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{{short description|American actor|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox actor
{{BLP sources|date=April 2014}}
| name = Paul Iacono
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
| image = PaulIacono.jpg
{{Infobox person
| caption = Paul Iacono in Palm Springs, CA
| name = Paul Iacono
| birthdate = {{birth date and age|1988|09|07}}
| image =
| birthplace = ], ]
| caption =
| birthname = Paul Stanley Iacono
| birth_date = September 7, 1988
| yearsactive = 1995–present
| birth_place = ], USA
| occupation = Actor/Writer
| birthname =
| yearsactive = 1997–present
| notable_works = Fame (2009)

The Hard Times of RJ Berger (2010-2011)
| height = 5'9 (165 cm)
| education = Professional Performing Arts School
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Actor
* writer
* comedian}}
}} }}
'''Paul Iacono''' <!-- Valid citation required for date of birth for BLP. (WP:BLPPRIVACY) --> is an American actor and writer. He is best known for portraying RJ Berger in the ] scripted series '']''.

==Early years==
Iacono's parents,<ref></ref><ref>Wright, E. Assata. "The biggest loser" '']''; June 20, 2010; Page 6</ref> Michele and Anthony, are Italian American.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 12, 2011 |title=Hoboken arrest on drug and DWI charges leads to former Secaucus town administrator Anthony Iacono losing job as Passaic's business administrator |work=The Star-Ledger |url=http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-5/129749553457790.xml&coll=3|access-date=February 20, 2012}}</ref><ref name="ref3">{{cite news |last=Wright |first=E. Assata |date=August 29, 2009 |title=Baby, remember his name; Secaucus native Paul Iacono to co-star in 'Fame' remake |publisher=The Hudson Reporter |url=http://hudsonreporter.com/pages/full_stories_home/push?article-Baby-+remember+his+name-Secaucus+native+Paul+Iacono+to+co-star+in+%E2%80%98Fame%E2%80%99+remake-%20&id=3331469-Baby-+remember+his+name-Secaucus+native+Paul+Iacono+to+co-star+in+%E2%80%98Fame%E2%80%99+remake-&instance=secaucus_story_left_column |access-date=September 25, 2009}}</ref> He has a younger brother, who works as DJ in ], and a sister, from his Dad's second marriage.<ref name="Visco"/> Iacono went to ] in New York,<ref name="Tucker">{{cite news |last1=Tucker |first1=Reed |title=The real 'Fame' |url=https://nypost.com/2009/09/20/the-real-fame/ |access-date=February 18, 2019 |work=New York Post |date=September 20, 2009 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=Vilensky>{{cite web |last1=Vilensky |first1=Mike |title=The Hard Times of RJ Berger's Paul Iacono on the Pros and Cons of Playing a Huge-Wanged High-Schooler |url=https://www.vulture.com/2010/06/the_hard_times_of_rj_bergers_p.html |website=vulture.com |publisher=vulture.com |access-date=February 18, 2019 |date=June 4, 2010}}</ref> with friend and ''Fame'' co-star ]. He graduated in 2006.<ref name=Vilensky/>


At eight years old, Iacono was diagnosed with ]. He soon began receiving chemotherapy treatments and has been in remission since he was eleven years old.<ref name="Visco"/><ref>{{cite web |date=April 7, 2011 |title=Exclusive: MTV's Paul Iacono: I Almost Died of Leukemia at Age 8 |work=Us Weekly |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-body/news/mtvs-paul-iacano-i-almost-died-of-leukemia-at-age-8-201174 |access-date=June 19, 2014}}</ref>
'''Paul Stanley Iacono''' (born September 7, 1988) is an ] ] and ].


==Career== ==Career==
A graduate of NYC's ], Iacono is best known for his portrayal of the title character on ]'s, '']''.
Paul Iacono's career began when, as a child, he discovered a talent for impersonating ] and ]. He took his act to many regional theaters across his home state of ], and at the age of 4 appeared at ]'s ] cabaret lounge.


