The full name of the actor, producer, and musician is William Gareth Jacob Busey Jr. He was born in Los Angeles, California, USA, on June 15, 1971. His zodiac sign is Gemini.
He has German, Irish, French, Scottish, and English ancestry.
Appearance
Busey’s height is 1.91 meters (6’3″), and his weight is 91 kg (200 lbs). His hair is blonde, and his eyes are green.
1. Celebrity Biography
Jake Busey is the son of renowned actor Gary Busey, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in The Buddy Holly Story (1978) and also received a Golden Globe nomination. Jake’s mother, Judy Lynn Helkenberg, was involved in cinema as well. Following in his parents’ footsteps, Jake got his first role as a child, appearing in 1978’s Straight Time, where he and Gary played father and son alongside Dustin Hoffman.
Jake grew up in Malibu, California, spending much of his childhood on film sets and accompanying his father on tour. His mother left the family due to Gary’s substance abuse problems and volatile behavior.
At the age of five, Jake became interested in music, and today he plays bass guitar and drums.
Initially, Jake didn’t plan to pursue a full-time acting career. However, his perspective changed after taking acting courses at Santa Barbara City College. In an interview with Independent, Jake recalled how the courses used unconventional methods, such as having students act like animals to better understand physical expression. In the end, students performed monologues without formal vocal or public speaking training.
After graduating, Jake returned to Los Angeles and spent two years auditioning without success. Casting agents often compared him to his father and were concerned about Jake inheriting Gary’s struggles with substance abuse.
However, Jake’s persistence paid off. After landing several small roles, he started to gain recognition as an actor in his own right.
Since 1992, Jake has consistently received offers for film and television roles. His big break came in 1997 when he starred in Starship Troopers as Private Ace Levy, a key role in the film. He also appeared in Contact (1997) and other popular films.
In the early 2000s, Jake temporarily stepped out of the spotlight after several of his projects failed. During this time, he focused on directing, traveling, and performing with his band. His return to acting was well-received by fans.
Following the 2008 financial crisis, Jake faced significant financial difficulties and struggled with alcohol abuse. His challenges lasted until 2011, when he quit drinking and began auditioning again.
Jake Busey is now a devoted family man and continues to act in films. He won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2019 for his role in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things (Season 3).
2. Personal Life
Jake is in a long-term relationship with makeup artist and model April Hutchinson. On July 30, 2012, they welcomed their daughter, Autumn Rosalia Busey, with Rosalia being a tribute to Jake’s maternal grandmother.
Jake and April had a romantic relationship in their youth, which led to an engagement, but they eventually broke up and didn’t see each other for 11 years. Not much is known about Jake’s other relationships during that time.
The two reconnected during a difficult period in their lives. Jake had experienced a series of setbacks, including financial difficulties, health problems, and the loss of property. April supported him through these challenges, just as she had done in the early 1990s when Jake had little to his name. Their rekindled relationship led to another engagement, and soon after, April became pregnant with their daughter.
3. What Busey is Doing Now
Jake Busey now dedicates much of his time to his family, particularly to raising his daughter. He also remains close with his father, Gary, and they maintain a strong bond.
Jake’s hobbies include off-road racing, flying light aircraft, and working on motorcycles and other vehicles in his garage. He is also passionate about architecture and music, and he occasionally performs at jam sessions.
Jake continues to take on acting roles, primarily in supporting capacities. In an interview with HN Entertainment, he shared news about a potential upcoming project: Ed Neumeier is working on a script for a Starship Troopers TV series, and Jake is eager to return to his role in the franchise.
4. Interesting Facts About the Star
- Jake Busey holds a private pilot’s license. His flying skills were used during the filming of Home Fries (1998).
- He is very close to his father, Gary, and helped him overcome drug addiction and recover after a serious motorcycle accident in 1988.
- During the filming of Starship Troopers in the desert, Jake suffered from heatstroke, causing production to halt for a week. To prevent further issues, small holes were added to his costume for ventilation.
- Jake learned to play the violin specifically for his role in Starship Troopers.
- As of recent estimates, Jake’s net worth is around $1 million.
- In The Predator (2018), Jake plays Sean Keyes, the son of Peter Keyes, a character his father Gary portrayed in *Predator 2 (1990). This was a deliberate decision by director Shane Black, who found it amusing but warned Jake not to expect a large paycheck.
5. Filmography
Jake Busey’s career began with challenges, but his breakthrough came with Starship Troopers (1997), where he played Private Ace Levy, a pivotal role in the film. Other significant roles include Kyle Brenner in Tomcats (2001) and Robert in Identity (2003).
Jake is also known for his role as Sean Keyes in The Predator (2018), where he played a key scientist in a government laboratory.
Popular TV series featuring Jake include Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2018), part of the Marvel Universe, and Stranger Things (2019), a sci-fi series that has won numerous awards, including six Emmy Awards.