JE
Photo of Jake Epstein

Jake Epstein

Actor
Born January 16, 1987 (37 years)
Jake Epstein is a Canadian actor, singer and writer. He is best known for playing Craig in 'Degrassi: The Next Generation' (Gemini Award), Chuck in 'Designated Survivor' and Brian in 'Suits,' along with many other leading roles. On stage, he appeared on Broadway as Peter Parker in 'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,' Gerry Goffin in 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical' (original Broadway cast), and starred in the US National Tours of Green Day's American Idiot and Spring Awakening. Was guitarist and lead singer in a band called Mind the Gap which he started with four of his best friends. They did a couple of gigs around Toronto.

Has one older sister, Gabi Epstein.

Some of his favorite bands are: Pink Floyd, System of a Down, The Beatles, Radiohead, and the Headstones (lead singer, Hugh Dillon, played his father on Degrassi).

Used to be a brown belt in karate.

He directed his first play in 2003 called "The Dead and the Rooster".

His favorite acting career was playing in the "Oliver" play at the Royal Alex Theatre as the "Artful Dodger". His acting career shot off after that.

He plays drums for a band called Funkasaurus Rex.

Attended Earl Haig Secondary School, the same high school as his Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001) co-star Stefan Brogren.

Appeared with the actor that plays Jimmy's Dad (Conrad Coates) in two different series, first in the "Zack Files" (2000) and in "Degrassi: The Next Generation" (2001).

Parents are Ian Epstein and Kathy Kacer.

Auditioned for a role on Glee (2009).

Plays with his competitive soccer team; the North York Cosmos [March 2003]

Appearing as Melchior in the US Tour of Spring Awakening. [July 2009]

Appearing on Girls vs. Boys Hawaii [August 2004]

Filming season 5 of Degrassi. [May 2005]

He is from an Ashkenazi Jewish family (from Russia, Slovakia, and Panevezys in Lithuania).

He went to Claude Watson School for the Arts with his future Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001) co-star Stacey Farber from Grades Four to Eight.

He worked with Robert Clark in The Zack Files (2000) and his elder brother Daniel Clark in Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001).

His favourite film is Forrest Gump (1994).

He was born only one day after his The Zack Files (2000) and Degrassi Goes Hollywood (2009) co-star Michael Seater.

He played Craig Manning in Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001) and was born only two days before the premiere of the original series Degrassi High (1987).

His favourite television series are Family Guy (1999) and Breaking Bad (2008).

As a child, he was a fan of X-Men: The Animated Series (1992) and Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994).

He was the only one of the three main stars of The Zack Files (2000), the other two being Michael Seater and Robert Clark, who did not subsequently star in Strange Days at Blake Holsey High (2002).

Family (2)

Spouse Vanessa Smythe (7 July 2018 - present)
Movies & Shows on Plex
  • Degrassi
  • Good Witch
  • Being Erica
  • Blood Pressure
  • Crown Heights
  • What We Do for Love
  • Real Kids, Real Adventures
Known For
  • Designated Survivor
  • Charlie Bartlett
  • Full Out
  • Christmas at Maple Creek
  • Eight Gifts of Hanukkah
  • Quints
  • Mistletoe & Menorahs
  • Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire
  • A Storybook Christmas
  • The Zack Files
  • Danger Next Door
  • The Wedding Contract
  • Charming Christmas
  • Laughing All the Way
  • Candy Cane Candidate
  • Degrassi Goes Hollywood
  • Jay and Silent Bob Do Degrassi
  • Blood Pressure
  • Mouthpiece
  • FANatic
  • What We Do for Love
  • Sincerely Truly Christmas
  • Real Kids, Real Adventures
  • Girls v. Boys

Filmography

2024
2024
Mistletoe Murders (TV Series) · as Cast
2024
The Last Timbit · as Shane
2023
Sincerely Truly Christmas · as Robert Riley
2023
Laughing All the Way · as Mike Baxter
2023
What We Do for Love · as Jason Sharpe
2023
2021
2021
2021
2020
2020
The Hardy Boys (2020) (TV Series) · as Mr. Munder
2019
Mistletoe & Menorahs · as Jonathan Silver
2019
2019
Hudson & Rex (TV Series) · as Todd Harvey
2019
The Umbrella Academy (TV Series) · as Alphonso Hargreeves
2018
Holly Hobbie (TV Series) · as Jason Ryan Reeves
2018
Mouthpiece · as Danny
2017
Gone (2017) (TV Series)
2017
Frankie Drake Mysteries (TV Series) · as Bruce Fordham
2017
Star Trek: Discovery (TV Series) · as Dr. Attis
2017
FANatic · as James Douglas
2017
Ransom (TV Series) · as Jasper Edwards
2016
Designated Survivor (TV Series) · as Chuck Russink
2016
Private Eyes (TV Series) · as Harrison Kent
2016
Backstage (TV Series) · as Clive Richie
2016
Degrassi: Next Class (TV Series) · as Craig Manning
2015
Charming Christmas · as Woody
2015
Full Out · as Pierce
2015
Borealis · as Fergus
2015
Fourth Man Out · as Marc Peters
2015
Good Witch (TV Series) · as Brad
2014
Remedy (TV Series) · as Dr. Jake Ruben
2012
Blood Pressure · as Josh Trestman
2011
My Babysitter's a Vampire (TV Series) · as David Stachowski
2011
Suits (TV Series) · as Brian Altman
2009
Degrassi Goes Hollywood · as Craig Manning
2009
Being Erica (TV Series) · as Malcolm Abrams
2008
Degrassi Spring Break Movie · as Craig Manning
2008
Murdoch Mysteries (TV Series) · as Charles Ponzi
2007
Charlie Bartlett · as Dustin Lauderbach
2006
Angela's Eyes (TV Series)
2005
Degrassi: Minis (TV Series) · as Craig Manning
2005
Jay and Silent Bob Do Degrassi · as Craig Manning
2004
2004
Crown Heights · as Aron Kraemer
2003
Girls v. Boys (TV Series)
2003
Radio Free Roscoe (TV Series)
2002
2001
Degrassi (TV Series) · as Craig Manning
2001
Paradise Falls (TV Series) · as Jim
2000
2000
The Zack Files (TV Series) · as Cam Dunleavey / Tybalt
2000
Quints · as Brad
1999
Ricky's Room (TV Series)
1997

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