How Jerry Trainor Went from SeaWorld Employee to Comedy Actor

Who is Jerry Trainor?

American actor and musician Gerald William ‘Jerry’ Trainor was born in San Diego, California USA, on 21 January 1977, making Aquarius his zodiac sign. He has 56 acting credits, but is perhaps still known best for playing Tommy in the 2001 science fiction comedy movie “Evolution”, which starred Orlando Jones and David Duchovny, and was directed by Ivan Reitman. It follows four people as they’re fighting an alien that’s rapidly evolving, and the film was nominated for two awards.

Education and early life

Jerry was raised in San Diego alongside his older sister Liz, by their mother Madelyn Trainor who was a high school calculus teacher, and father Bill Trainor who was a public defender and retired Navy fighter pilot. The family is of Irish descent.

Jerry studied at the University of San Diego High School, and it was during his time there that he fell in love with acting, appearing in a number of school plays; he was also into playing the guitar, singing and playing soccer.

Upon matriculating in 1995, Jerry enrolled at University of California, Santa Barbara from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1998; he then studied acting at The Groundlings.

While making his way up in the movie industry, Jerry worked at San Diego SeaWorld to financially support himself.

Roles in TV series

Jerry’s debut TV series role was playing Eric in three 2000 episodes of the comedy “Undressed”, which starred Serah D’Laine and Scott Hamm Duenas, and follows sexual relationships involving diverse cultures and races; the series aired from 1999 through 2002, and won one of its five award nominations.

Some of his following roles were in an episode of the comedy “Boston Public”, the family comedy “Malcolm in the Middle”, and another family comedy “My Wife and the Kids”.

From 2004 through 2007, Jerry played Crazy Steve in eight episodes of the family comedy “Drake & Josh”, which starred Josh Peck and Drake Bell, and was created by Dan Schneider. It follows two teenagers who’ve become step brothers, and the series won 13 of its 20 award nominations. Jerry had only two TV series roles in the remainder of the 2000s, including voicing Eddie in the 2010 episode “Stop Bugging Me/Field Tripped” of the short animated action “The Penguins of Madagascar”.

BREAKING NEWS:

According to TMZ, Jerry Trainor was recently hospitalized due to severe back pains caused by the burden of carrying the entire show of iCarly for six seasons.
We all wish him a speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/a0ridxJqcl

— Nat ♥ (@nataliekokoska) April 4, 2019

From 2007 through 2012, he starred as Spencer Shay in all 95 episodes of the romantic comedy “iCarly”, which also starred Jennette McCurdy and Miranda Cosgrove, and was created by Dan Schneider. It follows Carly as she’s hosting her own web show, and the series won 26 of its 104 award nominations.

Jerry’s also known for starring as Dudley Puppy (voice role) in all 60 episodes of the short animated action “T. U. F. F. Puppy”, which aired from 2010 through 2015. It also starred Daran Norris and Grey Griffin, was created by Butch Hartman, and follows the life of secret agent labradoodle; the series won five of its 20 award nominations.

Some of Jerry’s most recent TV series roles have been in the 2020 episode “My Fairy Lady” of the family comedy “Bunk’d”, a 2020 episode of the adventure science fiction comedy “Apocalypse Goals” and 27 episodes of the romantic comedy “iCarly”, which has been airing since 2021.

Roles in movies

Jerry’s debut film role was playing Lanky Kid in the evergreen 2001 mystery science fiction “Donnie Darko”, which starred Jena Malone and Jake Gyllenhaal, and was written and directed by Richard Kelly. It follows a boy who’s started having strange visions now that he’s escaped death, and the movie won 12 of the 28 awards for which it was nominated.

Some of Jerry’s following roles were in the 2003 short comedy “Wrong Hollywood Number”, the 2004 sports comedy “Bring It On: Again” and the 2007 comedy “Waking Dreams”. He portrayed Crazy Steve in the 2008 family comedy “Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh”, which starred Josh Peck and Drake Bell, and was directed by Michael Grossman. It follows step brothers Josh and Drake as they’re spending Christmas together, and the movie was nominated for four awards.

Jerry appeared in three movies in 2011: the family comedy “Best Player”, the comedy “iParty with Victorious” and the musical “Nickelodeon Cast: Sleigh Ride”. In 2014, he played Bro in the action comedy “Sharkproof”, which starred Cameron Van Hoy and Jon Lovitz, and was directed by Simon Chan. It follows two broke young adults Freddy and Vince, whose plan is to get rich with their invention of Sharkproof Wetsuits.

Some of Jerry’s most recent film roles have been in 2018 – the musical mystery thriller “Cover Versions” and the family sports drama “Alex & Me” – and the 2022 family musical comedy “Snow Day”.

Other credits

Jerry sang “Berm v. Fyords” in the 2010 episode “iStart a Fan War” of the series “iCarly” and the song “Leave It All to Shine” in the 2011 movie “iParty with Victorious”.

He produced 10 episodes of the 2013 family comedy series “Wendell and Wine” and 24 episodes of the 2021 romantic comedy series “iCarly”.

Some of Jerry’s most recent talk-show appearances have been in “The IMDb Show”, “Today” and “Tooned In”.

Awards and nominations

Jerry’s won one of his seven award nominations: a 2011 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award for Nick UK’s Funniest Person, for “iCarly”.

Some of his other nominations include a 2009 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Comedy and a 2010 Kids’ Choice The Laugh Out Loud Award, both for “iCarly”, and two Kids’ Choice Awards for Favorite Male TV Star in 2021 and 2022, for the new series “iCarly”.

Love life and relationships

Jerry’s amongst the most secretive actors, as he’s yet to speak about his love life in public, however, most of his fans are convinced that he’s been in a relationship for around 15 years now. It’s believed that Jerry and Jessica Makinson began dating in 2008; she has 52 acting credits and is perhaps known best for voicing Heidi Turner and various other characters in 47 episodes of the critically acclaimed animated comedy series “South Park” from 2002 through 2022. The two have often been seen spending time together in public, and have uploaded pictures which feature them together onto their Instagram accounts, but neither has confirmed that they’re in a relationship.

It’s also believed that Jerry was in a relationship with American actress Hannah Stewart, prior to meeting Jessica.

He seems to be in a long-term relationship with Jessica Makinson as of June 2023, hasn’t married and doesn’t have children.

Interesting facts and hobbies

Jerry’s passionate about music; he formed the band Nice Enough People in October 2015, and their debut extended play (EP) “Hanover Hideaway” was released on 22 June 2016.

He excelled in math while attending high school, and initially wanted to become an architect.

Jerry’s a collector of comic books and vinyl.

He’s a huge dog-lover, and has a pet dog Shoe.

Some of his favorite school plays were “The Matchmaker”, “The Pajama Game” and “Up the Down Staircase”.

Jerry’s an Instagram star, as more than 1.5 million people are following him on the network today, while he’s posted nearly 700 pictures and videos, with most of these showing him during his everyday life.

One of his favorite actors is Harrison Ford, while his favorite movies include “Witness”, “The Fugitive”, and “Raiders of the Lost Ark”.

Height, eyes and wealth

Jerry’s age is 46. His eyes and hair are brown, he’s 6ft 2ins (1.89m) tall and weighs around 190lbs (86kgs).

Jerry’s net worth’s been estimated at over $1.5 million, as of June 2023.