# Jake Epstein
**Jake Epstein** (born 1987) is a Canadian actor, singer, and writer best known for playing Craig Manning, a bipolar teenage musician, on the teen drama *Degrassi: The Next Generation*, a role that earned him a Gemini Award[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0258474/). Born in Toronto, Ontario, he built a parallel career on stage, appearing on Broadway in *Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark* and *Beautiful: The Carole King Musical* and touring North America in *Spring Awakening* and [Green Day](https://www.edgepedia.org/green-day)'s *American Idiot*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0258474/) • [2](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jake-epstein/profile/). On television he has recurred on *Designated Survivor*, *Suits*, and *The Umbrella Academy*[3](https://www.jakeepstein.ca/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1987, Toronto, Ontario, Canada[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0258474/) |
| Signature role | Craig Manning on *Degrassi: The Next Generation*, which earned him a Gemini Award[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0258474/) |
| Training | Graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada[3](https://www.jakeepstein.ca/) |
| Broadway | Alternate lead in *Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark*; Gerry Goffin in *Beautiful: The Carole King Musical*[2](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jake-epstein/profile/) |
| Tours | Melchior in *Spring Awakening*; Will in the first national tour of *American Idiot*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0258474/) |
| Television | Recurring roles on *Designated Survivor* (Chuck), *Suits* (Brian), and *The Umbrella Academy*[3](https://www.jakeepstein.ca/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0258474/) |
| Spouse | Actor and poet Vanessa Smythe, married July 7, 2018[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0258474/) |
## Early work and Degrassi
Epstein's first screen credit came as a child: he filmed the YTV series *The Zack Files* when he was 13[3](https://www.jakeepstein.ca/). His break was *Degrassi: The Next Generation*, the long-running Canadian teen drama, where he played Craig Manning, a musician living with bipolar disorder[4](https://streetsoftoronto.com/toronto-culture/jake-was-a-punk/). The role won him a Gemini Award[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0258474/), and he has described it as a major break in his career[4](https://streetsoftoronto.com/toronto-culture/jake-was-a-punk/). He left the series to attend theater school[5](https://www.broadwayworld.com/costa-mesa/article/bww-interviews-jake-epsteinfrom-tv-teen-idol-to-stage-leadtalks-spring-awakening-national-tour-20091117).
## Stage career
**Broadway.** Epstein made his Broadway debut as the alternate lead in the troubled production *Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark*, playing Peter Parker and [Spider-Man](https://www.edgepedia.org/spider-man), before taking the lead role of songwriter [Gerry Goffin](https://www.edgepedia.org/gerry-goffin) in the Tony-nominated *Beautiful: The Carole King Musical*[2](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jake-epstein/profile/) • [3](https://www.jakeepstein.ca/). In interviews he has said that after his last stint on Broadway he stopped singing for a time, an experience he later explored on stage[6](https://www.myentertainmentworld.ca/2020/03/jake-epstein-2019/).
**Tours and Off-Broadway.** He toured the United States as Melchior in *Spring Awakening*, appearing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and played Will in the first national tour of Green Day's *[American Idiot](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-idiot-musical)*, making his debut in that production in Toronto in December 2011[7](https://www.arenastage.org/globalassets/press-room/press-kits/1920-season/dear-jack-dear-louise/djdl-program-book-web.pdf) • [4](https://streetsoftoronto.com/toronto-culture/jake-was-a-punk/). His other stage credits include *Billy Elliot: The Musical* (Mirvish, Toronto), the [Off-Broadway](https://www.edgepedia.org/off-broadway) play *Straight*, a New York Times critic's pick in which he starred as Ben[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0258474/) • [8](https://brandonvoss.com/blog/jake-epstein-gay-for-play-next-cover), and the Canadian premiere of *Dog Sees God*[7](https://www.arenastage.org/globalassets/press-room/press-kits/1920-season/dear-jack-dear-louise/djdl-program-book-web.pdf).
