Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Jeff Teravainen is truly a multifaceted artist, previously working as a lead singer/bassist in The Life and since steadily building a career both on- and off-camera. Known for roles in SYFY’s 12 Monkeys and Dark Matter, Jeff is very familiar with the science-fiction genre. He has played characters in popular animated projects and videos such as Far Cry, Splinter Cell, and Resident Evil. His upcoming acting project, Thanksgiving, is a thrilling horror film that follows an axe-wielding killer who terrorizes the residents of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Jeff stars alongside Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, and Milo Manheim.
When Jeff isn’t working, you can find him on the weekends at his cottage or digging for fossils. He is a massive lover of paleontology and history. A former racer, Jeff’s favorite sports include MotoGP and Formula 1. Beyond his varied hobbies and interests, Jeff is passionate about advocating for anti-poaching operations, supporting Big Life and Space for Giants as they fight to protect Africa’s remaining ecosystems and endangered wildlife. As a loving husband and proud father, Jeff promotes Children’s Wish Foundation – a charity which grants wishes for seriously ill children, fostering the creation of happy memories through the experience of a lifetime.
Can you share your experience transitioning from a lead singer/bassist in The Life to building a career in both on- and off-camera roles?
Well, music petered out for me eventually after a good try. I had to do something else and got into sales. I’ve always wanted to act, but it just seemed like another crazy career move. However, I got scouted from modelling and that led to commercials, and I thought maybe I can do this? So, I started taking lessons etc. and thankfully I’ve been doing it now full-time for over 20 years.!
Given your extensive work in the sci-fi genre, what draws you to such projects, and how do you approach portraying characters in this genre?
I love science-fiction. Some of my favorite movies are in that genre. And growing up so many of my TV shows as well. Getting to play on a show like Dark Matter or 12 monkeys is such a thrill as far as preparing for it is just like any other job. Learn about the character, create what’s not there and own it. That’s part of the fun and hopefully it resonates with people. !
Your film “Thanksgiving” involves a unique concept. What attracted you to the role of Bret Labelle, and how did you prepare for the character of a special-ops soldier turned sheriff deputy?
I remember when I first got the addition, I was bummed out because I thought there was no way I would get it and I was wasting my time. Ha ha! You never know in this business. It was quite a bit in the script to draw from, but then I took what was there, and just tried to flesh him out as best as I could. He’s kind of stoic and I’m him after a marine force recon friend of mine. Absolutely loved playing him though! He gets a very funny opening scene!
It’s such a great movie, I was lucky enough to go to the premiere screening. It seemed like it would have been such a fun film to be a part of, what was one of your most memorable moments from set?
There were too many! That’s the thing, Eli is such a great force up at the top of the set. He sets the tone for everything else. I’m honestly not kidding. He was such a pleasure to work with and that translated to everybody else as well. The days were fun, which is kind of what you always hope for.
And most of us have kept in touch after which is nice.
As the voice of Sam Fisher in UBISOFT’s Splinter Cell, how do you approach voiceover work in video games compared to on-screen acting, and what challenges or advantages do you find in each?
These days with video games, they want real performances just like film and television. And to be fair so much of the job now is literally acting in the funny suits of performance, cap motion capture. So, you really approach it like you would any other character. Ideally, I want to feel like that person when I’m in the moment. I don’t want to be acting like him, but I want too actually be him. So, you take all the info you can, and you throw it in your brain, and you hope it comes out in your body and your voice, etc. When I’m Sam Fisher, I am Sam Fisher!
We still do a lot of voice sessions, and there’s lots of NPC stuff out there, which is mostly Voice. But even there they wanted to be real.
With your background in animated projects like Far Cry, Splinter Cell, and Resident Evil, how does the process of bringing animated characters to life differ from live-action roles?
These being video games are very much like I was just saying. You build that character, and you make it as real as possible.
Having played recurring roles in shows like Syfy’s Dark Matter and 12 Monkeys, how do you approach character development over multiple seasons, and what aspects of these roles resonate with you?
It was such an honor to play those roles. Two very different characters as well. Future law enforcement versus past FBI 40s and 50s law enforcement.
Stack on 12 monkeys was more of a hard, drinking hard, living FBI agent. A G-man from that. His partner agent Gale played by the amazing Jay Karnes, Was like the Ying to his yang. In the end, I liked that they got along, although the dynamic had changed to my character being the dominant one. Poor Gale!
Same with Anders on Dark Matter. Shell runner, Joe Mallozzi had such a long-term vision on where this character was going. It was easy for me to take that and run. Definitely one of my favorite characters I’ve ever played, and I daydream all the time about being able to finish that show properly.
Outside of your acting career, you mentioned a love for paleontology and history. How did this passion develop, and how do you balance these interests with your busy schedule?
I absolutely love history and paleontology is a huge part of it. One of my favorite things is to go out into the woods etc. and dig. It’s also a great thing I would do with my daughter, unfortunately it takes a lot of time and I have an abundance of fossils in the garage that I need to clean if you will. By that, I mean remove some of the extra rock away from them. They’re like little diamonds and they’re waiting to come out.
When you think about it, the creek by my place is an old 300-million-year-old seed. In there we find Orthoceras for example which were a top predator at the time. Basically, a long shell with a squid inside it can get as big as a bus and will be digging one and I’ll say this thing has been 300 million years for us to release it!
As a former racer and a fan of MotoGP and Formula 1, how does your experience in racing influence or inspire other aspects of your life, including your approach to acting?
Racing is a rich person sport. Period. I was very lucky to do it for a while, but I come from a middle-class background. I would love the opportunity to do it again and there might be something in the cards but for now I just must watch it on TV and attend the odd race, these days, MotoGP, world, superbike, and Moto America are what I watch most though. There’s nothing quite like bike racing!! However, I would say I was very fortunate this past May to be a guest at the Monaco Grand Prix. That’s a bucket list thing and to see it in real life like we did was unbelievable.
Your commitment to advocating for anti-poaching operations is commendable. Could you share more about your involvement with Big Life and Space for Giants and the importance of protecting Africa’s ecosystems and wildlife?
These organizations are incredible. And thankfully they exist. The least I could do is support them. Can you imagine a world without rhinos or sharks or tigers and elephants? I can’t. I would also say Vetpaws are good to check out. These organizations try to work with locals and give them good reasons to be conservators themselves. If you think about it, it’s a great way to do it. Everybody wins… Except the poachers.!
Being a loving husband and proud father, how do you balance your career in the entertainment industry with family life, and how has your role as a family man influenced your involvement with the Children’s Wish Foundation?
Balance is everything and unfortunately it doesn’t always work for me! I have so many things on the go. But one of the main things I’ve always tried to do since my daughter was born was spend quality time with her. My brother told me, and it’s stuck with me that kids grow up so fast and suddenly they won’t want to spend time with you. I took that too, so I don’t have a lot of regrets now that my daughters are spending more time with her friends, etc. Being a father is the greatest thing I have ever done or will ever do.
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