Joshua Jackson Says Emilio Estevez Gave Him Tough Love on Set of “D2: The Mighty Ducks” — and It Changed Everything

Sometimes mentors can change your whole way of thinking.

Joshua Jackson opened up about filming the Mighty Ducks films and working with Emilio Estevez on the March 11 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. The episode was guest-hosted by Brooke Shields, and she asked the actor about what he learned from Estevez during their time in the beloved franchise.

“I was quite young. And I kind of learned how to be on set from Emilio, because I didn’t know any of this stuff,” Jackson, 46, said. He played Charlie Conway in the trilogy of films, beginning with 1992’s Mighty Ducks. Estevez, 62, played Gordon Bombay, a former youth hockey player who has to coach the team as community service.

The Fringe alumnus remembered that one day while filming 1994’s D2: Mighty Ducks, they filmed a game sequence in an arena full of people; he guessed around 20,000 fans were in attendance. “And as I was coming off [the ice], I don’t know why — either I was being a little dick or I was tired or whatever — but for some reason, there were a bunch of people waiting for autographs and I just blew past them to go to the locker room,” Jackson remembered. “And Emilio pulled me to the side and was like, ‘Don’t ever do that again.’ And I was like ‘What do you mean?’ ”

“ ‘Don’t ever, ever do that again. Why do you think you get to go out there and skate in front of all of these people? This is who keeps you employed. Do not ever forget who it is that you’re here for,’ ” Jackson remembered his costar saying.

Shields called Estevez’s advice “brilliant,” adding, “My mom used to say, ‘Every person is one person.’ And that relationship is just between you and them and you have to respect it.”

Jackson said, “It was a really important reframing for my 15-year-old self [to be like], ‘Just remember who you are and what’s important.’ ” Shields added that the fact that Jackson “took” the advice was a “huge testament” to who he was as a person.

The Mighty Ducks franchise also starred Kenan Thompson, Marguerite Moreau, Elden Henson and Jussie Smollett. Estevez reprised his role as Bombay in the first season of the 2021 Disney+ series Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. 

Jackson ultimately transitioned into older roles with his part as Pacey on Dawson’s Creek, which he starred in from 1998 to 2003. He also starred in 1999’s Cruel Intentions.

Jackson currently stars in ABC’s Doctor Odyssey as Dr. Max Bankman. "It's the first time in a very long time that I'm playing a pretty uncomplicated guy," he told PEOPLE in September 2024. "He is a good doctor and a good man trying to figure out his life."

"But really, what the show [is], it's not about heavy, dramatic backstory. It's not about secret drug addiction or affairs. It's a fun, sexy, beautiful, fast-paced Ryan Murphy fantasy," he explained.

Doctor Odyssey airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and next day on Hulu.

Read the original article on People