'''Jesse James Keitel''' is an American actor, writer, and artist.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2020-03-10|title='The Big Sky': Jesse James Keitel To Co-Star In David E. Kelley's PI Drama Series For ABC|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/the-big-sky-jesse-james-keitel-co-star-david-e-kelleys-pi-drama-series-abc-1202878890/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|language=en}}</ref> They{{efn|Keitel uses [[She (pronoun)|she/her]] and [[Singular they|they/them]] pronouns. This article uses [[singular they]] for consistency.}} are best known for starring in [[Asher Jelinsky|Asher Jelinsky's]] short film ''[[Miller & Son]]'' (2019), which won the [[BAFTA Student Film Awards|BAFTA Student Film Award]] and Gold Medal for "Best Narrative" (Domestic) at the 2019 [[Student Academy Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-07-10|title=BAFTA Announces Winners Of The 2019 Student Film Awards|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/BAFTA-Announces-Winners-Of-The-2019-Student-Film-Awards-20190710|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=[[BroadwayWorld]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Wheat|first=Lorraine|date=2019-10-20|title=Rory Kennedy, Gregory Nava Celebrate Films Creating Social Change at 2019 Student Academy Awards|url=https://variety.com/2019/scene/news/student-academy-awards-2019-gregory-nava-rory-kennedy-phil-lord-chris-miller-1203375076/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|language=en}}</ref> In March 2020, Keitel was cast in a lead role in ''[[Big Sky (American TV series)|Big Sky]]'', an [[ABC Studios|ABC]] crime-drama created by [[David E. Kelley]].<ref name=":0" />

Originally from [[Long Island]], Keitel now lives in [[New York City]] where they graduated from [[Pace University]] with a BFA in Acting in 2015.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-09-16|title=PaceCast with Marvin Krislov: Episode 8 - Pace University's Podcasts|url=http://www.himalaya.com/education-podcasts/pace-universitys-podcasts-949859/pacecast-with-marvin-krislov-episode-8-73226148|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=Himalaya|language=en-US}}</ref> Keitel was honored in [[Out (magazine)|Out Magazine's]] [[Out100|OUT100]] in 2018 for their portrayal of queer characters in the [[Ben Stiller]]-produced Netflix film ''[[Alex Strangelove]]'' and as TV Land's first non-binary character on [[Younger (TV series)|''Younger'']].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Besanvalle|first=James|date=2018-06-24|title=Genderqueer actor Jesse James Keitel is the new star of Younger|url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/genderqueer-actor-jesse-james-keitel-younger/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=[[Gay Star News]]|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2018-11-14|title=OUT100: 2018|url=https://www.out.com/out-exclusives/2018/11/14/out100-2018|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=[[Out (magazine)|Out]]|language=en}}</ref>

Keitel often performs in drag under the pseudonym '''Peroxide''', a member of the Haus of Femanon.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Regensdorf|first=Laura|date=2018-09-10|title=All the Drag Star Makeup Tips From Backstage at Opening Ceremony|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/opening-ceremony-spring-2019-new-york-fashion-week-drag-queen-makeup-secrets|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]|language=en}}</ref> As Peroxide Femanon, they have appeared in [[Logo TV|LOGO TV's]] ''Fill In The Blank'' [[Television documentary|docuseries]] and in [[Sasha Velour|Sasha Velour's]] NYFW SS19 collaboration with [[Opening Ceremony (brand)|Opening Ceremony]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Fill In The Blank: Drag Relationships - Fill In The Blank (Video Clip) {{!}} LOGOtv|url=http://www.logotv.com/video-clips/iftesn/fill-in-the-blank-fill-in-the-blank-drag-relationships|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=[[Logo TV]]}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Yotka|first=Steff|date=2018-09-10|title=Opening Ceremony Spring 2019 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show|url=https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2019-ready-to-wear/opening-ceremony|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-25|website=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]|language=en}}</ref>

Keitel is non-binary and uses she/her and they/them pronouns.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Keitel|first=Jesse James|date=|title=Jesse James Keitel (@jessejameskeitel)|url=https://www.instagram.com/jessejameskeitel/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-11-17|website=[[Instagram]]|language=en}}</ref> ''[[Big Sky (American TV series)|Big Sky]]'' made them the first nonbinary actor to play a nonbinary series regular on primetime television.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/nonbinary-actor-jesse-james-keitel-groundbreaking-big-sky-role-n1249521|title=Nonbinary actor Jesse James Keitel on groundbreaking 'Big Sky' role|first=Max|last=Gao|website=NBC News|date=December 1, 2020|access-date=December 2, 2020}}</ref><ref name="SeriesPremiere">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/abc-fall-premiere-dates-for-life-replaces-canceled-stumptown-the-rookie-pushed-1234578966/|title=ABC Sets Fall Drama Premiere Dates; 'For Life' Replaces Canceled 'Stumptown' On Schedule, 'The Rookie' Pushed|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=September 17, 2020|accessdate=September 17, 2020}}</ref>