Kerri Browitt Caviezel is widely known as the wife of actor Jim Caviezel, but her own life began years before Hollywood entered the picture — as a standout basketball player, a dedicated student, and later a teacher and coach in her home state of Washington. The two have been married since 1996, share a devout Catholic faith, and are raising three adopted children from China, but Kerri has spent decades building a life defined far more by education, athletics, and service than by fame.
Quick Facts About Kerri Browitt Caviezel
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Kerri Browitt Caviezel |
| Maiden Name | Kerri Browitt |
| Born | Around 1968–1969 |
| Age | Late 50s (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Washington, United States |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Parents | David James Browitt and Jean Vandetta Browitt |
| Siblings | Kristen Linehan, David Browitt, Jim Browitt |
| Education | Western Washington University |
| Profession | English teacher; former basketball player and coach |
| College Team | Western Washington Vikings |
| Hall of Fame | WWU Athletics Hall of Fame, inducted 2015 |
| Husband | Jim Caviezel |
| Married | July 20, 1996 |
| Children | Three adopted children — Bo, Lyn Elizabeth, and David |
| Known For | Jim Caviezel’s wife and former college basketball standout |
Who Is Kerri Browitt Caviezel?
Kerri Browitt Caviezel has spent most of her public recognition tied to her marriage, but her own résumé stands on its own. Before she was known as an actor’s wife, she was one of the more accomplished women’s basketball players to come out of Western Washington University, later transitioning into teaching, coaching, and faith-based service work.
Unlike many spouses drawn into the entertainment world, Kerri never built a public persona around Jim Caviezel’s career. She has instead remained committed to education, family, and her Catholic faith, appearing publicly mainly at events tied to her husband’s films while keeping the rest of her life largely private.
Her Early Life in Washington
Kerri was born in Washington state around 1968 or 1969; her exact birth date hasn’t been confirmed in reliable public records, though university sources suggest 1969 as the more likely year. She was raised alongside siblings Kristen, David, and Jim Browitt — her sister Kristen later married football coach Scott Linehan, adding another athletic connection to the family.
Much of Kerri’s early life took place in the Cle Elum-Roslyn area of Washington, where sports quickly became central to her upbringing. Long before she had any connection to Hollywood, she was already building the athletic and academic foundation that would define much of her early adulthood.
Her High School Basketball Career
Kerri became a standout player for the Cle Elum-Roslyn girls’ basketball program, helping the Warriors capture Washington state championships in 1982 and 1985. Her performance during the 1985 tournament run earned her Most Valuable Player honors, and she was named a first-team Class 1A All-State selection.
By the time her high school career ended, Kerri had scored roughly 1,200 points — a strong number, though her game was never built around scoring alone. She was equally known for her defense, rebounding, and ability to set up teammates, qualities that carried directly into her college career.
Her College Career at Western Washington University
At Western Washington University, Kerri played guard for the WWU Vikings across four seasons, starting all but four of her games and never missing a single one. During her time on the team, the Vikings compiled an impressive 95–28 record.
Her best individual season came in 1988–89, when she served as team co-captain and helped lead Western Washington to a 30–5 record — the first 30-win season in the program’s history. That team advanced to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Tournament. In her senior year, Kerri averaged about 11.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, leading the team in assists for the third consecutive season and earning NAIA District 1 All-Star recognition.
Hall of Fame Honors and Records
Kerri graduated as one of only two women in Western Washington University’s history to rank in the program’s top 10 across points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots — a rare mark of all-around consistency. Her passing ability was especially notable; she remained near the top of the school’s career assists list for years after her playing days ended.
Former WWU coach Lynda Goodrich later credited Kerri’s steady defense, rebounding, and clutch scoring as key traits that made her one of the most complete players of her era. In 2015, Western Washington University formally recognized that legacy by inducting her into its Athletics Hall of Fame.
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Her Education and Teaching Career
Basketball wasn’t Kerri’s only focus in college. She studied history and education at Western Washington, reportedly earning a spot on the university’s President’s List nine times and being named an NAIA National Scholar-Athlete. She graduated in 1990 with both academic and athletic distinctions to her name.
Rather than pursuing basketball professionally, Kerri moved into teaching, working as an English teacher — including a stint at Mount Baker Junior-Senior High School in Washington. That career choice kept her connected to young people and gave her a professional identity independent of her later marriage to a well-known actor.
Her Coaching Career
Kerri also stayed close to the sport she’d excelled in, spending three years as an assistant girls’ basketball coach at Mount Baker Junior-Senior High School. She later returned to her basketball roots at Cle Elum-Roslyn, this time as head coach, and led the Warriors to a second-place finish in the Washington Class 1A state tournament in her first season at the helm.
By the time she met the man who would become her husband, Kerri had already built a substantial career across sports and education — a foundation that existed well before Hollywood became part of her story.
