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Jeffrey Donovan just made a bold claim: Colorado is the true sunshine state, not Florida. The Burn Notice star, age 57, has no plans to ever leave the Rocky Mountain state. He’s raising three children there with his wife and rejecting the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle entirely.
🔥 Quick Facts
- State of Choice: Donovan moved to Colorado after meeting his wife and says it gets more sunshine than Arizona and New Mexico
- Family Life: He and wife Michelle Woods have three children: Claire, Lucas, and Ethan
- Career Highlight: Starred as Michael Westen in Burn Notice for seven seasons starting in 2007
- Current Work: Now starring as Abraham in the three-part biblical series “The Faithful”
From Hollywood to the Rockies
Jeffrey Donovan ditched Los Angeles after meeting his future wife while filming a project. The actor explained that he met Michelle Woods on set and found himself visiting Colorado regularly. Once he started exploring the state, he never looked back. The couple married in August 2012 in a small ceremony in Santa Barbara.
Despite growing up in Boston, Donovan now considers Colorado home. While many of his friends still live in Los Angeles, he says raising children there is far more challenging than in his adopted mountain state.
Jeffrey Donovan claims Colorado is the true ‘sunshine state,’ won’t leave LA
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Colorado’s Secret Sunshine Advantage
Donovan makes a compelling case for Colorado over Florida. He claims the state receives more sunshine than perhaps even Arizona and New Mexico. This contradicts Florida’s nickname as the sunshine state. Donovan jokingly suggested Florida should be called “the thunderstorm state” instead due to its frequent afternoon storms.
Beyond weather, Donovan emphasizes that healthy living in Colorado significantly influences his family decisions. The outdoor culture, lower pollution levels, and active community appeal far more to him than the pressures of celebrity Hollywood culture.
Raising Kids in the Right Environment
Donovan openly admits that Colorado makes parenting easier for him. “I find it less challenging in Colorado, which plays to my talent level of raising kids,” he stated with self aware humor. He believes that if parenting in a location is manageable, that’s where families should be. The actor credits Colorado’s community values and less demanding social environment for making fatherhood more enjoyable.
| Aspect | Colorado Advantage |
| Sunshine Hours | More than Arizona and New Mexico |
| Parenting Challenge Level | Less challenging than Los Angeles |
| Family Status | Three children: Claire, Lucas, Ethan |
| Donovan’s Commitment | “We are never leaving” |
“Colorado, secretly, is the sunshine state. It’s a beautiful part of the country that gets more sunshine than maybe even Arizona and New Mexico. It’s incredible. So that’s why we’re there. And it’s really healthy living.”
— Jeffrey Donovan, Actor and Father
The Burn Notice Legacy and New Horizons
Donovan gained national fame playing Michael Westen in the hit series Burn Notice, which ran for seven seasons starting in 2007. He even directed episodes during the show’s run. While he describes the role as “the most grueling” job of his career, he credits the show for changing his life in unexpected ways. Had he not taken that demanding role, he would never have met his wife or had his three beautiful children.
Today, Donovan is starring as Abraham in the three part biblical epic The Faithful. The show explores the Book of Genesis from the perspective of five women. Donovan said taking on such a significant role was “a big swing” for him professionally in 2026.
Is Hollywood’s Greatest Appeal Really Worth the Cost?
As more celebrities escape to states like Montana and Idaho, Donovan presents a powerful counterargument to the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle. He reminds viewers that success and happiness don’t require living in Los Angeles. Instead, they require commitment to family, finding a supportive community, and choosing an environment where your children thrive. For Jeffrey Donovan, that environment is definitively not the entertainment capital but the high altitude sunshine of Colorado. Will other A-list actors follow his example and escape the pressure cooker of Hollywood?
Sources
- Fox News Digital – Full interview with Jeffrey Donovan regarding his decision to stay in Colorado and raise his family away from Hollywood
- Fox News Entertainment – Coverage of Donovan’s recent role in “The Faithful” and his perspective on marriage and parenting
- IMDB – Biographical information on Jeffrey Donovan’s career including Burn Notice and current projects