Paul first gained wide notice for his numerous appearances on TV's '']'' after ] discovered his unique talents for impersonating ] and ], at age 8.<ref name="Wong">{{cite web |last1=Wong |first1=Curtis M |title=Paul Iacono Promises Tears, Laughs And Plenty Of (Emotional) Nudity In His NYC Cabaret Debut |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/03/09/paul-iacono-54-below-_n_6749090.html?ec_carp=1183603415500699980 |website=HuffPost |access-date=February 19, 2019 |language=en |date=March 9, 2015}}</ref>
Iacono first gained widespread notoriety for his numerous appearances on TV's '']'' over the course of 6 years from 1997 to 2002.


By the age of 10, Paul had shared the stage with such greats as ] in '']'' and ] in the famous "Paper Mills Version" of ]'s '']''. Iacono can be heard on the original cast recording. Other theatrical credits include '']'' with ], ]'s '']'' with ] and ], and ]'s '']'', with ] and ]. Starting out as child actor in the NYC theater scene, Paul has appeared in over 100 theatrical productions. He has shared the stage with such greats as ] in '']'' and ] in the original "Paper Mill Playhouse" production of ]'s '']''. Iacono can be heard on the original cast recording. Other theatrical credits include '']'' with ], ]'s '']'' with ]<ref name="Wong"/> and ], and ]'s '']'', with ] and ].


Paul's film career includes the ]'s remake of '']'', '']'' with ], and ]'s teen comedy, '']''.<ref name="Visco"/> Other films include ]'s, '']'', '']'' with ] and ], and "]," with ] and ]. According to ''Entertainment Weekly'', co-star ] gave Iacono high praise for his improvisational acting and singing skills.
Paul's film career includes a featured role in the 1980s styled ], '']'', and a role as the ultimate bar mitzvah brat Ricky Lopefrawitz in the award winning independent film ''Glow Ropes: The Rise and Fall of a Bar Mitzvah Emcee''.


Iacono appears in an Adidas commercial featuring rapper Bobby Ray "]" Simmons Jr and also appears in Bobby Ray's Music Video "Magic", featuring ].
Iacono also starred in '']'', the ] and ] reinvention of the 1980 movie musical, '']''. The story follows a group of students through four years at New York’s ] (of which Iacono is a real-life alumnus). Paul plays Neil Baczynsky, an aspiring film-maker. According to Entertainment Weekly, co-star ] gave Paul high praise for his improvisational acting and singing skills. The film is slated for release on September 25, 2009.


As a creator, Paul wrote and produced the NY play, "Prince/Elizabeth",<ref>{{cite web |title=Paul Iacono Presents PRINCE/ELIZABETH Reading 9/9 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/Paul-Iacono-Presents-PRINCEELIZABETH-Reading-99-20110907 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |access-date=February 18, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> and is in development on his second pilot, "GIF'ted".<ref name="Visco">{{cite news |last1=Visco |first1=Gerry |title=Paul Iacono is Our New G.B.F. |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/paul-iacono-gbf |access-date=February 18, 2019 |work=Interview |date=January 16, 2014}}</ref>
His first written play, Prince/Elizabeth, inspired by ]'s ], had it's premiere reading in New York City on January 9, 2008, with ] in the role of Rufus Doddswell. Following another successful reading at ] in August, 2008, Iacono is planning to mount a full production of the play in 2009.


As a writer, Iacono penned the play ''High Priest''. In 2024, the world premiere reading of the play took place at ], directed by Rachel Klein. The piece explores the history of ], with a focus on figures like ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and others. Following the reading, a post-show discussion featured ] and Vincent Fremont.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/danny-fields-and-vincent-fremont-join-high-priest-reading-q-a-at-la-mama|title=Danny Fields and Vincent Fremont Join High Priest Reading Q&A at La MaMa &#124; Playbill}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/la-mama-experimental-theatre-club-will-present-reading-of-paul-iaconos-high-priest|title=La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club Will Present Reading of Paul Iacono's High Priest &#124; Playbill}}</ref>
==Personal==
Iacono was presented the Life of the Theater Award by the Paper Mill Playhouse in 2000. He went to high school in New York with best friend and ''FAME'' co-star Paul McGill.


