Jake Epstein

Jake Epstein

Born: January 16, 1987
in Toronto, Canada
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 for Jake Epstein...

Sincerely Truly Christmas
Title: Sincerely Truly Christmas
Character: Robert Riley
Released: December 3, 2023
Type: Movie
When a magical Christmas wish goes wrong and inadvertently gives Christina the ability to hear what gifts everyone wants for the holidays, she quickly learns that convincing reclusive one-hit wonder, Dan Copren, to step back into the limelight could make a lot of people happy. But to get to Dan, Christina must first link up with her handsome realtor, Robert, and help him figure out his son Oliver’s ever-changing Christmas wish list.
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Laughing All the Way
Title: Laughing All the Way
Character: Mike Baxter
Released: November 26, 2023
Type: Movie
Aubri Callahan is an aspiring comedian and ghost writer for Bella Delmonico, acclaimed stand up comic and owner of the Vista Theater. Performing at the Vista is a key step on the way to stardom and despite her natural talent, Aubri patiently waits for her time to shine, writing jokes for Bella in the shadows of the comedic giants that came before her. When The Vista Theater Variety Show lands in Aubri’s lap she must plan the whole event and find a headliner all before Christmas eve, just three weeks away.
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The Wedding Contract
Title: The Wedding Contract
Character: Adam
Released: June 17, 2023
Type: Movie
Rebecca, a teacher, and Adam, an ad executive are excited to plan their Jewish wedding, but their wedding and future are put into jeopardy when Adam lands a new ad campaign, and their mothers meet for the first time.
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What We Do for Love
Title: What We Do for Love
Character: Jason
Released: April 1, 2023
Type: Movie
Type A personality, Sophie outgrows her job at a small mediation company, and secures a job at the famous Lower Manhattan mediation and wellness firm, Floating Lotus. Always up for a challenge, Sophie dives headfirst into her role as Associate Mediator. She finds herself at loggerheads with the companies chief Life Coach and lothario, Jason Sharpe who is the son of the firm’s President. Jason’s a loveable rouge, who charms his way into people’s hearts. The two are forced to work together.
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Candy Cane Candidate
Title: Candy Cane Candidate
Character: Parker
Released: December 20, 2021
Type: Movie
Natural-born leader, Julia, returns to her hometown of North Falls for Christmas to drown her sorrows in eggnog, cookies, and Yuletide after her recent political campaign for city council ended in a landslide loss. It's the perfect place for Julia's holiday escape — until she realizes coming home means running into her old high school rival, Parker, the arrogant know-it-all who beat her in a race for senior class president.
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Eight Gifts of Hanukkah
Title: Eight Gifts of Hanukkah
Character: Daniel
Released: December 3, 2021
Type: Movie
An anonymous suitor sends optometrist Sara a gift for each night of Hanukkah. On her journey to find her secret admirer, she learns her one true love might be someone she never expected.
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The Danger Next Door
Title: The Danger Next Door
Character: Ben
Released: October 24, 2021
Type: Movie
After a violent mugging, soon-to-be parents Robin and Ben flee the city for the idyllic countryside, a perfect place to raise their child. Unfortunately their disturbingly attentive neighbors have their own agenda for Robin and her family.
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Christmas at Maple Creek
Title: Christmas at Maple Creek
Character: Carter
Released: December 16, 2020
Type: Movie
Sparks fly between a romance novelist and a blacksmith as they try to save a charming village during the holidays.
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Title: The Hardy Boys
Character: Mr. Munder
Released: December 4, 2020
Type: TV
When Frank and Joe Hardy arrive in Bridgeport, they set out to uncover the truth behind the recent tragedy that has changed their lives. In doing so, they stumble upon something much more sinister - something only the Hardy Boys can stop.
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Mistletoe & Menorahs
Title: Mistletoe & Menorahs
Character: Jonathan Silver
Released: December 7, 2019
Type: Movie
When a determined toy company executive, Christy, must learn about Hanukkah in a hurry in order to land a big account, she enlists the help of her co-worker's friend Jonathan, who happens to also be in desperate need of turning his bachelor pad into a Christmas Wonderland to impress his girlfriend's father.
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A Storybook Christmas
Title: A Storybook Christmas
Character: Taylor
Released: November 4, 2019
Type: Movie
If event planner Celeste Everett is going to save her business and give her niece a happy Christmas season, she is going to need help. When the nanny she hires turns out to be a man, Celeste surprisingly realizes she may have also found Christmas love for herself.
