Jacob Kasdan (born October 28, 1974) is an American filmmaker and actor. He is best known for directing the films Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), Bad Teacher (2011), Sex Tape (2014), the Jumanji films (2017–2026), and Red One (2024).
Early life Jacob Kasdan was born to Meg (née Goldman), a writer, and Lawrence Kasdan, a writer and director, in Detroit. Jacob grew up in a Jewish family with little religious education. His younger brother, Jonathan Kasdan, also works in the film and television industry as an actor and writer.
Career Jake Kasdan has directed nine films. He has also worked in television, most notably with Judd Apatow as a consulting producer and director on Freaks and Geeks and as a director on Undeclared. He has directed numerous stage productions.
In 2008, Kasdan received his first Golden Globe nomination for Walk Hard in the Best Original Song category (shared with John C. Reilly, Apatow, and Marshall Crenshaw), but lost to "Guaranteed" from Into the Wild (written by Eddie Vedder). As a child, Kasdan made appearances in his father's movies such as The Big Chill and Silverado (in the former he is an autograph seeker at a funeral and in the latter a stable boy).
After the success of New Girl, Kasdan announced that on July 11, 2012, he had signed a deal with 20th Century Fox Television, through The Detective Agency to pursue his own projects. In February 2015, Fox announced that it had greenlit a pilot for the comedy The Grinder to be directed by Kasdan and starring Rob Lowe. On March 26, 2019, The Detective Agency's producing partners Kasdan and Melvin Mar reupped, and signed a new overall deal at 20th Century Fox Television.
In October 2021, it was announced that Disney+ had given a series order to a television adaptation of the graphic novel American Born Chinese. It will be produced by 20th Century Fox Television with Kelvin Yu and Charles Yu as writers and executive producers, Marvin Mar and Kasdan as executive producers, and Destin Daniel Cretton as director and executive producer. Most recently, he served as executive producer of the workplace comedy pilot XYZ at ABC.
In late 2024, it was announced that Jake Kasdan, Patty Jenkins and Joe Cornish would each direct a live-action film for the Lego Group and Universal Pictures. The script for Kasdan's film script was written by Andrew Mogel and Jarrad Paul, based on a story and previous draft by Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows, and Kasdan will also produce the film through Detective Agency.
Personal life Kasdan is married to singer-songwriter Inara George of the duo The Bird and the Bee. They have three children including twins Beau and Lorelei Kasdan and older son Otis Kasdan.Audio commentary to Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Filmography
Film Year Title Director Writer Producer 1998 Zero Effect 2002 Orange County 2006 The TV Set 2007 Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story 2008 Shades of Ray 2011 Bad Teacher Friends with Kids 2014 Sex Tape 2017 Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle 2019 Jumanji: The Next Level 2024 Red One 2026
Acting credits Year Title Role 1983 The Big Chill Autograph Seeker 1985 Silverado Stable Boy 1988 The Accidental Tourist Scott Canfield 1998 Zero Effect Bank Teller (voice) 2008 Shades of Ray Director # 3
Soundtrack credits Year Title Song1998Zero Effect Let's Run Off and Get Married Cold and Dark in My Heart2007Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Walk Hard Take My Hand (Mama) You Got To Love Your Negro Man Cut My Brother in Half Blues There's a Change a'Happening (I Can Feel It) (You Make Me So) Hard
Music video "Believe" by Shawn Mendes (2015)
Other credits Year Title Role 1991 Grand Canyon Production assistant 1994 Wyatt Earp Archivist
Television Year(s)TitleDirectorExecutiveProducerWriterNotes1999–00Freaks and GeeksDirector (5 episodes) / Also consulting producer (15 episodes)2000Grosse Pointe2 episodes2001UndeclaredEpisode "Prototype"2002Zero EffectUnsold pilot2006Cracking UpEpisode "The Fixer"2008CalifornicationEpisode "In a Lonely Place"2011–18New GirlDirector (7 episodes) / Executive producer (146 episodes)2012–13Ben and KateDirector (2 episodes) / Executive producer (16 episodes)2015Weird LonersDirector (2 episodes) / Executive producer (6 episodes)2015–16The GrinderDirector (2 episodes) / Executive producer (22 episodes)2015–20Fresh Off the BoatDirector (Episode "The Shunning") /Executive producer (116 episodes)2016–19Speechless63 episodes2019–20Bless This Mess26 episodes2021–2023Doogie Kamealoha, M.DDirector (Episode "Aloha – The Hello One") /Executive producer (10 episodes)2023American Born Chinese
TV movies YearTitleDirectorExecutiveProducer2011Spring/Fall2017Jalen Vs. Everybody2019Heart of Life2023Prom Pact
Acting credits +YearTitleRoleNotes2021Young RockTyler the DirectorEpisode "A Christmas Peril"
Awards Year Award Category Film Result Notes 2007 Sierra Award Best Song Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story shared with Judd Apatow, Marshall Crenshawand John C. Reilly for "Walk Hard" 2008 Golden Globe Best Original Song 2009 Grammy Best Song Written for Visual Media 2012 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series New Girl for "Pilot"
References
External links
The Director Interviews: Jake Kasdan, The TV Set at Filmmaker Magazine The Director Interviews: Jake Kasdan, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story at Filmmaker Magazine