Jake Epstein

Jake Epstein is a Canadian actor and musician who is best known for his portrayal of Craig Manning, a bipolar musician on Degrassi: The Next Generation. He joined the show in 2002 and continued to be an actor throughout Season 5. The show was off during the final part of Season 5. He returned during Season 6 as an appearance as a guest on two episodes. He was also a guest on seasons 7 and 8. Before being a part of Degrassi, Epstein portrayed the character in the role of Cam Dunleavey on the TV show The Zack Files in which Michael Seater as well as Michael Seater co-starred with Daniel Clark’s brother Robert Clark. Also, Epstein played a part on The Disney Channel Original Movie, Quints in the year 2000. 

Epstein went to his time at the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal where he graduated in the year 2008. The most important thing he loves is music. He was a part of various bands, including Mind the Gap, and Funkasaurus Rex, playing many musical instruments like drums and guitar. He was a part-time actor in the film Charlie Bartlett. The year 2009 was the time that Jake played Charlie Brown as well as “CB”, in Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, alongside his the former Degrassi Co-Stars: Paula Brancati as “Van’s Sister” (Lucy Van Pelt), Adamo Ruggiero as “Van” (Linus Van Pelt) and Mike Lobel as “Matt” (Pig-Pen). He was Melchior in the very first national stage production for the show Spring Awakening. 

Recently, Epstein was an alternate Peter Parker/Spider-Man for Peter Parker’s Broadway performance of Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark. He was part of the initial principal actor cast of The Tony Award nominated musical Beautiful which is a musical based upon the story of famous singer Carole King. He would also be on the recording of the cast and win his first Grammy award for Best Musical Theater Album.

Trivia

1. Jake is a Capricorn.
2. The book he likes the most is The Catcher in the Rye.
3. If Jake was not an actor, it would be an author.
4. His top TV shows include Family Guy and Breaking Bad.
5. He was a brown belt in Karate.
6. One of his most favored bands include Pink Floyd, System of a Down, The Beatles, Radiohead, and the Headstones.
7. His most viewed film is Forrest Gump.
8. favourite dish is Japanese.
9. His famous girlfriend has been Angelina Jolie.
10. His most adored character on Degrassi apart from Craig Spinner. Spinner.
11. He was in a band along with Degrassi co-star Mike Lobel, called “The Grassi,” named in honor of the show.
12. was in the same school with co-star Stacey Farber, in grades 4-8.
13. He was also a guest in My Babysitter’s a Vampire, as the role of a werewolf.
14. The grandparents of his maternal grandfather had been Holocaust survivors.
15. Jake played a role in a film alongside Alexandria Benoit.
16. He was the character Spiderman in the Broadway show. Broadway.
17. He played Melchior Gabor on his role in the 1st National Tour of Spring Awakening.
18. The baby was born just two days prior to the premier in Degrassi Junior High.
19. He was acquainted with Jake Goldsbie and Lauren Collins prior to their collaboration for Degrassi.

In his interview in 2015 Straight Talk with Adamo Ruggiero in 2015, he confessed that he was not aware the name of Pat Mastroianni when reading in the Craig auditions since he had not watched the first Degrassi. He also claimed that some people were thrown condoms at him following the time Accidents Will happen (2) premiered.

He’s only one day older then the actor from The Zack Files and Degrassi Goes Hollywood co-star Michael Seater.

He was part of Lauren Collins and Aubrey Graham on each of Degrassi as well as Charlie Bartlett.

He collaborated with Daniel Clark, Deanna Casaluce and Conrad Coates in both Degrassi as well as The Zack Files.

His older sister Gabi Epstein’s music teacher was Gretchen Helbig, who played the mother of Joey Jeremiah, Mrs. Jeremiah.

He was in Full Out alongside former Degrassi stars Ana Golja and Sarah Fisher.