Jonathan Roumie
Jonathan Roumie is an American actor best known for his role as Jesus in The Chosen,[1][2] a crowd-funded television series about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth.[3][4] He is also a voice artist.
Jonathan Roumie | |
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![]() Roumie in January 2020 | |
Education | School of Visual Arts NYC (BFA) |
Occupation | Actor |
Known for | Performing as Jesus in The Chosen |
Awards | Grace Prize for Most Inspiring Performance for TV, Movieguide |
Early life
Roumie's father is Egyptian, his paternal grandfather was born in Syria,[5] and his mother is Irish.[6] Roumie is a practicing Catholic; while he was baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church, Roumie converted to Roman Catholicism after moving from New York to its suburbs.[7] He holds a degree in film from the School of Visual Arts.[6]
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[8] 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.[9] He portrayed evangelist Lonnie Frisbee in the 2023 film Jesus Revolution.[10]
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.[11]
Roumie started as a production assistant and was the location scout for Spider Man, National Treasure and I Am Legend.[12] His first original song, "Outta Time", was released in Europe for the album Unbreakable, which he co-produced.[13]
At one time, Roumie was involved in an entertainment fellowship for Christian entertainment professionals.[6]
The Chosen

Roumie is known for his portrayal of Jesus Christ in The Chosen.[14] His work in The Chosen has been reviewed in the National Catholic Register,[7] America Magazine,[15]The Atlantic,[16] and The Irish Times.[17]
Personal life
Roumie has been a ministry leader and has served as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion within the Catholic Church.[6] He is a strong advocate of the sacraments, ecumenism, humility and charity.[18] He serves on the board of Catholics in Media Associates.[19] In 2020, he was nominated for a Papal knighthood, the Order of St. Gregory the Great.[20] 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.[21][19] He is pro-life.[22]
As of 2022, Roumie resided in Los Angeles.[23]
Awards
Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Movieguide Awards | Grace Prize for Most Inspiring Performance for TV | The Chosen, Episode 1.8 – "I am He" | Won | [24] |
2022 | Movieguide Awards | Grace Prize for Most Inspiring Performance for TV | The Chosen, Episode 2.8 – "Beyond Mountains" | Nominated | [25] |
2023 | Movieguide Awards | Grace Prize for Most Inspiring Performance for TV | The Chosen, Episode 3.3 – "Physician, Heal Yourself" | Nominated | [26] |
Filmography
Television
Year | Name | Role | Ref | Notes |
2000–2002 | Celebrity Deathmatch | Various | Voice only | |
2006 | Oh! Be Joyful! | Jim James | Television film | |
2007 | As the World Turns | Jim Fellows | [27] | 6 episodes |
2008 | Law & Order | Richie Citrone | Episode: "Excalibur" | |
In the Now | Jonathan | 5 episodes | ||
2009–2010 | Wonder Pets! | Loch Ness Daddy, Critic #2 | 2 episodes, Uncredited as Critic #2 | |
2010 | 3rd & Bird | French Crab | Episode: "Ahoy!" | |
Roomies | Sam's Date, Answering Machine | Television film | ||
2011 | All My Children | Guy #1 | ||
2012 | Parenthood | Cop | [27] | Episode: "Everything Is Not Okay" |
2013 | Joe, Joe & Jane | Waiter | Television film | |
2014 | Castle | Serge Belmonde | [28] | Episode: "Dressed to Kill" |
Hart of Dixie | Jeffrey | [27] | Episode: "Carrying Your Love with Me" | |
NCIS | Officer Gerard | [27] | Episode: "The Admiral's Daughter" | |
Interns | Felix | [29] | ||
Preying for Mercy | Dominic Capistrano | Television film | ||
The Newsroom | Bartender | [27] | Episode: "What Kind of Day Has It Been" | |
2015 | Dog with a Blog | Dr. Monfore | Episode: "Stan Has Puppies" | |
Ridin' with Burgess | Raddigan, Theater Guy | Television short | ||
NCIS: Los Angeles | Perry Gaffney | [28] | Episode: "Defectors" | |
2016 | The Good Wife | Monte Ecklund | [28] | Episode: "Shoot" |
2017 | The Mindy Project | Dr. Montpellier | [27] | Episode: "Danny in Real Life" |
2019 | Ballers | Splyce Owner | [27] | Episode: "Players Only" |
2020 | Chicago Med | Christian Edwards | [30] | Episode: "A Needle in the Heart" |
2019–present | The Chosen | Jesus | [31][32] | 24 episodes |
Film
Year | Name | Role | Ref | Notes |
2001 | Be My Brother | Undercover Cop | Short | |
2005 | Prime | Bakery Counterman | [28] | |
2007 | West 32nd | Lloyd | [33] | |
Then She Found Me | Partygoer | Uncredited | ||
2008 | Revolutionary Road | Party Guest | [34] | |
2012 | K-11 | Rookie Stewart | [28] | |
2013 | Saving Lincoln | John Wilkes Booth | [33] | |
A Day In The Country | Hal | [35] | Short; Canon Imagin8tion Contest Winner | |
Half-Life: Raise the Bar | Gordon Freeman | Short | ||
Lunar | Control | Short; Voice only | ||
Another Man | Josh | Short | ||
2014 | Once We Were Slaves | Jesus | [6] | Short; Renamed The Two Thieves |
Cinderella Pose | Jesse | Short | ||
You & I, My Dear | Ken | [36] | Short | |
2015 | Nostradamus | Radio Voice | Short | |
The Funeral Guest | Luke | |||
2016 | Trunk | Nate | Short | |
Let It Bleed | The Sadist | [31] | ||
Dead Bullet | Viktor | [28] | ||
2017 | Life Hack | Greg Scheckler | ||
2018 | Last Kiss | Narrator | Short | |
2020 | Reality Queen! | TV Assistant | ||
2021 | Washingtonia | Voice only | ||
2022 | Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again | Merenkhare | [37] | Voice only |
2023 | Jesus Revolution | Lonnie Frisbee | [38] | |
Video game
Year | Name | Role | Notes |
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 |
Theatre
Year | Name | Role | Ref |
2012 | Anaconda (*Best of Hollywood Fringe – 2012) | Phil Becker | |
2013 | Trainspotting | Sick Boy | [39] |
References
- Aguantia, Ruth (2021-02-09). "'The Chosen', A Show Depicting Jesus' Life Now Airing On National TV Via TBN". Christianity Daily. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
- Wehner, Peter (2020-12-24). "Opinion | The Forgotten Radicalism of Jesus Christ". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
- Young, Julius (2021-04-01). "'The Chosen' star Jonathan Roumie says Season 2 will blow fans away: It's 'next level'". Fox News. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
- Day, Nate (2020-02-23). "'The Chosen' star Jonathan Roumie on playing Jesus: It 'made me a better version of myself'". Fox News. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
- "Actor in 'The Chosen' Hopes to Lead People 'to Christ in Some Way' | National Catholic Register".
