Former Washingtonian journeys from 'General Hospital' to 'Unsung Hero' (2024)

It was a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood that sparked Jonathan Jackson’s love of acting.

“I was around 9 years old when me and my family went there,” Jackson says. “Me and my brother saw a little bit behind the scenes of how films like ‘Back to the Future’ were made. We actually got called onstage to sit in the DeLorean.”

As they made the journey back home to Meadow Glade, Clark County, both Jackson and his older brother, Richard Lee Jackson, insisted to their parents that they wanted to become actors. “We begged them to see if we could take acting classes and get into the film world.”

It didn’t take long for Jackson to find success. By 1993, he’d been cast in “General Hospital” as Lucky Spencer, a role he’d portray intermittently for more than 20 years, and one that also landed him five Daytime Emmy Awards. Since then, he’s had a main role in “Nashville,” while appearing in “Tuck Everlasting,” “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” and “Riding the Bullet.”

Jackson’s most recent film is “Unsung Hero,” which has proved to be a modest box-office hit. A heartfelt drama about performers For King & Country and Rebecca St. James, it tells the family’s story of moving from Australia to America and their struggles before becoming two of the most successful acts in modern Christian pop music.

When taking the role of Eddie DeGarmo — the record executive who signed St. James — Jackson didn’t have to look too far for inspiration. While Jackson’s father was a family physician and a congressional candidate for the state of Washington, he was also a country musician. So when their sons initially insisted on trying to become actors, both Rick and his wife, Jeanine — who was an amateur ventriloquist — reacted positively.

“My dad is a doctor. But his love is music. He would actually perform in Portland and Vancouver periodically throughout the year. Around 8 or 9, I started to perform onstage with him. To their credit, when we asked about acting, they said, ‘OK, if that’s what you want to try, then go ahead.’ ”

Growing up in Meadow Glade, they’d drive 40 minutes to Portland for acting classes. Not only was Jackson able to learn tricks of the acting trade, but he finally found a passion that allowed him to come out of his shell.

Jackson made such rapid progress as a young actor that it was soon suggested to the family that they move closer to Los Angeles. “We thought it would just be a two- or three-month experiment,” says Jackson. “We thought we’d get it out of our system and then we’d go back home.”

That didn’t stop Jackson from auditioning “like crazy,” and driving across L.A. to try and land jobs in commercials, televisions and films. Within six months of being in L.A., Jackson landed his role on “General Hospital.”

“It was crazy. I was 11 years old and they gave me a three-year contract, which seemed like such a long time then. At that point I knew that I was going to be doing it for a while.”

“General Hospital” proved to be a great place for Jackson. That’s where he had “incredible training” working alongside the more seasoned and professional actors. Jackson remained in Los Angeles, getting regular work in film and television, up until 2012 when he was cast in “Nashville.” As a result, Jackson, his wife, Lisa Vultaggio, and their three children moved to Tennessee, where they developed strong ties with the local community.

It was through these connections that Jackson got involved in “Unsung Hero.” “One of the producers on the film messaged me and asked if I would be interested in taking a look at this script. I was really moved by it. It was so honest and beautifully written. The character I play is an eccentric former member of a hair band from the late ‘80s and early ‘90s that started a record label. I remember thinking, ‘Well, OK, this could be kind of fun.’ ”

Despite various attempts to speak before filming, Jackson was only actually able to meet the real Eddie DeGarmo face-to-face on the first day of shooting. Jackson calls it an honor to have portrayed DeGarmo, who he describes as a man with “big hair and big clothes, but is a softly spoken and poetic soul. These contradictions made him so fun to play.”

More important than that, Jackson hopes “Unsung Hero” will resonate and inspire families, especially those that have made the decision to uproot and change their lives.

“It feels like a timeless film. Especially because of the last few years, as so many people have moved states and people have had so many trials and tribulations. The film has a great sense of hope and perseverance. Because life, with all of its struggles and difficulties, can also be an adventure. That’s really at the heart of the film.”