Jake Kasdan

Highest Rated: 76% Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

Lowest Rated: 16% Sex Tape (2014)

Birthday: Oct 28, 1974

Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, USA

The son of renowned writer-director Lawrence Kasdan, filmmaker Jake Kasdan laid to rest any potential charges of unearned nepotism with a string of quirky, intelligent and well-regarded feature films. After learning the ropes of the business from his father on such films as "Grand Canyon" (1991), Kasdan made his impressive feature debut as the writer-director of the oddball detective yarn, "Zero Effect" (1998). Work with Judd Apatow on the short-lived cult television series "Freaks & Geeks" (NBC 1999-2000) further honed his comedic sensibilities and paved the way for the theatrical forays "Orange County" (2002) and "The TV Set" (2006). Although consistently praised by reviewers, even Kasdan's more accessible projects, like the music industry biopic spoof "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" (2007), failed to bring in the crowds. Box office success finally came with the scatological Cameron Diaz comedy "Bad Teacher" (2011), although this time the critics were less amused. Regardless of differing opinions on his individual efforts, the one thing all could agree upon was that his filmmaking talent was not only genetic, but uniquely his own and held great promise.