Jake Weary

Jacob "Jake" Weary (born February 14, 1990) is an American actor and musician best known for his portrayal of Deran Cody, the youngest member of a criminal family, in the TNT crime drama series Animal Kingdom from 2016 to 2022.^[1] Born in Trenton, New Jersey, to soap opera actors Kim Zimmer and A.C. Weary, he began his acting career in daytime television, playing Luke Snyder on the CBS soap As the World Turns in 2005.^[2][3] Weary transitioned to prime-time roles, including the antagonistic Cyrus Petrillo on Freeform's Pretty Little Liars in 2014 and Vince Keeler, a volatile gang leader, on NBC's Chicago Fire that same year.^[4][5] In film, Weary gained critical attention for his role as Hugh, a deceptive boyfriend in the supernatural horror It Follows (2014), directed by David Robert Mitchell, which premiered at Cannes and became a cult classic. He later appeared as the adult version of the bully Webby in It Chapter Two (2019) and as Dwayne, an eco-activist in the thriller How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2023), based on the non-fiction book by Andreas Malm. More recently, Weary starred as the ambitious and charismatic Cane Buckley in the Netflix family drama The Waterfront (2025), created by Kevin Williamson, and appeared as Christos in Season 2 of AMC's The Walking Dead: Dead City (2025).^[6][7] Beyond acting, Weary is a singer-songwriter and music producer who has released independent EPs and singles, including "Jessie Don't Dance" from his 2018 project, and contributed original songs like "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" to Animal Kingdom.^[8] Raised in a show-business family with two older siblings, Rachel and Max, he honed his craft through early theater and music pursuits before breaking into Hollywood.^[3]

Early life

Family background

Jake Weary was born on February 14, 1990, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.^[9] His mother, Kim Zimmer, is a four-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning actress renowned for portraying Reva Shayne on the long-running soap opera Guiding Light, a role she played across multiple stints from 1983 to 2009.^[10] His father, A.C. Weary (born Allen Cudney Weary), is an actor and director with credits in television and theater, including directing episodes of soap operas and appearing in shows like One Life to Live. Weary is the youngest of three children, with two older siblings: sister Rachel Weary and brother Max Weary, both of whom grew up in a household centered around the performing arts.^[11] The Weary family was profoundly embedded in the entertainment industry, which profoundly shaped Jake's early environment and sparked his initial interest in acting. With both parents actively involved in soap operas and theater, home life often revolved around discussions of scripts, set experiences, and industry challenges, providing him constant immersion in the world of performance from childhood.^[12] This exposure extended to practical involvement, such as Weary making a brief cameo appearance in his mother's Guiding Light storyline as a young child and accompanying her to the Daytime Emmy Awards at age 13, where he even took actress Hayden Panettiere as his date.^[12] Weary later reflected that he sensed a pull toward acting early on, influenced by his parents' professions and his own enjoyment of performing, though he briefly stepped away from the industry at age 14 to prioritize a more conventional upbringing focused on school and sports.^[13]

Education and early interests

Weary was raised in Montclair, New Jersey, where he attended local schools during his early years, including Montclair Kimberley Academy, from which he graduated in 2008.^[9][14] At age 12, he participated in a middle school production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, taking on the role of Mercutio, which marked an early exposure to stage performance.^[13][2][13] His interest in the performing arts began to develop through these school theater experiences and music exploration, influenced in part by his family's entertainment background. In middle school, Weary started playing drums and joined bands, fostering a hands-on engagement with music that complemented his theatrical pursuits.^[13][15] Weary did not pursue formal higher education in acting beyond a brief stint at the California Institute of the Arts, where he enrolled in the conservatory BFA program for about a semester and a half before leaving to focus on professional opportunities. Much of his early training was self-directed, drawing from family mentorship and participation in local activities in New Jersey. During his teenage years, he began casual songwriting, experimenting with guitar to craft original pieces, which laid the groundwork for his later musical endeavors.^[13][15][16]