==Trivia== ==Personal life==
Iacono is gay and a major LGBTQ activist, having publicly come out in ]'s ] Column in April 2012.<ref name=Musto/> He was named one of ]'s 100 most influential gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender people for 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nededog |first1=Jethro |title='Scandal's' Guillermo Diaz, 'RJ Berger's' Paul Iacono and 'Fosters' Producers Make OUT 100 List |url=https://www.thewrap.com/scandals-guillermo-diaz-rj-bergers-paul-iacono-fosters-producers-make-out100-list/ |website=thewrap.com |access-date=February 18, 2019 |date=July 10, 2014}}</ref>
He was the Oscar Mayer Lunchable "Commercial Kid" in 2000.

In an April 2012 interview with ] from '']'', Iacono revealed that he is attracted to both men and women, but prefers men much more and identifies as a gay man and as bisexual. Iacono stated that "I am attracted to girls, I'm just attracted to guys much more."<ref name=Musto>{{cite web |last=Musto |first=Michael |date=April 11, 2012 |title=Paul Iacono's Coming Out Interview |work=] |publisher=]|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/04/11/paul-iaconos-coming-out-interview/ |access-date=March 8, 2017}}</ref>


==Filmography== ==Filmography==

{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"
===Film===
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Film
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
! Year ! Year
! Film ! Title
! Role ! Role
! Notes ! class="unsortable" | Notes
|- |-
| 2004 || '']'' || Jr. || Uncredited
| rowspan=2|2009
| '']''
| Neil Baczynsky, the aspiring film-maker
| With Paul McGill.
|
|- |-
| 2005 || ''Shakes'' || Young Shakes || Short
| ''Consent''
| Mickey
|
|- |-
| 2008 || ''Glow Ropes: The Rise and Fall of a Bar Mitzvah Emcee'' || Ricky Lopefrawitz ||
| 2008
| '']''
| Pee Pee
|
|- |-
| 2008 || '']'' || Pee Pee ||
| rowspan=2|2005
|-
| ''Shakes''
| 2009 || '']'' || Neil Baczynsky ||<ref name="Tucker"/>
| Young Shakes
| |-
| 2010 || ''Consent'' || Mickey ||
|-
| 2012 || '']'' || Mahatma Chang Greenberg ||
|-
| 2012 || '']'' || Tony Cafiero ||
|-
| 2012 || '']'' || Ted ||
|-
| 2013 || '']'' || Brent Van Camp ||
|- |-
| 2014 || '']'' || Sean ||
| ''Glow Ropes: The Rise and Fall of a Bar Mitzvah Emcee''
| Ricky Lopefrawitz
|
|- |-
|2017
| 2004
|''Dating My Mother''
| '']''
|Richard
| Jr.
|uncredited
| |
|-
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
| 2018 || '']'' || Paul ||
! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Television
|}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Year
! Title ! Title
! Role ! Role
! Notes ! class="unsortable" | Notes
|- |-
| 2000 || '']'' || Benny the Bull || Episode "Maestra"
| 2007
| '']''
| Billy Boy
| 2 episodes (''Mosh Pit!''; ''Let's Go'')
|
|- |-
| 2005 || '']'' || Party Boy || TV movie
| 2005
| '']''
| Party Boy
| Television Movie
|
|- |-
| 2007 || '']'' || Billy Boy || 2 episodes
| 2002
| '']''
| Benny the Bull
| 2 episodes (''Super Map!''; ''Maestra'')
|
|- |-
| 2010-2011 || '']'' || R.J. Berger || Main role
| rowspan=2|1999
| '']''
| Hospital Patient
| Episode: July 28, 1999
|
|- |-
| 2014 || '']'' || Fridget || Voice
| '']''
|}
| James "The Lost Boy"

