Actor Sam Jaeger speaks at Way Library

5/30/2013

BY MATT THOMPSON
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Actor and Perrysburg native Sam Jaeger speaks to an overflow crowd at the Way Public Library in Perrysburg.

Perrysburg resident Faye Jaeger stood in the back of a packed room in the lower level of Way Public Library in Perrysburg tonight, a proud aunt watching her nephew Sam Jaeger answer questions and show clips from his movies and TV shows.

She nodded, laughed, and agreed as the 1995 Perrysburg High School graduate talked about his life as an actor in Los Angeles.

"He's a great kid and always keeps in touch," Sam's uncle John Jaeger said. "He hasn't changed a bit," aunt Faye chimed in.

In July, Mr. Jaeger, 36, will begin his fifth season starring on the NBC show "Parenthood." On the show, he plays a loyal, stay-at-home dad named Joel Graham. Mr. Jaeger previously had roles in the TV shows "Law and Order," "ER," "CSI," "The West Wing," "NYPD Blue," "Scrubs," "That's Life," and "Girls Club."

"One question I always get is does my wife get angry I'm not more like Joel," Mr. Jaeger said during his talk. "The answer is yes."

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His wife, Amber Jaeger, was included in his speech when he talked about some of his struggles writing, directing and co-starring in an independent film called Take Me Home. The movie is about a New York taxi driver - Mr. Jaeger - who drives a woman across the country. The woman is played by his wife.

Stories he told included filming after his wife was pregnant and him telling her "suck in the baby, it ruins the storyline," and another about his wife getting a bad case of poison ivy because he wouldn't let her wear socks in a scene like the rest of the cast.

"I don't know how she still loves me," he joked.

Actor and Perrysburg native Sam Jaeger gives an autograph to Yvonne Fey.

He stayed after in the lower level lobby to meet a long line of fans and former teachers and mentors.

"It's awesome he came here," high school drama teacher Rob Gentry said of the visit. "We've kept in touch, I went to his wedding. I'm able to identify him with students, and say that could be you."

English teacher Joanna Weaver was in her first year at Perrysburg High School when she had Mr. Jaeger for honors English. She said he immediately told her she had a very challenging class. She brought her daughter and friends involved in drama who look up to him. They were able to meet Mr. Jaeger after and get their photo taken with him.

"It was really inspiring to see him and know we're doing the same plays [in high school]," sophomore Kyra Marks said. "It shows it is a possibility for us one day."

Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com, 419-356-8786, or on Twitter at @mthompson25.