Ashley Zukerman

Ashley Zukerman (b. 1983) is an Australian actor. In Australia, he became known for playing Senior Constable Michael Sandrelli in the drama series Rush, and Jesse Banks in the political thriller The Code, for which he received an AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama in 2014. He played Dr. Charlie Isaacs on WGN America's Manhattan (2014–15), Vice President Peter MacLeish in the ABC political thriller Designated Survivor (2016–17), and had a recurring role in Succession. In 2021, he portrayed Robert Langdon in the TV series adaptation of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol.

Early life and education Ashley Zukerman was born in Santa Monica, California, and moved to Melbourne with his family when he was two. His father, Moshe, is from Israel and his mother, Ingrid, is from Peru. His family is Jewish, and his parents spoke Hebrew during his childhood, so he grew up bilingual. He is the brother of Science Vs. podcaster Wendy Zukerman, and has another sister, Debbie.

He attended Wesley College at the Glen Waverley campus and began a degree in science and engineering at Monash University before being accepted into the Victorian College of the Arts. He graduated in 2006.

Career Zukerman began his professional career in the theatre. He had a critically acclaimed role as Timms in The History Boys, directed by Peter Evans for the Melbourne Theatre Company in April 2007.

He appeared in HBO's war miniseries The Pacific, which premiered on 14 March 2010, and in Lowdown created by Adam Zwar and Amanda Brotchie. His Australian break came when he played Constable Michael Sandrelli on the series Rush, for which he was nominated for a Logie award in the Most Outstanding New Talent category. In 2011, after his time on Rush, Zukerman joined the cast of the short-lived Steven Spielberg–produced sci-fi television series Terra Nova.

Zukerman then returned to the theatre, working with director Eamon Flack at the Belvoir Theatre Company in As You Like It playing Orlando, and then two years later in Angels in America playing Joe Pitt. Angels in America won Best Play at the 2014 Helpmann Awards.

He played socially dysfunctional genius hacker Jesse Banks opposite Dan Spielman in the Australian political thriller The Code, created by Shelley Birse. The show received huge national and international acclaim and 10 AACTA Award nominations, out of which it won six, including Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama for Zukerman.

Early in 2014, Zukerman won the role of ambitious wunderkind Dr. Charlie Isaacs in the WGN America original drama Manhattan, created by filmmaker Sam Shaw and directed by Thomas Schlamme.

In 2016, Zukerman was cast in the recurring role of Peter MacLeish on the ABC political drama series Designated Survivor, which premiered in the autumn of the same year.

In 2018, Zukerman had a recurring role on the HBO series Succession, and in 2020, appeared as the title character's husband on the Hulu miniseries A Teacher. In 2021, he starred in the Netflix Fear Street horror trilogy, beginning with Fear Street Part One: 1994. It was announced in March 2020 that Zukerman had been cast to portray Robert Langdon in the NBC drama pilot Langdon, based on Dan Brown's 2009 thriller novel The Lost Symbol.

In 2025, Zukerman played the partner of disgraced wellness influencer and convicted con artist Belle Gibson in the biographical Australian miniseries Apple Cider Vinegar. It was released on Netflix in February 2025.

In 2025, Zukerman guest-starred as Congressman Daniel Keene in the season two finale of the Apple TV+ sci-fi series Silo, and joined the main cast for season three.

Acting credits

Film

Television Year Title Role NotesRef 2008–2011 Rush Senior Constable Michael Sandrelli Main role 2010 The Pacific Robert 'Mac' MacKenzie Miniseries Lowdown Dylan Hunt Recurring role 2011 Dylan Episode: "Anouk" Terra Nova Lucas Taylor Recurring role 2012 Death Star PR Bilson Episode: "Nemesis" 2013 Mr & Mrs Murder Alex Moran Episode: "En Vogue" Underbelly: Squizzy Detective James Bruce Main role 2014–2015 Manhattan Dr Charlie Isaacs Main role 2014–2016 Jesse Banks Main role2015 Childhood's End Jake Greggson Miniseries 2016 Four Stars Danny TV film Fear the Walking Dead Will Episode: "Pillar of Salt" Masters of Sex Gary Bucksey Episodes: "The Pleasure Protocol", "Coats or Keys" 2016–2017 Designated Survivor Vice President Peter MacLeish Season 1, recurring role 2017 Friday on My Mind Ted Albert Miniseries 2018 Reverie Nate Hallo Episode: "No More Mr. Nice Guy" 2018–2023 Succession Nate Sofrelli Recurring role 2020 A Teacher Matt Mitchell Main role 2021 Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol Robert Langdon Main role 2023 City on Fire Keith Main role 2025–present Silo Daniel Keene Main role 2025 Apple Cider Vinegar Clive Rothwell 5 episodes

Theatre Year Title Role Venue / Co. 2007 The History Boys Timms Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC 2008 The Hypocrite Valére Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC 2009 B.C. Joseph BlackBox with The Hayloft Project 2009 This Is Our Youth Warren fortyfivedownstairs 2011 As You Like It Orlando Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney 2013 Angels in America Part One: Millennium Approaches Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney, Theatre Royal Sydney 2013 Angels in America Part Two: Perestroika Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney, Theatre Royal Sydney

Accolades