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. Tierney is of Irish and Jewish descent.

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.

Since Dad, Tierney has written and directed the feature films Twist (2003), for which he was nominated for a Genie Award for Best Adapted Screenplay; The Trotsky (2009), which garnered him two Canadian Comedy Awards and a Genie Award; Good Neighbours (2010); and Preggoland (2014). 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.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1988Horses in WinterBen Waxman at age 9
PinLeon, age 7
1989MindfieldMario
1990Nathaël and the Seal Hunt(voice)Short film
1993Josh and S.A.M.Joshua 'Josh' Whitney
1995The Neon BibleDavid, age 15
RainbowSteven Bailey
1998MotelYoung Tom
This Is My FatherJack
Dead EndAdam Compton
1999You Can Thank Me LaterSimon Cooperberg
The Life Before ThisJustin
2000Poor White TrashLennie Lake
2002DadDad/EdwardShort film Also writer and director
2003TwistWriter and director
2004Trouser AccidentsMarkShort film
BloodChris Terry
2007Walk All Over MePaul
2009The TrotskyV.I. (Lenin)Writer and director
2010Good NeighboursJonahWriter and director
2011Sorry, RabbiJoshShort film
French ImmersionJonathan Hornstein
2012CamionJacob
2016LovesickDash
2018The Death & Life of John F. DonovanCo-writer; with Xavier Dolan

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1988Extra! Extra!Unknown episodes
1988Hitting HomeDavid HughesTV movie
1990–91Dracula: The SeriesMax Townsend21 episodes
1992Are You Afraid of the Dark?Eric13 episodes
1991–92WatatatowGreg14 episodes
1992A Bunch of Munsch(voice)Episode: "Angela's Airplane/The Fire Station"
1994TekWar: TekJusticeEugene LeopoldTV movie
1995–98The Little Lulu ShowWilbur Van Snobbe (voice) (Snobby American accent)Unknown episodes
1997Princess SissiPrince Karl (voice)Unknown episodes
1997WhiskersJed Martin (21 years old)TV movie
1999The HungerSnakeEpisode: "Nunc Dimittis"
1999–2000Big Wolf on CampusBrother Ambrose2 episodes
2000Touched by an AngelMaxEpisode: "Legacy"
2000A Diva's Christmas CarolGuy Playing CharadesTV movie Uncredited
2003Hey JoelKevin Cornwallis (voice)13 episodes
2005Murder in the HamptonsGenerosa's R.E. CoworkerTV movie
2005Slings and ArrowsScott4 episodes
2005The Many Trials of One Jane DoeEric GoldenTV movie
2007St. Urbain's HorsemenJoeyTV miniseries
2016–23LetterkennyPastor GlenAlso co-creator, writer, director, executive producer 54 episodes
2021The MoodysDirector 4 episodes
2022–23ShoresyBenoit "Benny" BrodeurDirector, executive producer
2025–presentHeated RivalryDirectorActor; episode: "Rookies" Also creator, writer, director, executive producer (6 episodes)
TBAAlexanderWriter, director, executive producer

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2004Genie AwardsBest Adapted ScreenplayTwistNominated
Achievement in Music – Original SongWon
2010Canadian Comedy AwardsBest Writing – FilmThe TrotskyWon
Best Direction – FilmWon
Genie AwardsBest Original ScreenplayWon
2014Canadian Screen AwardsBest Direction in a Comedy Program or SeriesGavin Crawford's Wild WestNominated
Vancouver International Film Festival AwardsMost Popular Canadian Feature FilmPreggolandWon
2015Directors Guild of Canada AwardsBest Direction – Feature FilmNominated
Omaha Film Festival AwardsAudience Choice Feature FilmWon
2016Canadian Screen AwardsBest Direction in a Comedy Program or SeriesMr DNominated
2017Canadian Screen AwardsBest Direction in a Comedy Program or SeriesLetterkennyWon
Best Writing in a Comedy Program or Series (shared with Jared Keeso)Won
Best Comedy Series (shared with Mark Montefiore, Patrick O'Sullivan, Jared Keeso)Won
WGC Screenwriting AwardsBest Script From a Rookie Series (shared with Jared Keeso)Nominated
Best TV Comedy (shared with Jared Keeso)Won

External links