Jeremy Michael London is an American actor. London is best known for his regular roles in Party of Five, 7th Heaven, and I’ll Fly Away, starring in the 1995 comedy film Mallrats, and his notable supporting role in the Civil War epic Gods and Generals. You may not know that London now calls Mississippi home, where he invests in our state’s growing film industry while watching his on-screen career thrive.
While living in New Orleans, London met Scott Hoverman, owner of 3 Alarm Comics in Ocean Springs. Hoverman invited London to come and sign autographs as a celebrity guest, introducing him to Mississippi. “I fell in love with Ocean Springs,” shared London. “It is truly a magical little place. So beautiful.”
At that time, London’s family was expecting. “We were about to have a baby, and New Orleans didn’t feel like the place we truly wanted to be,” shared London. “So the universe brought us here.”
London also brought his love of acting, directing, and teaching film students. London Arts Acting School, based in Mississippi, coaches people from four to ninety-four years old. “I used to go to different states and have to travel, and it got hard,” explained London. “Then the pandemic hit, and I was introduced to the online coaching world.” London can teach people from anywhere online and offer a more personal experience. London is also putting his students to work in film in Mississippi.
In 2017, Mississippi River Sharks, filmed in Ocean Springs, starred the London brothers, Cassie Steele, and was directed by Misty Talley. Director Tim Wall created a sci-fi short film, EnterFear, in 2020, which gained a cult following. In 2022, London got involved with the indie feature-length sci-fi comedy EnterFear: The Next Wave, filmed on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and included many of his acting students. Directed by Tim Wall with Ryan Reinike, Jeremy London, Hunter Bickham, and Phillip Drake.
“Mississippi is having her moment in films and projects,” shared London. “Not only is it a beautiful place, but the tax incentives make it attractive for filmmakers. The people are also genuinely excited to be making a movie and help with plenty of volunteers. You would have to pay for all that in California.”
“Mississippi has the perfect infrastructure for the film market,” said London. “The locations are beautiful and diverse, there is talent, the people know what they’re doing, and the hospitality is off the charts.”
When London isn’t working in film, he works in his garden, producing peppers for his latest adventure. “Peppery Jelly is the last thing I ever thought I would be doing,” shared London. London’s family began gardening in their backyard as an escape during the pandemic.
“We had a food forest and had way too many peppers, and I didn’t know what to do with them,” shared London. “So I did a bunch of research and found there is pepper jelly that people in Mississippi make.”
Having never heard of or tried pepper jelly, London gave some online recipes a try. “I checked it out, and it turned out to be some of the best-tasting stuff I have ever tasted,” exclaimed London. “I messed around, created my own recipe, and started selling it.”
London’s Most Wanted Pepper Jelly is the name of his company. There are three products to choose from. “Cowboy, which is sweet with no heat. Outlaw has heat but is tolerable,” shared London. “And a special edition Outlaw that will blow your socks off. It’s super hot.” Every jar has some of London’s homegrown peppers and gets produced, packaged, and shipped in Mississippi. You can buy a jar over on Etsy.
“I haven’t slowed down; I have worked consistently since I moved to Mississippi,” shared London. “I did a movie last year, shot in Mississippi, that just came out on Amazon, and I have gotten the most critical acclaim of my life.” The movie is called Open and is now available for streaming on Amazon. “I’m also in Boneface, shot down in Wiggins, MS,” said Lonon. “I just love it here.”
