Meet Jeff Knapp | Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeff Knapp and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeff, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Relentlessness.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve made my living for years in commercials, voiceovers, modeling, theater and a bit of the Soaps.

What wasn’t easy was I grew up in a violent and ignorant household. I was told I could do nothing and my parents would never help me so don’t ask.
I put myself through the University of Binghamton. That is something I will forever be proud of. It’s very difficult to say what kept me going. I played for the university’s soccer team but had to quit because I couldn’t offered enough food to have the energy to play.

Things got easier when I came to New York City. I was friends with William Baldwin, another Binghamton graduate. He was doing well modeling for Ford. He and a couple of other friends suggested I give it a try. I was so surprised at this (remember the house I grew up in) it took me some time to digest. Thankfully, I was brave enough to get pictures made up and went in.

The waiting room was crowded and guys were coming and going with disappointed looks on there faces. When it was my turn to go in, a women looked at my portfolio and said. “….yes, yes, you have our look. We got a lot of guys but we’ll represent you. I didn’t do as well as Bill but I made enough in a short time to pay off my college loans.

A couple of weeks after that I was at a restaurant on a double date. A fellow across the bar kept staring at me. Finally he walked over and asked if I was an actor. I said I was trying to be. He told me I have a great commercial look and to come see him Monday. On his card it said Brian Dubin VP William Morris, Commercial Dept.

That Monday he offered to represent me. I went to LA shortly after that to meet the LA office.

The lesson here is don’t let people ever tell you what you can and cannot do. Not family or “friends.” I had what I thought was a large group of friends from my high school. They told me emphatically that “nothin’ was gonna happen for me.”

It never occurred to me that they might be jealous.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, We’re living in NYC right now and there is so much to choose from.

In my neighborhood – Upper West Side – there are two places my wife Robin and I enjoy. Tessa on Amsterdam Avenue and Asset on Columbus Avenue. They’re both owned by the same people (in fact, the names are just a reverse of each other) and they make signature cocktails, have great food and service and a festive atmosphere. You never know who you’re going to see. Michael Strahan is a regular. Emma Stone sat next to us at Tessa one night and another night was the writer Andre Aciman writer of the book “Call Me By Your Name” among others.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wife Robin Venick

Youtube: jeff knapp reel