Ever watch a Jack Black video and think, "Man, this guy is exactly like my weirdly cool uncle"? It’s a vibe. But behind the chaotic energy of Jablinski Games and the spandex-clad rock god persona of Tenacious D, there’s a surprisingly grounded family life that most people only see in snippets. Jack Black isn't just the voice of Kung Fu Panda; he’s a dad to two sons, Samuel and Thomas, who are now essentially grown adults navigating the weirdness of having a Hollywood hurricane for a father.
It’s actually kinda wild how much his kids have shaped his career lately. Without them, we probably wouldn't have half the YouTube content or even his recent obsession with the Minecraft universe.
Meet Samuel and Thomas: More Than Just Mini-Jacks
Jack married Tanya Haden back in 2006. Since then, they've raised two boys: Samuel "Sammy" Jason Black and Thomas "Tommy" David Black. As of 2026, Sammy is 19 and Tommy is 17. They aren't exactly clones of their dad, which is honestly the most relatable part of the story.
Jack has joked before that his kids aren't particularly impressed by his fame. It’s a classic dad struggle. You can be the guy who voiced Bowser and sang "Peaches," but to your teenagers, you’re still just the guy who forgets where the car keys are.
Sammy was actually the catalyst for the Jablinski Games YouTube channel. He didn't just appear in the videos; he was the one behind the camera. He acted as the cinematographer and editor, which gave the channel that specific, lo-fi, frenetic energy that fans loved. It wasn't some corporate marketing ploy. It was a father and son hanging out and making stuff because they were bored.
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Why Jack Black and His Son Samuel Created Jablinski Games
People often ask why a massive movie star would bother with a YouTube channel that looks like it was filmed on a potato. The answer is simple: Sammy.
- Bonding over tech: Jack wanted to understand what his kids were into.
- Creative collaboration: Sammy had the technical skills Jack lacked.
- Authenticity: They wanted something that felt real, not polished.
The channel eventually hit millions of subscribers, but the goal was never really about the numbers. It was about Jack trying to bridge the gap between his "Gen X rock star" energy and Sammy’s "Gen Z digital native" world.
The Minecraft Connection: How the Kids Influenced the Screen
If you’ve seen the news about the Minecraft movie or Jack’s constant references to the game, you can thank Tommy and Sammy for that too. Jack has openly admitted that his boys were the ones who sat him down and forced him to learn the mechanics of the game.
"They're the experts," he’s said in interviews. Honestly, there is something deeply human about a 50-something-year-old man struggling to craft a diamond pickaxe while his teenage son sighs in the background. That dynamic is what makes Jack Black and his son such a fascinating duo to follow.
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They aren't "industry kids" in the traditional sense. You don't see them being pushed into every red carpet event or forced into acting roles they don't want. While Sammy had a tiny voice role in Kung Fu Panda 3 as a bunny, Jack is pretty adamant about letting them find their own path. He’s noted that they seem more interested in the "behind the scenes" stuff—directing, editing, and the creative architecture of things rather than being the face of a franchise.
Parenting in the "Rock God" Shadow
Jack isn't the "party dad" you might expect. In fact, he’s described himself as a bit of a "helicopter parent" who worries about their schedules and making sure they get to school on time. It’s a funny contrast. One night he’s screaming lyrics about Sasquatches on stage, and the next morning he’s checking to see if they’ve had enough fruit.
One of his best pieces of advice? "Don’t try to make a happy kid happier."
He’s talked about how parents often try to over-engineer their kids' joy—adding ice cream, toys, and constant stimulation—when sometimes the kid was perfectly happy just playing with a stick in the mud. He tries to keep things simple, despite the Hollywood backdrop.
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Managing the Fame Factor
Being the kid of a celebrity is weird. Jack acknowledges this. He’s mentioned that there are "special stresses" involved, like the lack of privacy or the pressure to live up to a famous name. But by involving them in projects like Jablinski Games on their terms, he seems to have turned his fame into a shared playground rather than a burden.
Recently, during the filming of Anaconda in Australia, Jack talked about how hard it is to be away from them. He even joked that he’d "freeze time" if he could just to stay in those moments where they’re all together. It's clear that while the world sees a comedian, his kids see a guy who's just trying to keep up.
What’s Next for the Black Family?
As Sammy enters his twenties and Tommy finishes up his teen years, the dynamic is shifting. They’re becoming creators in their own right. Whether Sammy continues with film editing or Tommy dives deeper into music or game design, they’ve clearly inherited that "Haden-Black" creative DNA.
If you’re looking to take a page out of Jack’s parenting book, here are a few takeaways:
- Listen more than you talk: Jack swears by this for building communication skills.
- Lean into their interests: Don't make them do your "cool" hobbies; go do their "boring" ones.
- Give them the tools, not the spotlight: Let them edit the video or write the script rather than forcing them in front of the lens.
The story of Jack Black and his sons isn't a Hollywood drama. It’s just a long-running series of "walks and talks," Minecraft sessions, and a dad who is willing to look ridiculous if it means his kids are having a good time. That’s the real "School of Rock" in action.
To see more of their dynamic, check out the older Jablinski Games vlogs—they’re a time capsule of a dad trying his best to be "lit," as the kids (used to) say. If you're interested in the technical side, pay attention to the editing in those videos; that's Sammy's handiwork.