 | Thisbiography of a living personneeds additionalcitations forverification. Please help by addingreliable sources.Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced orpoorly sourcedmust be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentiallylibelous. Find sources: "Paul Iacono" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(April 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Paul Iacono | |
|---|---|
 Iacono in 2011 | |
| Born | September 7, 1988 Secaucus, New Jersey, USA |
| Education | Professional Performing Arts School |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Notable work |
|
| Height | 5'9 (165 cm) |
Paul Iacono is an American actor and writer. He is best known for portraying RJ Berger in theMTV scripted seriesThe Hard Times of RJ Berger.
Iacono's parents,[1][2] Michele and Anthony, are Italian American.[3][4] He has a younger brother, who works as DJ inNew Jersey, and a sister, from his Dad's second marriage.[5] Iacono went toProfessional Performing Arts School in New York,[6][7] with friend andFame co-starPaul McGill. He graduated in 2006.[7]
At eight years old, Iacono was diagnosed withacute lymphoblastic leukemia. He soon began receiving chemotherapy treatments and has been in remission since he was eleven years old.[5][8]
A graduate of NYC'sProfessional Performing Arts School, Iacono is best known for his portrayal of the title character onMTV's,The Hard Times of RJ Berger.
Paul first gained wide notice for his numerous appearances on TV'sThe Rosie O'Donnell Show afterRosie O'Donnell discovered his unique talents for impersonatingFrank Sinatra andEthel Merman, at age 8.[9]
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 asMickey Rooney inThe Wizard of Oz andStephanie Mills in the original "Paper Mill Playhouse" production ofStephen Schwartz'sChildren of Eden. Iacono can be heard on the original cast recording. Other theatrical credits includeMame withChristine Ebersole,Noël Coward'sSail Away withElaine Stritch[9] andMarian Seldes, andJohn Guare'sLandscape of the Body, withLili Taylor andSherie Rene Scott.
Paul's film career includes theMGM's remake ofFame,No God, No Master withDavid Strathairn, andDarren Stein's teen comedy,G.B.F..[5] Other films includeDrew Barrymore's,Animal,Rhymes with Banana withZosia Mamet andJudith Light, and "Unreachable by Conventional Means," withAlexandra Daddario andTovah Feldshuh. According toEntertainment Weekly, co-starMegan 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", featuringRivers Cuomo.
As a creator, Paul wrote and produced the NY play, "Prince/Elizabeth",[10] and is in development on his second pilot, "GIF'ted".[5]
As a writer, Iacono penned the playHigh Priest. In 2024, the world premiere reading of the play took place atLa MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, directed by Rachel Klein. The piece explores the history ofThe Factory, with a focus on figures likeOndine,Andy Warhol,Edie Sedgwick,Billy Name,Paul Morrissey,Lou Reed,Nico, and others. Following the reading, a post-show discussion featuredDanny Fields and Vincent Fremont.[11][12]
Iacono is gay and a major LGBTQ activist, having publicly come out inMichael Musto'sVillage Voice Column in April 2012.[13] He was named one ofOUT Magazine's 100 most influential gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender people for 2013.[14]
In an April 2012 interview withMichael Musto fromThe 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."[13]
| 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 | [6] |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 theConnelly 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 |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
