Cheyenne Jackson wants to help actors who are 'one job away' from health insurance

This story originally appeared on Them.

In light of a growing number of actors who are having trouble meeting the yearly minimum wage requirement to qualify for the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan, actor Cheyenne Jackson has launched a series called One Job Away to help actors who need help meeting the requirement of $28,933.

Jackson, known for roles on shows like American Horror Story, Glee, and 30 Rock, opened up in his Instagram announcement of the campaign about his own difficulties qualifying in 2025. Those challenges came with the added pressure of his husband, Jason, and their two children all relying on his coverage. Salvation came in the form of a phone call to Kathy Bates.

“Last year, Kathy Bates helped me qualify for my SAG-AFTRA health insurance by helping me get 5 lines on an episode of [Matlock],” Jackson wrote. “I know what it feels like to be one job away…and what it means when someone actually comes through.”

As Jackson told Variety, it took Bates fewer than five minutes to score Jackson a very minor role on the CBS show. “She’s like, ‘I have good news and bad news for you. The good news is, I got you a role on Matlock. The bad news is, you have five lines and you don’t have a name.”

“I was like, ‘Sign me up! No ego amigo here,’” Jackson recounted. “I played no-name detective. I searched a crime scene and I said, ‘Hey, Sergeant, we got some blood over here.’”

Inspired by Bates’ generosity, Jackson decided that he would continue paying that kindness forward by doing the same for others who find themselves in a similar situation. His campaign is spotlighting actors struggling to meet the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan, by sharing their faces, work, and contact information on his public Instagram profile which has a reach of 743,000 followers. Already, he has received “hundreds of submissions,” per Variety.

This act of goodwill comes at a time when a number of transgender and nonbinary actors have opened up about the struggle of finding reliable work in the industry. In September, actor Jack Haven (Atypical, I Saw The TV Glow, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma) opened up about not reaching the minimum to qualify for health insurance, putting out a public plea for another acting job: “I guess what I’m asking is if you, or if anyone you know, can hire me on a set or production and pay me $4,000, I will do, pretty much, any job,” Haven said in a video.

Oscar-nominated actor Elliott Page shared earlier that month that he has had difficulty finding work even after being featured most recently in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which has grossed over $1.7 billion worldwide. The actor was highly praised for his performance as Sinon.

And earlier this month, Billions star Asia Kate Dillon, the first nonbinary main character on a North American TV show, made a plea for work, sharing on their Instagram that they are now looking for work in the food service industry. “Like many, many performer colleagues of mine — particularly those of us who are trans/nonbinary/ gender nonconforming — acting work has all but diminished, and I’m in need of service work once more,” Dillon wrote, adding, “I love customer service. I love creating welcoming environments for people to relax in and connect with each other. I love food and drinks. I am passionate and curious, and a great teammate. I imagine the hurdle to reentry will be learning the new POS [point of sale] systems, but I’m a quick study.”

These cases, Jackson says, point to an ongoing issue with the SAG-AFTRA system for healthcare requirements. “An actor can make $500,000 one year, but when they don’t make much the next year, the $500,000 doesn’t help with the following year’s health insurance minimum,” he told Variety — a situation that leaves many “scrambling for one little guest spot to try to keep up with their insurance.”

As of this writing, Jackson’s campaign has featured 22 headshots, including well-known queer and trans celebrities like Trace Lysette of Transparent, Daniel Franzese from Mean Girls, and even Jai Rodriguez from the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy series.

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