Kelly O'Neil Jackson was born in Iowa City, Iowa in 1966, but actually started his life in the town of Waterloo. His performing abilities first emerged at the age of 6 when he won an audition to appear with "The Young Americans" on a stage- with "Big Bird" from Sesame Street making a guest appearance. After relocating with his family to Los Angeles in the early 70s, Kelly continued performing as an actor and percussionist in elementary productions, which earned him an opportunity to attend the Performing Arts Magnet Center at Pacoima Junior High School. He also played basketball during this time and later started at guard for Valley View Jr. High. By high school, he had focused on acting and singing and was fortunate to spend 3 years studying the art of performing under the watchful eye of the late Mr. James Coday, at Blair High School in Pasadena, Ca.Following graduation, Kelly surprised his friends and family by joining the Marine Corps. In his off-duty time, he continued taking acting classes and performing in plays. He earned his SAG card in 1993 for the leading role of Seaman Joe Smalls for the "Unsolved Mysteries: Final Appeal: The Port Chicago Mutiny". He has been at times a model, rapper, singer, poet, and dancer. He was front man for the Okinawan hip-hop group "Sugarhill", and the east coast garage rock band, NJP.Following his retirement from the Corps in 2004, he turned his attention to back to acting, landing lead roles in the student film "The Prototype", and the cable movie "Inspector Mom". Commercial work ensued, as well several stints on the hit TV series "Prison Break" and "Friday Night Lights".Following roles as a scientist in the Sci-Fi thriller "Fire From Below", and as a preacher in the indie-hit "Rockabilly Baby", Kelly took a lead role in the yet to be released buddy-cop comedy "Throckmorton and Wellington" and can be seen as the lead in Poorchild Films feature "Hiding In Plain Sight".