Jonathan Roumie

Last updated
Jonathan Roumie
Jonathan Roumie.jpg
Roumie in January 2020
Born (1974-07-01) July 1, 1974 (age 49)
Education School of Visual Arts NYC (BFA)
OccupationActor
Known for The Chosen (TV series)
AwardsGrace Prize for Most Inspiring Performance for TV, Movieguide

Jonathan Roumie (born July 1, 1974) is an American actor known for his role as evangelist Lonnie Frisbee in the 2023 film Jesus Revolution and as Jesus in The Chosen TV Series, [1] [2] a crowd-funded television series about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. [3] [4] He is also a voice artist.

Contents

Early life

Roumie's father was a first-generation born in Egypt of Syrian descent, and his mother is Irish. [5] [6]

Before his parents moved to and later met in New York City, Roumie's mother was raised on a farm in Ireland and his father was raised in Cairo, Egypt. [7] Though he was baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church, Roumie converted to Catholicism after moving from New York to its suburbs. [8] He holds a degree in film from the School of Visual Arts. [5]

After graduating from college, Roumie played drums in his friend's contemporary rock band. The band had recorded an album and were due to go on tour but the recording company sponsoring the tour went bankrupt. Shortly after, Roumie moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and television. [9]

Career

Roumie has appeared in television shows such as The Good Wife , As the World Turns , and Castle . He played the character of Christ for the first time in a touring multi-media project about the life of St. Faustina called Faustina: Messenger of Divine Mercy [10] and subsequently in 'Once we were Slaves/The Two Thieves'. Roumie is also the co-producer, co-director and lead actor of The Last Days: The Passion and Death of Jesus, a live performance about the passion of Christ. [11] He portrayed charismatic hippie evangelist Lonnie Frisbee in the 2023 film Jesus Revolution. [12]

Roumie's voice-over work includes the video games Evolve , Mafia II & III , and The Darkness II . He has voiced several characters in the MTV series Celebrity Deathmatch . [13]

Roumie started as a production assistant and was the location scout for Spider-Man , National Treasure and I Am Legend. [14] His first original song, "Outta Time", was released in Europe for the album Unbreakable, which he co-produced. [15] [ better source needed ]

At one time, Roumie was involved in an entertainment fellowship for Christian entertainment professionals. [5]

He also serves as a narrator for the Catholic prayer app Hallow. [16] Jonathan Roumie appeared on the app Hallow Super Bowl 2024 commercial in which caused a huge spike of downloads of the app Hallow. [17]

The Chosen

The Chosen - Jesus heals a leper in Season 1, Episode 6 The Chosen - Jesus touches the leper.jpg
The Chosen – Jesus heals a leper in Season 1, Episode 6

Previous to being offered the role of Jesus Christ in 2017 for what was then a new television series, The Chosen , Roumie states he had reached a point on his life where he had completely surrendered himself to God. About that period of his life he says: "I was literally in a pit and God sort of lent a hand and brought me out of the pit. I was broke. I was in debt. I had enough food for the day to last a day." [18]

Now known worldwide for portraying Jesus in the series, [19] Roumie has been featured in numerous publications, including TV Guide , the National Catholic Register , [8] America Magazine , [20] and The Atlantic , [21] and The New Yorker. [22] He has also been interviewed on network television for shows such as The View , [23] Fox News , [24] EWTN , [25] and various religious-based news and information outlets.

Regarding the challenges of portraying Jesus, Roumie has said, "Very often, I don't feel worthy of playing Jesus. I struggle with that a lot. But I also acknowledge what God has done for my life as a result of playing Christ and how God has changed my life." [26]

Personal life

Roumie has been a ministry leader and has served as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion within the Catholic Church. [5] He is a strong advocate of the sacraments, ecumenism, humility, and charity. [27] He serves on the board of Catholics in Media Associates. [28] In 2020, he was nominated for a papal knighthood, the Order of St. Gregory the Great. [29] He was also named one of Aleteia's "10 Catholics who restored our faith in humanity" in 2021 and made it onto Our Sunday Visitor's list of Catholics of the Year in 2022. [30] [28] He opposes abortion. [31] Roumie has been a keynote speaker at March For Life. [32]

As of 2022, Roumie was residing in Los Angeles. [33]

Roumie can be found hosting live prayers on Instagram, some of which have been viewed nearly 100,000 times. [34] He prays the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy. [9]

Roumie is a talented illustrator, and won awards in high school for this work. [7]

In 2022, Roumie did an Instagram live stream on his official Instagram to debunk the false rumors that he is married and has children. [35] Roumie stated on his live stream that he never has been married nor does he have children. [35]

