Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Stone.
Hi Jack, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey into acting really started at a young age—I’ve always been fascinated by the power of storytelling and the emotional connection that comes with it. I studied at the Orange County School of the Arts, where I had the chance to play some incredible roles on stage, including George Antrobus in The Skin of Our Teeth. That experience lit a fire in me and really confirmed that this was what I wanted to do.
As I transitioned into studying drama in college I found a passion for Improv Comedy. I trained with Daniel Robbins from the Groundlings school of comedy and was able to join the ImprovCity troupe in Orange County. Performing Improv weekly has sharpened my instincts for comedy as well as given me a place to hone my comedic timing in all aspects of my work.
I was fortunate enough to work with some talented actors last year, particularly in my latest project, the comedy feature film Cotton Candy Bubble Gum starring Morgan Jay which premiered at the SXSW 2025 film festival. We shot the film over a period of two weeks and I learned so much about being on set, collaborating with fellow actors and even writing a few of my own jokes!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting a career as an actor during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent actors strike was both a challenge and an unexpected lesson in adaptability.
As a young actor it was challenging to navigate an industry which was shifting into a new normal.
I used that time to build my craft, to study, to write, and to connect with other emerging artists facing the same obstacles. I collaborated with new film makers through various different short films. In particular, II enjoyed my time working on Middletown, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance film festival. Middletown was a feature documentary about high school students in the 1990’s who uncovered a conspiracy which was poisoning their community. Thirty years later they revisit their experiences in this documentary featuring archival footage and reenactments which I was able to perform in. It is a powerful story told by Directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a SAG-AFTRA actor and storyteller based in Los Angeles, working across film, television, and theater. I specialize in grounded, emotionally-driven performances—whether it’s a subtle dramatic role or something with a comedic edge. I’m known for my versatility, and I bring a lot of physicality and truth to the characters I play, something that comes from my foundation in both classical theater and improv.
What I’m most proud of so far is my role in Cotton Candy Bubble Gum, a really offbeat, heartfelt film where I got to work alongside Director J Pinder and Producer Cole Dabney. I was involved heavily throughout the creative process including utilizing my background in improv to work with fellow casting members and the creative team to truthfully bring my character, Nate to life.
Beyond screen acting, you can find me in various theatrical productions as well as 90- minute comedy shows featuring classic improv games at Improv City in Orange County California.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
High school is where you’re meant to discover yourself. For me, it was where I slowly lost myself.
I may have appeared like any other student on the surface—going to class, doing homework, and trying to fit in. But behind closed doors, I was being smothered by the cruelty of those around me. Wounding words, constant judging, and the feeling of being unwanted were my new norm. It didn’t just happen overnight; it spiraled slowly, each day after each day, until entering that building caused me to feel fear. They talk about bullying as if it’s something that you just have to “tough out,” but they never tell you what it’s like when it begins to redefine who you are.
While all this was going on, I became more and more in love with something else—acting. Each time I stepped into a scene or read a script, I felt free. It was the one place where I could be anyone, say anything, and feel everything without fear. It was healing. It was honest. It was mine.
Finally, I’d had enough. I could stay in an environment that was gradually destroying my soul, or I could leave—not just to escape, but to claim something better for myself. It wasn’t easy to leave high school. There was this huge feeling of shame at first, like I was giving up. But afterwards, I knew I wasn’t running away, I was moving towards something.
I began acting seriously. I signed up for classes, went to auditions, and immersed myself in something that made me come alive. The actors I met through classes helped me to understand passion, vulnerability, and creativity, things that had been mocked in high school. I found a new tribe. More importantly, I found my voice.
Quitting high school wasn’t the plan. But sometimes arriving where you need to be involves releasing rooms that no longer have room for you. To anyone who ever feels stuck in a situation that’s smothering their spirit: it’s okay to leave. It’s okay to put yourself first.
Because I did—and I’m just getting warmed up, I’m so excited to be headed to the UCLA theater film and television school in the fall to continue my studies.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jackstoneactor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackstoneactor/
Image Credits
Robby Klein
Renee Dominguez
