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.Tinoco, Armando (December 1, 2025). "Heated Rivalry Season 1 Release Schedule: Dates When Episodes Premiere On HBO Max". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
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 Year Title Role NotesRef.1988Horses in WinterBen Waxman at age 9PinLeon, age 71989MindfieldMario1990Nathaël and the Seal Hunt(voice)Short film1993Josh and S.A.M.Joshua 'Josh' Whitney1995David, age 15RainbowSteven Bailey1998MotelYoung TomThis Is My FatherJackDead EndAdam Compton1999You Can Thank Me LaterSimon CooperbergJustin2000Poor White TrashLennie Lake2002DadDad/EdwardShort filmAlso writer and director2003TwistWriter and director2004Trouser AccidentsMarkShort filmBloodChris Terry2007Walk All Over MePaul2009V.I. (Lenin)Writer and director2010Good NeighboursJonahWriter and director2011Sorry, RabbiJoshShort filmFrench ImmersionJonathan Hornstein2012CamionJacob2016LovesickDash2018 The Death & Life of John F. DonovanCo-writer; with Xavier Dolan
Television Year Title Role NotesRef.1988Extra! Extra!Unknown episodes1988Hitting HomeDavid HughesTV movie1990–91Dracula: The SeriesMax Townsend21 episodes1992Are You Afraid of the Dark?Eric13 episodes1991–92WatatatowGreg14 episodes1992 A Bunch of Munsch(voice)Episode: "Angela's Airplane/The Fire Station"1994TekWar: TekJusticeEugene LeopoldTV movie1995–98Wilbur Van Snobbe (voice) (Snobby American accent)Unknown episodes1997Princess SissiPrince Karl (voice)Unknown episodes1997WhiskersJed Martin (21 years old)TV movie1999SnakeEpisode: "Nunc Dimittis"1999–2000Big Wolf on CampusBrother Ambrose2 episodes2000Touched by an AngelMaxEpisode: "Legacy"2000Guy Playing CharadesTV movieUncredited2003Hey JoelKevin Cornwallis (voice)13 episodes2005Murder in the HamptonsGenerosa's R.E. CoworkerTV movie2005Slings and ArrowsScott4 episodes2005Eric GoldenTV movie2007St. Urbain's HorsemenJoeyTV miniseries2016–23LetterkennyPastor GlenAlso co-creator, writer, director, executive producer54 episodes2021 The MoodysDirector4 episodes2022–23ShoresyBenoit "Benny" BrodeurDirector, executive producer2025–presentHeated Rivalry Director Actor; episode: "Rookies"Also creator, writer, director, executive producer (6 episodes)AlexanderWriter, director, executive producer
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Ref.2004 Genie Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Twist Achievement in Music – Original Song 2010 Canadian Comedy Awards Best Writing – Film The Trotsky 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 2017 Canadian Screen Awards Best Direction in a Comedy Program or Series Letterkenny 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
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