Neil Jackson

Neil Jackson
Born (1976-03-05) 5 March 1976
Luton, Bedfordshire, England
Years active 2002–present

Neil Jackson (born 5 March 1976) is an English actor and writer who has appeared in several television series and films, but is probably best known for his role as Marcus on Blade: The Series and Sasha on Make It or Break It. His screenwriting credits include the film The Passage directed by Mark Heller and released in 2007. He has starred in several other films including Quantum of Solace and Push.

Early life

Jackson was born in Luton, Bedfordshire, the second of four sons to Evelyn and Dennis Jackson.

Neil was introduced to acting when studying drama at GCSE level in Harlington Upper School. His teacher, Nigel Williams, placed him in several of the school plays including Annie, Little Shop of Horrors, Hard Times, and West Side Story. He also acted in National Youth Theatre as a teenager before moving to Cardiff to study sport at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC) in Wales.

In Wales, Jackson started competitive boxing after learning of the British Universities Boxing Championships, an inter-university competition held throughout the whole of Britain. He entered and won the gold at light-middle weight. He went on to successfully defend his title two years later at middle weight. His boxing earned him a scholarship to stay on at UWIC and study for his master's degree. He graduated in 1998.

Career

Not knowing how to get into acting, Jackson wrote a musical and entered it into a national competition for new writers. It came in third and gained attention from producers in London including Michael Armstrong. He later enrolled in Michael Armstrong's Acting Academy, graduating in 2002.

Jackson's first professional acting job was a UK national touring production of Strindberg's classic Miss Julie. He understudied the lead character, Jean, a role he took over in the West End production later that year. His big break came when Oliver Stone cast him as Perdiccas in Alexander[1] alongside Colin Farrell and Angelina Jolie. He recalls having a black eye and three stitches in his eyebrow when he first met Oliver Stone, a fact he jokes must have assisted him as Stone cast him for the role on the spot. He was also in the football drama Dream Team for a season as lottery winning chairman Phil Wallis.

In 2006 he made a guest appearance on Cold Case, in the episode "Sandhogs" of Season 4. He portrayed "Donny", the victim that was killed in a cave-in by his brother-in-law. Then in 2007 saw the release of The Passage, a film written by Jackson and shot in Morocco, in which he played a lead character alongside Stephen Dorff. The film won the 2008 Jury Award at the Durango Film Festival. He made a guest appearance on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, in the episode "A La cart" of season 8. He appeared as Ian on How I Met Your Mother. The following year in 2008 he made a guest appearance on CSI: Miami and in 2009 he appeared as a wraith in Stargate: Atlantis.

Jackson shot a scene in Panama for the Bond film Quantum of Solace, where he plays the character of Mr. Slate.[2] He previously starred in the ABC Family original series, Make It or Break It as Sasha Belov. Additionally, Jackson has appeared as Lucas Hellinger, a Blackout conspirator, on the show FlashForward. In 2010 he starred as the chauffeur Harry Spargo in the BBC revival of Upstairs, Downstairs. Jackson was recently cast in the lead role of Sir Percy Blakeney/The Scarlet Pimpernel in Fairbanks Productions' adaptation of the classic tale, scheduled for 2012.

Other interests

Jackson is patron of UK spinal injuries charity Trust PA,[3] in memory of a friend.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Alexander Perdiccas
2005 Breakfast on Pluto Man at Disco
2006 The Last Drop Flt. Sgt. Simkins
2006 The Thirst Duke of Earl
2007 Passage Adam
2008 15-40 Kai Hansen Short film
2008 Quantum of Solace Mr. Slate
2009 Push Victor Budarin
2009 Table for Three Tre
2010 You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger Alan
2012 True Bloodthirst Derricks
2014 House of Secrets Sam Television movie

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2001–2003 Dream Team Phil Wallis 2 episodes
2002 Heartbeat Jeremy Purves Episode: "The Leopard's Parts"
2002 The House That Jack Built Charlie Episode: "Dynasty"
2002 Is Harry on the Boat? Matthew Episode: "#1.10"
2002 Ultimate Force Luke Episode: "Natural Selection"
2002 Silent Witness Marcus Saul 2 episodes
2003 The Last Detective Stuart Gilley Episode: "Lofty"
2004 Red Cap Pte. Robbie McCoy Episode: "Fighting Fit"
2005 Sugar Rush Dale 7 episodes
2005 Stargate SG-1 Khalek Episode: "Prototype"
2006 Blade: The Series Marcus Van Sciver 12 episodes
2006 Cold Case John Donovan Episode: "Sandhogs"
2007 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Michael, the waiter Episode: "A La Cart"
2007 How I Met Your Mother Ian Episode: "Third Wheel"
2008 CSI: Miami Paul Sanders Episode: "Won't Get Fueled Again"
2008 The Cleaner Duncan Collins 2 episodes
2008 Stargate Atlantis Wraith Episode: "Vegas"
2009–2010 Make It or Break It Sasha Belov 36 episodes
2010–2012 Upstairs, Downstairs Harry Spargo 9 episodes
2010 FlashForward Lucas Hallinger 5 episodes
2011 White Collar David Lawrence Episode: "On Guard"
2013–2015 Sleepy Hollow Abraham Van Brunt 10 episodes
2013 Jo Baron Episode: "Invalides"
2013 Lightfields Dwight Lawson 5 episodes
2014 Person of Interest Rick Dillinger Episode: "RAM"
2016 Hell's Kitchen Himself Episode: "5 Chefs Compete"
2017 The Originals Alistair

References

  1. ↑ "Neil Jackson Discusses Life on the Set of Alexander". Movies.about.com. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  2. ↑ "Neil Jackson on his role in Quantum of Solace". BBC. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  3. ↑ Website of Trust PA, a spinal injuries charity of which Neil Jackson is Patron
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