Jacob Bertrand
He transformed from a child actor into the fierce, fan-favorite 'Hawk' on Cobra Kai, embodying the show's themes of bullying and redemption.
Born 2000 (age 26)·American actor·Birthday: March 6·Generation Z
Biography
Jacob Bertrand didn't just join the 'Cobra Kai' universe; he became its emotional lightning rod. A working actor since childhood, with roles on shows like 'Bubble Guppies' and Disney's 'Kirby Buckets,' Bertrand was primed for a defining part. It arrived with Eli Moskowitz, the shy, bullied nerd who reinvents himself as the mohawked, aggressive 'Hawk.' Over the series' run, Bertrand delivered a nuanced performance that tracked a volatile arc from victim to villain and, ultimately, to a hard-won hero. His physical transformation and commitment to the karate choreography sold the character's power, but it was his ability to flicker between Hawk's bravado and Eli's vulnerability that made the journey resonate. The role turned him into a central pillar of the hit Netflix series and demonstrated his capacity to handle complex, long-form character development, moving him firmly beyond his kid-comedy origins.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Jacob was born in 2000, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jacob Was Born
The biggest hits of 2000
#1 Movie
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Best Picture
Gladiator
#1 TV Show
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Jacob's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2000Born
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2005Started school
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2013Became a teenager
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2016Could drive
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2018Could vote
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2021Turned 21
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 26 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the series regular role of Eli 'Hawk' Moskowitz across all seasons of the hit series 'Cobra Kai.'
- Voiced the character Bam in the animated preschool series 'Batwheels.'
- Starred as the lead, Kirby Buckets, in the Disney XD live-action/animated hybrid series of the same name.
- Played Jack Malloy in the 2016 Disney Channel Original Movie 'The Swap.'
Did You Know?
He began his career as a child actor in commercials.
He is a skilled skateboarder in real life.
He provided voice work for the popular children's show 'Bubble Guppies.'
“Sometimes the loudest person in the room is the most scared one.”
