The Goldbergs (ABC)
Dragons: Rescue Riders (Netflix)
The Amazing World of Gumball (Cartoon Network)
For Jacob Hopkins, acting is the family business. Born in Los Angeles, Jacob was discovered at the age of five when he accompanied his Dad, who is an actor, to a meeting with his agent. Taken with his blue eyes and easy charm, the agent asked, “Who is this and does he want to act?” Within weeks of this encounter he was cast in his first role, as the charming and curious little boy Brian in the film, The Minis. Soon after, he booked the first of several national commercials including an ad for Kmart opposite the angelic Jaclyn Smith.
Jacob’s big break came when he landed a role on the fifth season of the popular HBO series True Blood. In the critically acclaimed show, Jacob played Alexander Drew, the youngest (looking) member of the Vampire Authority. Having turned at the age of nine, his character was an impetuous vamp who liked to taunt those around him. Jacob shared the screen with fellow Authority chancellors Christopher Meloni, Peter Mensah, and Carolyn Hennesy as well as lead actors Alexander Skarsgard and his Priest co-star Stephen Moyer.
At eighteen, he is making his mark in the voice over world. He can currently be heard on Netflix’s Dragons: Rescue Riders as Axel Finke. The show is a spin off of the fan favorite movie, How to Train Your Dragon. He also honed his comedic chops as the voice of Gumball Watterson in Cartoon Network’s animated hit The Amazing World of Gumball, one of his favorite shows. The BAFTA Award-winning series chronicles the adventures of an amusing twelve-year-old cat with a fair for misadventure, and his extraordinary suburban family, who live in constant conflict with their ordinary town. The second highest-rated cartoon on the network, Gumball has been praised for its “first-rate silliness” and “really clever spin on domestic chaos” by Variety.
Jacob is definitely no stranger to the small screen. Following his success on True Blood, he landed a recurring role on ABC’s The Goldbergs. In this hilarious comedy, Jacob plays Chad Kremp, who is a cool and preppy kid on the surface, but a geek at heart. His character becomes instant friends with Adam Goldberg (Sean Giambrone) as they share a love for all things geeky. The series also stars Jeff Garlin and Wendi McLendon-Covey. Jacob was also seen in the Lifetime Movie Missing at 17, which tells the poignant tale of the struggles a family faces when their teenage daughter goes missing. As the younger brother Andrew, Jacob plays a pivotal role in helping his parents find his missing sister. Other notable television credits include guest roles on CBS’s How I Met Your Mother as well as NBC’s About A Boy and Animal Practice.
Jacob has also ventured on to the big screen. His first feature film was Priest, where he had a small but memorable role opposite Paul Bettany and Stephen Moyer. Jacob also lent his talents to the short film The Boy Who Cried Fish, where he gave a moving performance as an autistic child. Jacob’s performance was praised by fans and critics alike, earning him a “Best Male Performer” award at the Action on Film Festival. In Just a Little Heart Attack he played the very smart son of Elizabeth Banks, who also directed the project. Most recently, he starred as the supporting lead in CBS Films Middle School: Worst Years of My Life as Miller. Jacob further showcased his acting prowess in two web series. He was cast in RCVR, which was honored as Best Drama Web Series at the 2012 International Academy of Web Television Awards and Supermoms, where he co-starred opposite Joey Lauren Adams.
Jacob’s versatility, talent and intelligence allow him to bring such wonderful characters to life. One of his fellow actors proclaims, “Jacob is one amazing and talented kid. A real pro.” He has established himself as a multidimensional actor who is sure to have a bright future in the industry. Jacob resides in Los Angeles with his parents and older brother, Gerad. He is an accomplished martial artist and enjoys Taekwondo. In his spare time, Jacob loves to play sports, read, draw, and spend time with family and friends.
*Photographer: Tim Schaeffer at Cellar Door Studios
