Jeff Virkus
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Growing up in the rolling hills of Novato, California, Jeff had the perfect outdoor stage to let his imagination run wild. He and his buddies dreamed up extraordinary worlds and assumed the roles of larger-than-life characters inspired by their favorite blockbuster films of the day - Star Wars, Alien, Flash Gordon, Superman, and Raiders of the Lost Ark to name a few.
The rigid structure of high school and the pressure to conform to social norms threatened to undermine Jeff's creativity and sense of adventure. He struggled to keep up in the classroom, had difficulty fitting into social circles, and never stood out on the sports field. He found solace in movies, TV, comic books, video games, and action figures. Jeff romanticized about someday becoming an actor, electrifying audiences worldwide. He was too afraid, however, to take the first step toward his dream, repeatedly backing out of high school play auditions for fear of being judged and ridiculed by his peers.
With no acting experience under his belt, Jeff couldn't garner the courage to audition for theater programs when applying for colleges. He didn't even reveal his dream of becoming an actor to his family and friends. Instead, he applied to the UCLA Film School, which in his mind was the next closest thing. He was promptly rejected. Undeterred by this letdown, Jeff took theater and film elective courses on the side and eventually graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology.
Jeff landed unpaid internships as a post-production assistant on MTV's Real World and wrote script coverage for Disney Studios. He was particularly inspired after reading the action thriller, Assassins, which would eventually star Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas. Getting a taste of the inner workings of Hollywood, Jeff was hungrier than ever to take on the seemingly insurmountable odds of becoming a relevant player in the magic of movie-making.
While bouncing from one side hustle to another as a bartender, waiter, tour guide, substitute teacher, and children's party performer, Jeff managed to get his SAG card by way of three background union vouchers. The third and deciding voucher came on the set of The BirdCage starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. He signed with his first agent and began auditioning both theatrically and commercially. Jeff, still lacking in actual acting experience, worked hard to hone his craft by immersing himself in scene study classes that exposed him to a multitude of acting techniques. He studied under such coaches as Howard Fine, Morgan Freeman, Vincent Chase, and D.W. Brown. Jeff honed his comedy and improv skills at the Groundlings, I.O. West, and Second City where he is now an alumni and former main stage player.
Jeff hasn't looked back as he continues to seek new challenges that contribute to his growth as an actor. He has become well-versed in taking on both dramatic and comedic roles, from his guest-starring turn on stage as Phil in Hurlyburly to his portrayal of multiple characters ala Peter Sellers in the independent comedy features, Tour Guide Rising and Political Variants. Whether portraying an action hero, serial killer, sitcom dad, or corporate CEO, Jeff brings honesty and depth to his gripping performances, always looking to electrify the masses.
In 2020, during the height of a pandemic, Jeff launched CreativeLeapTV, a one-man production studio dedicated to producing feature films and comedy Youtube videos that entertain, educate, and inspire others to seek out and express their own creative gifts. Don't wait. Take that creative leap.
The rigid structure of high school and the pressure to conform to social norms threatened to undermine Jeff's creativity and sense of adventure. He struggled to keep up in the classroom, had difficulty fitting into social circles, and never stood out on the sports field. He found solace in movies, TV, comic books, video games, and action figures. Jeff romanticized about someday becoming an actor, electrifying audiences worldwide. He was too afraid, however, to take the first step toward his dream, repeatedly backing out of high school play auditions for fear of being judged and ridiculed by his peers.
With no acting experience under his belt, Jeff couldn't garner the courage to audition for theater programs when applying for colleges. He didn't even reveal his dream of becoming an actor to his family and friends. Instead, he applied to the UCLA Film School, which in his mind was the next closest thing. He was promptly rejected. Undeterred by this letdown, Jeff took theater and film elective courses on the side and eventually graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology.
Jeff landed unpaid internships as a post-production assistant on MTV's Real World and wrote script coverage for Disney Studios. He was particularly inspired after reading the action thriller, Assassins, which would eventually star Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas. Getting a taste of the inner workings of Hollywood, Jeff was hungrier than ever to take on the seemingly insurmountable odds of becoming a relevant player in the magic of movie-making.
While bouncing from one side hustle to another as a bartender, waiter, tour guide, substitute teacher, and children's party performer, Jeff managed to get his SAG card by way of three background union vouchers. The third and deciding voucher came on the set of The BirdCage starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. He signed with his first agent and began auditioning both theatrically and commercially. Jeff, still lacking in actual acting experience, worked hard to hone his craft by immersing himself in scene study classes that exposed him to a multitude of acting techniques. He studied under such coaches as Howard Fine, Morgan Freeman, Vincent Chase, and D.W. Brown. Jeff honed his comedy and improv skills at the Groundlings, I.O. West, and Second City where he is now an alumni and former main stage player.
Jeff hasn't looked back as he continues to seek new challenges that contribute to his growth as an actor. He has become well-versed in taking on both dramatic and comedic roles, from his guest-starring turn on stage as Phil in Hurlyburly to his portrayal of multiple characters ala Peter Sellers in the independent comedy features, Tour Guide Rising and Political Variants. Whether portraying an action hero, serial killer, sitcom dad, or corporate CEO, Jeff brings honesty and depth to his gripping performances, always looking to electrify the masses.
In 2020, during the height of a pandemic, Jeff launched CreativeLeapTV, a one-man production studio dedicated to producing feature films and comedy Youtube videos that entertain, educate, and inspire others to seek out and express their own creative gifts. Don't wait. Take that creative leap.
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