Jason Maza

Last updated

Jason Maza
Born
London, England
Occupations
  • Actor
  • film producer
  • director
  • screenwriter
Years active2001–present
SpouseLowri Whitwell (m. 2023)
Website jasonmaza.com

Jason Maza is an English actor, producer, director and screenwriter.

Contents

Early life

Maza grew up in Romford. He began acting at seven years of age. [1]

Career

Early work

Maza was accepted to the Central School of Speech and Drama, but at that time, he was already working as an actor so decided not to attend. [2]

Maza starred in the 2007 film Special People , which received attention for its portrayal of people with disabilities. [3] [4] [5] In 2010, Maza was part of the original cast of Sucker Punch , the award-winning play written by Roy Williams, at the Royal Court Theatre in London, starring alongside Daniel Kaluuya and Anthony Welsh in the production. [6] Maza’s other early roles include parts in the police procedural series The Bill , the medical drama Casualty , the detective series A Touch of Frost , [7] and the crime drama film Welcome to the Punch . [8]

Although primarily an actor, Maza began work as a film producer in 2011, setting up Think Big Productions. [9] His early productions included the slasher film Demons Never Die , starring Tulisa Contostavlos, [10] and the comedy film The Hooligan Factory in 2013, [11] both of which he also starred in.

Partnership with Noel Clarke and Unstoppable Film and Television

In 2015, Maza teamed up with Noel Clarke, launching Unstoppable Film and Television as co-CEO. [12] In 2018, Unstoppable joined the All3Media Group, forming Unstoppable Film & Television, with Clarke and Maza stating: "With the full support of All3Media we’re aiming to build on our work so far, finding new talent and creating authentic drama for the widest possible audience." [13]

As part of Unstoppable, Maza co-produced a range of films and television shows with Clarke and starred in several, including Brotherhood , 10x10, [14] Songbird, and Twist , a loose adaptation of Oliver Twist starring Michael Caine and Rita Ora, [15] [16] and thriller drama series The Drowning , in which he played D.S. Harvey. [17] [18]

Other projects Maza appeared during this period included the television drama Dark Heart [19] and the sports drama Cagefighter. [20] He also appeared in the BBC comedy series Man Like Mobeen . [21]

Maza and his partner Noel Clarke were both suspended by All3Media Group in April 2021 after the misconduct allegations against Clarke. [22] [23] Filming of Sky One’s British police-drama Bulletproof, in which Maza was starring, was suspended when the allegations surfaced, and cancelled a few weeks later. [24] On 21 July 2021, Maza formally left the production company Unstoppable Film and Television. [25] [26] [27]

Recent work

In 2023, Maza co-wrote and executive produced Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance. [28] [29]

Personal life

Maza has a brother, Taylor, who is also an actor. [30] In June 2023 Maza married Lowri Whitwell. [31] [32]

Maza cites Ray Winstone as one of his favorite actors and biggest inspirations, "If you look what he has achieved, he started off as a working class British film actor to a big star in Hollywood. We’re from similar backgrounds as well as the same area so I suppose I can relate to him. If I have half the career he has I’ll be very happy". [2]

Credits

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001PitPopeyShort film
2007 Sugarhouse Crack Punter
Life and Lyrics Ant
Hush Your MouthLeo
Rise of the Footsoldier Rob
Special People Dave
My Boy Jack JournalistTelevision film
SouljahTonyShort film
OctaneKelvin
2008Hunger HousePeterShort film
Ten Dead MenFranklin Boulder
Shifty Malik
2009Dog EndzNathanielTelevision film
Fish Tank Liam
2010 Fit Tyler
KickOffAdam
2011TerryN/AProducer
The Tapes DannyAlso producer
Wheels of FortuneRichardShort film; also co-writer
Hard to SayDanShort film
Anuvahood Darren
Demons Never Die KennyAlso producer
2012VictimMannie
The Man Inside Danny Lee
Outside Bet Mickey
The Man InsideDanny Lee
Truth or Dare Jonesy
Payback Season Executive producer
The Knot Ralphus
2013Still WatersGeorge
Welcome to the Punch Luke
Get Lucky Eli
TravellerFelix
The Hooligan Factory DannyAlso producer
2015LegacyRoland
Scottish Mussel Producer
Billy the KidShort film; executive producer
AngelGeorge
2016 Brotherhood DaleyAlso producer
2018The SoundShort film; executive producer
Wild Honey Pie!Producer
Alright Now
The Fight
The Little PrincessShort film; producer
10x10 Officer WaylandAlso producer
2019Keep BreathingShort film; producer
Doggerland
Birthday Girl
Tracks
2020 Twist BedwinAlso producer
2020The Intergalactic Adventures of Max Cloud [33] Space Witch
2021Music, Trial and TraumaThe ManagerShort film; Also writer, producer
2023 Rise of the Footsoldier: VengeanceCo-writer and executive producer
TBAFar Out Far InSherbertCurrently in production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005 Life Begins Student
Holby City Kris BurrowsEpisode: 'Test Your Metal/A Great Leap Forward'
Casualty@Holby City Kris Burrows4 episodes
2008 New Tricks HoodieEpisode: 'Couldn't Organise One'
2009 Trial & Retribution Darren LewisEpisode: 'Tracks: Part 1'
A Touch of Frost John Heal
The Unsinkable TitanicHarold BrideTV movie documentary
Casualty "H"
2010 The Bill Dean Pollit
Whitechapel Dan StreetSeries 2, episode 1
2011 Come Fly with Me Plumber
Silk Chris Lakeman
2014 The Crimson Field Pte Benny GormanSeries 1, episode 5
2015 Silent Witness Johnny CraddockEpisode: "Protection" (2 parts)
Nurse Jack3 episodes
2016 Call the Midwife Johnny Beckett
2017 Man Like Mobeen RobbieEpisode: 'H-ALTRight'
2018 Dark Heart Rob Mullan4 episodes
2018–2021 Bulletproof Chris MunroeAlso producer
2020HitmenThe DealerEpisode: 'Birthday '
The DrowningD.S HarveyAlso executive producer

Theatre

YearTitleTheatre
2008Flight Path by David Watson Bush Theatre
2009Mad Blud by Philip Osment [34] Theatre Royal Stratford East
2010 Sucker Punch by Roy Williams [35] Royal Court Theatre
2012Fear by Dominic Savage Bush Theatre

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References

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