The Lincoln Lawyer has proven to be a hit with Netflix viewers and actress Jazz Raycole has won over fans with her role as Mickey Haller’s driver Izzy Letts
The Lincoln Lawyer has made a triumphant return with Jazz Raycole, who plays the character Izzy Letts, back in the driver’s seat for the latest episodes. The third season of the Netflix series premiered last month, featuring Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) once again defending a client while dealing with his own personal issues.
Jazz, 36, reprises her role as Izzy, Haller’s former client-turned-driver who occasionally offers him advice. As fans eagerly await news of a potential fourth season, interest in Jazz’s life and career has surged.
Born in February 1988 to parents Ray, a water company superintendent, and Claudia Dillingham, a dance studio owner who homeschooled Jazz, she developed a passion for dance at an early age. By four, she was a competitive dancer and held state championship titles in tap, jazz, and ballet , reports the Daily Record.
Jazz Raycole is a huge fan favorite on the Netflix show The Loncoln Lawyer ( Image: Getty Images)
In 2001, she attended the Boston Ballet and the School of American Ballet before earning a full scholarship to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Alongside her love for dance, Jazz also pursued acting, landing her first major role as Claire Kyle in the first season of the comedy My Wife And Kids.
However, she was replaced by actress Jennifer Freeman in the second season
Jazz Raycole’s departure from a popular TV show came after her mother objected to a storyline involving teen pregnancy, as detailed in The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows. Reflecting on her exit, Jazz told The Christian Post, “I was 12 years old when I got that job. The producers wanted a different thing, they wanted someone a little bit older. I wasn’t ready for that.”
She continued, “I ended up going to New York to dance, which was my first passion. I really thank God for that because I got to grow and travel.”
Despite this early setback, Jazz’s acting career flourished with roles in shows like Jericho, First Day, A Lesson In Romance, Vanity, The Quad, and Council of Dads.
Her portrayal in the Netflix series The Lincoln Lawyer marked a significant change from the source material, as she revealed to Forbes, “In the books, my character is this white surfer dude; clearly, I’m not a white surfer dude.”
The Lincoln Lawyer is a hit on Netflix ( Image: Getty Images for A+E Studios.)
She added, “They were playing around with the idea of having a woman driver to bring a little more female energy to it, which I’m super grateful for.”
Beyond acting, Jazz connects with her Lincoln Lawyer character Izzy through dance and shared experiences of mental health struggles after a tragic loss.
Jazz, while not going into detail, does share the profound effect a particular event had on her family. “One instance changed my life forever: my brother’s death”, she confessed to Forbes.
“It changes you. Certain things in life happen that change you. That’s where I relate to Izzy.”
She further added, “Her addiction is similar to my mental health in the sense that it’s something that you’re never going to be able to get rid of. Addiction is something that stays with you forever. You’re going to have to fight and battle and struggle with it forever and treat it. That’s the same thing with mental health. You have to accept the ugly parts of life and yourself.”
