 26, 2007. (Matt Sayles/AP Images for Fox) (Matt Sayles/AP Images for Fox)
Jared Padalecki Jared Padalecki, left, and Jensen Ackles attend the CW 2019 Network Upfront at New York City Center on Thursday, May 16, 2019, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) (Charles Sykes/Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Jared Padalecki Jared Padalecki waives to fans before a screening of "Supernatural" during the 35th annual PaleyFest at the Dolby Theatre on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Jared Padalecki IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR UBISOFT - Actor Jared Padalecki talks with a fan before an Aisha Tyler Podcast during a pod cast interview at the Ubisoft and Aisha Tyler Present the Girl on Guy Comic Con 2013 Players Lounge, Saturday, July 20, 2013. (Photo by PHOTOGRAPHER NAME/Invision for CLIENT NAME/AP Images) (Jack Dempsey/Invision for Ubisoft)
Jared Padalecki Jared Padalecki speaks on stage during the "Supernatural" panel at the The CW 2014 Summer TCA held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Friday, July 18, 2014, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) (Richard Shotwell/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Jared Padalecki Jared Padalecki attends the "Supernatural" press line on day 4 of Comic-Con International on Sunday, July 12, 2015, in San Diego. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)