Jake O'Neill Robards, the youngest son of two-time Oscar-winning actor Jason Robards and producer Lois (O'Connor) Robards, was raised in Southport, Connecticut, away from the glamour of Hollywood but close to the vibrant Broadway scene in New York. Growing up, Jake would often watch his father perform in revivals of The Iceman Cometh, You Can't Take it with You, and Long Day's Journey Into Night from the wings during Sunday matinees.
Jake's education took him to The Greenwich Country Day School, Greens Farms Academy, and finally, The Hotchkiss School, where he met his future wife, Rachel, in the 8th grade. He was an accomplished student and athlete, serving as class president twice and captaining the varsity soccer and sailing teams, which won national championships.
Initially, Jake's plans were to attend law school and pursue a career in government, but his senior year at Georgetown University, where he earned a BA in International Relations and a minor in French, his French professor's requirement to act out parts in Moliere's The School for Wives sparked a newfound passion for acting.
After college, Jake attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, but soon shifted his focus to independent theater, taking on a wide range of roles, including an Australian drug smuggler, a soldier suffering from PTSD, a suicidal loaner, and even a young Adolf Hitler.
For years, Jake has built a successful voice-over career, voicing numerous national campaigns, including L'Oreal, Ensure, Robitussin, Dunkin' Doughnuts, USA Network, Advil, and Domino's Pizza, to name a few.
Jake's Broadway credits include performances alongside Paul Newman and Jane Curtin in Our Town, which was also filmed for Showtime. His film and television credits include roles in Law & Order SVU, Alto, Honeysuckle, Lucky Them, and Somebody's Hero.
In late 2016, Jake made the move to Los Angeles to focus more on film and television, booking a recurring role on Showtime's Billions and guest starring on ABC's Quantico alongside Priyanka Chopra and Blair Underwood.
Jake's love for theater extends to his duties as a Board member of Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut, and he has also been involved with NextStep Fitness, a non-profit providing workout facilities for people living with paralysis, participating in the Snow2Sand ride and helping raise over $100,000.
Jake has been married to Rachel Bell since 2006 and they have one son, Jake Jr.