How She Met Jim Caviezel
Kerri Browitt met Jim Caviezel in 1993, reportedly through a blind date arranged by Jim’s sister, Amy. At the time, Jim was still working to establish his acting career, having once pursued basketball himself before turning to film.
The two shared more in common than basketball — both came from strong Catholic backgrounds, and their shared values quickly became the foundation of a serious relationship, despite their different professional paths at the time.
Their Marriage
Kerri and Jim married on July 20, 1996, at Immaculate Conception Church in Roslyn, Washington — a fitting setting given the role Catholic faith had already played in both their lives. As Jim’s acting career grew, eventually including his widely known role in The Passion of the Christ, Kerri chose not to build a public profile of her own, focusing instead on teaching, faith, and family.
She has appeared alongside Jim at select premieres and events tied to films like The Thin Red Line and Déjà Vu, but has remained far less visible than her husband throughout their marriage. By July 2026, the couple had been married for 30 years, a milestone often attributed to their shared faith and family-centered values.
Their Three Adopted Children
Kerri and Jim are parents to three children adopted from China — commonly identified as Bo, Lyn Elizabeth, and David Caviezel. Their approach to adoption reportedly prioritized children with significant medical needs; two of their children reportedly had brain tumors, while another had sarcoma, a form of cancer.
One widely reported story holds that the couple was once offered the chance to adopt a healthy child but chose instead to adopt an older child with a serious medical condition, believing a healthy child would have an easier time finding another family. Bo reportedly spent part of his early life in an orphanage after being abandoned as an infant, and needed significant medical treatment for a brain tumor after being adopted. Jim has spoken publicly about how difficult some of these decisions felt, while crediting Kerri for approaching their children first as people in need of love rather than defining them by their medical challenges.
Her Faith and Pro-Life Work
Kerri’s Catholic faith has shaped much of her adult life beyond her family. She reportedly spent around 17 years working with the Pregnancy Counseling Center in Mission Hills, California, and has spoken publicly at faith-based events on topics including family, adoption, and prayer.
Jim has credited Kerri with strengthening aspects of his own faith, including introducing him to the practice of praying the Rosary and to Medjugorje, a town in Bosnia and Herzegovina associated with reported Marian apparitions. Her influence on his career has also shown up in more practical ways — Jim has spoken about limiting his involvement in romantic or intimate scenes on set out of respect for his marriage and faith.
Family Challenges
The Caviezels faced significant medical challenges tied to their children’s health conditions following adoption. Kerri also experienced loss within her own family — her father, David James Browitt, died in 2013 after reportedly battling ALS, a disease affecting the nerve cells responsible for muscle movement.
Reports indicate the couple’s adopted children later made strong progress following treatment, though the family has generally kept detailed medical information private. Much of what’s publicly known about Kerri comes from confirmed records of her basketball career, teaching and coaching work, and public faith-based appearances, rather than personal disclosures about her family’s private struggles.
Where Is She Now?
As of 2026, Kerri Browitt Caviezel continues to live a mostly private life. She doesn’t appear to maintain a major verified public social media presence and rarely gives interviews focused on herself. Most public interest in her still centers on her connection to Jim Caviezel, their marriage, and their children.
Her fuller story, however, includes a Hall of Fame basketball career, strong academic achievements, years spent teaching and coaching, and long-term involvement in Catholic and pro-life work — a record that exists independently of her husband’s fame.
Final Thoughts
Kerri Browitt Caviezel’s story is a reminder that public recognition doesn’t always reflect the full scope of someone’s life. Long before she became known as Jim Caviezel’s wife, she was already a record-setting athlete, a dedicated teacher, and a coach shaping young players. Her later life — marked by a long marriage, a devout faith, and the decision to adopt children with serious medical needs — adds further depth to a story that has always been about far more than Hollywood.
FAQs About Kerri Browitt Caviezel
Who is Kerri Browitt Caviezel?
She is an American teacher, former college basketball standout, coach, and the wife of actor Jim Caviezel, best known for his role in The Passion of the Christ.
Did Kerri Browitt Caviezel play basketball?
Yes. She was a standout at Cle Elum-Roslyn High School and later at Western Washington University, where she was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015.
How many children do Kerri and Jim Caviezel have?
They have three adopted children from China, commonly reported as Bo, Lyn Elizabeth, and David Caviezel.
When did Kerri Browitt and Jim Caviezel get married?
They married on July 20, 1996, at Immaculate Conception Church in Roslyn, Washington.
What does Kerri Browitt Caviezel do for a living?
She has worked as an English teacher and basketball coach, and has also been involved in Catholic and pro-life advocacy work.
Is Kerri Browitt Caviezel on social media?
There’s no major verified public social media presence connected to her; she has largely kept her life private.
How did Kerri Browitt meet Jim Caviezel?
They reportedly met in 1993 on a blind date arranged by Jim’s sister, Amy.
What honors has Kerri Browitt Caviezel received?
She was inducted into the Western Washington University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015 after a standout four-year college basketball career.
