From Singaporean beginnings to Twilight stardom and funk rock
In short: Before becoming a household name in The Twilight Saga, Jackson Rathbone was a multi-instrumentalist in a funk rock band. His journey from a nomadic childhood across Singapore and Norway to the heights of Hollywood is a testament to a diverse and restless creative energy.
Born in Singapore on December 14, 1984, Monroe Jackson Rathbone V has a lineage that stretches from the chairman of Standard Oil to English actor Basil Rathbone. His early life was defined by movement; due to his father's career at Mobil Oil, he lived in Singapore, Norway, and Indonesia before eventually settling in Midland, Texas. This international upbringing preceded a focused pursuit of the arts, starting with local musical theater in Midland and leading to specialized training at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan.
While many recognize him for his role as Jasper Hale in the blockbuster Twilight films, Rathbone's creative output extends far beyond acting. Between 2008 and 2012, he was a central figure in the funk rock band 100 Monkeys, serving as the vocalist and playing multiple instruments, including guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards. The band was highly active, releasing three albums in 2009 and embarking on a massive 100-city tour that spanned nearly every U.S. state by mid-2010.
His career has been marked by both mainstream success and experimental ventures. In 2011, he appeared in Aim High, a web series on Facebook that was noted as the first "social series" ever created. Beyond the screen and stage, Rathbone has engaged in philanthropy, serving as an honorary board member for Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing music education in disadvantaged U.S. public schools through instrument donations and classroom visits.
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