Josh Duhamel has been a prominent actor for several decades, but his recent Netflix Western series, Ransom Canyon, has brought about a renewed interest in the star. Duhamel was born in Minot, North Dakota, in 1972 and began his career as a model before beginning to take on roles as an extra in films and TV shows. Josh Duhamel first rose to fame portraying Leo du Pres on All My Children. Since then, he has become even more popular, starring in hit movies and TV shows, most recently leading the cast of Ransom Canyon.

Ransom Canyon season 1 gave Netflix a new hit Western show that was full of romance and unexpected dramatic twists. While Ransom Canyon received mixed reviews from critics, reviewers praised the cast, including Duhamel, and audiences have been even more positive about the show’s merits. The series is a compulsive watch and, with several more books in the series to adapt, leaves plenty of opportunity for another season. Netflix has not yet announced whether the show will return, but several other Josh Duhamel roles are just as good.

10When In Rome

The Rom-Com Is A Funny Wholesome Watch

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When in Rome

PG-13
Comedy
Fantasy
Romance

Release DateJanuary 29, 2010
Runtime91 minutes

Cast

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Kristen Bell
Beth Harper

Josh Duhamel
Nick Beamon

Anjelica Huston
Celeste

Danny DeVito
Al Russo

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There are a lot of great rom-coms from the past several decades, so it is easy for some of them to get overshadowed by the more popular additions to the genre. That is exactly the case for When in Rome. When in Rome was released in 2010 and stars Duhamel alongside Kristen Bell. Despite the negative reviews it garnered at the time of its release, it is well worth a watch for fans of the genre, thanks to its humorous approach to dating in the modern world and entertaining performances from its entire cast.

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The movie follows art curator Beth as she travels to Italy for her younger sister’s wedding. While there, Beth meets Nick for the first time and later steals various coins from the Trevi Fountain. After taking the coins, various men begin to approach Beth, seemingly in love with her, and she realizes that taking their coins from the fountain has put them under a spell. Their comical scenes are over-the-top but also often quite sweet, allowing the movie to explore Beth’s beliefs about love.

9Shotgun Wedding

Prime Video’s Action Comedy Features A Hilarious Cast

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Shotgun Wedding

pg-13
Romance
Comedy

Release DateDecember 28, 2022
Runtime100minutes

Cast

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Jennifer Lopez

Lenny Kravitz

Josh Duhamel

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Shotgun Wedding marks another comical addition to Josh Duhamel’s filmography, and while it is another rom-com, Prime Video’s 2022 movie takes a very different approach. Duhamel and Jennifer Lopez play an engaged couple, Tom and Darcy, who travel to the Philippines for their wedding. However, disaster strikes when a group of pirates takes over the wedding and holds the guests hostage, forcing Tom and Darcy to fight back. Though the movie does feature moments of the couple discussing their feelings and concerns, it is more action-heavy than a typical rom-com.

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While it may not be the usual approach to the genre, that is precisely what makes Shotgun Wedding worth a watch. It is unique and easy to sit back and enjoy, as long as viewers are not hoping for anything realistic. In addition to the fun, unusual plot, Shotgun Wedding also features some entertaining, funny cast members who make everything they are in better. Reliably funny, Jennifer Coolidge and Cheech Marin both add something extra to the movie, and Lenny Kravitz’s appearance as a jealous ex is entertaining as well.

8Transformers

Duhamel Has Appeared In Several Transformers Movies

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Transformers

PG-13
Adventure
Science Fiction
Action

8.0/10

Release DateJuly 3, 2007
Runtime144 minutes

Cast

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Shia LaBeouf
Sam Witwicky

Megan Fox
Mikaela Banes

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The 2007 Transformers movie was a massive box office success at the time of its release, grossing $709.7 million on a budget of $150 million (via Box Office Mojo). Based on the toys of the same name, Michael Bay’s movie spawned an entire series of blockbusters, and Josh Duhamel appeared in multiple of them. Duhamel stars as William Lennox throughout the Transformers series, and he is introduced in the first movie as an American soldier in Qatar who narrowly escapes the Decepticons’ attacks before teaming up with the main character, Sam Witwicky.

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11 Biggest Changes Ransom Canyon Season 1 Makes To The Books

There are many major differences between season 1 of Netflix’s Western series Ransom Canyon and the 2015 book of the same name that inspired it.