Career

Early roles

Weary's professional acting career began in the mid-2000s, influenced by his family's deep ties to the entertainment industry. His mother, Kim Zimmer, a four-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning actress best known for her long-running role on the soap opera Guiding Light, and his father, A.C. Weary, an actor, director, and stunt coordinator, exposed him to sets from a young age. He made his on-screen debut around age 12 in a 2002 guest appearance on Guiding Light, sharing a scene with his mother.^[13] In early 2005, at age 15, Weary landed his first recurring television role as Luke Snyder, the son of series veterans Damian Grimaldi and Lily Snyder, on the CBS daytime soap opera As the World Turns. He appeared in 52 episodes through December 2005, portraying the troubled teenager navigating family dynamics and personal identity issues, which earned him initial recognition among soap opera viewers. However, Weary chose to depart the show to prioritize completing high school, illustrating the early challenges of managing a demanding career alongside education.^[17][3] By the late 2000s, Weary expanded into film with supporting roles in independent projects like the 2008 comedy Assassination of a High School President, where he played a hall monitor. His breakout in family comedy came in 2010 with the role of Kevin, the smug and talented antagonist rivaling the awkward protagonist, in the Nickelodeon original movie Fred: The Movie. Weary reprised Kevin in the direct-to-TV sequels Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred (2011) and Fred 3: Camp Fred (2012), as well as the short-lived Nickelodeon series Fred: The Show (2012), which adapted the web series and emphasized slapstick humor targeted at young audiences. These performances highlighted his ability to embody cocky teen characters in lighthearted, youth-driven content.^[1] Throughout the early 2010s, Weary built experience through guest appearances on network television, including a 2005 episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Tim Stenton. In 2014, he joined the ensemble of the ABC Family (later Freeform) teen drama Pretty Little Liars in a recurring capacity as Cyrus Petrillo, a drifter and prime suspect in the disappearance of central character Alison DiLaurentis, appearing in four episodes across the fifth and sixth seasons. This role immersed him in the show's suspenseful narrative of secrets and intrigue among high school friends.^[18][4] Weary's entry into more substantial film work arrived that same year with the indie horror thriller It Follows, directed by David Robert Mitchell. He portrayed Hugh (also known as Jeff), a mysterious figure who passes on a supernatural curse to the protagonist, contributing to the film's atmospheric tension and innovative storytelling. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim, the movie represented a pivotal shift for Weary from comedic and soapy roles toward edgier, genre-driven projects that appealed to young adult audiences.

Breakthrough in television

Jake Weary was cast as Deran Cody, the youngest son in the dysfunctional Cody crime family, in the TNT crime drama series Animal Kingdom, which premiered on June 14, 2016, and is an adaptation of the 2010 Australian film of the same name directed by David Michôd.^[19] In the series, created by Jonathan Lisco and executive produced by John Wells, Deran is portrayed as a former competitive surfer drawn into the family's criminal activities, including heists and drug trafficking, under the matriarchal control of his mother, Smurf, played by Ellen Barkin.^[19] Weary's casting alongside Finn Cole as Joshua "J" Cody marked a significant step in his transition from supporting television roles to a lead in a high-profile ensemble drama.^[19] Over the course of the show's six seasons, spanning 2016 to 2022, Deran's character arc developed from a reluctant and hot-headed family member seeking independence through his surfing lifestyle and personal relationships to a more hardened anti-hero confronting themes of sexual identity, familial loyalty, and substance abuse.^[9] Initially depicted as the "baby" of the family with a rebellious streak and hidden homosexuality, Deran navigates coming-out struggles, romantic entanglements, and escalating involvement in the Cody syndicate's operations, culminating in moral ambiguities and leadership tensions by the final season.^[9] Weary prepared for the role by immersing himself in surfing to authentically capture Deran's athletic background and action-oriented scenes, including stunt work for heists and confrontations, as highlighted in behind-the-scenes content from the production.^[20] Critics praised Weary's performance for bringing nuanced depth to Deran within the ensemble, particularly in portraying the character's internal conflicts and vulnerability amid the show's intense family dynamics, which helped elevate the series' exploration of crime and kinship.^[21] Animal Kingdom garnered solid reception, with Season 1 holding a 76% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 34 reviews, contributing to TNT's renewals through six seasons and a dedicated fanbase.^[22] Weary's portrayal was noted for avoiding stereotypes in depicting Deran's queer identity, with the actor expressing in interviews his commitment to portraying the role with authenticity and complexity.^[9] The sustained success of Animal Kingdom, which concluded its 75-episode run on August 28, 2022, significantly boosted Weary's profile, positioning him for more discerning opportunities in television and film following the series' end.^[23]

