Biography

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Jerod Howard is an American actor of stage and screen. Raised in the Lake View area he attended St. Alphonsus Academy, host to the Athenaeum Theater & Performing Arts Center. His first exposure to acting would be watching films at the local Music Box Theater. Features to include Young Frankenstein (1974), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) among others. In time, he would play a part in one of these stories himself... on-stage.

Receiving a best supporting actor award for playing Billy Bibbit in an amateur stage production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", Jerod was then approached by a local talent agent. He signed on and began working with various theatrical companies around the mid-west region.

Following a Chicago debut in "Pulp Fiction" - stage adaptation Azusa Productions (Preston Bradley Center), and a guest-artist turn with the Chicago Writers Group (Stage 773), Jerod expanded his efforts to include Film and TV. 2005 brought background experiences for television & film, but an Indie thriller would provide a principle role. Opposite Judith O'Dea, aka Barbara of George A. Romero's groundbreaking Night of the Living Dead (1968), Jerod discovered a pivotal role in Elliot Hamilton of October Moon (2005) (Tempe Entertainment). In 2008 he returned for a sequel, October Moon 2: November Son (2008) (Ariztical Entertainment). Barring mixed reviews, October Moon continues to grow a diverse fan-base. It received international distribution prior to streaming platforms and has been featured by Kings of Horror. *Both titles are now available via Amazon Prime.

Stage credits include Jay for "Thee Trinity" by Emmy nominated producer/writer Rick Roberts (Premier - Royal George Theater), the Washer for "Furnace" written by Christian Rayner (Premiere - Stage Left Theater), and Admetus in "Alcestis Doesn't Live Here Anymore" by Lynne McMahon (Clockwise Theater). Other credits include... "The Shadow Box" by Michael Cristofer "Killers" by John Olive, and the title role in "The BenchMark" also written by Roberts.

Other credits include featured vocalist for the contemporary christian artist group "Tell the World" (southeastern regional tour), appearing at the Grand Ol' Opry, Walt Disney World, and Sea World. Lead vocalist for musical groups to include Stand, Easy Action, Take Six, Anodyne Falls, the vocal duo of Hayden and Howard, and various solo jazz/standard projects. He once shared the stage with Victor Lanza, the son of famed Hollywood star and tenor Mario Lanza, singing the baritone lead to Victor's tenor for Dagli Immortali Vertici - a highlight of "Attila", the opera by Giuseppe Verdi.

Howard has also appeared on-screen for Safe Inside (2017) and on-stage as Mortimer Brewster for "Arsenic & Old Lace", Danny in "Almost, Maine", and the Baritone of "Songs For a New World" by Jason Robert Brown (Mother Road Productions).

Jerod reunited with writer/director Bennie Woodell for Into the Devil's Reach (2021) released in 2021, and recent stage credits include Rooster in "The Shawshank Redemption" written by Owen O'Neill and Dave Johns, and Philip Lombard in "And Then There Were None" written by Agatha Christie.

Fall of 2023, he played The Lecturer in "Reefer Madness - The Musical" book by Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney, at the historic Sprague Theater - Elkhorn WI.

Fall of 2025, Jerod returned to the Athenaeum Center for Prodigal Son, written for the stage by John Patrick Shanley. After a brief hiatus, he is looking forward to a noir style thriller in the fall of 2026.
- IMDb mini biography by: H. Durrand

During location filming of "Home Alone 3" at O'Hare Int Airport, he was recognized by a second team member for a recent stage performance. He was pulled from a group of extras, taken to the Director and given a quick wardrobe change. HA3 would be his first time appearing on-camera.

His mother took him to McCormick Place Expo to see one of the worlds most famous dogs, Lassie the Dog. Too young to understand pr-stock, when asked if he would like a photo he walked on stage and embraced the famous canine. He got a lick on the face in response. A Kodak Instant was taken by a security guard and Lassie owner/trainer Rudd Weatherwax signed and presented the photo to Mom.

Is not related to Ron Howard, Bryce Dallas or musician Ben Howard pending an Ancestry.com inquiry.

Has appeared at the Coronado Theater, now the Coronado Performing Arts Center in Rockford IL.

While a member of the Bowen Park Theatre Company had many conversations with artist & actor Justin Mentell, who at the time was attending Northern Illinois University. Both were dedicating their summers to the Jack Benny Center for the Arts.