From Hill Country Magazine an article about our newest profiled actor, Jae Head.
Hill Country Movie Star
By John Hallowell
The number one hit movie of the July 4th weekend this year was Hancock, directed by Peter Berg and starring Will Smith, Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman. But those who watched Hancock were charmed by another character in the movie – 11-year-old Jae Head, of Goldthwaite. And if they had known Jae’s story, and been able to visit with him in person, they would have been even more impressed by this remarkable Hill Country personality. (You can see Jae being interviewed at the premiere by visiting the official Hancock website at
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Jae is the son of Jeffrey and Jo Head, of Goldthwaite, and he has been somewhat of a miracle child from the time of his birth. Born without an aorta, Jae barely survived four major surgeries before he was three years old, and while he beat the odds, the shock to his system was such that he didn’t grow at nearly the normal rate. His brother, Jansen (who introduces himself as “Jae’s little brother”), is definitely bigger, despite being a year younger.
Jae’s parents are both Goldthwaite natives, but the family has moved around quite a bit due to his dad’s coaching career. They returned to Goldthwaite just two years ago, when Jeff got a job as basketball coach for Goldthwaite High School.
Jae hasn’t let his small stature hold him back. “I’ve always had a big personality,” he says. So while he hasn’t been able to play football (yet!), he makes a big impression with his quick wit, his friendliness, and his infectious enthusiasm. And that’s why, three years ago, when his father heard a commercial asking, “Can your child act?” he decided to have Jae audition.
Jae aced the test, and soon the family was on its way to Hollywood. Jae had a small part (“Just one line,” he says) in the second episode of How I Met Your Mother, and a skit on Mad TV before he made the “big leagues” with a part on Friday Night Lights in 2006. He has appeared in five Friday Night Lights episodes.
Also in 2006, Jae had a part in the pilot of The Angriest Man in Suburbia, but the show was beaten out for its time slot by The Class, and no more episodes were filmed. (???????) Jae also had a part in the pilot of Amazing O’Malleys (now Wizards of Waverly Place). When Friday Night Lights director Peter Berg began work on Hancock, he signed Jae to play Ray Embrey’s 7-year-old son, Aaron. That, along with the first episode of Friday Night Lights, was the biggest thrill of Jae’s young career. “It was awesome to work with Will Smith,” Jae exclaims. “He was always coming up with ideas to joke around with someone.”
Jae isn’t quite ready to retire (as of this writing, he’s in New York, filming an episode of Law and Order SVU. It is scheduled to air September 23). “Every night, I pray for a sequel (to Hancock),” he says. “But I told Will that we’re going to have to trade places. I want to be the super-hero!” When asked what superpower he’d like best, Jae replies, “Super-speed! Already, my science teacher calls me Dash.”
While lots of fun, acting is also lots of work. Jae is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, whose rules allow him to work up to eleven hours a day. “Learning the lines is the hardest part,” Jae reports. “I read them out loud until I’ve got them memorized, and then I practice.” In a dubious milestone, he also reports that on Friday Night Lights, he “got to cuss for the very first time.” Up until then, the cast had a jar where actors had to put a dollar for Jae whenever they used off-color language. “I made $12 one day,” he reports proudly.
Much of the family’s schedule revolves around Jae’s acting, and they spend two or three months in Hollywood each year for “pilot season.” Of course, this affects Jae’s 10-year-old-brother, Jansen, who doesn’t get the public acclaim that follows Jae. Jansen seems to handle things with a good attitude, and there are some perks: last year in California, Peter Berg’s son taught him to surf.
When the family first returned to Goldthwaite, some of Jae’s classmates didn’t believe that he was a big-time actor. Those days are over now. When Hancock first appeared at the nearest theater (in Brownwood), there was a standing-room-only crowd, and Jae was there to sign autographs for a long line of excited fans.
His life is still complicated by medical issues (he has to take a bunch of medicine every day, and can’t do as much “cardio activity” as most kids his age), but he’s doing very, very well with the hand he’s been dealt. This year, the doctors have told him that he can try to play a little football, which has been his life-long dream. Whatever Jae does, we’re sure that he’ll attack it head-on, with an enthusiastic smile. We expect to be in the Jae Head Fan Club (at least in spirit) for many years to come.