Jake Wood

Jake Dylan Wood was born on July 12, 1972, in Westminster, London, England. He began his acting training at the Anna Scher Drama School in Islington, North London, and secured his first acting role in the television series “The Gentle Touch” in 1984. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he appeared in numerous notable television productions, including “May to December,” “Minder,” “Only Fools and Horses,” “Nightingales,” “Press Gang,” “London’s Burning,” “Inspector Morse,” “One Foot in the Grave,” “Red Dwarf” (where he played Kill Crazy), “A Touch of Frost,” and “The Bill.” His film credits from this period include “Flesh and Blood” (1985), “Crimetime” (1996), and “Dad Savage” (1998).

Wood’s career saw significant progression with his role as Max Branning in the BBC soap opera “EastEnders,” which he joined in June 2006. He maintained this role for fifteen years, departing in February 2021, and is set to return in July 2025. During his tenure on “EastEnders,” he received multiple awards at the British Soap Awards and Inside Soap Awards. Beyond dramatic roles, Wood became widely known in the United States as the voice of the GEICO gecko, a role he held for a significant period. In 2014, he participated in the 12th series of “Strictly Come Dancing,” progressing to the semi-finals with his partner Janette Manrara.

In addition to his acting and voice work, Wood co-hosts “Pound for Pound,” a boxing podcast, alongside Spencer Oliver, which launched in January 2018 and features interviews with prominent figures like Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. His stage work includes performances in “Abigail’s Party” (West End), “Real Classy Affair” (Royal Court), and “London Tide” at The National Theatre. In 2022, he received the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Supporting Performer in a Play for his role as Ben in “2:22: A Ghost Story” at the Noël Coward Theatre. Jake Wood continues to engage in diverse projects across television, film, theatre, and podcasting.