Film work

Weary's film career began with roles in low-budget genre films, showcasing his ability to blend humor and horror. In 2014, he starred as Tommy, the comedic lead in the horror-comedy Zombeavers, a cult favorite directed by Jordan Rubin that follows college students terrorized by zombie beavers during a lakeside getaway. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and gained a dedicated following for its absurd, gore-filled premise despite mixed reviews.^[24] Building on his horror roots, Weary took on supporting roles in more atmospheric thrillers. He appeared as Hugh/Jeff in David Robert Mitchell's critically acclaimed It Follows (2014), a supernatural horror film about a relentless curse passed through sexual encounters, which earned praise for its innovative sound design and tension-building narrative. In 2019, Weary portrayed John "Webby" Garton, the leader of a homophobic gang in It Chapter Two, Andy Muschietti's adaptation of Stephen King's novel, where his brief but intense scenes contributed to the film's exploration of trauma and survival. The movie grossed over $473 million worldwide, highlighting Weary's presence in high-profile genre projects.^[25] Weary has since demonstrated versatility by venturing into independent dramas and action thrillers. In the 2023 road-trip drama Bleeding Love, directed by Emma Westenberg, he played Kip, a quirky parolee encountered by the protagonists—a father and daughter grappling with addiction and estrangement—adding levity to the film's emotional core. The movie premiered at South by Southwest and received positive feedback for its intimate portrayal of family reconciliation. He also appeared as Dwayne, an eco-activist, in the thriller How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2023), directed by Daniel Goldhaber and based on the non-fiction book by Andreas Malm, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to critical acclaim.^{[26][27][28][29]} More recently, in the 2024 Netflix action thriller Trigger Warning, Weary portrayed Elvis, the volatile brother of a local sheriff entangled in gang conflicts, opposite Jessica Alba's Special Forces operative lead. This role marked his shift toward high-stakes action, contrasting his earlier horror work while leveraging his television prominence to secure diverse cinematic opportunities.^[30]

Recent projects

In 2023, Weary starred in the horror thriller Alone at Night, directed by Jimmy Giannopoulos, where he portrayed Jake, a character entangled in a night of supernatural terror during a quarantine at a remote cabin.^[31] The film, which also features Ashley Benson in the lead role as Vicky, explores themes of isolation and masked killers, marking Weary's venture into low-budget horror cinema. Weary's television career gained renewed momentum in 2025 with his lead role as Cane Buckley in Netflix's The Waterfront, a crime drama created by Kevin Williamson about a North Carolina fishing family dynasty entangled in illegal activities to save their empire. The series, which premiered in June 2025 and quickly topped Netflix charts, allowed Weary to embody a charismatic yet tormented family member, drawing comparisons to his past ensemble work while showcasing his versatility in streaming formats.^[32] Despite critical mixed reception and cancellation after one season, the project highlighted Weary's shift toward high-profile streaming platforms.^[33] That same year, Weary expanded into the post-apocalyptic genre with a guest arc as Christos in Season 2 of AMC's The Walking Dead: Dead City, appearing in episodes that aired starting in early 2025.^[34] His role in the Maggie and Negan-led spinoff added to his growing presence in franchise extensions, contrasting his earlier crime drama roots.^[35] Building on his established reputation from Animal Kingdom, Weary addressed potential spinoff discussions in 2025 interviews, expressing openness to reprising Deran Cody if pitched by executive producer John Wells, including ideas for a storyline with Finn Cole's J Cody set in Mexico.^[36] This reflects ongoing interest in the franchise's legacy amid its Netflix resurgence.^[37] Overall, Weary's recent output demonstrates a pivot toward ensemble-driven streaming dramas and genre expansions, prioritizing roles in prestige platforms like Netflix and AMC while maintaining momentum from long-running series.^[33]

