You remember the kid. Huge glasses, a literal mountain of sports gear, and a mom who probably would’ve wrapped him in bubble wrap if it were legally allowed in the nineties. Jake Berman. That was the character’s name, but to a generation of kids who grew up on a steady diet of VHS tapes, he was just "the little guy from Little Giants."
Todd Bosley played Jake, and honestly, he was the heart of that 1994 underdog story. While everyone else was obsessing over whether the "Annexation of Puerto Rico" would actually work on a real football field, Todd was out there giving us the most relatable performance of the decade. He wasn't the star athlete. He wasn't the "Icebox." He was the kid who was scared of everything but showed up anyway.
That’s a big deal.
The Nerd Who Actually Made It
When we talk about Todd Bosley in Little Giants, people usually just laugh about the "intimidator" scene or the way he looked like he might tip over under the weight of his helmet. But look closer. Bosley had this incredible comedic timing for a ten-year-old. It wasn't just slapstick; it was the way he delivered lines with that high-pitched, earnest sincerity.
He was born in Overland Park, Kansas, and he didn't just stop at football movies. A lot of child stars from that era sort of... vanished. They went back to normal life or ended up in those "Where Are They Now" slideshows that feel a bit mean-spirited. Not Todd.
💡 You might also like: Cliff Richard and The Young Ones: The Weirdest Bromance in TV History Explained
He went from playing Jake Berman to starring alongside Robin Williams in Jack. Think about that for a second. Francis Ford Coppola directed that movie. You don't get cast by Coppola if you're just a "cute kid." You get cast because you can actually act. Bosley has talked in recent interviews about working with Williams, describing him as a guy who felt a genuine "responsibility" to keep the crew entertained during long, grueling shoots. That kind of environment clearly rubbed off on him.
Life After the Giants
Most people think he stopped acting when he hit puberty. Totally wrong.
You've probably seen him a dozen times without even realizing it. He played Howie on Scrubs. Yeah, the intern. He was also in Seinfeld as a kid friend of Cosmo Kramer. He’s popped up in The O.C., Bones, Veronica Mars, and even iCarly.
He transitioned into the kind of working actor that most people in Hollywood would kill to be. He’s not a tabloid fixture. He’s a professional who studied at The Second City and The Groundlings. That’s why his comedy works; it’s built on a foundation of actual improv training, not just being the "nerdy kid" trope.
📖 Related: Christopher McDonald in Lemonade Mouth: Why This Villain Still Works
Why Jake Berman Still Matters
There’s a reason Little Giants still gets played in 2026. It’s not just nostalgia for 90s windbreakers and Rick Moranis’s peak "dad energy." It’s because the movie, and Todd’s character specifically, spoke to anyone who felt like a "turd in a punch bowl"—a phrase the movie actually used.
Jake Berman represented the anxiety of childhood. He had the overprotective mom (played by Mary Ellen Trainor) and the constant fear of getting hurt, but he still ran onto that field. In a world of "Spikes" and "Kevin O'Sheas," we needed a Jake.
What He's Up to Now
Todd hasn't left the industry. While his screen appearances are more selective these days, he’s leaned heavily into voiceover work. It makes sense. He has a distinct voice that lends itself perfectly to animation, including work on shows like DuckTales.
He’s also been known to do the podcast circuit, like The Mighty 90s, where he joins former co-stars like Shawna Waldron (Icebox) to reminisce. Hearing them talk about the "clubhouse" from the movie—which apparently was just a shed from The Little Rascals set—is a trip down memory lane that feels surprisingly grounded. They weren't superstars; they were just kids having the time of their lives on a Warner Bros. backlot.
👉 See also: Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne: Why His Performance Still Holds Up in 2026
How to Follow His Career Today
If you’re looking to keep up with what Todd is doing, don't just look at the IMDb "Recent" tab.
- Check Voice Credits: He's active in the VO world, which is where a lot of veteran character actors find their most creative freedom.
- Watch the Re-runs: Seriously, go back and watch his episode of Seinfeld ("The Wait Out"). His chemistry with Michael Richards is bizarrely perfect.
- Follow the Improv Scene: Since he's trained at UCB and Groundlings, he’s part of that Los Angeles comedy fabric that keeps the industry moving behind the scenes.
The reality is that Todd Bosley is more than just a kid with big glasses in a football movie. He’s a survivor of the child-actor machine who came out the other side with a solid career and his head on straight. That’s the real underdog story.
The next time you’re flipping through streaming services and see Little Giants, don’t just see it as a relic of 1994. See it as the starting point for a guy who’s been quietly making us laugh for over thirty years.
To really appreciate his range, go watch his stint on Scrubs: Interns. It's a completely different vibe than Jake Berman, but that same "trying his best" energy is still there. It’s rare to see that kind of consistency in Hollywood.