Jake Epstein

Jacob Lee Epstein<ref name=Blank>Template:Cite news</ref> (born January 16, 1987) is a Canadian actor and singer. He is known for playing Craig Manning, a musician with bipolar disorder, on Degrassi: The Next Generation. He has also had recurring roles in the television series Designated Survivor and The Hardy Boys.

On Broadway, Epstein originated the role of Gerry Goffin in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. He has also starred as Melchior in the national tour of Spring Awakening and played Will in the national tour of American Idiot.

Early life

Epstein was born in Toronto, Ontario. His mother, Kathy Kacer, is a Norma Fleck Award-winning writer of children's stories about the Holocaust, and his father is a lawyer.<ref name="Citron2022" /><ref name="our">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also has an older sister, Gabi, who is an actress and jazz singer.<ref name="Citron2022" />

Epstein is Jewish, and was raised in Conservative Judaism.<ref name="refname08">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Document2 Template:Webarchive</ref> Epstein stated in 2019, "I would consider myself spiritually Jewish rather than religiously Jewish."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

Musical theatre

Epstein made his professional stage debut in a production of Our Town, which played at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in 1999.<ref name="Sumi2019" /> After this, Epstein played the Artful Dodger in a production of Oliver!. The musical played at the Princess of Wales Theatre between November 2, 1999 and January 2, 2000.<ref name="Sumi2019" />

In 2009, he starred as C.B. (Charlie Brown) in a Canadian production of Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead.<ref name="Hetrick" /> Later that year, Epstein joined the first national tour Spring Awakening, where he replaced Kyle Riabko as Melchior Gabor. His first performance with the tour was on July 7, 2009, and stayed with the tour until it ended in 2010.<ref name="Hetrick-Spring Awakening">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In July 2011, Epstein joined the original Canadian production of Billy Elliot the Musical. He played the role of Tony Elliot, Billy's older brother, in the production which played at the Canon Theatre in Toronto. After that show closed, Epstein played Will in the first national tour of American Idiot, which began in December 2011. In a 2013 interview, Epstein said that Will was the most challenging role had had ever played. He said, "I sat on a couch and never left the stage for the majority of the show. That experience was a whole lesson in pacing, in creating a whole world for yourself on stage..."<ref name=Blank />

In 2012, Epstein made his Broadway debut in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, which played at the Foxwoods Theatre. He was the alternate for the lead role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Epstein referred to the role as a "childhood fantasy come true."<ref name="Stevens">Template:Cite news</ref>

Epstein was cast as Gerry Goffin in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, opposite Jessie Mueller.<ref name="Ouzounian2013" /> The musical had a pre-Broadway engagement at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco, where it played September 24 and October 20, 2013. He then originated the role when it transferred to Broadway, where it began performances at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on November 12, 2013. Epstein later shared that playing Carole's ex-husband was uniquely challenging because Carole encouraged him to not portray Gerry as the villain, even though the script changes increasingly presented him that way.<ref name="Stevens" /><ref name="NOW">Template:Cite news</ref> He left the show in 2014 after a year of performances, citing vocal problems and fatigue of playing a real person being portrayed as brooding and villainous.<ref name="Citron2022" /> However, Epstein temporarily returned to the show in 2016, where he reprised his role opposite fellow Canadian actor Chilina Kennedy, who starred as Carole.<ref name="Citron2022" />

In 2016, Epstein starred as a closeted gay man in the off-Broadway show Straight.<ref name=Straight1>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web

}}</ref><ref name=Straight2>Template:Cite news</ref> He said of the script:

"What resonated with me is how a straight person is just a person, but a gay person is a gay person—it's part of the title you give somebody...I thought the whole angle that the play takes about not a fear of coming out but a fear of definition, a fear of being labeled as a gay man, was an argument that's not really made in our sort of post-acceptance society. It's not about a guy who's afraid of coming out..."<ref name=Straight1 />{{#if:|{{#if:|}}

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At the 2019 Toronto Fringe Festival, Epstein premiered his solo cabaret show Boy Falls From the Sky. The show is a retelling of his experiences in show business, including his time on Degrassi: The Next Generation, the challenges of auditioning for musicals, and his experiences on the ill-fated musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Epstein was encouraged to write the show at the encouragement of his wife, who he credits with helping him realizing the power and authenticity of "...somebody with a microphone, telling a true story, something that's funny or horrific or whatever..."<ref name="NOW" /> Mirvish Productions expressed interest in the show, and presented it at the Royal Alexandra Theatre between April 19 and May 29, 2022 and received widespread positive reviews.<ref name="Citron2022">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Epstein has since performed the show across Canada, including in Hamilton, Barrie, and in Quebec at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts.<ref name="Ramsay" /><ref name="Murphy2022" /><ref name="Toben" />

