Jeff Zarinelli

Jeff was born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri, where his creative talents were evident from a young age. He graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute in May 2000 with a BA in design and illustration.

After working at various design firms, he began painting murals and got his first industry break on CMT’s “Home Blitz” with Gretchen Wilson and Trace Atkins, earning high praise from the director.

Seeking to pursue acting, Jeff moved to Chicago, got his first agent, and landed a co-star role on season 11 of “Chicago Fire” within two months. He soon appeared in his first feature film, “The Unseen,” directed by Vincent Shade. By 2024, Jeff had added several short films, two more feature films, and numerous commercials to his portfolio.

Jeff is mentored by award-winning actor Geoffrey Blake, casting director legends Lisa London and Stephen Snyder, and is part of The Extra Mile with his current mentor and close friend, Glenn Morshower. He has two children, Blake Zarinelli and Jason Alexander Zarinelli.