The Transformers movies are all fun action movies that are easy to enjoy and broadly appropriate for the whole family. Additionally, while Duhamel had appeared in several popular drama TV shows and a few less popular movies, Transformers marked a new stage in his career. It proved that he could be an action star and gave him the biggest box office success that he had seen to that point, so it makes complete sense that he went on to star in three more films in the series.

7Las Vegas

NBC’s Series Is One Of Duhamel’s Most Recognizable Roles

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Las Vegas

Crime
Drama

7.5/10

Release Date2003 – 2008-00-00
NetworkNBC

Cast

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Josh Duhamel

James Caan

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Though Josh Duhamel had gained some fame on television for appearing in a contract role on All My Children, his popularity shot up when he was cast as Danny McCoy on Las Vegas. The NBC drama series ran from 2003 to 2008 and was hugely successful during that time. The show centered on a Las Vegas casino and resort and the people who worked there, following their various personal and professional problems. Along with Duhamel, the series starred James Caan, Nikki Cox, Marsha Thomason, and Tom Selleck.

The series does have its serious moments, but it never dwells on the darker aspects of the job or the personal lives of the characters too heavily.

The series is certainly one of Josh Duhamel’s most notable roles. He is great as Danny, and his efforts are matched by the rest of the cast, particularly Caan. The series does have its serious moments, but it never dwells on the darker aspects of the job or the personal lives of the characters too heavily. Instead, Las Vegas does a great job of keeping the pace of the show up and allowing viewers to get invested in the stories, making it a great watch for audiences looking for a series to last them a while.

6Ransom Canyon

Netflix’s Romatic Western Is A Good Addition To Duhamel’s Career

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Ransom Canyon

TV-MA
Drama
Western
Romance

8/10

8.9/10

Release DateApril 17, 2025
NetworkNetflix

Cast

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Josh Duhamel
Staten Kirkland

Minka Kelly
Quinn O’Grady

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Western TV shows have been growing in popularity in recent years, largely thanks to Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone series and its spinoffs, so it makes sense that Netflix would want to capitalize on that popularity. Ransom Canyon is a valiant effort on that front, as is evidenced by its immediate success on the streaming platform. Ransom Canyon includes some of the Western aspects of Sheridan’s popular series, but it also incorporates a lot more romance, drawing connections to Virgin River as well.

Josh Duhamel’s Staten Kirkland certainly does not have it easy, and Duhamel plays his character’s grief very compellingly.

Much of Ransom Canyon‘s success is due to the show’s cast, who are all very charismatic and believable in their roles. Josh Duhamel’s Staten Kirkland certainly does not have it easy, and Duhamel plays his character’s grief very compellingly. Aside from his portrayal of grief over the loss of his wife and son, Duhamel’s chemistry with Minka Kelly is one of the strongest aspects of the series. Their hints of romance and uncertainty are always welcome and balance out both the land dispute plots and the teen angst scenes of the younger characters.

5You’re Not You

The Drama Film Provides One Of Duhamel’s More Emotional Roles

You’re Not You

R
Drama
Documentary

Release DateOctober 10, 2014
Runtime102 minutes

Cast

Ali Larter

Emmy Rossum

Hilary Swank

Josh Duhamel

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Josh Duhamel’s 2014 drama film You’re Not You follows Kate, a woman diagnosed with ALS, as she grapples with the changes the disease has forced on her. Duhamel portrays Kate’s husband, Evan, and while his role is certainly not the main one as the movie focuses on Kate herself, it is still one of his more emotionally heavy roles. As Kate becomes less able to care for herself, she hires a young woman named Bed to help take care of her. Though the two women are very different, the connection they form is truly heartwarming to watch.

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You’re Not You never received a very wide release, so it got overlooked by most audiences. However, its honest portrayal of degenerative diseases and how people with such diseases still have agency over their own lives and decisions is very important. The movie does a good job of portraying a compelling relationship between the two women. Though Duhamel’s character is far from perfect, the actor does a good job of creating a character who is still sympathetic.

411.22.63

The Stephen King-Based Miniseries Received Positive Reviews

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11.22.63

TV-MA
Sci-Fi

4.3/10

Release Date2016 – 2016-00-00

Cast

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James Franco
Jake Epping

Sarah Gadon
Sadie Dunhill

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Based on the Stephen King book of the same name 11.22.63 is a Hulu miniseries that aired in 2016. The series follows Jake Epping, an English teacher who is tasked by a friend with going back to 1960 in order to stop John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. The series weaves in complex science fiction concepts with real historical events and fictional dramas. It is engaging from start to finish, as the concept draws viewers in and the potential problems that begin to unravel as Jake changes the past keep audiences hooked.

