The Good Place Star Manny Jacinto Credits the Show For Lifting Him Out of Poverty: “I was able to buy groceries”
The Good Place is a rare gem that is buried in Prime Video’s catalogue of shows, starring Kristen Bell in the lead. The show brought fresh new faces to the mainstream, lifting Manny Jacinto, who played Jason, out of poverty. Jacinto recalled his life before The Good Place fame with PEOPLE magazine:
Thank goodness for that show because I was able to buy groceries. [I was] living in a five-bedroom house with a bunch of nurses and just trying to make it work.
The 38-year-old actor was doing his best to make his Hollywood dreams a reality, often fighting to survive in the industry. After he nailed his audition, the actor has only seen success since.
How Manny Jacinto’s Good Place Role Launched His Hollywood Career
Manny Jacinto genuinely thought he would “be in an office, in front of a computer, being an engineer or something”, as he recalled to PEOPLE. Speaking to Backstage, the actor reflects on the reasons he loves acting:
Acting and the world of performing and being in this industry, there are so many ups and downs. As long as you ride it and take the jump, so many different doors can open. If you can live through the downs and celebrate the ups, it can be a very exciting experience. That really appealed to me.
Jacinto is running on a high, landing roles in high-budget films alongside big stars like Tom Cruise and Lindsay Lohan. Here are the big roles he snagged following The Good Place.
Film/TV SeriesRoleCharacter DescriptionTop Gun: MaverickLt Billy ‘Fritz’ AvaloneElite fighter pilot in the sequel to the classic action film.Nine Perfect Strangers (TV)YaoResort staff member in psychological drama; calm and resourceful.The Acolyte (TV)QimirKey figure in the Star Wars universe: a mysterious, morally ambiguous Force user.Freakier FridayEric ReyesLeading role as Lindsay Lohan’s love interest.
Before all the success The Good Place got him, perhaps the most unforgettable character on the show was the one he played: Jason Mendoza.
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Naive Jason Brought Much-Needed Levity To The Good Place
Manny Jacinto as Jason Mendoza in The Good Place | Credit: NBC
Jason’s goofy and endearing nature brought a lot of levity to the show’s heavy philosophical themes. The Good Place is far from a casual watch, constantly challenging viewers with moral dilemmas, albeit in a humorous manner. Here are key details about the show.
AspectDetailsShow TitleThe Good PlaceGenreFantasy Comedy, PhilosophicalCreatorMichael SchurOriginal NetworkNBCOriginal RunSeptember 19, 2016 – January 30, 2020Main PremiseAfterlife neighbourhood called the “Good Place” where people go if they were good during life; Eleanor realizes she is mistakenly placed there and tries to become a better person.Major ThemesThe Afterlife neighbourhood, called the “Good Place,” is where people go if they were good during their life; Eleanor realizes she is mistakenly placed there and tries to become a better person.
Manny Jacinto’s The Good Place character, Jason, approaches life with a “go with the flow” attitude, as a DJ from Jacksonville, Florida. The show depicts him as someone who isn’t particularly smart, but he definitely has the largest heart of them all. His dialogue delivery and swagger brought so many laugh-out-loud moments to the show.
His character’s stance was in stark contrast to that of the other characters, who were experiencing an existential crisis in the afterlife, and in the end, his empathy won over all our hearts.
What do you think of Manny Jacinto’s Hollywood career?
The Good Place is currently streaming on Peacock and Prime Video in the U.S.
