Meet Jackson White, Tell Me Lies Actor Dating Co-Star, Grace Van Patten, Son Of Actress, Katey Sagal

Fans had been eagerly anticipating the third season of Hulu's hit show, Tell Me Lies. Well, let us tell you that the wait is finally over with the show premiering its first three episodes at 3 am ET on January 12, 2026. Based on Carola Lovering's novel, Tell Me Lies stars one of our favourite Hollywood couples, Grace Van Patten and Jackson White as ‘Lucy Albright’ and ‘Stephan DeMarco’ respectively. While the duo have a seemingly toxic on-screen romance, in real life, they have been going strong since season 1 of the twisty series.

Fans who love to see Grace and Jackson's real-life dynamic were pleased when the couple was spotted in Manhattan, New York, this week. This rare public appearance came just ahead of Tell Me Lies' highly anticipated return. In photos from their outing, Grace looked effortlessly chic in a tailored black leather trench coat, worn over a neutral-toned dress. On the other hand, her boyfriend, Jackson, looked dapper in a dark jacket layered over a crisp white shirt and tie, paired with fitted trousers. With the spotlight on the duo owing to their recent spotting and the premiere of the Hulu series, here's everything you need to know about Grace Van Patten's boyfriend, actor, Jackson White.  

Jackson White is the son of a famous actress and a late musician  

Most people might not be aware, but Jackson White is the son of actress, Katey Sagal, whom you might recognise from TV shows like Married…with Children (1987-1997), Glee (2013), The Conners (2018-2025), and more. Interestingly, she also appeared on Tell Me Lies season 1 as her son's character, ‘Stephan’s’ mom, ‘Nora’ on the show. What's most surprising is that she did not want Jackson to become an actor and follow in her footsteps immediately. During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Jackson recalled Katey telling him to finish high school and college before pursuing acting. He revealed her exact words, stating: 

"You’re not doing anything until you’re 18. So you’ve got to finish high school. You’ve got to, like, try to do the college thing, and then you can see [if] you want to be a crazy person and do the acting thing."

Katy Sagal shared Jackson and his older sister, Sarah, with her ex-husband, Jack White. According to reports, he was a drummer and an actor. Many believe that Jackson was always meant to be a performer because both his parents are artists. In July 2024, Jack White sadly passed away, following which his son gave him a tribute in a now-deleted Instagram post. Jackson claimed that “this guy taught me everything.” Furthermore, he also revealed that just like any father-son duo, they had their ups and downs, “but in the end it was just love.” 

Jackson White studied music before deciding to switch to acting  

Initially, Jackson had no plans of becoming an actor like his mother, Katey Sagal. If someone had to become an actor between the sibling duo, he always thought that it would be his elder sister, Sarah White. Since childhood, he has aspired to become a musician, following in his father's footsteps. In interviews, Jackson has often revealed how when he lived with his dad as a kid, his house had a “recording studio, three sets of drums, some old B3 keyboards and guitars.”

He used to wake up to blasting music, and that was the kind of lifestyle he envisioned for himself after falling in love with it. This led him to enrol in a small music program at the University of Southern California. However, he eventually struggled to focus on his coursework. During a conversation with Esquire in September 2022, Jackson talked about the same, stating: 

"So I did what I did in high school when I got distracted, which is I would do a play, because then I could skip class and go to play rehearsal. I started auditioning for musicals, and then at a certain point, I was like, all right, I'm going to switch over and just do this. So I dropped out of school and did two years of really intense Meisner study."

Although it was a risky move to drop out of school, Jackson’s decision to finally pursue acting instead of music definitely paid off. This is because not only did he make his breakthrough as 'Stephan DeMarco’ in Tell Me Lies, but he was also seen in other well-known projects, like Stephan King's horror flick, Pet Sematary: Bloodlines and the biopic, Swiped, which is based on the founder of the dating app, Bumble. 

Jackson White started dating Grace Van Patten after their first in-person audition for Tell Me Lies 

During their first in-person audition for Tell Me Lies, Jackson White and Grace Van Patten began to fall for one another. Apparently, their initial chemistry read happened on a Zoom call. Later, when they met face-to-face, Grace recalled that Jackson had a “completely different energy” that attracted her to him. Soon after this, the duo decided to start dating. Now, even in 2026, their relationship seems to be going as strong as ever.  

Jackson White was going through a “dark period” before being cast in Tell Me Lies  

According to reports, Jackson White was going through a difficult period, which he described as “a pretty dark period,” before landing his role on Tell Me Lies. During an interview with Esquire, Jackson admitted that he was “fed up” with the direction his acting career was taking. He said: 

“I was getting sober and coming to terms with a lot and getting my life together. And I realised how important work was to my psyche and how much balance I wanted in my life. I really wanted to put a new foot forward towards it all, and I was throwing my sh*t against the wall and screaming and trying to make sense of this business because it’s insane. And I think whatever that was, mixed with a lot of self-reflection, a lot of sh*t that I was working on in my life, lined up with this opportunity.” 

What are your thoughts on the Tell Me Lies star, Jackson White? Let us know.  

Also read: Who Is Saquon Barkley's Fiancee, Anna Congdon? All You Need To Know About NFL Star's Personal Life

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