Here we jump into Hopkins' future priojects and his advice for teens during the pandemic while discussing his background in acting!

You've been in the business since you were very young. How did you get into acting?

My Dad was an actor before me (he played A.J. Quartermaine on General Hospital), so I sort of fell into it. One day when I was about four years old, my dad and I were running errands. We stopped by his agent’s office, and they looked over at me and asked if I wanted to act. I immediately shot out of my seat and said, “Yeah...what’s acting?” And the rest is history.

What advice do you have for teens who want to get into the biz?

As for the technical side, I’d say to build up experience by taking acting classes, doing local theatre, taking workshops - basically hone into your skills and enrich them. Then, research agents and managers and meet with different kinds so you can make a good choice. As for the most important side of the business, you have to have the passion for it and stay true to yourself. There is a tendency in acting that unfortunately one can lose themselves in this business, fall into the “fame” mentality, and treat acting as a thing, rather than what it really is: an art form, staying true to the craft - and for many an outlet for emotion and expression.

What's the best career advice you've ever received?

I remember when I was 15, my voice changed and I wasn’t able to voice Gumball Watterson in “The Amazing World of Gumball” anymore. After voicing the character for over 4 years, it was upsetting to let go. However, my parents reminded me that Gumball was the very first voiceover audition and job that I ever booked, I enjoyed an amazing 4 years of being and creating within such an iconic character, it was incredible experience, and that the number of opportunities out there are endless. Being an actor is the ability to move on, create new characters, and expand.  Even though I had done that character for so long and loved every minute of it, I can assure you from experience it won’t be the last - so if that is helpful in any way, there you go!

How do you handle rejection?

I’ve actually never really been bothered by rejection. I’ll audition for something, and if I don’t get it, then I’ll move on to the next. You just have to develop the mentality that there are plenty of roles/jobs out there, and with enough hard work, you will succeed.

You've done many different show and voiceover work. What's sitcom acting like vs voiceover work?

When I’m on camera, a lot of my acting comes across through my facial expressions, body language, and most importantly, in my eyes. Also, reacting and relating to people you’re on camera with is key. However, when you’re behind a microphone, no one sees any of that. The majority of your emotion has to come across through your voice! You also have to develop the range and tone of your voice (how high/low you can go, adding a rasp, grit...), and also develop clear articulation so you don’t slur your words. There is a connection to embody an animated character as if it is a real person and it’s a cool process I assure you!

What’s it like being on ABC’s hit series, The Goldbergs? Were you a previous fan of the show?

I joined The Goldbergs as Chad Kremp early in Season 1, so I guess you could say I was and still am a fan of the show. Working on set with The Goldbergs cast and crew is a blast. I always find myself learning new things and getting better at comedy and improv when I work with the cast, especially Wendi McLendon-Covey, who is the queen of improv.

Because of Covid, it’s a tough time for today's teens. What advice do you have for them?

I always find time during each day to connect with my loved ones, whether it’s with the family I live with, extended family, or my friends. I definitely think it’s important to nurture and pursue your relationships with the people you love. They always make me feel better and ready for the next day.

Future projects?

You can expect more Axel Finke on Dragons: Rescue Riders coming out soon on Netflix! I also have a feature film coming out this year called Carolina’s Calling, directed by the great Michael Saquella. You can always check my Instagram @hopkinsjake and my Twitter @hopkinsjacob5 for updates.