John Magaro | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Magaro in 2023 | |
| Born | John Robert Magaro (1983-02-16) February 16, 1983 Akron, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Spouse | Janice Hong |
| Children | 1 |
John Robert Magaro (born February 16, 1983) is an American actor. He has appeared in the films Not Fade Away (2012), The Big Short (2015), Carol (2015), Overlord (2018), First Cow (2019), Showing Up (2022), The Mistress (2022), and Past Lives (2023), and in the series Orange Is the New Black (2015–2019), The Umbrella Academy (2019), and Crisis in Six Scenes (2016). He made his Broadway debut as the escaped convict Earl Williams in the revival of The Front Page in 2016.
Early life
Magaro was born February 16, 1983, in Akron, Ohio, the son of Wendy and James Magaro,[1] and grew up in nearby Munroe Falls. His father is of Italian descent and his mother is Jewish; his parents were teachers. While attending school within the Stow-Munroe Falls City School District, Magaro began acting in local theater, including shows at the Cleveland Play House and the Kent State Porthouse Theatre at Blossom Music Center, and Weathervane Playhouse in Akron. As a youth, Magaro also appeared in television commercials, and had a role in a Rescue 911 episode.[2][3][4][5]
Career
After graduating from Stow-Munroe Falls High School in 2001, Magaro went on to study theater at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. Among his acting highlights are The Big Short, Past Lives and Carol (2015). His early film work included The Brave One, the HBO film Taking Chance and a lead role in the horror film My Soul to Take.[2][6][7] Magaro also appeared in eleven episodes of Orange Is the New Black, spanning seasons 3-7. In 2008, Magaro starred in the popular Walmart x Coke holiday commercial, which played in movie theaters across the country. One of Magaro's earliest appearances was as an extra in Steven Spielberg’s 2005 film Munich;[8] he revisited the events of the 1972 Summer Olympics in 2024's September 5.
Magaro was the lead in the 2012 film Not Fade Away, which earned him the HFF Spotlight award.[9][10] In 2019, he portrayed the lead role of "Cookie" in Kelly Reichardt’s critically acclaimed film First Cow, for which he was nominated for a 2020 Gotham Award as Best Actor.[11]
Personal life
Magaro is married to fashion designer Janice Hong, who gave birth to their first child in 2020.[12] Magaro also struggles with an anxiety disorder.[12]
Filmography
| † | Denotes titles that have not yet been released |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Munich | Pedestrian | Uncredited extra[13] |
| 2007 | The Brave One | Ethan | |
| The Life Before Her Eyes | Michael Patrick | ||
| 2008 | Assassination of a High School President | Cipriato | |
| We Pedal Uphill | Kyle | ||
| 2009 | The Box | Charles | |
| 2010 | My Soul to Take | Alex | |
| 2011 | Down the Shore | Martin | |
| 2012 | Liberal Arts | Dean | |
| Not Fade Away | Douglas Damiano | ||
| 2013 | Deep Powder | Cota | |
| 2014 | Unbroken | Frank A. Tinker | |
| 2015 | Don't Worry Baby | Robert Lang | |
| Carol | Dannie McElroy | ||
| The Big Short | Charlie Geller | ||
| 2016 | The Finest Hours | Ervin Maske | |
| 2017 | War Machine | Colonel Cory Staggart | |
| Marshall | Irwin Friedman | ||
| 2018 | Overlord | Private First Class Lyle Tibbet | |
| 2019 | First Cow | Otis "Cookie" Figowitz | |
| 2020 | Sylvie's Love | Sid Schuur | |
| 2021 | The Birthday Cake | Cousin Joey | |
| 18½ | Paul | ||
| Lansky | Young Meyer Lansky | ||
| The Many Saints of Newark | Silvio Dante | ||
| 2022 | Call Jane | Detective Chilmark | |
| Showing Up | Sean Carr | ||
| The Mistress | Parker | ||
| 2023 | Past Lives | Arthur Zaturansky | |
| Big George Foreman | Desmond | ||
| LaRoy, Texas | Ray | Also producer | |
| Day of the Fight | Patrick | ||
| Under the Boardwalk | Manny (voice) | ||
| 2024 | Psycho Therapy | Keane | |
| September 5 | Geoffrey Mason | ||
| 2025 | Omaha | Dad | |
| Köln 75 | Keith Jarrett | ||
| The Mastermind | Fred | ||
| Materialists | Mark P. | ||
| 2026 | The Bride! | Clyde |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Conviction | Jiggy | Episode: "Denial" |
| 2007 | Law & Order | Nathan Gersh | Episode: "Talking Points" |
| 2009 | Taking Chance | Rich Brewer | TV movie |
| 2010 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Andrew Hingham | Episode: "Conned" |
| 2011 | Body of Proof | Chuck Foster | Episode: "Buried Secrets" |