Awards

YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2020 Movieguide Awards Grace Prize for Most Inspiring Performance for TVThe Chosen, Episode 1.8 – "I am He"Won [36]
2022 Movieguide Awards Grace Prize for Most Inspiring Performance for TVThe Chosen, Episode 2.8 – "Beyond Mountains"Nominated [37]
2023 Movieguide Awards Grace Prize for Most Inspiring Performance for TVThe Chosen, Episode 3.3 – "Physician, Heal Yourself"Nominated [38]

Filmography

Television

YearNameRoleRefNotes
2000–2002 Celebrity Deathmatch VariousVoice only
2006Oh! Be Joyful!Jim James Television film, also executive producer and writer
2007 As the World Turns Jim Fellows [39] 6 episodes
2008 Law & Order Richie CitroneEpisode: "Excalibur"
In the NowJonathan5 episodes
2009–2010 Wonder Pets! Loch Ness Daddy, Critic #22 episodes, Uncredited as Critic #2
2010 3rd & Bird French CrabEpisode: "Ahoy!"
RoomiesSam's Date, Answering MachineTelevision film
2011 All My Children Guy #1
2012 Parenthood Cop [39] Episode: "Everything Is Not Okay"
2013Joe, Joe & JaneWaiterTelevision film
2014 Castle Serge Belmonde [40] Episode: "Dressed to Kill"
Hart of Dixie Jeffrey [39] Episode: "Carrying Your Love with Me"
NCIS Officer Gerard [39] Episode: "The Admiral's Daughter"
InternsFelix [41]
Preying for MercyDominic CapistranoTelevision film
The Newsroom Bartender [39] Episode: "What Kind of Day Has It Been"
2015 Dog with a Blog Dr. MonforeEpisode: "Stan Has Puppies"
Ridin' with BurgessRaddigan, Theater GuyTelevision short
NCIS: Los Angeles Perry Gaffney [40] Episode: "Defectors"
2016 The Good Wife Monte Ecklund [40] Episode: "Shoot"
2017 The Mindy Project Dr. Montpellier [39] Episode: "Danny in Real Life"
2019 Ballers Splyce Owner [39] Episode: "Players Only"
2020 Chicago Med Christian Edwards [42] Episode: "A Needle in the Heart"
2019–present The Chosen Jesus [43] [44] Main cast (32 episodes)

Film

YearNameRoleRefNotes
2001Be My BrotherUndercover CopShort
2005 Prime Bakery Counterman [40]
2007 West 32nd Lloyd [45]
Then She Found Me PartygoerUncredited
2008 Revolutionary Road Party Guest [46]
2012 K-11 Rookie Stewart [40]
2013 Saving Lincoln John Wilkes Booth [45]
A Day In The CountryHal [47] Short; Canon Imagin8tion Contest Winner
Half-Life: Raise the BarGordon FreemanShort
LunarControlShort; Voice only
Another ManJoshShort
2014Once We Were Slaves Jesus [5] Short; Renamed The Two Thieves
Cinderella PoseJesseShort
You & I, My DearKen [48] Short
2015NostradamusRadio VoiceShort
The Funeral GuestLuke
2016TrunkNateShort
Let It BleedThe Sadist [43]
Dead BulletViktor [40]
2017Life HackGreg Scheckler
2018Last KissNarratorShort
2020Reality Queen!TV Assistant
2021WashingtoniaVoice only
2022 Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again Merenkhare [49] Voice only
2023 Jesus Revolution Lonnie Frisbee [50]

Video games

YearNameRoleNotes
2003 Batman: Dark Tomorrow Tim Drake / Robin, Robber #1, Guard, False-facer
2010 Mafia II Italian Civilian, Gangster, Greaser
2012 The Darkness II Enzo, Additional Voices
2013 The Bureau: XCOM Declassified Asaru, Dr. Murphy, Pete Weaver
Lost Planet 3 Renard Laroche
2015 Evolve Additional Voices
Fallout 4 Jack Cabot, Doc Weathers, Honest Dan
2016 XCOM 2 Soldier, Additional Voices
Mafia III Additional Voices
2017 Agents of Mayhem Pride Trooper
2018 God of War Additional Voices
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Various Voices
2019 Days Gone Russell
Death Stranding Mules
2020 Ghost of Tsushima Additional Characters
2022 Saints Row Character Voices, Saints Characters
2025 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Puppet

Theatre

YearNameRoleRef
2012Anaconda (*Best of Hollywood Fringe – 2012)Phil Becker
2013TrainspottingSick Boy [51]

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