A viral social media campaign is seeking to help actors who are at risk of missing out on medical insurance.
The “One Job Away” series was started by Cheyenne Jackson, a 51-year-old star best known for his roles on 30 Rock, Glee and American Horror Story.
For all his success as an actor, last year he found himself $6,000 short of meeting the $28,000 annual threshold that the Screen Actors’ Guild — the union representing TV and Film actors — requires in order to qualify for their health insurance.
In an Instagram post, Jackson revealed that Kathy Bates had helped ensure he wouldn’t lose access to health benefits by landing him a small role on her series Matlock.
“Last year, Kathy Bates helped me qualify for my SAG-AFTRA health insurance by helping me get 5 lines on an episode of Matlock,” wrote Jackson. “I know what it feels like to be one job away… and what it means when someone actually comes through.”
Jackson continued: “So I’m starting a little series called ONE JOB AWAY, spotlighting fellow actors who are close to qualifying for their SAG health insurance and could use a little help with that next booking.
“I’ll share their faces, their work, and how to reach them. Casting directors, producers, friends making things… maybe your next hire is someone you meet here. Actors… DM me your info if you want to be featured. Sometimes we all need somebody to put our name in the room.”
So far, Jackson has posted 22 actor profiles on his Instagram feed, including photos and short bios, and the posts have been shared by fellow stars including Jamie Lee Curtis.
Jackson’s campaign comes as several notable actors have spoken out about acting roles drying up, putting them at risk of losing their insurance.
Haven first found fame in the Netflix drama Atypical, and more recently worked with director Jane Schoenbrun in 2024’s I Saw the TV Glow and this year’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.
In a video being shared on social media, Haven said that they are in “a bit of an emergency situation.”
They continued: “I need to make $4,000 by the end of the month in order to qualify for SAG health insurance starting in January. So, I guess what I’m asking is if you, or anyone you know, can hire me on a set or production and pay me $4,000, I will do, pretty much, any job.”
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