Growing up in a small town in northern Illinois meant spending a lot of the 6 months of winter indoors. Television, movies, and theater were a great way to avoid the cold, and thanks to that, Jacob's training started early. Starting in second grade with school productions, then moving on to youth theatre, professional conservatory training, and as much experience as he could grab and Jake was off and running. Theatre, film and television were now a way of life, and he hasn't stopped since. Eventually the lure of Southern California was too much to resist, and that is were he now calls home, living, working, and teaching.