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Ransom Canyon Season 2 Story: What Happens To The Characters Next In The Books

Season 2 of Netflix’s Western series Ransom Canyon will have to make some adjustments to the book series of the same name, written by Jodi Thomas.

At the time of its release, 11.22.63 received positive reviews from critics, who praised the lead performances and the show’s ability to convey a sense of impending doom for the characters and their circumstances. Duhamel, who features as a recurring character, is gruff and threatening, which stands in stark contrast to many of his other roles. Though he is not a main character, Duhamel is entertaining when he does appear, and the series as a whole is great for fans of time travel and science fiction stories.

3Bandit

The Well-Reviewed Movie Is Based On A True Story

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Bandit

Crime
Drama
Thriller

Release DateSeptember 23, 2022
Runtime126 minutes

Cast

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Mel Gibson

Elisha Cuthbert

Olivia d’Abo

Josh Duhamel

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Josh Duhamel’s 2022 crime movie Bandit is one of the actor’s best leading roles of his entire career. Bandit is a biographical film that is based on the book The Flying Bandit and follows the life of Gilbert Galvan Jr. The movie sees Galvan Jr. break out of prison in the United States and make his way into Canada under a new name. Once there, he begins to make his living by robbing banks across the country, which he does by flying to various cities, earning him the nickname “The Flying Bandit.”

Following its release, Bandit was well-received by critics and audiences, and it currently holds a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Biographical movies can often be difficult to get right, but Bandit hits its mark thanks to Duhamel’s strong performance as the professional bank robber. The movie also remains totally engaging throughout its runtime as Galvan runs afoul of both the law and other career criminals, leaving audiences wondering what will eventually happen to the main character.

2Battle Creek

Despite Positive Reviews, Battle Creek Ended Too Soon

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Battle Creek

TV-14
Comedy
Drama
Crime

8.0/10

Release Date2015 – 2015-00-00
NetworkCBS

Cast

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Dean Winters
Detective Russ Agnew

Josh Duhamel
Special Agent Milton Chamberlain

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CBS’s crime comedy Battle Creek followed the unlikely pairing of Duhamel’s FBI agent Milton Chamberlain and Dean Winter’s Russ Agnew. The series uses a crime-of-the-week format, which sees the pair investigate various different offenses. The pair’s dynamic is often hilarious, and their lack of resources certainly does not help them in their investigations, but their wit allows them to get the job done.

Battle Creek stands out among Josh Duhamel’s shows as a strong point, and despite its untimely cancellation, it is a great series for fans of crime comedies.

Upon release, Battle Creek received positive reviews, but the show was sadly canceled after just one season. There are so many police dramas and buddy comedies available that the series was not able to make its mark in an oversaturated field. However, its 96% Rotten Tomatoes approval rating proves that the show was definitely a favorite of those who watched it. Battle Creek stands out among Josh Duhamel’s shows as a strong point, and despite its untimely cancellation, it is a great series for fans of crime comedies.

1Love, Simon

The Critically Acclaimed Film Is A Must-Watch

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Love, Simon

PG-13
Comedy
Drama
Romance

Release DateFebruary 16, 2018
Runtime110 Minutes

Cast

Nick Robinson

Jennifer Garner

Josh Duhamel

Katherine Langford

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While Josh Duhamel has several great movies and TV shows, his best project is undoubtedly the 2018 movie Love, Simon. Duhamel stars in the film as Simon’s father, Jack, and, despite not being the focus of the film, plays a very important role as a supportive father in his son’s coming out journey. Love, Simon was a great new take on a coming-of-age film that focused on a young LGBTQ+ boy who grapples with finding his first love among the pressures of growing up in a hetero-normative society.

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Love, Simon is a movie that all audiences should watch because of how deftly it tackles the experiences of young people in the LGBTQ+ community. While representation is so important and universal, Simon’s story feels unique and singular. The teenage characters all journey through their feelings and learn things about themselves as the movie progresses. Likewise, Duhamel’s role as a parent is important as it showcases how a loving relationship isn’t changed by Simon’s sexuality, making it an essential watch.