Cheyenne Jackson Wants to Help Actors Who Are “One Job Away” From Health Insurance

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 Sep