Tributes
Eulogy by Terence Clarke AM
Composer, Director, Actor and former Head or Directing, NIDA
Like any good actor – and Kevin was a good actor: not all teachers of acting are – Kevin loved words. He loved reading; he loved books. He was never far away from a book. He never owned a car; in fact, I think he never even learned to drive. Driving would have robbed him of precious reading-time. Instead, he took – not taxis or Ûbers – but public transport. And read.…
Read the complete eulogy here…
Cate Blanchett AC
Actor, Director and former student, NIDA graduate, Class of 1992
Dearest Kevin, you always named the Elephant in the room, you said the things that were being thought but that no one had the courage to say.
Your “Go deeper, think more wildly, walk the tightrope and if you fall, so what ?! at least you tried” attitude – was pivotal in shaping my approach to acting.
Maureen McKibben
Colleague, Former Dean of Students, MFA Program, American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco
Kevin had this amazing ability to be able to figure people out. He understood people deeply. He knew what they were about and what they were capable of. And he expected his students to raise the barre of what they thought they could do. He demanded excellence, but understood fear and frustration.
Francine Landes
Colleague, Resident Choreographer, MFA Program, American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco
I was the resident choreographer and core faculty at A.C.T. The atmosphere there could sometimes be quite challenging but Kevin didn’t care. He stood up for what was the right thing to do and he stood up for the theater and for the art. As I worked with him on numerous productions, he often encouraged me and my work and was always very supportive. I am in great appreciation to him for this and feel a great sense of gratitude that he was there.
Jason Markouc
Former student and graduate, MFA Program, American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco
…He had a Shakespearean ear, he demanded Shakespearean attention‚ and if you were game, he would take you with him and guide you. If you didn’t listen and do your work – then you were accountable. He held people accountable for the standard he set for himself in involving himself in any situation. That is an artist, a genuine leader, a transformative personality.
Deborah Sussel
Senior Lecturer Emerita, U.C. Berkeley, Colleague, MFA Program, American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco
…Punctuation functions as a map of meaning for the actor. Kevin understood this more than anyone.
Finnerty Steeves
Former student and graduate, MFA Program, American Conservatory Theater San Francisco
He was hilarious. He was tough. He was vulnerable. He was ornery. He was demanding. And like me, he was always 2 deep breaths away from tears. I adored him.
Bridie Carter
Former student and NIDA Graduate, Class of 1994
Generous of spirit – passionate. I was privileged enough to have been taught by him, Directed by him in First year in Thornton Wilder’s “Skin Of Our Teeth”, and most especially to have known him.
I always felt that Kevin loved women, he loved our strength and our prowess and our complications. As a 21 year old young drama student, I always felt held up by Kevin, challenged by Kevin in a loving and constructive way.
Jenny Wu
Former student and NIDA Graduate, Class of 2010
…I’m sure when I say I’ll really miss seeing KJ’s proud face on opening nights, I’m speaking for many. What a joy it was to be told that Kevin is waiting for you in the foyer, go say hello. You just know he’s so proud seeing his students on stage, even if he rips your performance apart in his reviews.
…Kevin had always supported diverse actors, years before diversity became a buzz word. He believed actors of different cultural backgrounds bring unique interpretations to canonical and new works, enriching the arts as a whole. To say KJ is ahead of his time is an understatement.…
Jonny Seymour
Friend, musician, DJ
I first encountered KJ at the Stronghold, a clandestine leather bar underneath the Clock hotel in the early 90s. I was getting abused by a drunk patron while I was DJ’ing because I wouldn’t play Kylie Minogue. Kevin knew this gentleman, they exchanged some words and he asked me “how much longer are you going to be playing for?” I nervously answered “For an hour more” He replied “Well I’m going to complain” and the pair of them went off to find the manager. I felt uneasy and didn’t really want to be there anymore.
He returned shortly, brandishing a drink for me, and said that he had complained that I wasn’t playing for long enough – and now I was to play for another two hours. He actually also had just escorted the Kylie fan out of the venue too. At the end of my shift he told me that my music selections were bold, unique and to never compromise or dumb it down.
James Balian
Colleague, Playwrite (Mum, Me and the IED)
My collaborator, Roger Vickery, and I were delighted when Kevin agreed to take on our play “Mum Me and the IED”. Kevin told us the script was his score, every word and every punctuation mark. From the first script meeting with KJ, we totally trusted him to bring the play to life with a unique vision. As Roger put it, Kevin pruned a lot of superfluous lines with utter conviction as I politely gritted my teeth – but KJ was right. Working with KJ on the show was like a 6-week masterclass for us as writers and producers. He was firm, calm, supportive and kind.
On the morning of our bump-in, I was having a touch of the panics. KJ gave me a huge hug, smiled and said, “You’ll be alright. You have all day”. KJ was right. Vale KJ
Heidi Arena
Former student and NIDA Graduate, Class of 2002
How incredible to read how KJ has had such a profound impact on by our lives – I’ve loved reading these tales. All different and all KJ-ness.
He will always be a lion to me: proud, wise, complicated, formidable at first and then a heart larger than Pharlap’s. The twinkle in his eye and his courage for honesty could knock you over, boy it could knock you over, but how fortunate you were when he circled you and made you dig deeper to find your best. I feel so lucky to have been in his orbit. He has had a profound impact on me. To this day I think of KJ, he’s there, trying to keep me honest, to get rid of the fear and noise. I’ve told him that in emails back and fourth over the years. He was always there.
Sheridan Harbridge
Former Student, NIDA Graduate, Class of 2006
He was a towering figure in my life, and when we thought it were near the end in 2017, I dedicated my performance in Prima Facie to him. I was there, burrowing into that play, because of the passion, expertise and shall we call it the demonic act or die fire that was set alight in us by the teachers at NIDA.
My audition for NIDA, I was SO damn green, I don’t think I had ever prepared a monologue before. Not believing I would get through to the second round, I hadn’t prepped my third monologue. Trembling, I plonked on a chair and fumbled my way through what I could…
Sabrina Arabella Te’o
Actor and former student, NIDA Graduate, Class of 2011
Always observing, always thinking. This is how I’ll remember you Kevin “KJ” Jackson. I’m so grateful that our NIDA acting class was one of the final set of graduates who were able to have you for our whole 3-years of training.
…You definitely had your methods of digging deep into us, finding our triggers to see how far you could push us and always in the pursuit of honing our craft and fine tuning our instruments. I’ll always be grateful for how you encouraged me to use and recognize my intellectual instincts, not just my emotional ones. And for casting me for one of my first professional jobs out of drama school as your Joan of Arc in Bernard Shaw’s “Saint Joan”.
Emily Rose Brennan
Actor and former student, NIDA Graduate, Class of 2005
…Kevin reviewed many shows I was in and he was always authentic and exacting in his analysis of the performances. It was bracing to see him in the audience, and to read his reviews, but more often than not I really appreciated the excruciatingly detailed and passionate feedback.
…Yesterday I was preparing a monologue, and thinking about Kev, as I have been all this week. I was having trouble with one line, then checked the script again. And there it was, a full stop that I hadn’t learnt. Suddenly it all came together. I am so grateful that I was able to know and learn from Kevin. Passionate, exacting, detailed and at times terrifying.