Jesse is originally from Colorado, born in Pueblo and raised with horses in Denver. Could that have anything to do with him wanting to be a cowboy when he grew up?

He came to California with his parents for the last time (They made the trip many times) when he was 15.

 He joined the Army when he was 17 (his Dad signed for him).After three and a half years of active duty, most of it in Germany he was honorably discharged. The reason he was in for three and a half years was because of Viet Nam.

He worked in the construction field for a few years as an operating engineer. Jesse became a Police Officer in 1973. He worked for eighteen years as a Santa Ana Police Officer and was medically retired. 

After retirement he ran a small retail business for a couple years, but the acting bug had already bit him and the rest is history...he became an Actor.