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Mouthpiece
Title: Mouthpiece
Character: Danny
Released: April 4, 2019
Type: Movie
Based on a stage play of the same name by Amy Nostbakken and Norah Sadava, the story follows Cassandra, who is portrayed by the two women, expressing the opposing voices that exist inside the modern woman's head, during a 48-hour period as she tries to organize the affairs for her mother's funeral.
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Title: Hudson & Rex
Character: Todd Harvey
Released: February 25, 2019
Type: TV
Detective Charlie Hudson teams up with what he calls his "highly trained law enforcement animal" German Shepherd dog named Rex who he prefers to team up with because he doesn't talk his ear off.
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Title: The Umbrella Academy
Character: Alphonso Hargreeves
Released: February 15, 2019
Type: TV
A dysfunctional family of superheroes comes together to solve the mystery of their father's death, the threat of the apocalypse and more.
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Title: Gone
Released: November 13, 2017
Type: TV
The survivor of a famous child-abduction case joins a special task force dedicated to solving abductions and missing person cases.
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Title: Frankie Drake Mysteries
Character: Bruce Fordham
Released: November 6, 2017
Type: TV
Toronto’s only female private detective in the 1920s takes on the cases the police don’t want or can’t handle. From airplanes and booze running to American G-men, Communists and union busters, Frankie’s fearless sense of adventure gets her into all kinds of trouble, but she always manages to find her way out.
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Title: Star Trek: Discovery
Character: Dr. Attis
Released: September 24, 2017
Type: TV
Follow the voyages of Starfleet on their missions to discover new worlds and new life forms, and one Starfleet officer who must learn that to truly understand all things alien, you must first understand yourself.
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FANatic
Title: FANatic
Character: James Douglas
Released: February 20, 2017
Type: Movie
Tess is the female lead in a very successful Sci-Fi series. She longs to escape from the sexist and stereotypical role that has given her fame but no one around her can believe she would leave a starring role. When a photo leaks that suggests her leading man and real-life husband is cheating on her, Tess turns to her trusted assistant for support. Unfortunately, that may not have been the wisest choice.
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Title: Ransom
Character: Jasper Edwards
Released: January 1, 2017
Type: TV
Eric Beaumont's crisis negotiator team is brought in to save lives and resolve the most difficult kidnap and ransom cases when no one else can.
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Title: Designated Survivor
Character: Chuck Russink
Released: September 21, 2016
Type: TV
Tom Kirkman, a low-level cabinet member is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack during the State of the Union kills everyone above him in the Presidential line of succession.
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Title: Private Eyes
Character: Harrison Kent
Released: May 26, 2016
Type: TV
Ex-pro hockey player Matt Shade irrevocably changes his life when he teams up with fierce P.I. Angie Everett to form an unlikely investigative powerhouse.
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Title: Degrassi: Next Class
Character: Craig Manning
Released: January 4, 2016
Type: TV
Follow a group of high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Degrassi Community School, a fictional school in Toronto, Ontario, as they encounter some of the typical issues and challenges common to a teenager's life.
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Charming Christmas
Title: Charming Christmas
Character: Woody
Released: November 8, 2015
Type: Movie
Meredith Rossman has made Rossman's Department store her entire life, not leaving any time for Christmas or romance. But when she is roped into donning the store's antique Mrs. Claus outfit to play Mrs. Claus at Rossman's famous Santaville, her life takes some unexpected turns. Through the help of the suit and the charming store Santa, Nick, Meredith rekindles her love of Christmas, the store, their employees and possibly even begins a new love with Nick.
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Full Out
Title: Full Out
Character: Pierce
Released: September 11, 2015
Type: Movie
Based on the true life story of California gymnast Ariana Berlin. As she zoned in on her Olympic goals, 14 year old Ariana Berlin's life took a sharp turn when she was involved in a debilitating car accident. Gaining her confidence and movement back through learning hip hop dance, she unexpectedly found herself called back to the gymnastics world thanks to world renowned UCLA Coach Valorie Kondos Field. With Val's help, Ariana was eventually able to secure a spot on the UCLA gymnastics team and win an NCAA championship, a lifelong goal that she had always dreamed of. This is a wonderfully inspiring story of persistence, confidence, and the heart and courage to make a somewhat impossible comeback in life.
