Kelly O'Neil Jackson was born in Iowa and relocated to Los Angeles with his family during his elementary school years. As a young man, he demonstrated exceptional athletic prowess and a natural aptitude for acting, singing, and dancing. Following his high school graduation, Kelly made the bold decision to enlist in the United States Marine Corps.
In his spare time, he continued to hone his acting skills by taking classes and occasionally performing. His early acting endeavors culminated in a notable appearance on Unsolved Mysteries, which ultimately led to his into induction the Screen Actor's Guild in 1993.
After retiring from the Marine Corps in 2004, Kelly redirected his focus towards acting, enrolling in classes with renowned instructor Ken Farmer in Dallas, Texas. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in his career, as he was soon signed with an agent and landed roles in various national commercials, television shows, cable productions, and films.
Notably, Kelly was cast as the lead in M. Legend Brown's faith-based hit "Hiding In Plain Sight," and has since collaborated with M. Legend on multiple projects, including "A Heart That Forgives" and the most recent "Jo and the Reaper," serving as both an actor, casting agent, and executive producer.