| 2012 | Person of Interest | Carl Elias (Age 22) | Episode: "Flesh and Blood" |
| 2013 | The Greatest Event in Television History | Paul | Episode: "Hart to Hart" |
| 2015 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Keith Musio | Episode: "Institutional Fail" |
| 2015–2016 | The Good Wife | Roland Hlavin | 3 episodes |
| 2015–2019 | Orange Is the New Black | Vince Muccio | 11 episodes |
| 2016 | Angie Tribeca | Snick | Episode: "The Coast Is Fear" |
| Crisis in Six Scenes | Alan Brockman | 5 episodes | |
| 2018 | Jack Ryan | Victor Polizzi | Recurring; 3 episodes |
| 2019 | The Umbrella Academy | Leonard Peabody / Harold Jenkins | Main role |
| 2022 | Super Pumped | John Zimmer | Episode: "War" |
| 2024–present | The Agency | Owen Lublin | Main role |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Front Page | Earl Williams | Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway debut |
Video games
| Year | Title | Voice role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Bully | Sheldon |
| 2008 | Bully: Scholarship Edition |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Project | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Hollywood Film Awards | Spotlight Award | Not Fade Away | Won | |
| 2015 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture | The Big Short | Nominated | |
| 2019 | Florida Film Critics Circle | Best Actor | First Cow | Runner-up | |
| Gotham Independent Film Award | Best Actor | Nominated | |||
| 2023 | Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Past Lives | Nominated | |
| 2025 | San Diego International Film Festival | Virtuoso Award | Life's work | Honored | [14] |
| Montclair Film Festival | Special Jury Prize | Omaha | Won | [15] |
References
- Lokting, Britta (February 26, 2016). "'Big Short' Actor John Magaro is Hiding in Plain Sight". The Forward. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
- Heldenfels, Rich (October 8, 2010). "Slasher film star chases after dream: Stow grad John Magaro carves out acting career, stars in Wes Craven flick". Akron Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal Publishing Co.
- Sell, Jill (June 10, 1994). "'Oliver' proves quick study". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 38 - Friday.
- "'Lillian Yuralia' at La MaMa Theater". Jewish-Theatre.com. All About Jewish Theatre. November 2008. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- "Mazel Tov!!" (PDF). Hashomer. Vol. 66, no. 4. Congregation Etz Chayim. December 2008. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 26, 2011.
- Musarra, Russ (January 18, 1998). "Acting is kid stuff: talented young thespians are taking center stage at area community theaters". Akron Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. D1 - Entertainment.
- Stow-Munroe Falls High School 2005 Alumni Directory, Chesapeake, Virginia: B.C. Harris Publishing Company, Inc., 2005, pp. 302–360
- "Review: My Soul to Take (2010)". DreadCentral.com. Dread Central Media, LLC. October 8, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- Davis, Clayton (October 29, 2024). "John Magaro on How Being an Extra in Steven Spielberg's 'Munich' Helped Him Prepare for 'September 5': 'It's About the Responsibility of Journalists'". Variety. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- Seitz, Matt Zoller (August 27, 2019). "30 Minutes on 'Not Fade Away'". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- Feinberg, Scott (October 17, 2012). "Hollywood Film Awards to Honor Rising Stars from 'Flight,' 'Les Mis,' 'Not Fade Away,' More (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- "Nominations Announced for 30th IFP Gotham Awards". Independent Filmmaker Project. November 12, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- Canfield, David (May 31, 2023). "John Magaro Refuses to Play the Hollywood Schmuck". Vanity Fair. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- Bamigboye, Baz (November 10, 2024). "John Magaro On How He Prepared To Tell The Olympics Story That Horrified The World In 'September 5'". Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- Horst, Carole (September 26, 2025). "Mark Hamill Tapped for Gregory Peck Award for Cinematic Excellence at the San Diego Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
- Gilmore, Georgette (October 27, 2025). "And the Awards Go To! Montclair Film Festival Announces 2025 Winners". Montclair Local. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
External links
- John Magaro at IMDb