Drew Van Acker

Drew Van Acker is an accomplished American actor and model, originally hailing from Medford, New Jersey, where he settled at the age of 10 after a childhood filled with relocations. His early years were marked by a deep engagement in various sports, such as soccer, lacrosse, wrestling, and basketball. However, it was acting that captured his heart, leading him to join his high school drama classes, inspired by the Star Wars trilogy and the films of Robert De Niro.

Drew secured a soccer scholarship to Towson University in Maryland, but his passion for acting prompted him to enroll in theater courses. In 2005, during his sophomore year, he crossed paths with a talent scout from ProScout, which led to his relocation to New York City. There, he gained experience as a successful model, primarily in underwear campaigns for brands like International Jock, Abercrombie & Fitch, and American Eagle. He also appeared as an extra in 2006's The Good Shepherd, featuring De Niro.

After moving to Los Angeles and signing with Shepard Smith Management and WME, Drew's acting career began to flourish. His first credited role was as Donny Kendall in ABC's Castle. He gained further recognition through webisodes of The Lake and an episode of ABC Family’s Greek in 2009. His breakthrough came in 2010 with the lead role of Ian Archer in the live-action Cartoon Network series Tower Prep. This performance caught the attention of Glen Morgan, a producer connected to Pretty Little Liars, where Drew was cast as Jason DiLaurentis in its second season. His portrayal quickly resonated with fans, earning praise from the series' author, Sara Shepard.