Epstein will star as Frank Carter in the pre-Broadway engagement of Life After, which will play at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto between April 16 and May 4, 2025.<ref name="LifeAfter2025">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Television

After appearing on the TV show The Zack Files, he played Craig Manning on Degrassi: The Next Generation for five seasons and won the Gemini Award.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The character of Craig became a musician on the show and had to cope with parental abuse and bipolar disorder. Epstein said, "At the time, mental illness was not really something anyone was talking about. There was a huge stigma attached — I had never seen [bipolar disorder] on TV, and certainly not in a teenager. I loved the opportunity to portray someone who was conflicted and not perfect..." Craig impregnated a girl named Manny who gets an abortion, and Epstein noted that those episodes were "initially banned" in the United States.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Epstein indicated that he "got the chance to really flesh out this guy that felt like a darker extension of me."<ref name=WBD>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

He left Degrassi during the fifth season to attend the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal and made theater his new focus. Epstein said, "One of the things I love about theatre is how raw it is. There's no faking it… I really wanted to have a base in theatre, and that kind of opened up all these doors for me." Epstein returned to Degrassi for minor guest appearances in season 6–8.<ref name=Gioia>Template:Cite news</ref>

Epstein played "geeky FBI computer nerd" Chuck Russink in the American TV show Designated Survivor (2016–2018). It was cancelled by ABC after two seasons, and he was no longer in the show when it was picked up and aired by Netflix for a third season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

Epstein married actress Vanessa Smythe in 2018. They welcomed their first child, son Miles August Epstein, on May 25, 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Theatre credits

Year	Production	Role	Theatre	Category	Template:Abbr
1999	Our Town	Joe Crowell	Royal Alexandra Theatre	Soulpepper Theatre / Mirvish Productions	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Oliver!	Artful Dodger	Princess of Wales Theatre	Mirvish Productions
2008–2009	Cinderella: The Sillylicious Family Musical	Prince George	Elgin Theatre	Ross Petty Productions
2009	Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead	CB	Six Degrees Theatre	Regional: Toronto	<ref name="Hetrick">Template:Cite news</ref>
2009–2010	Spring Awakening	Melchior Gabor	First National Tour		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2010–2011	Beauty and the Beast: The Savagely Silly Family Musical	Prince Zack / The Beast	Elgin Theatre	Ross Petty Productions
2011	Billy Elliot the Musical	Tony Elliot	Canon Theatre	Mirvish Productions	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2011–2012	American Idiot	Will	First National Tour		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2012–2013	Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark	alt. Peter Parker/Spider-Man	Foxwoods Theatre	Broadway	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2013	Beautiful: The Carole King Musical	Gerry Goffin	Curran Theatre	Pre-Broadway engagement: San Francisco	<ref name="Ouzounian2013">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2013–2014			Stephen Sondheim Theatre	Broadway
2016	Straight	Ben	Acorn Theatre	Off-Broadway	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2016–2017	Beautiful: The Carole King Musical	Gerry Goffin	Stephen Sondheim Theatre	Broadway	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2019	Boy Falls From the Sky	Himself	Supermarket Bar	Toronto Fringe Festival	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2019	Dear Jack, Dear Louise	Jack Ludwig	Arena Stage	Washington, D.C.	<ref name="Meyer">Template:Cite news</ref>
2022	Boy Falls From the Sky	Himself	Royal Alexandra Theatre	Mirvish Productions	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2023			Five Points Theatre	Barrie, Ontario	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
			Theatre Aquarius	Hamilton, Ontario	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
			Sylvan Adams Theatre	Segal Centre for Performing Arts	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2024	The Last Timbit	Shane	Elgin Theatre		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2025	Life After	Frank Carter	Ed Mirvish Theatre	Pre-Broadway engagement: Toronto	<ref name="LifeAfter2025" />

