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Jacob Lee "Jake" Epstein (born January 16, 1987) is a Canadian actor and singer, perhaps best known for playing Craig Manning, a bi-polar musician on Degrassi: The Next Generation.

Personal 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, Ian Epstein, is a lawyer.^[1][2][3] He has an older sister, Gabi, an actress and jazz singer. Epstein is Jewish and was raised in Conservative Judaism.^[4][5] He attended Claude Watson School for the Arts in Toronto and then continued in the Claude Watson program in Earl Haig Secondary School. He Attended Camp Gesher in Cloyne, Ontario for a few years.

Career

Epstein was the lead actor in several of his school's plays and musicals, the most notable one being the Emcee in Cabaret. He started acting on screen in 1999, appearing in several made-for-television films and television series, including The Zack Files, Quints, Mom's Got A Date With A Vampire and an episode of Real Kids, Real Adventures.

He became well known after being cast in a lead role as Craig Manning on Degrassi: The Next Generation, joining the cast in 2002, in the second season of the show and continued to star in the show as a regular through seasons 2-5. After being absent from the show for the latter half of season five, he returned in season six in a guest appearance for two episodes and has made guest appearances through seasons 6-8. Degrassi is now in its ninth season, but Epstein has not appeared yet.

Epstein made his professional theatrical debut in a Soulpepper Theatre Company production of Our Town. Jake has also appeared in Radio Free Roscoe.

Epstein attended the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal and graduated in 2008. His biggest passion is music, and he has been a member of several bands, such as Mind the Gap, and Funkasaurus Rex, playing many musical instruments, including the guitar and drums. Epstein also starred in The Dream, alongside a bunch of friends for the Toronto Fringe Festival in 2007. Epstein also had a small role in the 2007 movie Charlie Bartlett.

Epstein starred in a Ross Petty production of Cinderella, at Elgin Theatre(Toronto), from November 28, 2008 till January 4, 2009, the production also starred fellow Degrassi: The Next Generation actress Paula Brancati..

Epstein has replaced Kyle Riabko as the role of Melchior Gabor in the First National Tour of Spring Awakening, officially beginning his run on July 7, 2009.^[6]

Discography

• "My Window" from Degrassi: The Next Generation
• "Swan Song" from Degrassi Goes Hollywood
• "Rescue You" from Degrassi Goes Hollywood

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

• Jake as a guest editor on NYC ARTS (2009)
• PopGurls interview (2003)
• Jake Epstein at the Internet Movie Database
• Funny Short