Cast Of ABC's Medical Drama Series 'Grey’s Anatomy’

Jake Borelli | Biography

Famous As Wolfgang in the Nickelodeon Series 'The Thundermans' and Dr. Levi Schmitt on the ABC Series 'Grey's Anatomy'

• By Reena Chikanbanjar
• Update : October 11, 2021

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Jake Borelli is an American actor best known for his role as Dr. Levi Schmitt, a.k.a. “Glasses” in the smash-hit romantic medical drama ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’

Who Is Jake Borelli?

Jake Borelli is an American television, film, and theater actor. He began his acting career at ten at a local children’s theater in Columbus. During the period, Borelli would also make his small-screen debut in the late 2000s. He initially guest-starred in multiple television series, including iCarly, Parenthood, and True Jackson, VP. 

In 2015, the actor earned a recurring role of Wolfgang in The Thundermans. He then scored a breakout role of Dr. Levi Schmitt on Grey’s Anatomy in 2017. In addition to television series, Borelli has appeared in the 2017 film #Realityhigh and the 2020 television movie The Thing About Harry.

How Old Is Jake Borelli?

Jake Borelli was born in Columbus, Ohio on 13 May 1991, to Linda and Mike Borelli. He has two older brothers, namely Zack and Ben.

Early Life & Education

Borelli realized at a young age that he wanted to become an actor. He initially became interested in doing theater and gradually developed a passion for appearing on television while growing up watching television. “I remember I loved watching TV. I would watch TV even way more than my parents would let me. I wanted to be on it so bad and tell the stories that I see people telling on the screen,” Borelli told Euphoria in June 2021.

At age 10, he started acting at the Columbus Children’s Theater, where he performed in over 15 plays in the next five years. After that, he worked in commercials and radio with a local agent in Columbus.

Aside from acting, Borelli was also passionate about art from an early age. He says he was an artistic kid growing up, and he enjoyed making things. As per him, he almost went to art school to be a painter. However, in high school, he had to decide whether to pursue a career in painting or acting, and he chose the latter one. 

He graduated from Upper Arlington High School in Columbus, Ohio, in 2009. Upon graduating high school, Borelli was accepted to the University of California, Los Angeles, and Ohio State University. Still, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of being a full-time actor in Hollywood.

Career

Borelli made his on-screen acting debut as Charlie Dawson in the 2007 romantic drama short film Peanut Butter. In 2009, he starred in the role of Teenage Shawn in the comedy television series Psych: Flashback to the Teen Years, alongside Dalpre Grayer. 

After moving to Los Angeles, Borelli landed his first significant role as a supporting role of Roy in the Nickelodeon teen comedy sitcom iCarly, guest-starring in its one episode titled ‘iSpace Out’ that aired on 5 March 2010. The same year, he guest-starred in a string of television series. He appeared as a high school guy on The Forgotten, Steve’s Friend on Parenthood, and Stefan Maragos on NCIS: Los Angeles. 

He went on to make guest appearances in several other television series. He then secured a recurring role of Wolfgang, a quirky German exchange student in the Nickelodeon comedy television series The Thundermans, created by Jed Spingarn. Borelli appeared in 13 episodes of the series between 2015 and 2018.

Films and TV Movies

Borelli made his big-screen debut as Josh in the 2012 romantic comedy film Nesting, directed by John Chuldenko. His second film role came five years later when he appeared in the part of Freddie Myers in the 2017 romantic comedy-drama film #Realityhigh, opposite Kate Walsh and Anne Winters. The following year, he starred in the role of Jon in the western drama film In Searching, directed by J.L. Topkis.

In 2020, Borelli starred in Freeform’s first gay romantic comedy television movie, The Thing About Harry, portraying the role of Sam Basilli, a young gay man starting his political career in Chicago.

Apart from that, Borelli has also appeared in short films including Elf Employment (2011), Meanamorphosis (2012), A Cohort of Guests (2019), and How’s the World Treating You? (2019).

‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Borelli’s breakout role on ABC’s award-winning, critically acclaimed romantic medical drama series Grey’s Anatomy came when he was ready to move from Los Angeles to New York to break into the theater differently.

In the meantime, his agent informed him about having his tape audition for Grey’s Anatomy. He auditioned, and shortly after that, he got an opportunity to play in one episode of the show. One episode turned into two episodes. 

As a result, Borelli was introduced in the first two episodes of Grey’s Anatomy Season 14 as one of the new interns to join Seattle’s Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. He eventually scored more appearances in the show. He portrayed the part of Dr. Levi Schmitt, also known as “Glasses,” on the show. 

On-screen Boyfriend

In Season 15, Episode 6, titled ‘Flowers Grow Out of My Grave’ of Grey’s Anatomy, Dr. Schmitt shared a kiss with his on-screen boyfriend, Dr. Niko Kim (played by Alex Landi), making the first central gay romance in the show’s history. In the episode that aired on 1 November 2018, Dr. Schmitt admitted that was the first time he had kissed another man.

Coming Out As Gay

Borelli was always afraid of coming out publicly because he believed that “if he came out publicly that his career would end.” But his character Dr. Levi Schmitt’s coming out also inspired him to come out in real life. So Borelli publicly came out as gay on his Instagram moments after his character’s coming out scene was aired. 

In his Instagram post, he wrote, “As a gay guy myself, tonight’s episode was so special to me. This is exactly the kind of story I craved as a young gay kid growing up in Ohio, and it blows my mind that I’m able to bring life to Dr. Levi Schmitt as he begins to grapple with his own sexuality this season on Grey’s Anatomy.”