Jacob Tierney

Jacob Daniel Tierney (born September 26, 1979) is a Canadian actor, director, screenwriter, and producer of film and television. He is the co-creator, co-writer, director, and executive producer of the Canadian sitcom Letterkenny (2016–2023), the executive producer and director of the first two seasons of its spinoff series, Shoresy (2022–2023), and the creator, writer, director and executive producer of the sports romance series Heated Rivalry (2025–present).

He began his career as a child actor, most notably playing Eric in the horror anthology series Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1990–1992). He later began writing and directing, making his feature film debut with Twist (2003), followed by The Trotsky (2009), Good Neighbours (2011), and Preggoland (2014).

Early life Tierney was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on September 26, 1979, to Terry (née Smiley) and Kevin Tierney. His father was a screenwriter and film producer best known for co-writing and producing Bon Cop, Bad Cop (2006), the most successful Canadian film at the domestic box office at the time.

Career Tierney began his career as a child actor, beginning at age six. He made his directorial debut in 2002 with his short film, titled Dad. which garnered him two Canadian Comedy Awards He has also directed episodes of the television sitcom Mr. D and Gavin Crawford's comedy special Gavin Crawford's Wild West. In 2012, Tierney participated in the jury of the Air Canada enRoute Film Festival.

Tierney made his stage directing debut in 2015 with a production of Travesties by Tom Stoppard at the Segal Centre in Montreal. In 2017, he returned to the Segal Centre to direct Noises Off by Michael Frayn.

Tierney is the co-writer, director, and executive producer of the sitcom Letterkenny, in which he also stars as Pastor Glen. At the 5th Canadian Screen Awards in 2017, Tierney won several awards for his work on the series, including the Canadian Screen Award for Best Comedy Series. In 2018, Tierney won the Canadian Screen Awards for Best Direction in a Comedy Series, as well as Best Writing in a Comedy Series alongside Letterkenny creator and star Jared Keeso.

Tierney is the creator and writer-director-executive producer of the sports romance series Heated Rivalry, which premiered in November 2025 in Canada and internationally.

In March 2026, it was announced that Tierney would be partnering with Netflix and Aggregate Films to write and direct Alexander, an adaptation of Canadian author Annabel Lyon's novel The Golden Mean. The television series, a drama, will explore a young Alexander the Great's relationship with his tutor, Aristotle.

Personal life Tierney has one younger sister, Brigid, who is an actress. He is gay. In 2022, Tierney revealed he was infected with HIV at the age of 34; a year later, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Ref.2004 Genie Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Twist Best Direction – Film Genie Awards Best Original Screenplay 2014 Canadian Screen Awards Best Direction in a Comedy Program or Series Gavin Crawford's Wild West Vancouver International Film Festival Awards Most Popular Canadian Feature Film Preggoland 2015 Directors Guild of Canada Awards Best Direction – Feature Film Omaha Film Festival Awards Audience Choice Feature Film 2016 Canadian Screen Awards Best Direction in a Comedy Program or Series Mr D Best Writing in a Comedy Program or Series (shared with Jared Keeso) Best Comedy Series (shared with Mark Montefiore, Patrick O'Sullivan, Jared Keeso) WGC Screenwriting Awards Best Script From a Rookie Series (shared with Jared Keeso) Best TV Comedy (shared with Jared Keeso) 2026 Canadian Screen Awards Best Drama Series (shared with Brendan Brady) Heated Rivalry Best Direction, Drama Series Best Writing, Drama Series