Jacob Tierney
The co-creator of 'Letterkenny,' who transformed small-town Canadian quirks into a globally beloved comedic universe.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Canadian actor and director·Birthday: September 26·Generation X
Biography
Jacob Tierney has spent his life in Canadian entertainment, but he found his defining voice in the fictional small town of Letterkenny. A child actor who appeared in films like 'The Neon Bible,' Tierney smoothly pivoted behind the camera as a director and writer. His creative partnership with Jared Keeso, however, ignited a cultural phenomenon. As co-creator, writer, director, and executive producer of 'Letterkenny,' Tierney was the architectural force behind the show's rapid-fire, lyrical dialogue and its deeply specific, affectionate parody of rural Canadian life. His direction gave the series its distinctive, snappy visual rhythm, making the endless debates between hicks, skids, and hockey players into must-watch television. The show's massive success spawned the spin-off 'Shoresy,' further cementing Tierney's role as a master builder of a uniquely Canadian comedic world.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jacob was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jacob Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Jacob's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
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
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-created, co-wrote, directed, and executive produced the hit Canadian television series 'Letterkenny,' which ran for 12 seasons.
- Directed and executive produced the first two seasons of the successful 'Letterkenny' spin-off series, 'Shoresy.'
- Wrote and directed the film 'The Trotsky,' a comedic take on a teenager who believes he is the reincarnation of Leon Trotsky.
- Began his career as a child actor, starring in films such as 'The Neon Bible' directed by Terence Davies.
Did You Know?
He is the son of Canadian film director and producer Kevin Tierney.
Tierney played the young version of John Malkovich's character in the 1995 film 'The Neon Bible.'
He frequently appears in 'Letterkenny' in the recurring role of Pastor Glen.
Tierney and Jared Keeso first collaborated on the television series '19-2,' for which Keeso starred and Tierney directed several episodes.
“The humor comes from the specificity of how these people actually talk.”
