Jerry Jacks of General Hospital

Background:

Sharpening his craft at the prestigious Conservatoire National Superieur d'Art Dramatique of Paris, French actor Sebastian Roche moved to the United States in 1992 and has since worked extensively on both small and big screen. He portrayed Longinus in the Fox short-lived drama series starring Heath Ledger, "Roar" (1997), played Vlad in the CBS short-lived cop drama "Big Apple" (2001), and as pessimistic scientist Kurt Mendel in the Showtime's short-lived time travel sci-fi series "Odyssey 5" (2002). He now plays terrorist/criminal Jerry Jacks (2007-Present) on the popular ABC soap opera "General Hospital."

Meanwhile, moviegoers could catch Roche in the films "The Last of the Mohicans" (1992), "The Peacemaker" (1997), "15 Minutes" (2001), "Sorry, Haters" (2005), "The Namesake" (2006), "What We Do Is Secret" (2007), and "Beowulf" (2007). He is attached to co-star in an upcoming action/drama film called "Shattered Glory."

Roche also displayed his talent on stage, notably in ''Salome'' with Al Pacino, ''Titus Andronicus'' and ''The green Bird'' with Julie Taymor, ''Hamlet, ''Arms and the Man,'' ''Macbeth,'' ''Mirandolina,'' and ''Trainspotting.''

The 5' 11" player was married to actress Vera Farmiga from 1997 to 2005.

Paris Home

Childhood and Family:

In Paris, France, Sebastian Roche was born on August 4, 1964. As a teenager, he lived for six years on a sailing boat with his family, traveling from France to the Mediterranean, Africa, South America and the Caribbean. Of Scottish and French heritage, Sebastian is fluent in four languages. On ''General Hospital,'' he spoke in Russian, Spanish and French. He also spoke in French on the pilot episode of ''Odyssey 5.''

Sebastian graduated from the prestigious Conservatoire National Superieur d'Art Dramatique of Paris in 1989. From 1997 to 2005, he was married to actress Vera Farmiga (born on August 6, 1973). He now lives in Los Angeles.

Odyssey 5

Career:

After honing his craft at the prestigious Conservatoire National Superieur d'Art Dramatique of Paris, Sebastian Roche began to test the water in French theatre, films and television, working with such actors as Michel Serrault, Isabelle Huppert, and Beatrice Dalle, among others.

An uncredited role in the TV movie version of Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1986; starring George C. Scott, Rebecca De Mornay, Ian McShane, and Val Kilmer) marked his on-screen debut appearance. He then spent the late 1980s and early 1990s in a number of French TV and film projects before eventually decided to expand his career in the United States in 1992.

In the new destination, the new comer worked extensively in classical theatre, notably in Oscar Wilde's ''Salome'' with Al Pacino, William Shakespeare's early tragedy ''Titus Andronicus'' and ''The Green Bird'' with Julie Taymor, William Shakespeare's tragedy ''Hamlet,'' George Bernard Shaw's comedy ''Arms and the Man,'' William Shakespeare's shortest surviving tragedy ''Macbeth,'' three-act comic opera ''Mirandolina,'' and ''Trainspotting.''

Meanwhile, on the big screen, Roche could be seen playing small roles in director Michael Mann's Oscar-winning film adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's novel, "The Last of the Mohicans" (1992; starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Madeleine Stowe), Nancy Savoca's film version of Francine Prose's novel, "Household Saints" (1993; starring Judith Malina, Tracy Ullman, and Lili Taylor), and Mimi Leder's action/thriller "The Peacemaker" (1997; starring George Clooney and Nicole Kidman). He also supported Rob Morrow, Claire Forlani and Jake Weber in writers/directors Sean Smith and Anthony Stark's indepedent drama "Into My Heart" (1998).

During this time, TV viewers could catch Roche in the ABC soap opera "Loving," playing Peter Rogers (1992), and in the Fox short-lived drama series starring Heath Ledger, "Roar" (1997), playing Longinus, alongside then-wife Vera Farmiga.. He was also spotted as a guest in "South Beach," "Swift Justice," "New York Undercover," "Liberty! The American Revolution," "Feds," "Dellaventura," "Sex and the City," and "Law & Order." Additionally, he appeared in the made-for-television movies "Merlin" (1998), "Naked City: Justice with a Bullet" (1998), and "The Hunley" (1999).

Entering the new millennium, Roche was seen in the TV movies "The Crossing," "Baby," and "Haven." And after playing Ludwig the hairdresser in writer/director John Herzfeld's crime/drama/thriller film "15 Minutes" (2001; starring Robert De Niro, Edward Burns and Kelsey Grammer), he was cast in two short-lived TV series, the CBS cop drama "Big Apple" (2001; as Vlad) and the Showtime's time travel sci-fi series "Odyssey 5" (2002; as pessimistic scientist Kurt Mendel ). Meanwhile, he appeared in Paul Quinn's disturbing drama film "Never Get Outta the Boat" (2002) and in the Emmy-winning biographical miniseries about the renowned American polymath, "Benjamin Franklin" (2002; starring Richard Easton in the title role).

Roche then was spotted as a guest in an episode of the USA Network's serial drama "Touching Evil," popular, Emmy Award-winning CBS cop/crime drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," the WB supernatural drama "Charmed," ABC spi-fi series starring Jennifer Garner, "Alias," and the CBS action/drama series "The Unit." He also portrayed King Tygath in the Sci Fi Channel production of "Earthsea" (2004; with Shawn Ashmore, Kristin Kreuk, Isabella Rossellini and Danny Glover), a loose adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin's novels "A Wizard of Earthsea" and "The Tombs of Atuan."

Returning to the wide screen, Roche was cast alongside Robin Wright Penn in writer/director Jeff Stanzler's dramatic thriller "Sorry, Haters" (2005) and with Kal Penn in Mira Nair's film version of Jhumpa Lahiri's time-spanning novel, "The Namesake" (2006). After starring as George Washington in Kees Van Oostrum's 24-minute biographical drama film "We Fight to Be Free" (2006), he went on to support Shane West in Rodger Grossman's musical biopic of punk legend Darby Crash and his band, the Germs, "What We Do Is Secret" (2007).

He also played roles in writer/director Frank Whaley's comedic drama film "New York City Serenade" (2007; starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Chris Klein, and Jamie-Lynn Sigler) and Robert Zemeckis' motion capture film loosely based on the Old English epic poem, "Beowulf" (2007; with Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, and Crispin Glover), in which he portrayed Wulfgar.

Roche currently plays terrorist/criminal Jerry Jacks (2007-Present; the character first appeared by the pseudonym James Craig and was portrayed by Julian Stone), the Australian playboy and the love interest of Jackie Zeman's Bobbie Spencer, on the popular ABC soap opera "General Hospital."

As for his upcoming project, Roche is attached to co-star in an upcoming action/drama film called "Shattered Glory," directed by Mike Loades.

Awards:
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