Please introduce yourself. What do you do? Why? What do you want people to know about you?
HI everyone! My name’s Jacob Hacker and I’m from the middle of nowhere, small village In Midwest Ohio named Bloomville. I’ve lived around the area my whole life. I like to consider myself the “Jake of all trades” because I wear many hats. I farm, bartend, build, model, act, but my main career is Firefighter Paramedic.
I fell into this career about 10 years ago and have been with my current city for 8 years! I enjoy helping people and love the crazy that comes with my job everyday, but my main passion is modeling and acting. It took alot to get here though I have a wild transformation story. When I was younger in Jr. High and high school I was almost 300lbs. I wasn’t happy with my life so as I became older I started to change. This took many years but approximately 6 years ago I went all in.
Started focusing on my diet and exercise and made some drastic changes. After a few years my confidence began to build so I thought why not! Let’s go see if we can bust into the acting and modeling world! (Boy what a difficult and crazy journey that has been as well) Its quite difficult to go from blue collar work into the arts, lots of people don’t understand it or understand the passion.
I started with local representation in Ohio and got signed onto an agency! Started doing advertising jobs and modeling work and started doing short films! It really helped that my greatest strength is connecting with people and public speaking. Following that I signed with two more agencies and then my claim to fame! I was brought into a Netflix Reality tv show! Has anyone seen the show called “The Mole?” If so I’m the guy who is usually in flannel haha. This propelled my name to a higher light and helped me obtain my next greatest adventure.
Just this year I was one of two Americans invited to Australia for the Australian Firefighters Calendar! This was a huge honor and a goal of mine for years. We shot in February and the calanders will be out at the end of the year! This is a big deal and I can’t wait for all of the doors it opens for me back here in the USA, it has brought me a wonderful publicist and alot more work to come.
Well that’s the cliff notes version of my story, I would love to discuss more with you all!
What qualities make you different and unique from everyone else in the industry?
My success story and drive is the main thing that makes me unique. I wasn’t delt a good hand as a child but I managed to become successful and turn my life around. I paved my own path, and I continue to forge the life I want and the destination I deserve.
Also my background as a firefighter Paramedic, middle of nowhere farm boy who had taken every chance possible to be different. Someone that others can look up to and see I’m chasing my dreams so why can’t they. I’m different.
Describe THAT moment when you realized you’re doing what you were born to do.
This can be broken down into two parts. I am saving lives and making the world a better place as a fire medic, the satisfaction I get from that is something very few people ever achieve. Even though we don’t get paid well it’s still worth it when I can leave work and say, I helped someone in their time of need, or I saved that person’s life, or even just held the hand of a grieving person. It’s a calling and I answered.
When it comes to modeling and acting, the thing that made me know I was doing what I was ment to do is when people come to me and tell me how I inspired them. Inspired to change their life for the better in regards to fitness, or they see me chasing my dream and they are inspired to do the same. It’s a joy that I strive for every day. Along with that there is nothing better than meeting new people and connecting.
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve had to go through and how did you grow through it?
My biggest challenge has always been myself and my negative thoughts (and money/finances but I feel most people have that problem)
Seriously though how many people don’t take a chance or don’t make a change because of fear? Every time I post something on my social or every time I try a new role or picture I am still scared of the response. Will people judge me? Will they laugh at me or make fun of me? It stems from my childhood but it still haunts me to this day. The fear is not as bad as it was when o first started though. Coming from a blue collar community and job and transitioning into the arts is extremely difficult.
People laughed, and joked about it but even the jokes still hurt. I knew i would be judged and laughed at. I didnt post alot of content because i knew alot of people would joke on my behalf. But i pushed on. We hear about failed actors all the time. So why would I be any different? What made me special? Well mainly my drive and determination. I’m still nowhere near successful enough but I’ve already made it further then most. I turned the other cheek and let them laugh, I knew I could show them. At first they laughed, now they are proud.
Who are the TOP 3 people you’d want to meet that could elevate your career or business? Â Why these specific individuals?
1- is just a type of person, producers/casting for any 911 show so I can impress them and hopefully get cast as a firefighter medic on a TV show! (Really any producers at this point in my career lol) Or anyone from marvel or DC because I belong in a superhero role…..next superman right here.
2-actors would be tough to pick…. Jensen Ackles #1 he’s amazing. Next would be Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ryan Gosling, zac Efron.
3-musicians would be Kid Rock and Avril Levine
(Yes I cheated and did three categories, but this is a terribly hard question there’s so many more producers, actors, and musicians I want to meet! Like who wouldn’t love to meet Dolly Parton come on now!)
Drop your social media links.Â
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Jacob.eugene.hacker/
Facebook.com/jacob.eugene.hacker
TikTok@jacobhacker0
Twitter.com@jacobhacker08
IMDb.com Jacob Hacker
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpTfHHQLvzi/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=