Music career

Releases and performances

Jake Weary began releasing original music in the early 2010s under the pseudonym Agendas, self-producing EPs that blended indie pop with experimental electronic elements. His debut project, the Agendas EP in July 2011, included songs such as "Amelia," "Found," "Broken," "Dawn," and "Tower," characterized by synth-driven melodies and lyrics delving into relationships and emotional vulnerability.^[38][39] In June 2012, he issued the Tones EP (also released as Tones / Agendas 2), continuing his signature style of indie pop infused with shoegaze and electro-pop influences, drawing from artists like Peter Gabriel and Genesis for its atmospheric soundscapes.^[38][39] After a seven-year hiatus from new material, Weary returned in 2018 with the EP Reflections of the Dead, self-released on platforms like SoundCloud and Spotify, marking a shift toward more divergent, hazy indie pop with personal narratives on love and introspection. The five-track project featured standout singles "Jessie Don't Dance," "Silent Witness," "Eternal," "Let's Stay In," and "Nectar of Love," emphasizing dreamy production and vulnerable lyricism that resonated with his earlier work but added matured emotional depth. Beyond the EP, Weary has issued standalone singles, including the introspective "DIE IN LOVE (LILAH)" in the late 2010s, available on SoundCloud, which explores themes of romantic turmoil through minimalist pop arrangements. He has also shared covers, such as a rendition of Bobby Caldwell's "Open Your Eyes," reinterpreting the soulful classic with his indie sensibilities on streaming services. Subsequent releases include the 2019 single "Mist of the Pine," the 2022 singles "Glowworm" and "Bloodlust," and the 2023 EP ROTD II featuring tracks like "Devotion (Bitter Fruit)" and "Heaven."^{[40][39][41][42][43][44]} Weary's performance history remains limited, with occasional live appearances tied to his acting commitments, such as early gigs playing guitar and contributing lyrics for the band Laudable in his youth. His music, including these EPs and singles, is widely available on streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify, allowing fans to access his catalog of pop-infused, relationship-centric tracks without extensive touring.^[40][44][43]

Production and collaborations

Jake Weary's involvement in music production began as a self-taught pursuit during his early acting career, utilizing basic tools like video editing software on a hand-me-down laptop to experiment with electronic and pop sounds. By the early 2010s, this hobby evolved into formal collaborations, particularly with producer Groundislava (Jasper Patterson), with whom Weary formed the short-lived group Landlord in 2010. Under this moniker, they co-produced an EP featuring tracks such as "Animal" and "Panorama," which blended hazy electronic beats with Weary's vocals, marking his initial credited production work in the indie electronic scene.^[45][40] Weary's production partnership with Groundislava extended beyond the Landlord project, contributing to several tracks that fused experimental pop elements with catchy arrangements. Notable examples include co-production on "Love Ribbon" from Groundislava's 2012 album Feel Me, where Weary provided vocals and helped craft its dreamy, synth-driven sound, and features on later releases like "Until Tomorrow" from the 2017 album Endless Voyage. These collaborations highlighted Weary's ability to innovate within indie pop, emphasizing layered production techniques that balanced accessibility with avant-garde textures. Additionally, Weary co-produced "Danger 4e" with MadeBuyUS in 2013, a track that showcased his skills in creating atmospheric, beat-oriented electronic music for emerging indie artists.^[46][47][48] Throughout the mid-2010s, Weary's production credits expanded to include guest features and self-produced works listed on platforms like Genius, reflecting his growing role in the indie music landscape. He has contributed to soundtracks and experimental projects, often as a co-producer emphasizing innovative arrangements for lesser-known artists in the pop and electronic genres. In interviews, Weary has discussed how his production work started as a creative outlet during acting hiatuses but became a professional endeavor by the mid-2010s, with credits on his own singles like Bloodlust (2022), where he handled full production duties.^[47][49][50] Weary has spoken about the challenges of balancing music production with his demanding acting schedule, noting in a 2018 interview that he prefers a solitary creative process to maintain control over his sound, often working in short bursts between film and television commitments. This dual career path has allowed him to integrate production techniques honed in music into his acting projects, though he prioritizes music as a personal refuge from the collaborative intensity of on-set work.^[16]