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Borealis
Title: Borealis
Character: Fergus
Released: September 5, 2015
Type: Movie
Jonah, an unemployed gambler, takes his estranged pot-smoking teen-aged daughter Aurora on a dangerous road trip to Churchill, Manitoba to show her the magnificent Northern Lights – before her vision disorder renders her completely blind.
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It Goes There: Degrassi's Most Talked About Moments
Title: It Goes There: Degrassi's Most Talked About Moments
Character: Himself
Released: July 31, 2015
Type: Movie
The cast and crew talk about their most favourite character moments and the storylines that caused the most reactions.
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4th Man Out
Title: 4th Man Out
Character: Marc Peters
Released: May 26, 2015
Type: Movie
After a night of drinking, Adam Hutcherson stumbles out of the closet to his three straight buddies. A disruption to their dynamic which they now must try and overcome through alcohol, Tinder dates and forgiveness.
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Title: Remedy
Character: Dr. Jake Ruben
Released: February 24, 2014
Type: TV
Griffin Conner, a med-school dropout having left in a haze of disgrace, is forced to return to Bethune General Hospital as its newest orderly and work alongside his family.
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Jesse
Title: Jesse
Character: Jesse Turner
Released: September 21, 2013
Type: Movie
After her parents are killed in a car accident, twenty-two year old Kelly Turner finds herself in the overwhelming position of being the sole caregiver for her older brother Jesse who has autism.
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Blood Pressure
Title: Blood Pressure
Character: Josh Trestman
Released: October 30, 2012
Type: Movie
A middle-aged woman follows letters from an unseen admirer into potential danger.
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Title: My Babysitter's a Vampire
Character: David Stachowski
Released: June 27, 2011
Type: TV
Ethan, Benny and fledgling vampire Sarah battle zombies, demons and the other supernatural beasties that regularly threaten their school.
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Title: Suits
Character: Brian Altman (voice)
Released: June 23, 2011
Type: TV
While running from a drug deal gone bad, Mike Ross, a brilliant young college-dropout, slips into a job interview with one of New York City's best legal closers, Harvey Specter. Tired of cookie-cutter law school grads, Harvey takes a gamble by hiring Mike on the spot after he recognizes his raw talent and photographic memory.
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Title: Suits
Character: Brian Altman
Released: June 23, 2011
Type: TV
While running from a drug deal gone bad, Mike Ross, a brilliant young college-dropout, slips into a job interview with one of New York City's best legal closers, Harvey Specter. Tired of cookie-cutter law school grads, Harvey takes a gamble by hiring Mike on the spot after he recognizes his raw talent and photographic memory.
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Degrassi Goes Hollywood
Title: Degrassi Goes Hollywood
Character: Craig Manning
Released: August 14, 2009
Type: Movie
The gang travels to Los Angeles, California as they attempt to live out their dreams.
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Degrassi Spring Break Movie
Title: Degrassi Spring Break Movie
Character: Craig Manning
Released: April 4, 2008
Type: Movie
Teen Drama....
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Charlie Bartlett
Title: Charlie Bartlett
Character: Dustin Lauderbach
Released: February 22, 2008
Type: Movie
Awkward teenager Charlie Bartlett has trouble fitting in at a new high school. Charlie needs some friends fast, and decides that the best way to find them is to appoint himself the resident psychiatrist. He becomes one of the most popular guys in school by doling out advice and, occasionally, medication, to the student body.
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Title: Angela's Eyes
Released: July 16, 2006
Type: TV
FBI agent Angela Clinton has the exceptional gift of knowing when someone is lying. She discovered this skill at age 14, when she learned her "average" American parents were actually spies. Attempting to right her parents' wrong, Angela is now working with the same agency that brought her parents down.
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Title: Degrassi: Minis
Character: Craig Manning
Released: February 3, 2006
Type: TV
A series of shorts related to Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001).
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Jay and Silent Bob Do Degrassi
Title: Jay and Silent Bob Do Degrassi
Character: Craig Manning
Released: February 5, 2005
Type: Movie
Snoogans! What are Jay and Silent Bob doing in Canada? Rewind….what are they doing at DEGRASSI! One major perk to being a director is that you can live out your fantasies. Kevin Smith's fantasy? To be featured in a three episode arc of Degrassi: The Next Generation! Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes head north to film their next movie in which their alter egos are forced to go back to high school, called "Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh?" And what better high school to shoot at that Degrassi Community School? But drama ensues even before the cameras begin to roll!
