By Amanda Stanley
From Ft. Lauderdale to Hollywood to Holly Springs, the exceptional career of Rollin Jewett (Jarrett) has spanned miles and mediums. As an actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, songwriter, and musician, this Holly Springs resident has used his artistic talents to entertain the masses. Along the way he has earned numerous awards and accolades, and he has much more to come.
Rollin, the youngest of three boys, was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1960. At the age of 2, his parents divorced, and eventually his mother moved the boys to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Rollin struggled in his youth, making some unfortunate choices.
“I got in with a bad crowd,” explained Rollin. “My parents were divorced, and I didn’t have enough supervision. I was headed down a bad path.”
The guidance of a few great teachers helped Rollin find the right path. One teacher in particular, his high school drama teacher, gave him the direction he needed.
“I had a wonderful drama teacher,” said Rollin with a reminiscing smile. “She devoted herself to drama and took the class under her wing. She believed in me.”
Rollin also credits two creative writing teachers with inspiring him to pursue his talents in writing. In fact, he earned the first of many awards while in these classes. In 1978, he was named in “Who’s Who Among American High School Students” for excellence in writing.
As a high school student, Rollin spent many hours reading and watching movies. It was a form of escape from an unhappy family situation. Through this immersion, Rollin came to realize that there was a whole world he wanted to explore, and that he wasn’t stuck in his situation. He devoted himself to acting.
This devotion paid off when Rollin was accepted to the theater department at Florida State University, the only school to which he applied. He had many roles in productions both at Florida State and in the community theater. He also had the opportunity to meet legendary actor Burt Reynolds, an alumnus of Florida State, and act with him in an episode of Reynolds’ show “B.L. Stryker.”
After college, Rollin appeared in many television series and as a host for informational television shows. It was a role in “The Bodyguard,” the 1992 movie starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston, that spurred his move to Los Angeles, California. Rollin’s goal was to break into show business in the town known for stardom. To pay the bills, he chose two jobs in places that put him in front of Hollywood’s entertainment elite—bartending at a restaurant popular with celebrities and movie moguls, and working at a video rental store near where many of Hollywood’s superstars lived. It was at the restaurant that Rollin met the man who would produce his screenplay as the comedic horror movie “American Vampire,” starring Carmen Electra and Adam West.
“When I was bartending, I always had a script on hand,” said Rollin. “I met a man who was interested in being a producer, so I gave him the script for ‘American Vampire.’ He decided to produce the movie. It was great being on set, seeing my words come to life.”
Rollin followed up “American Vampire” with the screenplay for “Laws of Deception.” This erotic thriller, which keeps the viewer guessing with surprising twists and turns, was directed by Joey Travolta. “Laws of Deception” was released in 1997 and stars C. Thomas Howell and Amber Smith, and includes a small part played by Rollin.
The same year “Laws of Deception” was released, Rollin met his future wife, Debra, a professional dancer who was making her mark in films. Rollin was working steadily as a script consultant for movies and television. When the two married in 2003, they decided to take a break from show business and move to Arizona to be close to family. This started a new era for Rollin.
In Arizona, family became Rollin’s top priority. He and Debra had a son, Ronan, and Rollin became a dedicated father. His love for writing never waned and he continued to write but did not seek professional outlets. His focus was on his family.
After a few years in the desert, Rollin and his wife decided it was time for a new, greener environment. Rollin’s brothers were living in a suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina, and were urging him to come check it out.
“We decided to visit for a week, and we fell in love,” said Rollin. “There is so much culture, and so much for families.”
After a short time in Cary, Holly Springs became home for the Jewett family. The new surroundings brought creative inspiration. Rollin changed focus from screenwriting to playwriting, short stories, and poetry. He has also turned a long-time hobby of guitar playing into an award-winning musical career.
“Creatively, I have never tried to limit myself,” explained Rollin.
Not limiting himself has brought Rollin great success. In the past ten years, Rollin has earned several awards and recognition for his playwriting and songwriting. He has also had original poetry and short stories published in numerous anthologies. His songs “Arizona Sun” and “Ride Tall” were both winners of the Chicago IMSTA FESTA Award in 2015 and 2016, respectively. He was a finalist for the Big Break Screenwriting Contest in 2017. His plays have been performed in off-Broadway productions and won awards from the Helen Jean Play Contest and LaBute New Theater Festival. In the last six years, Rollin has had a play produced each year. In October, Rollin will travel to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, for the Josie Music Awards, as his song “Meteor” has been nominated for a songwriting award.
The awards and accolades keep coming, and Rollin is not slowing down. His next challenge is to write a full-length novel, while continuing to write music, plays, poetry, and short stories. No matter what comes his way, however, Rollin’s family is his number one priority. He is devoted to his wife of 20 years, and he is a proud, supportive father to his 16-year-old son, who is showing great creative writing ability.
Given his success as a writer in so many genres, Rollin has been asked to speak at writers’ conferences around the country. His advice to budding writers is to immerse yourself in the craft. “Watch movies, go to plays, and read as many of the great authors as you can,” encouraged Rollin. “Write all the time and take classes from the best; you will improve naturally. Get into the creative world and evolve yourself. You have to love it.”
For more information of Rollin Jewett’s original writings and songs, visit www.rollinjewett.com. His music can be heard on iHeart Radio, Amazon, Google Play, Spotify, and many other music platforms.
Fun Facts about Rollin Jewett:
Rollin was a contestant on “Jeopardy” in 2003.
He appeared in the television shows “Miami Vice” and “Unsolved Mysteries.”
Rollin is the great-great grandson of the first president of Panama, Manuel Amador Guerrero.
His brother owns Bocci Trattoria & Pizzeria, an Italian restaurant with locations in Cary and Durham.