- Christenson, Ann (25 May 2016). "Act the part: Jonathan Roumie as Jesus". U.S. Catholic.
- Dail, Bree (4 May 2020). "Actor in 'The Chosen' Hopes to Lead People 'to Christ in Some Way'". National Catholic Register.
- "Catholic actors bring live 'Passion of the Christ' to central Los Angeles | Angelus News". 2019-03-25. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
- Graves, Jim (18 April 2019). "Passion Play: A Triduum Tradition". National Catholic Register.
- Klett, Leah MarieAnn (2023-03-02). "Jonathan Roumie says 'all glory to God' as 'Jesus Revolution' continues to exceed expectations". The Christian Post. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- "Celebrity Deathmatch: Season 3 : Battle of the Heavy Metal Headbangers : Credits and Details". The Movies Made Me Do It. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- Castellano Lubov, Deborah (26 August 2021). "'A Childhood Dream Come True' — 'The Chosen's' Jesus, Jonathan Roumie, on His Time with Pope Francis". Exaudi Catholic News.
- "MUSIC". jonathanroumie. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
- Ferrara, Tim. "How Jonathan Roumie Stewards the Role of Jesus in 'The Chosen'". Charisma. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- Mangano, Mary Grace (2021-07-02). "'The Chosen' is the Jesus TV show your very Catholic aunt keeps telling you to watch. And you should". America Magazine. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - DeVille, Chris (27 June 2021). "Christian America's Must-See TV Show". The Atlantic.
- O'Brien, Breda. "Breda O'Brien: Crowdfunding creates excellent Christian series". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- Excerpt from Alpha Leadership Conference LC2022 - the Jonathan Roumie Interview, retrieved 2022-12-22
- "Meet Our Sunday Visitor's Catholics of the Year". Our Sunday Visitor. 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- "Made in His Image: Coffee Conversations #13 w/ Jonathan Roumie". Empower Philippines. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
- "10 Catholics who restored our faith in humanity in 2021". Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture. 2021-12-30. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
- McKeown, Jonah (2023-01-20). "Jonathan Roumie: Pro-life advocacy the 'worthiest and noblest cause possible'". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- Hume, Ashley (2022-12-16). "'The Chosen' star Jonathan Roumie and creator Dallas Jenkins on how faith turned their lives around". Fox News. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- Guy, Sarah (2020-02-24). "Movieguide Awards 2020: When To Watch, Nominees, Hosts Of Hallmark Drama Program". International Business Times. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
- "THE CHOSEN, THE WALTONS: HOMECOMING, Jonathan Roumie, Zachary Levi Among Movieguide® Award Nominees". Movieguide | The Family Guide to Movies & Entertainment. 2022-02-09. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
- Low, James (2023-01-13). "2023 Movieguide Awards Nominations". Movieguide® Awards. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
- "Jonathan Roumie | TVmaze". www.tvmaze.com. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- "Jonathan Roumie". TV Guide. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- Peter Gets Salmon'd Featuring Gabrielle Reece | Interns | L StudioL/Studio created by Lexus, retrieved 2021-09-14
- Thomas, Shain E. (2020-04-17). "'Chicago Med': S05.E20. "A Needle in the Heart"". Medium. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- "Rotten Tomatoes: Movies | TV Shows | Movie Trailers | Reviews – Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- "Here's how — and when — 'The Chosen' will release the first two episodes of Season 3". Deseret News. 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
- "Jonathan Roumie". tcm.com. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- Green, Josie. "Best Movies Starring Leonardo DiCaprio". MSN. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "FILMS". kalmanapple. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- "You & I, My Dear". FilmFreeway. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- "Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again". Plex. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
- Fleming, Mike Jr. (2022-02-18). "Kelsey Grammer Joins Lionsgate's 'Jesus Revolution'". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- Gruber, Xaque (2013-05-06). "Trainspotting at the Elephant Theatre: Daring, Gritty and Heartbreaking". HuffPost. Retrieved 2021-09-13.