Jeff has been acting, directing, writing and teaching professionally for over thirty years and is the founder of Jeffrey Meek Studio, a workshop dedicated to creating an environment for beginning and professional actors to have the freedom and support to reveal their true potential. Jeff is committed to helping actors of all levels and skills. He has created a simple and proven approach to acting where beginners and seasoned veterans receive a powerful support system to try new things or hone material, regardless of style or period. Whether you are preparing a television audition or playing Shakespeare, Jeff is determined and qualified to lead every actor toward their highest potential.
Jeff is also the co-artistic director of PlayFest Santa Barbara, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the discovery and development of new plays, musicals and audiences. PlayFest Santa Barbara stages professional theatre readings workshops and promotes original new plays, musicals and adaptations of classics by emerging and established writers. PlayFest Santa Barbara provides theatre lovers with the opportunity to attend performances, lectures, interviews, and master classes with some of the world’s leading artists.
Jeff’s’ film acting includes starring opposite, Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and Bob Hoskins in “Heart Condition”, with Academy Award winners Mickey Rourke, Morgan Freeman and Forrest Whittaker in “Johnny Handsome”, and opposite Kurt Russell and Kelly McGillis in “Winter People”.
His television work includes starring in the CBS prime-time series, “Raven” and the CBS late-night series, “The Exile”. He also played the dual roles of Rayden and Shao Khan in the TNT series, “Mortal Kombat Conquest”. Jeff began his TV career playing Quinn McCleary on the daytime series, “Search for Tomorrow”, and, most recently, was in Bulgaria playing opposite Julie Benz in the thriller, “Taken: The Search For Sophie Parker”. He also played “Craig Montgomery” on “As the World Turns” and has starred in numerous “Movies of the Week”, mini-series, pilots, as well as, many guest star appearances on episodic TV such as “Criminal Minds”, “Castle”, “The Glades”, “Vice” and others.
Having performed in over 100 plays and musicals, Jeff has enjoyed playing such commanding roles as Stanley Kowalski in “A Streetcar Named Desire” at the Tony Award winning South Coast Repertory Theatre, Jim Morrison in the Doors musical, “Celebration of the Lizard”, produced by Doors co-founder and keyboardist, Ray Manzarek, at The San Diego Repertory Theatre and the title role in Shakespeare’s “Coriolanus”.
Jeff also played the lead role of Markus in the west coast premier of Rob Ackerman’s dark comedy, “Table Top”, at the Laguna Playhouse, starred as Mack the Knife in San Diego Repertory’s production of “The Threepenny Opera” and, most recently, starred as Thomas Novachek in the hit, “Venus in Fur” at San Diego Rep. He has received two Dramalogue Awards.
Jeff has directed Proof by David Auburn, Reasons to be Pretty and Reasons to be Happy by Neil LaBute, Gun Show by E.M. Lewis, An Upset by David Auburn, The Dwarfs by Harold Pinter, On the Porch One Crisp Spring Morning by Alex Dremann and Apple Season by E.M. Lewis. He has also directed staged readings of the new plays, Three Views of the Same Object by Henry Murray, It Has to be You, by Catherine Butterfield and The Club by Amy Fox.
Jeff’s film and television directing includes, Night of the Cyclone, Second Unit, Mortal Kombat: Conquest, Second Unit, Raven, Second Unit, and The Exile, Second Unit.
Jeff graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from the University of California, Irvine. He’s studied acting with Ivanna Chubbuck.
Jeff has also been writing for most of his 30 year career. He co-wrote the Bobby Darin biography, “Beyond the Sea”, starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth. For more information about Jeff, feel free to visit his IMDB page.
Jeffrey Meek Studio 