**New work.** At Arena Stage in Washington, DC, he originated the role of Jack Ludwig in Tony-winning playwright Ken Ludwig's world-premiere play *Dear Jack, Dear Louise*, about Ludwig's parents' courtship by letter during World War II[3](https://www.jakeepstein.ca/) • [9](https://dclifemagazine.com/celebrity/star-jake-epstein-offers-talent-to-arena-stage/). He also co-wrote a play with his mother, the author Kathy Kacer, which he debuted after returning from Broadway[10](https://infonews.ca/news/180938/jake-epstein-to-debut-play-he-co-wrote-with-author-mom-kathy-kacer/).
## Television and film
Epstein has recurred on ABC's *Designated Survivor* as Chuck and USA's *Suits* as Brian, and appeared on NBC's *Gone*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0258474/). He later appeared in Netflix's *The Umbrella Academy* and *The Hardy Boys*[3](https://www.jakeepstein.ca/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0258474/). His film and television movie work includes *Charlie Bartlett*, *Mouthpiece*, *Eight Gifts of Hanukkah* for Hallmark, and a run of Hallmark romantic leads such as *The Wedding Contract* and the four *Hearts Around the Table* films, in which he played Josh Adler[3](https://www.jakeepstein.ca/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0258474/) • [11](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jake-epstein/).
## Boy Falls From the Sky
Epstein wrote and performs a one-man show, *Boy Falls From the Sky*, a comedic but candid account of his path to Broadway[6](https://www.myentertainmentworld.ca/2020/03/jake-epstein-2019/). At the Toronto Fringe Festival it was named Best of Fringe and Outstanding Production, and it later played as part of the Off-Mirvish season in Toronto[3](https://www.jakeepstein.ca/). His solo performance at the Fringe earned a MyEntWorld Critics' Pick Award nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance[6](https://www.myentertainmentworld.ca/2020/03/jake-epstein-2019/).
## Music and personal life
As a teenager Epstein was the guitarist and lead singer of a Toronto band called Mind the Gap, which he started with four friends[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0258474/). He is married to the actor and poet Vanessa Smythe; they married on July 7, 2018, and have one child[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0258474/). His sister is the performer Gabi Epstein[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0258474/).
## References
1. [Jake Epstein, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0258474/)
2. [Jake Epstein Biography, Broadway.com Buzz](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jake-epstein/profile/)
3. [Jake Epstein, official website](https://www.jakeepstein.ca/)
4. [Jake was a punk, Streets of Toronto (December 21, 2011)](https://streetsoftoronto.com/toronto-culture/jake-was-a-punk/)
5. [BWW Interviews: Jake Epstein Talks Spring Awakening National Tour, BroadwayWorld (2009)](https://www.broadwayworld.com/costa-mesa/article/bww-interviews-jake-epsteinfrom-tv-teen-idol-to-stage-leadtalks-spring-awakening-national-tour-20091117)
6. [Nominee Interview Series: Jake Epstein (2019), My Entertainment World](https://www.myentertainmentworld.ca/2020/03/jake-epstein-2019/)
7. [Dear Jack, Dear Louise program book, Arena Stage](https://www.arenastage.org/globalassets/press-room/press-kits/1920-season/dear-jack-dear-louise/djdl-program-book-web.pdf)
8. [Jake Epstein: Gay for Play, Brandon Voss (2016)](https://brandonvoss.com/blog/jake-epstein-gay-for-play-next-cover)
9. [Degrassi and Designated Survivor Star Jake Epstein Offers Talent to Arena Stage, DC Life Magazine](https://dclifemagazine.com/celebrity/star-jake-epstein-offers-talent-to-arena-stage/)
10. [Jake Epstein to debut play he co-wrote with author-mom Kathy Kacer, iNFOnews](https://infonews.ca/news/180938/jake-epstein-to-debut-play-he-co-wrote-with-author-mom-kathy-kacer/)
11. [Jake Epstein, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jake-epstein/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Canadian actors › Surnames Cr to F*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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