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John Magaro

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John Magaro
Magaro in 2023
Born
John Robert Magaro

(1983-02-16) February 16, 1983 (age 42)
Akron, Ohio, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active2005–present
SpouseJanice Hong
Children1

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

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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

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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

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Magaro is married to fashion designer Janice Hong, who gave birth to their first child in 2020.[12][failed verification] Magaro also struggles with an anxiety disorder.[12]

Filmography

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Key
† Denotes titles that have not yet been released

Film

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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! † TBA Post-production

Television

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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

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Year Title Role Venue
2016 The Front Page Earl Williams Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway debut

Video games

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Year Title Voice role
2006 Bully Sheldon
2008 Bully: Scholarship Edition

Awards and nominations

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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

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  1. ^ Lokting, Britta (February 26, 2016). "'Big Short' Actor John Magaro is Hiding in Plain Sight". The Forward. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  2. ^ a b 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.
  3. ^ Sell, Jill (June 10, 1994). "'Oliver' proves quick study". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 38 - Friday.
  4. ^ "'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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Stow-Munroe Falls High School 2005 Alumni Directory, Chesapeake, Virginia: B.C. Harris Publishing Company, Inc., 2005, pp. 302–360
  7. ^ "Review: My Soul to Take (2010)". DreadCentral.com. Dread Central Media, LLC. October 8, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Seitz, Matt Zoller (August 27, 2019). "30 Minutes on 'Not Fade Away'". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Nominations Announced for 30th IFP Gotham Awards". Independent Filmmaker Project. November 12, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Canfield, David (May 31, 2023). "John Magaro Refuses to Play the Hollywood Schmuck". Vanity Fair. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Gilmore, Georgette (October 27, 2025). "And the Awards Go To! Montclair Film Festival Announces 2025 Winners". Montclair Local. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
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