Filmography

Film

Year	Film	Role	Notes
2004	Crown Heights	Template:TableTBA
2007	Charlie Bartlett	Dustin Lauderbach
2012	Blood Pressure	Josh Trestman
2013	Jesse	Jesse Turner	Short film
2015	4th Man Out	Marc the artist
	As I Like Her	Jimmy	Short film
	Borealis	Fergus
	Full Out	Coach Pierce
2016	Zaide	Saul	Short film
2018	Mouthpiece	Danny

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1999	Ricky's Room	Bradley
	Real Kids, Real Adventures	Chris Gilmore	Episode: "Lost & Found: The Richard Prieur Story"
2000	Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire	Duffy	Television movie
	Quints	Brad	Television movie
2000–2002	The Zack Files	Cam Dunleavy	Main role
2002–2009	Degrassi: The Next Generation	Craig Manning	Main role (seasons 2–5); guest role (seasons 6–8)
2003	The Eleventh Hour	Jacob McGibbon	Episode: "Shelter"
	Girls v. Boys	Himself	Contestant Hawaii
2005	Radio Free Roscoe	Jackson Torrance	Episode: "Musical Influences"
2006	Angela's Eyes	Brad	Episode: "Undercover Eyes"
2007	The Good Witch	Brad	Episodes: "Halloween Prophecy, parts 1 & 2"
2008	Paradise Falls	Jim	Episodes: "Revelations", "Stardust"
2009	Being Erica	Malcolm Abrams	Episode: "Battle Royale"
	Degrassi Goes Hollywood	Craig Manning	Teleivision movie
2011	My Babysitter's a Vampire	David Stachowski	Episode: "Blue Moon"
2012	Murdoch Mysteries	Eddie Driscol	Episode: "Murdoch Night in Canada"
2015	Remedy	Jake Ruben	Episodes: "Fight or Flight", "Day One"
	Charming Christmas	Woody	Television movie
2016–2017	Degrassi: Next Class	Craig Manning	Episodes: "#ThrowBackThursday", "FactsOnly"
2016–2018	Designated Survivor	Chuck Russink	Recurring role
2017–2019	Suits	Brian Altman	Recurring role (seasons 7–9)
2017	Gone	Stephen	Episode: "Ride"
	Backstage	Clive Richie	Season 2 Episode 25
	Home for the Holidays	Charles Ponzi	Television movie: Christmas special of Murdoch Mysteries
2019	Frankie Drake Mysteries	Bruce Fordham	Episode: "A Brother in Arms"
	Mistletoe & Menorahs	Jonathan Silver	Television movie
	A Storybook Christmas	Taylor Haldway	Television movie
2020	Star Trek: Discovery	Dr Attis	Episode: "Die Trying"
	Christmas at Maple Creek	Carter	Television movie
2021	Eight Gifts of Hanukkah	Daniel Myers	Television movie
2022	The Umbrella Academy	Alphonso Hargreeves / Sparrow Number Four	Recurring role (season 3)
	Hudson & Rex	Todd Harvey	Episode: "Den of Snakes"
2022–2023	The Hardy Boys	Mr. Adrian Munder	Recurring role (seasons 2–3)
2023	The Wedding Contract	Adam	Television movie
	What We Do for Love	Jason Sharpe	Television movie
	Laughing All the Way	Mike Baxter	Television movie
	Sincerely Truly Christmas	Robert Riley	Television movie
2025	Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent	Andrew	Season 2 Episode 7

Discography

• 2008: Music from Degrassi: The Next Generation ("My Window")
• 2009: Degrassi Goes Hollywood: Music from the Original Movie ("Rescue You" and "Swan Song")
• 2014: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2001	Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a TV Movie (Comedy) – Supporting Young Actor	Quints	Template:Nominated	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2003		Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama)	Degrassi: The Next Generation	Template:Nominated	<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Leadying Young Actor		Template:Nominated	<ref name=":0" />
	Gemini Awards	Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series		Template:Won	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2004		Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series		Template:Nominated	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Leadying Young Actor		Template:Nominated	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2005		Outstanding Young Performers in a TV Series		Template:Nominated	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2006		Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama)		Template:Nominated	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2018	Hollywood North Film Awards	Best Performance – Canadian Short Film	Okay / The Talk / Zaide / Hypostasis / I Lost My Mind	Template:Nominated	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2022	Dora Mavor Moore Awards	Outstanding New Musical	Boy Falls From the Sky	Template:Nominated	<ref name="Watson">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role		Template:Nominated
2025		Outstanding Performance by an Individual	Life After	Template:Pending	<ref name="2025Doras">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

External links

• Template:Official website
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