Neil Jackson

Neil Jackson (born 5 March 1976) is an English actor, singer, musician and writer who has appeared in several television series and films, but is probably best known for his role as Marcus van Sciver on Blade: The Series, as Sasha on Make It or Break It and as Jordan Mahkent/Icicle on Stargirl (2020–2022).

His screenwriting credits include the film The Passage directed by Mark Heller and released in 2007. He has starred in several other films including Quantum of Solace and Push.

Early life Jackson was born in Luton, Bedfordshire, the second of four sons of Evelyn and Dennis Jackson.

Jackson began acting when studying drama at GCSE level in Harlington Upper School. While there he was in several school plays including Annie, Little Shop of Horrors, Hard Times, and West Side Story. He also acted in National Youth Theatre as a teenager before moving to Cardiff to study sport at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC) in Wales.

In Wales, Jackson started competitive boxing, entering in the British Universities Boxing Championships, an inter-university competition held throughout the whole of Britain, and won the gold at light middleweight. He went on to successfully defend his title two years later at middleweight. His boxing earned him a scholarship to stay on at UWIC, where he earned his master's degree and graduated in 1998.

Career Not knowing how to get into acting, Jackson wrote a musical and entered it into a national competition for new writers. It came in third and gained attention from producers in London including Michael Armstrong. He later enrolled in Michael Armstrong's Acting Academy, graduating in 2002.

Jackson's first professional acting job was in the UK national touring production of Strindberg's classic Miss Julie. He understudied the lead character, Jean, a role he took over in the West End production later that year. His breakthrough came in 2004 when Oliver Stone cast him as Perdiccas in the Hollywood blockbuster film, Alexander, alongside Colin Farrell and Angelina Jolie. When he met the director, he had a black eye and three stitches in his eyebrow, a fact he jokes must have assisted him as Stone cast him for the role on the spot. He previously starred in the ABC Family original series, Make It or Break It as Sasha Belov. Additionally, Jackson has appeared as Lucas Hellinger, a Blackout conspirator, on the ABC show FlashForward. In 2010, he starred as the chauffeur, Harry Spargo, in the BBC revival of Upstairs, Downstairs. Jackson was cast in the lead role of Sir Percy Blakeney/The Scarlet Pimpernel in Fairbanks Productions' adaptation of the classic tale in 2012.

Other interests Jackson is patron of UK spinal injuries charity Trust PA, in memory of a friend.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2004 Alexander Perdiccas 2005 Breakfast on Pluto Man at Disco 2006 The Last Drop Flight Sergeant Simkins 2006 The Thirst Duke of Earl 2007 Passage Adam 2008 15-40 Kai Hansen Short film 2008 Quantum of Solace Mr. Slate 2009 Push Victor Budarin 2009 Table for Three Tre 2010 You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger Alan 2012 True Bloodthirst Derricks 2016 Nocturnal Animals Christopher 2018 Welcome to Marwen Kurt 2021 The King's Man Captain Forrest TBA Shiver Lewis Brisbane Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 2002–2003 Dream Team Phil Wallis 32 episodes 2002 Heartbeat Jeremy Purves Episode: "The Leopard's Spots" 2002 The House That Jack Built Charlie Episode: "Dynasty" 2002 Is Harry on the Boat? Matthew Episode: "#1.10" 2002 Ultimate Force Luke Episode: "Natural Selection" 2002 Silent Witness Marcus Saul 2 episodes 2003 The Last Detective Stuart Gilley Episode: "Lofty" 2004 Red Cap Private Robbie McCoy Episode: "Fighting Fit" 2005 Sugar Rush Dale Recurring role 2005 Stargate SG-1 Khalek Episode: "Prototype" 2006 Blade: The Series Marcus Van Sciver Main role 2006 Cold Case John Donovan Episode: "Sandhogs" 2007 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Michael, The Waiter Episode: "A La Cart" 2007 How I Met Your Mother Ian Episode: "Third Wheel" 2008 CSI: Miami Paul Sanders Episode: "Won't Get Fueled Again" 2008 The Cleaner Duncan Collins 2 episodes 2008 Stargate Atlantis Wraith Episode: "Vegas" 2009–2012 Make It or Break It Sasha Belov Main role (Seasons 1-2)Recurring role (Season 3) 2010–2012 Upstairs, Downstairs Harry Spargo Main role 2010 FlashForward Lucas Hallinger Recurring role 2011 White Collar David Lawrence Episode: "On Guard" 2013–2015 Sleepy Hollow Abraham Van Brunt Recurring role 2013 Jo Baron Episode: "Invalides" 2013 Lightfields Dwight Lawson Recurring role 2014 House of Secrets Sam Television movie 2014 Person of Interest Rick Dillinger Episode: "RAM" 2016 Hell's Kitchen Himself Episode: "5 Chefs Compete" 2017 The Originals Alistair Duquesne Episode: "Gather Up the Killers" 2017–2020 Absentia Jack Byrne Main role 2018 Westworld Nicholas Episode: "Virtù e Fortuna" 2020–2022 Stargirl Jordan Mahkent / Icicle Main role (Season 1)Guest (Season 2)Recurring role (Season 3) 2024 Tracker William Locke Episode: "Noble Rot"