'Parenthood' Actor Offers Life Lessons

Sam Jaeger, who stars as Joel Graham in NBC’s “Parenthood,” stopped by Westmont Jan. 13 to talk about his college education and life as an actor. He graduated from Otterbein University, a small, private, liberal arts college in Westerville, Ohio.

“Virtually everyone I love has come from a liberal arts college,” Jaeger told a crowd of more than 100 in Porter Theatre. “Hopefully, the liberal arts experience and the friendships you develop will create a safe haven, build you up and sustain you through adversity.”

Jaeger discussed his feature directorial debut, “Take Me Home,” which is expected to be released to theaters this spring. Westmont theater arts professor Mitchell Thomas showed a trailer from the film, which Jaeger wrote and stars in. Although the romantic comedy won’t be shown at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, it is expected to be part of the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival March 7-11.

“It’s really gratifying and different (to make a film),” Jaeger says. “I feel so invested in it, but like parenting, you do your best to raise it and then send it on its way.”

Despite his current success, Jaeger says one acting job hasn’t led to the next one. After ABC canceled “Eli Stone,” he auditioned unsuccessfully for four months. One morning at a coffee shop, he and his wife counted the number of days before they’d be forced to move. The next week he was offered the role in “Parenthood.”

“It’s important to appreciate every step along the way because you can get rooted in the business part of life,” he says “Appreciation is important in any industry — being thankful for every step.”