Ken Jacobs - Actor Profile

Ken Jacobs

Directing
Freshness: Jan 13, 2026
34Total Films
10.0 Highest Rated
Born: May 25, 1933
Birth Place: Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, USA

About Ken Jacobs

A pioneer of the American film avant-garde of the 1960s and '70s, Ken Jacobs is a central figure in post-war experimental cinema. From his first films of the late 1950s to his recent experiments with digital video, his investigations and innovations have influenced countless artists. A New Yorker by birth, Jacobs graduated from City University to find himself in the midst of the downtown art scene of the 1960s, which included artists Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol, beat writers Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac; and the experimental theater troupes of Trisha Brown and Yvonne Rainer. Although Jacobs had studied painting with Hans Hoffman, he quickly gravitated to film, finding kindred spirits in radical filmmakers such as Jonas Mekas and Hollis Frampton. An early friendship with Jack Smith yielded several collaborations, including the seminal underground films Blonde Cobra (which Jonas Mekas dubbed "the masterpiece of Baudelairean cinema") and Little Stabs at Happiness, as well as a Provincetown beach-based live show, The Human Wreckage Review.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Ken Jacobs reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 34 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Documentary

The majority of Ken Jacobs's filmography leans towards the Documentary genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 41% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Ken Jacobs remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in 365 Day Project, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Ken Jacobs Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Ken Jacobs's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Ken Jacobs.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2025 Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse Self Super Hit Similar →
2023 Ken Jacobs - from Orchard Street to the Museum of Modern Art Self Flop Similar →
2023 Art-House America: Austin Film Society Self Flop Similar →
2022 Please Leave a Message: Anthology Film Archives Voicemails Through the Ages - Flop Similar →
2022 Fragments of Paradise Self Hit Similar →
2016 Reminiscences of Jonas Mekas - Flop Similar →
2013 What Is Cinema? Self Hit Similar →
2013 The Eternal Courtship - Flop Similar →
2012 Emma's Dilemma Himself Flop Similar →
2011 Sleepless Nights Stories Self Flop Similar →
2011 Free Radicals: A History of Experimental Film Himself Hit Similar →
2011 Cinematic Correspondences: Jonas Mekas - J.L. Guerin Himself Hit Similar →
2010 Santos Dumont: Pré-Cineasta? Himself Flop Similar →
2010 Lavender Self Flop Similar →
2008 Momma's Man Dad Average Similar →
2007 365 Day Project - Super Hit Similar →
2007 Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis Self Hit Similar →
2004 Star Spangled to Death Oscar Friendly / Ringmaster / Janitor Super Hit Similar →
2003 Nervous Ken - Flop Similar →
2002 Shorts From the Underground Self Flop Similar →
2000 As I Was Moving Ahead, Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty Self Super Hit Similar →
1997 Birth of a Nation Self Average Similar →
1994 Jonas in the Desert Self Average Similar →
1991 Quartet Number One - Super Hit Similar →
1986 He Stands in a Desert Counting the Seconds of His Life Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
1985 Home Movies 1971-81 - Flop Similar →
1976 Lost, Lost, Lost Self Hit Similar →
1973 Horizons - Super Hit Similar →
1973 Notes on the Buffalo Conference: “Autobiography in American Independent Cinema” - Flop Similar →
1968 Huge Pupils Himself Flop Similar →
1968 Diaries, Notes, and Sketches Self Hit Similar →
1967 Bill's Hat - Flop Similar →
1963 Blonde Cobra - Flop Similar →
1962 Scotch Tape - Flop Similar →

Ken Jacobs - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Ken Jacobs?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Ken Jacobs is "365 Day Project" with a rating of 10.0/10.

How many movies has Ken Jacobs acted in?

Ken Jacobs has been featured in at least 34 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Ken Jacobs?

Other notable films include "Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse", "Horizons", and "He Stands in a Desert Counting the Seconds of His Life".