Giacomo Knox
Encyclopedia
Giacomo Knox is an American actor, stuntperformer and television producer. He has been acting and stuntperforming professionally since the mid 1990s. His current project is a new reality television show: A Week With My Father which reunites father and sons who have been separated for extended periods of time. Giacomo is the creator and co-producer of the show.
in 1976 to start a new life. Giacomo was a terribly shy child and often withdrew to television and early attempts at creative writing. The eruption of Mt. Saint Helens in 1980
and his mother's homesickness, sent the family eastward to Fort Wayne, Indiana
, and finally back to New Jersey
in 1981. Still painfully shy, he further withdrew into himself, writing volumes of poetry and mastering English grammar. He graduated from grammar school at age 12 and began attending Seton Hall Preparatory School
in 1982. Giacomo ran track for three years, but his love for writing and acting eclipsed his athletic abilities. He appeared as Yeoman Herbert Quayle in the school's spring musical South Pacific
. He graduated from The Prep in 1986 at the age of 16, then started classes at Seton Hall University
one week later. He graduated from Seton Hall University
in 1992 with a B.A. in English/Film/Theater.
recruiter's office, but when two Marines in dress blues showed up at his door one summer afternoon, he was hooked! He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in 1987 and was sent to recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina
. Recruit training broke much of his shyness, and created the self-discipline he still calls upon today. Even in his advancing age, he admits to being a "workout junkie", and panics when he puts on a few pounds. Enlisting in the reserves allowed Giacomo to continue his college education and serve his country. Upon his return from recruit training, Giacomo was assigned to the 6th Motor Transport Battalion
in Red Bank, NJ. Giacomo Knox was deployed with his reserve unit to Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm
. Giacomo credits joining the Marine Corps for giving him the discipline to accomplish any task that God put in front of him.
. He began his stuntperforming career in 1995, and performed stunt work for the 2003 Samuel L. Jackson
action movie S.W.A.T.
Giacomo is also the nephew of actor Daniel Whitner
.
On September 24, 2011 Giacomo got the break that he had worked so hard for in order to develop A Week With My Father. AWWMF was selected as one of twenty five semi-finalists in the 2011 New York Television Festival
in the category A&E
Unscripted Development Pipeline. This earned Giacomo an opportunity to go to New York City and pitch his television show. Although AWWMF was not selected as one of the finalists for the A&E Unscripted Development Pipeline, it did win a guaranteed development deal from SevenOne International
and Red Arrow Entertainment Group in the Pitch Partner's initiative.
Early life and family
Giacomo (birth name James) was born to James and Doris Knox on August 1, 1969 in Newark, NJ and along with his sister Angela, the family also resided in Newark, NJ. The Knoxes had a troubled marriage and an acrimonious divorce, which would impact Giacomo for many years to come. His mother moved to Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
in 1976 to start a new life. Giacomo was a terribly shy child and often withdrew to television and early attempts at creative writing. The eruption of Mt. Saint Helens in 1980
1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens
The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, a stratovolcano located in Washington state, in the United States, was a major volcanic eruption. The eruption was the only significant one to occur in the contiguous 48 U.S. states since the 1915 eruption of Lassen Peak in California...
and his mother's homesickness, sent the family eastward to Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, and finally back to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 1981. Still painfully shy, he further withdrew into himself, writing volumes of poetry and mastering English grammar. He graduated from grammar school at age 12 and began attending Seton Hall Preparatory School
Seton Hall Preparatory School
Seton Hall Preparatory School, generally called Seton Hall Prep, is a Roman Catholic boys' high school located in the suburban community of West Orange in Essex County, New Jersey, operating under the supervision of the Archdiocese of Newark...
in 1982. Giacomo ran track for three years, but his love for writing and acting eclipsed his athletic abilities. He appeared as Yeoman Herbert Quayle in the school's spring musical South Pacific
South Pacific (musical)
South Pacific is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. The story draws from James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 book Tales of the South Pacific, weaving together characters and elements from several of its...
. He graduated from The Prep in 1986 at the age of 16, then started classes at Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
one week later. He graduated from Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
in 1992 with a B.A. in English/Film/Theater.
