Childhood & Early Life
Jake was born on February 14, 1986, in Greenfield, Massachusetts, and grew up in Vermont. He attended 'Otter Valley Union High School' and then graduated from the 'University of North Carolina School of the Arts' (UNCSA) in Winston-Salem in 2008.
In high school, he was part of many professional stage productions, such as 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' in which he was cast as ‘Demetrius’ ('Hartford Stage' creation). Jake had also played ‘Conrad’ in 'Much Ado About Nothing' (in an 'Oberon Theater Ensemble' production).
Jake later attended theater and acting lessons at the 'Addison Repertory Theater' pre-professional program of the 'Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center.' He took up several odd jobs, working as a gym receptionist, a bar-back at a club, a cycling-studio receptionist, and a waiter. Jake simultaneously appeared for auditions and eventually landed his breakthrough role.
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Career
Jake began his acting career in 2008, with an episode of the 'CBS' soap opera 'Guiding Light,' the longest-running series in American TV history. Two years later, he bagged his breakthrough role in the 'ABC' romantic sitcom 'Better with You.' Jake starred as ‘Casey Marion Davenport’ in 22 episodes of the sitcom. The show generally received positive reviews and even earned a few nominations. However, it was canceled after the maiden season, due to low ratings.
He had a lead role in the Columbia thesis film 'C'est moi.' Following this, in 2012, he began his recurring role as ‘Pete Miller,’ or "Plop," in the ninth and the final season of the 'NBC' sitcom 'The Office.'
Following this, Jake made his big-screen debut, as ‘Max,’ opposite Donna Stern as ‘Jenny Slate,’ in the romantic comedy 'Obvious Child.' The same year, he earned the leading role of ‘Caleb Fuller,’ an intramural football team leader, in the live-action/animated sports comedy 'Balls Out.' He also appeared as ‘Scott’ in an episode of the 'NBC' sitcom 'The Michael J. Fox Show,' titled 'Surprise.'
Around the same time, Jake did two pilots, one each for 'The Goodwin Games' (2013) and 'The McCarthys' (2014). He was cast as ‘Richard Semco,’ opposite Rooney Mara (as ‘Therese Belivet’), in the 2015 drama film 'Carol.' Jake had auditioned and waited long to be finally cast in the film, a project that later earned him his next prominent roles.
In 2015, Jake was seen as ‘Joe’ in the comedy–drama film 'Love the Coopers.’ Following this, he played ‘Keith’ in seven episodes of 'Billy & Billie' and ‘Fran Parker,’ love interest of Lena Dunham, in 12 episodes of the 'HBO' comedy–drama 'Girls.'
Jake was cast as ‘Ken’ in the 2016 romantic comedy 'How to Be Single' and then appeared in the prominent role of ‘Carl Lundbeck/Brannigan’ in the WWII-set “dramedy” 'Their Finest,' which premiered at the 'Toronto International Film Festival.’ The movie was an adaptation of the 2009 novel 'Their Finest Hour and a Half.' Jake dyed his hair blond to suit his ‘American Air Force’ soldier character.
Jake was cast as ‘Forde’ in the 2016 political thriller 'Miss Sloane.' He made an appearance in an episode of the late-night talk show 'Last Week Tonight,' titled 'Encryption.' In 2017, Jake was seen as ‘Jake Collins,’ opposite Eliza Taylor (as ‘Ellen Langford’) in the 'Netflix' Christmas comedy–drama 'Christmas Inheritance.'
Simultaneously, Jake began his 16-episode stint in the 'Showtime' comedy 'I'm Dying Up Here.' Set against the backdrop of the mid-1970s stand-up scene, the series saw him reunite with his 'The Office' co-star Clark Duke. They starred as two comedians, ‘Nick Beverly’ and ‘Ron Shack.’
In 2018, Jake played ‘Brett Wyden’ in the science-fiction monster flick 'Rampage.' Following this, he was seen as ‘Brian’ in the drama 'Diane,' which premiered at the 'Tribeca Film Festival.' He played the antagonist ‘Jason Volta,’ a Silicon Valley tech billionaire, in the action–comedy 'Johnny English Strikes Again.'
Recently, in 2019, Jake appeared in the recurring role of ‘Ron,’ the love interest of Michelle Williams's character in the 'FX' biographical miniseries 'Fosse/Verdon.' He will be playing ‘Paul Halston-Myers’ in the upcoming comedy film 'Otherhood.'
Family & Personal Life
Jake married his long-time girlfriend, Lauren Deleo, on August 22, 2015, in Dorset, Vermont.
Jake was active in politics during the 2016 US presidential election, when he endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders's campaign.
Growing up, Jake watched movies such as 'ET,' 'Ghostbusters,' and 'Goodfellas,’ which eventually inspired him to become an actor.