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Title: Degrassi Unscripted
Released: August 27, 2004
Type: TV
Degrassi Unscripted was a mini-series than ran for two seasons. Once in the summer of 2004, and then again in the summer of 2005. It featured eight different Degrassi stars.
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Title: Girls v. Boys
Released: August 8, 2003
Type: TV
Girls v. Boys, also known as GVB, is an American reality series that has aired on The N from August 8, 2003 to October 7, 2005. GVB pits teams of adolescent boys and girls against each other in physical competitions. The series had four seasons: GVB: Tampa, GVB: Hawaii, GVB: Montana and GVB: Puerto Rico. It is produced by New York-based Dancing Toad Productions.
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Title: Radio Free Roscoe
Released: August 1, 2003
Type: TV
Radio Free Roscoe was a Canadian television series filmed in Toronto, Ontario. The show was produced by Decode Entertainment, and it first aired on 1 August 2003 on Family, in Canada. It has also been dubbed in French in the province of Quebec and aired on VRAK.TV. The show was later aired on The N in the United States, where the show received funding for a second season. The series ended on 27 May 2005 because The N decided to stop funding the show, and Family, along with Decode Entertainment, could not fill the gap in the production budget. The show was shown on Family until 2007, when it was replaced. In early 2008, The N began rebroadcasting reruns. The pilot was first filmed in New Jersey, with an entirely different cast. Then, the show was going to be based in Nutley, New Jersey and was titled Radio Free Nutley. The show was never picked up until Decode Entertainment decided to move production to Toronto and change the cast and title of the show. However, the show was still set in suburban New Jersey.
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Title: The Eleventh Hour
Released: November 26, 2002
Type: TV
The Eleventh Hour is a Canadian television drama series which aired weekly on CTV from 2002 to 2005. The show revolves around the reporters and producers at a fictional television newsmagazine series, The Eleventh Hour. Unhappy with the newsmagazine's shrinking audience, the network has brought in a new executive producer, Kennedy Marsh, to reorient the show in a more ratings-driven tabloid journalism direction. The tension between the ratings imperative and the more traditional journalistic ethics of the show's senior staff is the primary conflict that drives the show, but storylines also include the team's efforts to get the stories that will make it to air each week. The Eleventh Hour was produced by Alliance Atlantis, Canada's largest film and television production house. It aired in the U.S. on Sleuth, under the title Bury the Lead, to distinguish it from a CBS series with a similar name.
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Title: Degrassi
Released: October 14, 2001
Type: TV
The life of a group of adolescents going through the trials and tribulations of teendom at Degrassi Community School.
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Title: Degrassi
Character: Craig Manning
Released: October 14, 2001
Type: TV
The life of a group of adolescents going through the trials and tribulations of teendom at Degrassi Community School.
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Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire
Title: Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire
Character: Duffy
Released: October 13, 2000
Type: Movie
The Hansen kids are in a jam. Adam and his best friend Duffy have gotten their hands on some tickets for the Headless Horseman concert, and his sister Chelsea has a date with her dreamy boyfriend Peter. The only problem is they're both grounded. Chelsea and Adam will do whatever it takes to get their mom Lynette out of the house, even if it includes a chance meeting with a very mysterious man. Everything seems to go according to plan until their little brother Taylor realizes that this stranger might be a vampire.
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Title: The Zack Files
Character: Cam Dunleavey / Tybalt
Released: September 17, 2000
Type: TV
The Zack Files is a science fiction television program that revolves around a young boy, played by Robert Clark, who is a magnet for paranormal activity and attends Horace White High School for Boys along with his three friends Cam, Gwen, and Spencer. Zack manages to get himself into trouble with his paranormal adventures and it is up to his friends to help him set things straight. The series is based on a series of books with the same name, written by Dan Greenburg. In August 2004, Goldhill Home Media released the first season on DVD.
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Quints
Title: Quints
Character: Brad
Released: August 18, 2000
Type: Movie
A teenager goes to desperate lengths to get attention when her mother gives birth to quints.
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Title: Ricky's Room
Released: October 9, 1999
Type: TV
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Title: Real Kids, Real Adventures
Released: April 5, 1998
Type: TV
Electrifying true stories and remarkable acts of bravery and heroism of real kids who find themselves in harrowing situations. From a twelve-year-old girl who fights off a shark to an 18-year-old who overcomes his fear of heights to rescue a little girl dangling from a chair lift.