United States Marine Corps
Giacomo had absent-mindedly sent a post card to the local Marine CorpsMarine corps
A marine is a member of a force that specializes in expeditionary operations such as amphibious assault and occupation. The marines traditionally have strong links with the country's navy...
recruiter's office, but when two Marines in dress blues showed up at his door one summer afternoon, he was hooked! He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in 1987 and was sent to recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina
Parris Island, South Carolina
Parris Island is a former census-designated place , currently a portion of Port Royal in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 4,841 at the 2000 census. As defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, Parris Island is included within the Beaufort Urban Cluster and the larger...
. Recruit training broke much of his shyness, and created the self-discipline he still calls upon today. Even in his advancing age, he admits to being a "workout junkie", and panics when he puts on a few pounds. Enlisting in the reserves allowed Giacomo to continue his college education and serve his country. Upon his return from recruit training, Giacomo was assigned to the 6th Motor Transport Battalion
6th Motor Transport Battalion
The 6th Motor Transport Battalion headquartered in Red Bank, New Jersey, consists of seven reserve companies in seven cities:*Red Bank, New Jersey*Providence, Rhode Island*Orlando,Florida*Las Vegas, Nevada*Lubbock, Texas*Texarkana, Texas and...
in Red Bank, NJ. Giacomo Knox was deployed with his reserve unit to Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. Giacomo credits joining the Marine Corps for giving him the discipline to accomplish any task that God put in front of him.
Acting and Stuntperforming
Giacomo has been acting professionally since 1994, and he has appeared in both film and television. In 1994 he appeared in a television movie A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle, and in 1998 he appeared in an episode of Malcolm & EddieMalcolm & Eddie
Malcolm & Eddie is an American television sitcom that premiered August 26, 1996 on the UPN Network, and ran for four seasons. This series starred Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Eddie Griffin in the lead roles. This show was canceled after its fourth season, and aired its final episode on May 22, 2000...
. He began his stuntperforming career in 1995, and performed stunt work for the 2003 Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel Leroy Jackson is an American film and television actor and film producer. After becoming involved with the Civil Rights Movement, he moved on to acting in theater at Morehouse College, and then films. He had several small roles such as in the film Goodfellas before meeting his mentor,...
action movie S.W.A.T.
S.W.A.T. (film)
S.W.A.T. is a 2003 action-crime film directed by Clark Johnson, and is based on the 1975 television series of the same name. It stars Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, LL Cool J and Michelle Rodriguez. It was produced by Neal H...
Giacomo is also the nephew of actor Daniel Whitner
Daniel Whitner
Daniel Whitner is an American actor. He was born in Newark, NJ on January 17, 1952. Daniel was the youngest of 10 children, and attended Essex Catholic High School in Newark, NJ. He began his studies at New York University at the age of 15...
.
A Week With My Father
In 2008 Knox began production of a new reality television show that was focused on reuniting fathers and sons who had been separated for a period of time. The show began as a web based series, with the pilot episode featuring Giacomo's week long reunion with his father. The show premiered on the internet on April 16, 2009. The show was created by Knox and produced by Western Boy, LLC. The mission of Western Boy LLC is to produce entertaining and thought provoking television and film projects that will inspire and motivate audiences to take action and hopefully, grow as individuals. "Knox’s experience is not about drugs or prison. He was a marine, and he has found his way in life without his father, but many men who see this show, no matter what dire circumstances they are in, will be able to relate to either leaving their children or being left. Even with being a good man, Knox still yearns for his father."On September 24, 2011 Giacomo got the break that he had worked so hard for in order to develop A Week With My Father. AWWMF was selected as one of twenty five semi-finalists in the 2011 New York Television Festival
New York Television Festival
The New York Television Festival is a yearly gathering of artists, fans, and executives to celebrate independent small-screen productions. It was founded in 2005, and is held in venues in New York City....
in the category A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
Unscripted Development Pipeline. This earned Giacomo an opportunity to go to New York City and pitch his television show. Although AWWMF was not selected as one of the finalists for the A&E Unscripted Development Pipeline, it did win a guaranteed development deal from SevenOne International
SevenOne International
SevenOne International is the worldwide programming distribution company of the ProSiebenSat.1 Group, the pan-European media companies, which is represented in 13 countries with 26 commercial TV stations, 24 premium Pay TV channels and 22 radio networks. SevenOne International offers TV events,...
and Red Arrow Entertainment Group in the Pitch Partner's initiative.