Jake Busey Explained

Jake Busey
Birth Name:William Jacob Busey
Birth Date:June 15, 1971
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Yearsactive:1978–present
Partner:April Hutchinson
Children:1
Father:Gary Busey

William Jacob Busey (born June 15, 1971) is an American actor. Among his most prominent roles have been serial killer Johnny Bartlett in 1996's The Frighteners, Ace Levy in 1997's Starship Troopers, Kyle Brenner in 2001's Tomcats, Aiden Tanner in the 2014–2016 TV series , and Sean H. Keyes in the Predator franchise.

Early life

Busey is the son of actor Gary Busey.[1] Busey spent his childhood on film sets and touring with bands in which his father sometimes played, such as Leon Russell, Willie Nelson and Little Feat.

Career

Busey's motion picture debut was in the 1978 crime film Straight Time with his father Gary, along with Dustin Hoffman and Theresa Russell. His two most notable appearances are as the murderous religious fanatic opposite Jodie Foster in Contact and as smart-mouthed soldier Ace Levy in Starship Troopers, both in 1997. He appeared in H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds, one of three 2005 film adaptations of the novel by H. G. Wells, alongside C. Thomas Howell. Additionally, he has had major roles Peter Jackson's The Frighteners with Michael J. Fox (1996),Tomcats (2001) opposite Jerry O'Connell and Shannon Elizabeth, in James Mangold's thriller Identity (2003), with C. Thomas Howell in The Hitcher II (2003), and Road House 2 (2006). Busey played the role of "Backfire" in Patrick Durham's movie Cross which was released directly to DVD and download in May 2011, and stars in the independent film Don't Pass Me By.

He has also had minor parts in films like Windrunner: A Spirited Journey starring Jason Wiles, Christmas with the Kranks starring Tim Allen, I'll Do Anything, Enemy of the State, The Killing Jar, The Stoned Age, PCU, Fast Sofa with Jennifer Tilly and Natasha Lyonne, and Reaper with Danny Trejo and Vinnie Jones. He also had a main role on the television series Shasta McNasty. Busey portrayed Professor Aiden "Sex Machine" Tanner since 2013 in .[2]

He also provided the voice of The Radioman in the 2012 video game and of the DJ of Resistance Radio in . Additionally, he voiced Teenage Tom during flashback scenes in the 1989 film Hider in the House which his father, Gary Busey starred in as Tom Sykes. In 2016, Busey starred in the feature film Deserted.

In 2018, Busey appeared in two episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. portraying Mack's old friend Tony Caine. Busey later joined the cast of Stranger Things in the third season portraying a journalist named Bruce.[3]

Personal life

In 2012, he and his girlfriend April Hutchinson had a daughter, Autumn.[4]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978Straight TimeHenry Darin
1982BarbarosaCook Boy
1989Hider in the HouseTeenage Tom Sykes (voice)
1993ShimmerRichard Halverson
1994Foot Shooting PartyUnknown Short film
S.F.W.Morrow Streeter
The Stoned AgeJimmy Muldoon
PCUMersh
I'll Do AnythingUnknown
1995Quiet Days in HollywoodCurt
WindrunnerDave Promisco
1996The FrightenersJohnny Charles Bartlett
TwisterMobile Lab Technician
1997ContactJoseph
Starship TroopersPrivate "Ace" Levy
1998Black Cat RunDeputy Norm Babbitt
Enemy of the StateNSA Agent Krug
Home FriesAngus
1999Held UpBeaumont
Tail Lights FadeBruce
2001TomcatsKyle Brenner
2002The First $20 Million Is Always the HardestDarrell
2003IdentityRobert Maine
Lost JunctionMatt
JackDirect-to-video
2004Christmas with the KranksOfficer Treen
2005H. G. Wells' War of the WorldsLieutenant SamuelsonDirect-to-video
The Rain MakersShawAssociate producer
2006Road House 2Bill "Wild Bill" Decarie Direct-to-video
Brian
BrokenVince
2008Time BombJason PhilbyDirect-to-video
2010The Killing JarGreene
2011Cross"Backfire"Direct-to-video; Also producer
Arbor DemonSean
2012Play James PlayPaul
Don't Pass Me ByFred Norwick
Nazis at the Center of the EarthAdrian ReistadDirect-to-video
Oscar (voice)Direct-to-video
2013Girl Meets BoyRichard
Sparks"Sledge"
2014ReaperBill
2015Most Likely to DieTarkin
2016Last Man ClubJim "Diamond Jim"
DesertedClay
Enclosure (aka Arbor Demon)Sean
2017Dead Again in TombstoneColonel Jackson Boomer
2018The PredatorSean Keyes
A Boy Called SailboatMr. Bing
2019Ghost in the GraveyardCharlie Sullivan
2020A Soldier's RevengeCaptain McCalister
TBARust Drum Parker[5] Post-production
style="background:#ffc;"
Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992Cruel DoubtStudentTV movie
1994Motorcycle GangJakeTV movie
1994Tales from the CryptFrankEpisode: "Surprise Party"
1999Shasta McNastyDennisMain role
2001JeremiahJake Davenport
2002The Twilight ZoneVincent HansenEpisode: "Chosen"
2004CharmedWarlockEpisode: "WitchStock"
2005Code BreakersStraubTV movie
2009The MentalistVern NicholsEpisode: "Red Badge"
2012The FinderBobby the TwinEpisode: "Swing and a Miss"
2013PsychFBI AgentEpisode: "Santabarbaratown 2"
2014–2016Professor Aiden "Sex Machine" Tanner26 episodes
2015JustifiedLewis "The Wiz" MagoEpisode: "The Trash and the Snake"
Texas RisingSamuel Wallace2 episodes
2017Day 5CarlEpisode: "Lucid"
Ray DonovanAcid Man3 episodes
FreakishEarl5 episodes
2018Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.Tony Caine2 episodes
NCISWhit DexterEpisode: "Handle With Care"
2019Stranger ThingsBruce Lowe5 episodes
L.A.'s FinestBishop Duvall5 episodes
Mr. RobotFreddy LomaxEpisode: "401 Unauthorized"
Swamp ThingShawEpisode: "Loose Ends"
2022Rusty FilmoreEpisode: "Star Crossed"

Video games

List of Jake Busey video games credits
Year Title RoleNotes
2012Robert "Radioman" Darden Voice role
2016DJ of Resistance RadioVoice role
2020Sean Keyes Voice role

Notes and References

  1. First Photos: Gary Busey Introduces Son Luke . James . Peragine . . August 15, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170816060708/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2010/05/06/first-photos-gary-busey-introduces-son-luke/ . August 16, 2017 . dead.
  2. Web site: From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series Teaser Video from the Set. Dread Central. March 4, 2015. May 26, 2018. February 16, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190216184816/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/92006/dusk-till-dawn-series-teaser-video-set/. live.
  3. Web site: 'Stranger Things' Season 3 Recruits Cary Elwes and Jake Busey for "Sleazy", "Questionable" Roles . Trumbore . Dave . . April 18, 2018 . April 18, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180418175331/http://collider.com/stranger-things-season-3-cast-cary-elwes-jake-busey/ . April 18, 2018 .
  4. News: Hello, grandpa: Gary Busey's son Jake welcomes a daughter. Natalie Finn. Today. October 14, 2016. May 26, 2018. May 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180526112816/https://www.today.com/news/hello-grandpa-gary-buseys-son-jake-welcomes-daughter-921215. live.
  5. Web site: D'Alessandro . Anthony . April 28, 2023 . Jake Busey Saddles Up For Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' . August 23, 2023 . Deadline Hollywood.