| Episode: February 18, 1999
===Stage===
|
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
| 1998
| '']''
| Himself
| Episode: April 8, 1998
|
|-
| 1997-2002
| '']''
| Himself
| 9 episodes (May 15, 2002; April 16, 2002; May 17, 1999; January 26, 1999; February 4, 1998; January 12, 1998; October 13, 1997; May 14, 1997; January 23, 1997))
|
|-
| 1995-1996
| '']''
| Jake Jr.
| 2 episodes (September 24, 1996; December 5, 1995)
|
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Stage
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
! Year ! Year
! Title ! Title
! Role ! Role
! Notes ! class="unsortable" | Notes
|
|- |-
| 1997 || ''Children of Eden'' || Donny || Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, New Jersey
| 2007
| '']''
| Punky Givens
| Transport Theatre Company at the Connelly Theatre, New York City. Also starring Tony Award Winner Michele Pawk and Donna Lynne Champlin.
|
|- |-
| 1998 || ''The Wizard of Oz'' || ||
| 2006
| '']''
| Donny
| Signature Theatre, New York City. Also starring Lili Taylor and Sherie Rene Scott.
|
|- |-
| 1999 || ''Mame'' || || ], Millburn, New Jersey
| rowspan=2|1999
| '']''
|
| ], ]. With ].
|
|- |-
| 2006 || ''Landscape of the Body Donny'' || || ], New York City
| '']''
|
| With ] and ].
|
|- |-
| 2007 || ''The Dark at the Top of the Staris'' || Punky Givens || Transport Theatre Company at the ], New York City.
| 1998
| '']''
|
| With ].
|
|- |-
| 2015 || '']'' || Lola || ], New York City
| 1997
|-
| '']''
|2024
| Donny
|''High Priest''
| ], ]. Also starring ].
|Ondine
|La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York City
|} |}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
*{{imdb|1476591}} * {{IMDb name|1476591}}

* at BroadwayWorld.com
{{Authority control}}
* at Fandango.com
* at EW.com
* at Entertainment Tonight Online
* at CinemaBlend.com
* at Playbill.com
*


{{DEFAULTSORT:Iacono, Paul}}
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
] ]
]

Latest revision as of 20:25, 14 December 2024

American actor
This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous.
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Paul Iacono
BornSeptember 7, 1988
Secaucus, New Jersey, USA
EducationProfessional Performing Arts School
Occupations
  • Actor
  • writer
  • comedian
Years active1997–present
Notable workFame (2009) The Hard Times of RJ Berger (2010-2011)
Height5'9 (165 cm)

Paul Iacono is an American actor and writer. He is best known for portraying RJ Berger in the MTV scripted series The Hard Times of RJ Berger.

Early years

Iacono's parents, Michele and Anthony, are Italian American. He has a younger brother, who works as DJ in New Jersey, and a sister, from his Dad's second marriage. Iacono went to Professional Performing Arts School in New York, with friend and Fame co-star Paul McGill. He graduated in 2006.

At eight years old, Iacono was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He soon began receiving chemotherapy treatments and has been in remission since he was eleven years old.

Career

A graduate of NYC's Professional Performing Arts School, Iacono is best known for his portrayal of the title character on MTV's, The Hard Times of RJ Berger.

Paul first gained wide notice for his numerous appearances on TV's The Rosie O'Donnell Show after Rosie O'Donnell discovered his unique talents for impersonating Frank Sinatra and Ethel Merman, at age 8.

Starting out as child actor in the NYC theater scene, Paul has appeared in over 100 theatrical productions. He has shared the stage with such greats as Mickey Rooney in The Wizard of Oz and Stephanie Mills in the original "Paper Mill Playhouse" production of Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden. Iacono can be heard on the original cast recording. Other theatrical credits include Mame with Christine Ebersole, Noël Coward's Sail Away with Elaine Stritch and Marian Seldes, and John Guare's Landscape of the Body, with Lili Taylor and Sherie Rene Scott.

Paul's film career includes the MGM's remake of Fame, No God, No Master with David Strathairn, and Darren Stein's teen comedy, G.B.F.. Other films include Drew Barrymore's, Animal, Rhymes with Banana with Zosia Mamet and Judith Light, and "Unreachable by Conventional Means," with Alexandra Daddario and Tovah Feldshuh. According to Entertainment Weekly, co-star Megan Mullally gave Iacono high praise for his improvisational acting and singing skills.

Iacono appears in an Adidas commercial featuring rapper Bobby Ray "B.o.B" Simmons Jr and also appears in Bobby Ray's Music Video "Magic", featuring Rivers Cuomo.

