Jacob Tierney may be creator of "Heated Rivalry" — the massively popular gay hockey romance — which was inspired by a series of books by author Rachel Reid — but he's also an actor with a long resume that dates back to the late '80s. Today, though we're going to explore Tierney's starring role in a long-forgotten vampire series: "Dracula: The Series."
The family-friendly series, which ran from 1990 to 1991, followed a vampire hunter, Gustav Helsing, and his two grandnephews, who help him attempt to bring down the legendary vampire who is trying to spread vampirism. In a fun twist, however, Dracula has been re-born as a businessman named Alexander Lucard. Tierney played one of the nephews, Max Townsend. Over the course of the show, Max and the rest of his crew got into all kinds of high jinks as they attempt to bring down Alexander, who faces some of the same limitations as the classic Dracula made famous in the Bram Stoker novel of the same name.
Tierney was joined by Mia Kirshner, Bernard Behrens, Geordie Johnson, Joe Roncetti, and Geraint Wyn Davies. Near this time, Tierney also had a turn on "Are You Afraid of the Dark" — a beloved horror/supernatural show that was also aimed at young audiences.
What's next for Heated Rivalry fans
Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max
Although Jacob Tierney has acted consistently since launching his career — including his long-running stint in a series he co-created with Jared Kesso called "Letterkenny," in which he played the role of Glen — his hit TV show, "Heated Rivalry," has also been keeping him plenty busy. After the spicy sports romance, which stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, premiered to massive ratings and an explosion of enthusiasm cross social media, fans have been clamoring for more.
Fortunately, Season 2 of "Heated Rivalry" has been confirmed. As for the storylines? The romance between Shane and Ilya will obviously be at the center of the series. "My north star in this show, because there are a lot of books in this series, is I'm focusing on Shane and Ilya and we are tracking this relationship," he told CBS Mornings in October 2026. However, they won't have to do all of the heavy lifting. "There are new couples and characters that intersect with them," Tierney continued. "It's a much more expanded universe. It's a bigger show in that way." Season 2 of "Heated Rivalry" is set to premiere in late spring 2027. In the meantime, check out the 15 best shows to watch if you like "Heated Rivalry."
