John Magaro

John Robert Magaro (born February 16, 1983) is an American actor. He has appeared in the films Not Fade Away, 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, 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.

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. 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; 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. 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.

Personal life Magaro is married to fashion designer Janice Hong, who gave birth to their first child in 2020.

Filmography +Key Denotes titles that have not yet been released

Film YearTitleRoleNotes 2005 Munich Pedestrian Uncredited extra 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. (voice) Cameo 2026 The Bride! Clyde

Television

Theatre YearTitleRoleVenue2016 The Front Page Earl Williams Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway debut

Video games

Awards and nominations YearAssociationCategoryProjectResultRef.2012 Hollywood Film Awards Spotlight Award Not Fade Away 2015 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture The Big Short 2019 Florida Film Critics Circle Best Actor First Cow Gotham Independent Film Award Best Actor 2023 Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Past Lives 2025San Diego International Film FestivalVirtuoso AwardLife's work Montclair Film FestivalSpecial Jury PrizeOmaha