As a creator, Paul wrote and produced the NY play, "Prince/Elizabeth", and is in development on his second pilot, "GIF'ted".

As a writer, Iacono penned the play High Priest. In 2024, the world premiere reading of the play took place at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, directed by Rachel Klein. The piece explores the history of The Factory, with a focus on figures like Ondine, Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgwick, Billy Name, Paul Morrissey, Lou Reed, Nico, and others. Following the reading, a post-show discussion featured Danny Fields and Vincent Fremont.

Personal life

Iacono is gay and a major LGBTQ activist, having publicly come out in Michael Musto's Village Voice Column in April 2012. He was named one of OUT Magazine's 100 most influential gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender people for 2013.

In an April 2012 interview with Michael Musto from The Village Voice, Iacono revealed that he is attracted to both men and women, but prefers men much more and identifies as a gay man and as bisexual. Iacono stated that "I am attracted to girls, I'm just attracted to guys much more."

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Winter Solstice Jr. Uncredited
2005 Shakes Young Shakes Short
2008 Glow Ropes: The Rise and Fall of a Bar Mitzvah Emcee Ricky Lopefrawitz
2008 Return to Sleepaway Camp Pee Pee
2009 Fame Neil Baczynsky
2010 Consent Mickey
2012 Mac & Devin Go to High School Mahatma Chang Greenberg
2012 No God, No Master Tony Cafiero
2012 Rhymes with Banana Ted
2013 G.B.F. Brent Van Camp
2014 Animal Sean
2017 Dating My Mother Richard
2018 The Bad Guys Paul

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Dora the Explorer Benny the Bull Episode "Maestra"
2005 The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie Party Boy TV movie
2007 Human Giant Billy Boy 2 episodes
2010-2011 The Hard Times of RJ Berger R.J. Berger Main role
2014 Chozen Fridget Voice

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Children of Eden Donny Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, New Jersey
1998 The Wizard of Oz
1999 Mame Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, New Jersey
2006 Landscape of the Body Donny Signature Theatre, New York City
2007 The Dark at the Top of the Staris Punky Givens Transport Theatre Company at the Connelly Theatre, New York City.
2015 Mercury Fur Lola The New Group, New York City
2024 High Priest Ondine La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York City

References

  1. Paul Iacono Interview — JJJ Exclusive!
  2. Wright, E. Assata. "The biggest loser" The Union City Reporter; June 20, 2010; Page 6
  3. "Hoboken arrest on drug and DWI charges leads to former Secaucus town administrator Anthony Iacono losing job as Passaic's business administrator". The Star-Ledger. February 12, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  4. Wright, E. Assata (August 29, 2009). "Baby, remember his name; Secaucus native Paul Iacono to co-star in 'Fame' remake". The Hudson Reporter. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  5. ^ Visco, Gerry (January 16, 2014). "Paul Iacono is Our New G.B.F." Interview. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  6. ^ Tucker, Reed (September 20, 2009). "The real 'Fame'". New York Post. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  7. ^ Vilensky, Mike (June 4, 2010). "The Hard Times of RJ Berger's Paul Iacono on the Pros and Cons of Playing a Huge-Wanged High-Schooler". vulture.com. vulture.com. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  8. "Exclusive: MTV's Paul Iacono: I Almost Died of Leukemia at Age 8". Us Weekly. April 7, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  9. ^ Wong, Curtis M (March 9, 2015). "Paul Iacono Promises Tears, Laughs And Plenty Of (Emotional) Nudity In His NYC Cabaret Debut". HuffPost. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  10. "Paul Iacono Presents PRINCE/ELIZABETH Reading 9/9". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  11. "Danny Fields and Vincent Fremont Join High Priest Reading Q&A at La MaMa | Playbill".
  12. "La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club Will Present Reading of Paul Iacono's High Priest | Playbill".
  13. ^ Musto, Michael (April 11, 2012). "Paul Iacono's Coming Out Interview". The Village Voice. Village Voice Media. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  14. Nededog, Jethro (July 10, 2014). "'Scandal's' Guillermo Diaz, 'RJ Berger's' Paul Iacono and 'Fosters' Producers Make OUT 100 List". thewrap.com. Retrieved February 18, 2019.

External links

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