Jerod Howard was born early on a Christmas morning, raised in one of the Windy City's predominately blue collar Irish-catholic neighborhoods. Although he attended St. Alphonsus Academy of Chicago, a longtime host to the Athenaeum Theater & Performing Arts Center, Jerod's first exposure to "theater" would be at the Music Box Theater through its feature films. Classics and award winners including "Young Frankenstein" and "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest". In time Jerod would win an award for playing one of Cuckoo's Nest key characters himself... for the stage.After transferring to a local public school just outside his neighborhood, Jerod attended the Walt Disney Magnet School. There he experienced a broad sense of culture which not only ignited his imagination, but fueled his creativity, and in high school his teachers became a great influence. With their faith and support Jerod was able to turn his artistic interest into action. He soon showed real effort with goal achieving effects. After placing first in state for a vocal competition, he was encouraged by his voice teacher Joan Ottolino to seek local performance opportunities. He auditioned and was cast in a local production of "Fiddler on the Roof". Jerod graduated honors in both the fine arts and music departments and received a New York Scholastic Arts award.Working with a number of amateur and professional companies throughout the Chicago-land area, Jerod built his experience and continued to develop his skills. He studied with Pat Weiss, Robert Hill, at the Second City and the Acting Studio of Chicago... all contributing to his diverse training. He also performed five consecutive company seasons for BP Theater Company and worked diligently under the direction of Chicago veterans to include Maggie Speer (Azusa Productions), Todd Cornils (Circle Theater), and Jen Goodman. Jerod originated the role of Jay for "Thee Trinity", a dark comedy by Emmy nominated producer/writer Richard A. Roberts, with the world premiere at Chicago's Royal George Theater.Jerod considers his stage debut in the role of Lance, the neurotic suburban drug dealer in a stage adaptation of Quentin Tarantino's cult-hit "Pulp Fiction" for Azusa Productions at the Preston Bradley Center of Chicago.Jerod dedicated his time to Karen Peake Casting seeking opportunity in film and television, but the underground Indy thriller "October Moon" (Tempe Entertainment) provided him his first principle role in a film. He played Elliot Hamilton opposite Judith O'Dea (known for her performance as Barbara in George A. Romero's 1968 Indy cult classic, "Night of the Living Dead"). He returned to the role of Elliot in "November Son" (Ariztical Entertainment). Over time, October Moon has grown a large and diverse fan base internationally and both titles are scheduled for re-release with a third installment in talk.Jerod has appeared on stage in Micheal Christofer's "The Shadow Box" and John Olive's "Killers". To include Richard A. Roberts original work "The BenchMark" consecutively. For film, he appeared cameo in Safe Inside (2014). He recently returned to the stage in "Arsenic & Old Lace" as Mortimer Brewster. Show less «