Jackson White may have shot to fame quite recently and got fans buzzing all thanks to the hit show Tell Me Lies, but what many don't realise is the acting genes run in the family.
His mom is actress Katie Sagal, and his late father is musician Jack Cameron White, who made a name for themselves in Hollywood long before he could walk.
© Getty Images for Vanity FairAbout Jackson
Jackson was born in March 1996 in Los Angeles and grew up surrounded by the entertainment industry. He has been vocal about his desire to make it on his own terms, and his mom previously revealed that he dislikes being referred to as a "nepo baby." Speaking on the MeSsy podcast, she opened up about how "he didn’t lean into any of that." She added: "You know, he has a different last name than me, and a lot of people don't know that he's my kid, and he takes a lot of pride in that."
Prior to Tell Me Lies, Jackson made appearances in shows like Mrs. Fletcher (2019), Ambulance (2022) and SPF-18 (2017), where he worked alongside some big-name celebrities such as Keanu Reeves, Pamela Anderson and Jake Gyllenhaal. Although, his breakout role as Stephen has since made him a much more recognizable name.
© Getty ImagesKatey Sagal
Jackson's mom Katey, 72, has been a familiar face in Hollywood for decades. She's most well known for playing Peggy Bundy on Married… with Children and later Gemma Teller Morrow on Sons of Anarchy; for which she won a Golden Globe for best performance for an actress in 2011.
Despite her success as an actor, Jackson told People that Katey had advised him against joining the industry. "Don't do it. Do something else," she had told him, adding: "I wasn't allowed to act until I was 18. I had to grow up first."
© Getty ImagesKatey also made a small appearance in Tell Me Lies, playing Stephen's mother during a phone call. Although they did not film together Katie commented that "it was really fun for us," and noted despite having a close mother-son bond, they had "never worked as actors together."
© FilmMagicJack Cameron White
Jackson's father, Jack, also worked in the entertainment industry. The musician and drummer played for many well-known artists like Tina Turner and Rick Springfield and also appeared in a few acting roles. Katie and Jack tied the knot in 1993, and in addition to Jackson, they also welcomed daughter Sarah Grace White, 31, who is also an actress. Jack Passed away at 70 in 2024, after a battle with cancer.
© GettyWhen speaking to Esquire in 2022, Jackson commented on what it was like growing up with a musical father, telling the outlet: "I grew up going back and forth between L.A. and Nashville where my dad lived in this house with a recording studio, three sets of drums, some old B3 organs, keyboards, and guitars. You'd wake up to blasting music. And that was the lifestyle that I fell in love with," adding that he decided on acting instead of music because "they were great fantasies but it wasn't really my path. I know that as I got older, I needed more of a structure and discipline."
© Getty