Personal life

Marriage

Weary has been married to actress and model Vera Bulder since October 1, 2019.^[51] Bulder, originally from Amsterdam, began her modeling career at age 14 and relocated to New York City at 17 to pursue opportunities in fashion and acting, later performing in plays at the International Theater Amsterdam and attending acting school in Rotterdam.^[52][53] The couple maintains a private personal life, with their wedding described in contemporary social media posts as a low-key event focused on close family and friends.^[54] Professionally, Bulder and Weary have overlapped in projects such as the 2024 film Bleeding Love, which Bulder produced and in which she appeared alongside Weary, and season 2 of AMC's The Walking Dead: Dead City, where both portrayed characters in shared scenes.^[55][56]

Family

Weary and his wife Vera Bulder welcomed their first child, a son, in 2020, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which aligned with a temporary pause in his professional commitments.^[57] The couple prioritizes privacy surrounding their son, with Weary offering limited insights in public discussions, such as noting the difficulties of managing parental responsibilities alongside frequent travel for on-location filming.^[58] Weary remains closely connected to his extended family, including his parents—actress Kim Zimmer and actor-director A.C. Weary—and his two siblings, brother Max and sister Rachel.^[55][59] This bond extends to occasional professional overlaps, notably Zimmer's appearance alongside her son in the 2024 film Bleeding Love.^[55] The family has settled in the Los Angeles area to facilitate proximity to entertainment industry hubs, while upholding ties to their origins in Montclair, New Jersey.^[60]

Filmography

Film

• Assassination of a High School President (2008) as Hall Monitor^[8]
• Fred: The Movie (2010) as Kevin^[8]
• Altitude (2010) as Sal^[8]
• Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred (2011) as Kevin (voice)^[8]
• Fred 3: Camp Fred (2012) as Kevin (voice)^[8]
• It Follows (2014) as Hugh^[8]
• Zombeavers (2014) as Tommy^[8]
• Message from the King (2016) as Jack Sheridan^[8]
• Tomato Red (2017) as Jam^[8]
• It Chapter Two (2019) as Webby^[8]
• Finding Steve McQueen (2019) as Agent Taylor^[8]
• Rushed (2021) as Steven Croission^[8]
• How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2023) as Dwayne^[8]
• Measure of Revenge (2022) as Curtis^[8]
• Alone at Night (2023) as Jake^[8]
• Bleeding Love (2023) as Kip^[8]
• Oh, Canada (2024) as Stanley Reinhart^[8]
• Trigger Warning (2024) as Elvis^[8]
• Westhampton (2025) as Dickie^[8]

Television

Weary's television career spans soap operas, guest appearances, and lead roles in drama series, with distinctions between recurring and series regular commitments noted below. His credits are presented chronologically, highlighting key series regular and guest roles, episode counts where available, and status as of November 2025.

• As the World Turns (2005; Luke Snyder; recurring; 52 episodes): Weary portrayed the teenage Luke Snyder in this CBS soap opera, marking his early breakout in daytime television as a recurring player.^[1]
• Stalker (2014; Bobby Hughes; guest; 1 episode): Weary guest-starred in this CBS crime drama.^[8]
• Chicago Fire (2014; Vince Keeler; guest; 2 episodes): He appeared as the antagonistic Vince Keeler, a short-term guest role in the NBC procedural drama.
• Pretty Little Liars (2014–2015; Cyrus Petrillo; guest; 4 episodes): Weary guest-starred as the shady Cyrus Petrillo, a suspect in the Freeform mystery series' fifth season arc.^[61]
• A Deadly Adoption (2015; Dwayne Tisdale; TV movie): Weary appeared in this Lifetime thriller.^[8]
• Animal Kingdom (2016–2022; Deran Cody; series regular; 75 episodes): As a core cast member, Weary played Deran Cody, the closeted gay surfer and family member in the TNT crime drama across all six seasons.
• The Walking Dead: Dead City (2025; Christos; guest; 2 episodes): Weary guest-starred as the gang leader Christos in season 2 of this AMC zombie spin-off.^[8]
• The Waterfront (2025; Cane Buckley; main cast; 8 episodes): In this Netflix family crime drama, Weary stars as Cane Buckley, the eldest son in the central family, in the full first season released in June 2025.^[62]