Matthew Jacobs

For the rugby union player, see Matthew Jacobs (rugby union).
Matthew Jacobs
Born (1956-07-01) 1 July 1956 (age 68)
Occupation(s)Writer, director, producer, actor

Matthew Jacobs (born 1 July 1956) is a British writer, director, producer and actor. He is known best for his extensive career writing for television shows like Doctor Who and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. He also directed two prize-winning TV movies for BBC films, Hallelujah Anyhow (1992) and Mothertime (1998). As an actor, he starred alongside Danny Huston in Boxing Day, Bernard Rose's 2012 adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's novella "Master and Man".

Life and career

Jacobs worked as one of the many writers for George Lucas's The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. His episodes included "Passion for Life," "The Perils of Cupid," "Travels with Father," "Spring Break Adventure," "Attack of the Hawkmen" and "Hollywood Follies."

Jacobs is perhaps best remembered for writing and co-producing the 1996 Doctor Who television movie, which featured Paul McGann as the Doctor and Eric Roberts as the Master. Jacobs was responsible for writing the first televised Doctor Who story to be broadcast as a show in its own right, rather than as part of a charity telethon, since Survival (1989).

Jacobs has also written several screenplays. His film credits include Lassie, The Emperor's New Groove and the cult classic Paperhouse.

Aside from his work in television and film, Jacobs has worked on other projects in the entertainment industry. He wrote for the video games Outlaws and Star Wars: Starfighter.

Jacobs' father, the actor Anthony Jacobs, appeared in the Doctor Who serial The Gunfighters in 1966, and took his son to visit the set one day during production.

Jacobs's father was Jewish; Jacobs practices no religion.[1]

Filmography

Films

Filmmaking credits

Year Director Director Writer Producer Editor Notes
1984 The Ninja Mission No Yes No No
Starship No Yes No No
1986 Vardo Yes No No No Short film
Smart Money No Yes No No
1988 Paperhouse No Yes No No
1994 Lassie No Yes No No
2000 The Emperor's New Groove No Story No No
2013 Justin and the Knights of Valour No Yes No No
Your Good Friend Yes Yes Yes Yes Directorial debut
2014 Bar America Yes Yes No Yes
2015 Rebel Child No No Associate No Short film
2018 The Hurdy Gurdy Man No No Yes No Short film; also first assistant director
2019 Claude Debussy's Danse Profane No No Yes No Short film
2022 Doctor Who Am I Yes No Yes No Documentary film

Acting credits

Year Title Role Notes
2008 Lo que Daria por volver BBC Narrator (voice) Short film
The Kreutzer Sonata Driver
2010 Mr. Nice Eddie Laxton
The Two Handed Painter Producer (voice) Short film
The Seven Year Hitch Himself Documentary film
2011 You're Cordially Uninvited Mr. Badeaux Short film
2012 Boxing Day Nick
2013 Your Good Friend Jules
2014 Bar America Harry
2015 On Her Wedding Day Policeman (voice) Short film
Frankenstein Dr. Marcus
Art School of Horrors Zadok
2017 State of Modern Love Josh
2018 The Hurdy Gurdy Man Narrator (voice) Short film
Vice Antonin Scalia
2021 On My Special Day The Caller Short film
Traveling Light Arthur
2022 Doctor Who Am I Himself Documentary film
TBA Lear Rex Duke of Cornwall Post-production

Television

Screenwriting credits

Year Title Notes
1989 The Jim Henson Hour Episode: "Monster Maker"
Somewhere to Run TV film
1990 Lorna Doone TV film
1990–1992 The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Episodes:
  • "Some Lie and Some Die: Part One"
  • "Murder Being Once Done: Part One"
  • "Kissing the Gunner's Daughter: Part One"
1991–1997 Screen Two Episodes:
  • "Hallelujah Anyhow" (also director)
  • "Mothertime" (also director)
1992–1996 The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Episodes:
  • "British East Africa, September 1909"
  • "Vienna, November 1908"
  • "Princeton, February 1916"

TV films:

  • "The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Hollywood Follies"
  • "The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen"
  • "The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Travels with Father"
1996 Doctor Who TV film: "Doctor Who: The Movie" (also co-producer)
2002 Mr. St. Nick TV film (story only)

Acting credits

Year Title Role Notes
1968 Point Counter Point Little Phil 4 episodes
1975 Play for Today Wulf Episode: "By Common Consent"
1997 Screen Two Recording Engineer Episode: "Mothertime"
2018 All You Need Is Me Barman 2 episodes
2020 Tardis Sauce Himself Episode: "The Time Lord's New Groove"

Writer for video games

References

  1. ^ Ghert-Z, Renee. "Rabbi looks for laughs with (fictional) 'kosher' porn". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2020-07-22.