Jason Earles

Born on April 26, 1977, in San Diego, California, Jason Earles developed an early interest in acting. He pursued this passion through formal education, graduating with a degree in theatre arts from Rocky Mountain College in 2000. Earles began his professional acting career in 2001, transitioning from extensive theatrical work in productions like “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Equus” to film and television roles. His early career included appearances in television series such as “Still Standing” and “Phil of the Future,” and film roles in “National Treasure” (2004) and “American Pie Presents: Band Camp” (2005).

Earles gained significant recognition for his role as Jackson Stewart, the older brother of Miley Stewart, in the Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana,” which aired from 2006 to 2011. Following the conclusion of “Hannah Montana,” he continued his collaboration with Disney, starring as sensei Rudy Gillespie in the Disney XD series “Kickin’ It” from 2011 to 2015. During his tenure on “Kickin’ It,” Earles also expanded into production, serving as a co-producer for 62 episodes, and then into directing a total of four episodes. His directorial work also includes episodes for other multi-camera sitcoms like “Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything” (2015-2016), “WTH: Welcome to Howler” (2018), and “Prince of Peoria” (2018).

Beyond his prominent roles, Earles has accumulated a diverse set of experiences in the entertainment industry. This includes voice-over work for animated series like “Fish Hooks” and “Vampirina,” as well as web series such as “The Most Popular Girls in School.” He has also taken on guest roles in various television series, including “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” (2022–2023) where he also served as an acting coach. Earles resides in Toluca Lake with his wife, Katie Drysen.