Jacob Tierney

After achieving international child stardom, Jacob Tierney became an acclaimed adult writer-director-actor. Born Sept. 26, 1979 in Montréal, Québec, Canada, Jacob Daniel Tierney was the son of producer Kevin Tierney and became a successful child actor, starring in such kid-friendly Canadian/American favorites as "Dracula: The Series" (syndicated, 1990) and "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" (YTV/Nickelodeon, 1991-2000).

After landing the leading role of an older brother whose lie sparks a road trip with his younger brother in the dramedy "Josh and S.A.M." (1993), recurring on "Big Wolf on Campus" (YTV/Fox Family Channel, 1999-2002) and booking an episode of "Touched by an Angel" (CBS, 1994-2003), Tierney successfully reinvented himself as an adult actor, writer and director.

He appeared on the Shakespearean festival comedy series "Slings and Arrows" (Movie Central, 2003-06) and wrote and directed "Twist" (2003), a modern-day, gay-hustler-themed reimagining of the classic novel by Charles Dickens. Nominated for a Best Screenplay Genie, Tierney won instead for Best Original Song for writing the film's signature song, "Pantaloon in Black."

He scored an even bigger success by writing and directing the smash hit "The Trotsky" (2009), an intelligent coming-of-age comedy blending activism, Marxist-based theory and high school. Winning a Best Original Screenplay Genie for his bitingly funny script, Tierney also nabbed a slew of additional international awards.

The multi-hyphenate then wrote and directed the thriller "Good Neighbors" (2010), casting two of his favorite collaborators, Emily Hampshire and Jay Baruschel, in the leads.

By Jonathan Riggs