Jonathan Keltz

Jonathan Keltz – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Discover the life and career of Jonathan Keltz — the American-Canadian actor known for Entourage, Reign, and Hallmark films. Read his biography, career highlights, and insights from his experiences.

Introduction

Jonathan Lippert Keltz (born January 17, 1988) is an American-Canadian actor whose roles span television and film. He is perhaps best known for playing Jake Steinberg on Entourage and Leith Bayard in Reign. Prom and 21 & Over, and in romantic / seasonal films on the Hallmark Channel.

In this article, we explore his background, rise in acting, key works, influences, and lessons from his journey.

Early Life and Family

Jonathan was born in New York City, New York, U.S. on January 17, 1988. Karin Lippert, worked in public relations; his father, Martin Keltz, is co-founder of Scholastic Productions.

He spent his earliest years in New York, then moved with his family to Woodstock, New York, where he attended Poughkeepsie Day School through approximately 8th grade. Toronto, Canada, where he attended Northern Secondary School.

His heritage is a blend: his father is of Polish Jewish descent, and his mother is of German ancestry (born in Hamburg).

Keltz has mentioned that he began taking acting classes around age 10, and by age 16 had begun acting professionally.

One quirky biographical note: in Toronto, he lived in an apartment formerly occupied by Keanu Reeves.

Acting Career & Key Works

Early Appearances & Breakthrough

Jonathan’s early credits include guest roles on Canadian and U.S. TV series. For instance, he appeared on Radio Free Roscoe and Degrassi: The Next Generation in 2004. Queer as Folk, Cold Case, CSI: Miami, and others.

In 2009, Keltz joined the cast of Entourage as Jake Steinberg, Ari Gold’s (Jeremy Piven) assistant — initially in a recurring role, which then extended over multiple seasons.

Reign & Series Regular Status

One of his more prominent TV roles came with The CW’s historical fantasy-drama Reign, in which he played Leith Bayard over several seasons.

In Reign, his character often used a British accent. Interestingly, Keltz explained that he kept the accent on even between takes to help maintain consistency.

Film & Hallmark Projects

Across film, Keltz has appeared in:

• Prom (2011) as Brandon Roberts

• Playback (2012) as Nate

• 21 & Over (2013) as Randy

• Transgression (2011)

In recent years, he has appeared in several Hallmark Channel and similar romantic / seasonal films, such as Once Upon a Prince and Fit for a Prince.

Other credits include genre / guest parts in shows like Breakout Kings, Leverage, Fairly Legal, Flashpoint, Republic of Doyle, Murdoch Mysteries, and more.

Geographic & Citizenship Notes

Although born in the U.S., Jonathan spent formative years in Canada and eventually holds dual American–Canadian citizenship.

Personality, Style & Work Approach

A few character traits and working details of Jonathan Keltz:

• Accent mastery & consistency — In Reign, because his character used a British accent, Keltz kept the accent between takes to maintain consistency.

• Versatility — He has alternated between recurring roles, supporting roles, and lead / romantic roles, across TV and film.

• Early dedication — Starting training at age 10 and acting professionally in his mid-teens shows commitment to craft and long preparation.

• Crossover projects — He is comfortable working both in mainstream dramatic shows (e.g. Entourage, Reign) and lighter fare (romance / Hallmark).

In interviews, he has spoken about how moving to Toronto in his youth was instrumental: gaining local credits there gave him momentum to secure representation in L.A.

Memorable Quotes & Reflections

While Jonathan Keltz does not have a large catalog of widely cited quotes, from interviews and reports some remarks stand out:

• On Reign accent work:

  “I would use the British accent until the end of each shooting day so I didn’t have to focus on it so much.”

• On his career trajectory via Toronto:

  “I started working when I was about 16 … doing film and TV stuff in Toronto … and I used that experience to get representation out in L.A.”

These reflect a pragmatic and disciplined approach to acting—using incremental opportunities to build toward bigger projects.

Lessons from Jonathan Keltz’s Journey

1. Start early, but allow growth
   Training in youth and pursuing performance before full adulthood gives time to refine one’s skills organically.

2. Leverage regional markets
   His Canadian work helped him build credits and experience before fully entering U.S. markets.

3. Accent & character consistency matter
   His method (keeping accent between takes) shows how small techniques support performance integrity.

4. Balance between genres
   Moving between serious drama and lighter romantic fare can broaden opportunities and resilience in a fluctuating industry.

5. Patience & incremental success
   Many roles were guest or supporting — not overnight breakout leads — but cumulatively they built his repertoire and visibility.

Conclusion

Jonathan Keltz is a compelling example of a modern actor who builds career through steady work, flexibility, and craft. From early roles in Canadian television to recurring parts in major U.S. shows, and transitioning toward romantic / seasonal films, he has shown range and consistency.

His trajectory reinforces that acting careers often proceed through many stepping stones, and that craft, adaptability, and patience often matter more than an instant breakout. If you like, I can also compile a complete filmography or find video interviews or audition tapes of Keltz. Do you want me to dig into that?