Jack Scanlon Explained

Birth Date:6 August 1998
Birth Place:Canterbury, Kent, England
Years Active:2007–2010
Notable Works:The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008)

Jack Charles Scanlon (born 6 August 1998) is an English former child actor who is best known for his role in the 2008 Holocaust film The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

Early and personal life

Jack Charles Scanlon was born in Canterbury, Kent, then moved to Deal with his parents and younger brother. He attended Sir Roger Manwood's School[1] in nearby Sandwich. He also attended Bath Spa University, where he studied Commercial Music.

Career

He auditioned for The Boy in the Striped Pajamas through his drama club and was eventually cast as Shmuel after director Mark Herman narrowed his choice down to about three possible candidates and paired each with Asa Butterfield for a final audition together. According to Herman: "Jack and Asa played very well against one another."[2]

Although The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is Scanlon's feature film debut,[3] he did act before. He appeared in a 10-minute short film titled The Eye of the Butterfly (which led to him being suggested to the casting director of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas)[4] and in a 2007 episode of the Peter Serafinowicz Show.[5]

Scanlon also played the younger brother of main character Sean (William Miller) in the 2009 British children's miniseries Runaway, broadcast on BBC One, which was part of the CBBC season about homelessness.[6] [7]

Filmography

Television

YearProgramme RoleNotes
2007 Peter Serafinowicz Show Various roles 1 episode
2009 Runaway Dean 3 episodes
2010 Married Single Other Joe 6 episodes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Three-day exhibition in Deal marks holocaust anniversary . www.kentonline.co.uk . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140319192141/http://www.kentonline.co.uk/east_kent_mercury/news/2010/january/27/three-day_exhibition_in_deal.aspx . 2014-03-19.
  2. Web site: The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas - Casting the characters. Last Broadcast. 2009-01-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20090131205043/http://www.lastbroadcast.co.uk/movies/v/5698-the-boy-in-the-striped-pyjamas-casting-the-characters.html. 2009-01-31. dead.
  3. Web site: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Production Notes. 2008. Miramax Films. 2009-01-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20090131205632/http://www.visualhollywood.com/movies_2008/boy_in_striped_pyjamas/cast.php. 2009-01-31. dead.
  4. Web site: Star Interview: Jack Scanlon. TVhits.co.uk. 2009-01-20.
  5. Web site: The Peter Serafinowicz Show - Production Details, Plus Regular Cast and Crew. The British Comedy Guide. 2009-01-21. 31 January 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090131213237/http://www.comedy.org.uk/guide/tv/peter_serafinowicz_show/details/. dead.
  6. News: Runaways. 2009. RTÉ Guide. RTÉ. 2009-03-26. dead. https://archive.today/20130107204756/http://www.rteguide.ie/2009/0319/staroftheday.html. 2013-01-07.
  7. News: Kierston Wareing: A Runaway success. 2009-03-15. Wales on Sunday. Wales Online. 2009-03-26.
  8. Web site: 2009 Nominations & Recipients. Young Artist Awards. 15 August 2019.