Giacomo (birth name James) was born to James and Doris Knox on August 1, 1969 in Newark, NJ and along with his sister Angela, the family also resided in Newark, NJ. The Knoxes had a troubled marriage and an acrimonious divorce, which would impact Giacomo for many years to come. His mother moved to Seattle, Washington in 1976 to start a new life. Giacomo was a terribly shy child and often withdrew to television and early attempts at creative writing. The eruption of Mt. Saint Helens in 1980 and his mother's homesickness, sent the family eastward to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and finally back to New Jersey in 1981. Still painfully shy, he further withdrew into himself, writing volumes of poetry and mastering English grammar. He graduated from grammar school at age 12 and began attending Seton Hall Preparatory School in 1982. Giacomo ran track for three years, but his love for writing and acting eclipsed his athletic abilities. He appeared as Yeoman Herbert Quayle in the school's spring musical "South Pacific". He graduated from The Prep in 1986 at the age of 16, then started classes at Seton Hall University one week later. He graduated from Seton Hall University in 1992 with a B.A. in English/Film/Theater. Giacomo was raised as a Roman Catholic, but has since converted to the Natzarim faith of Yahushua the Messiah.