The Original Jake From The State Farm Commercials Explained— Who He Is & Why He Was Cast

State Farm, one of the leading insurance companies in the United States, has long been recognized for its memorable advertising campaigns, including the original Jake from State Farm. Founded in 1922, the company has become a household name, known for its catchy slogan, "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there." They've had major celebrity cameos in their commercials on top of their own creative ads. One of the most iconic campaigns is the "Jake from State Farm" series, which began in 2011 and has since become a cultural touchstone.

This campaign's success is a testament to the power of effective advertising in creating lasting brand recognition. Jake's character has become synonymous with State Farm, embodying the company's values of reliability and friendliness. The enduring popularity of this campaign highlights the importance of memorable characters in advertising and their ability to create a strong connection with consumers. However, the original Jake from State Farm was replaced.

The Original Jake Was Actually A State Farm Agent

In 2011, State Farm launched a commercial that would become one of the most recognizable in advertising history. The ad features a man talking on the phone in his living room at 3 a.m., whispering to avoid waking his wife. When she overhears the conversation, she suspiciously asks who he is talking to. He responds, "It's Jake from State Farm." Unconvinced, she grabs the phone and demands, "What are you wearing, 'Jake from State Farm'?" The reply, "Uh…khakis," became iconic. Jake was played by Jake Stone, a real State Farm agent from Bloomington, Illinois (via Sporting News).

Stone landed the gig through an internal casting call, and his performance was praised for its authenticity and down-to-earth charm. The commercial aimed to highlight State Farm's 24/7 customer service, using humor to make the message memorable. The effectiveness of the ad was evident in its widespread popularity and the way it became ingrained in popular culture. Jake Stone's performance resonated with viewers, making the ad memorable and effective in reinforcing State Farm's brand identity, and his natural delivery and everyman appeal helped to humanize the company.

Jake Stone Was Replaced By Actor Kevin Miles In The State Farm Commercials

• 

• 

In 2020, State Farm decided to update the Jake from State Farm campaign with a new twist. The company replaced Jake Stone with actor Kevin Miles to bring a fresh perspective to the beloved character. The new commercials have taken the insurance mascot even further, appearing in Superbowl ads with Drake.

According to State Farm Public Affairs Specialist Gina Morss-Fischer, Jake's expanded role required the skills of a professional actor (via Carrier Management). Miles was chosen from an open casting call and stood out as the clear favorite. Miles even appeared in NBA 2K22 as the insurance mascot. The company emphasized that the Jake character represents all State Farm employees and embodies the company's values, regardless of race or gender. The statement read:

“The original Jake was actually an employee. He did great delivering his famous line, 'uh…khakis.' However, this expanded role is very demanding and is best filled by an actor. The Jake character embodies all of us at State Farm. Jake isn’t a call center rep or an agent or a claims rep. He transcends job titles. He represents who we are as a company—a helpful humanization of what a good neighbor should be. He can be any race or gender.”

Where State Farm's Jake Stone Is Now

The Original Jake Is Now A Bartender In Illinois

In 2015, a bizarre rumor circulated that Jake Stone had been murdered by his wife, a notion that was quickly debunked (via Snopes). Stone himself took to social media to clarify, tweeting, "Contrary to recent reports, I am alive. Thank you all for your concern." This strange episode added an unexpected chapter to the story of the original Jake from State Farm.

Today, Jake Stone has left his job at State Farm and is now working as a bartender in Pub II in Normal, Illinois, where a pair of his khakis have been framed and hung. In a 2023 interview, Stone joked about wearing khakis despite no longer being in the State Farm commercials. He commented (via People):

“I’d never stop wearing khakis. We’ll stop the rumors right there!”

Stone continues to enjoy a relatively low-profile life despite his brief stint in the advertising spotlight (via Pantograph). The longevity and impact of the Jake from State Farm campaign are remarkable. The character's evolution from a real State Farm agent to a professional actor reflects the company's adaptive marketing strategies and commitment to diversity. As the original Jake, Stone's contribution to the campaign remains a significant part of State Farm's advertising legacy.

The New Jake From State Farm Is A Big Star

Kevin Miles has become a massive star thanks to his Jake From State Farm commercials. However, no one knows him as anything other than Jake, despite him being an actor who would likely enjoy other roles. That said, for now, his commercial persona has done more than any indie movie ever could. He has over a million TikTok followers, has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, got to go to NFL games, and was at the WNBA Draft. However, he is a little unfulfilled (via THR).

"Right now, I don’t have a lot of other things that I feel like are what I want. Besides Jake."

With that said, he has accomplished a lot with his role as Jake From State Farm. He has made commercials with Drake, Patrick Mahomes, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ludacris, Jimmy Fallon, and many more. He was seen sitting in the luxury suites with Donna Kelce, watching her son Travis Kelce play in a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders. However, as he admits, fame has its price and to the public, there is no Kevin Miles - there is only Jake From State Farm.