Jack Pearson

Grew Up... with a difficult childhood. Jack’s father was both physically abusive and emotionally distant. Jack’s mother made her son promise to be a better man when he grew up.

Living... frequently overwhelmed, in 1980s Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Profession... construction. Jack has had many jobs in the construction world, from onsite foreman to office worker at a building firm. But his big dream is to start his own architectural business. Worried that’s too much of a financial risk, however, Jack stays at a desk job he hates in order to ensure he can support his family.

Interests... the Pittsburgh Steelers, hanging out at the pool, and spending time with his kids.

Relationship Status... happily married. Jack’s relationship with Rebecca is the most important thing in his life. Jack tells her that he never knew what he wanted to be when he grew up until he met her. As he puts it, “I wanted to be the man that made you happy.”

Challenge... providing for his family. And that’s quite the challenge. Jack and Rebecca are raising three kids who are all the same age. Kevin and Kate are their biological twins while Randall is their adopted son. He was left at a fire station the same day Jack and Rebecca lost their third triplet in childbirth, and they decided Randall was destined to round out “The Big Three.” But not only is raising such a big family expensive, it’s also emotionally draining. Randall has identity issues over being a black boy in an all-white family, Kate struggles with her weight, and Kevin feels invisible. Jack tries to be a present parent all while making enough money to support his family.

Personality... optimistic, loyal, dependable, and deeply caring. Jack is a fundamentally good man with a seemingly endless supply of love to give. There is nothing he wouldn’t sacrifice in order to provide for his family. And although he sometimes makes mistakes, he always finds his way when he remembers to prioritize his loved ones. As he explains, “I am thankful for my family. I'm thankful that we're all safe and there's no one in the world that I'd rather be too hot or too cold with.”