Jonathan Roumie’s reputation has seen fairly a bounce following his newest roles, one within the hit faith-based sequence “The Chosen” and now together with his half within the “Jesus Revolution” movie blowing up on the field workplace.
The 48-year-old actor and religious Catholic’s display credit return at the very least twenty years, with roles in reveals like 2019’s “Ballers” and 2020’s “Chicago Med,” in keeping with IMDb. However it has arguably been his position within the common sequence that explores Jesus via the eyes and lives of these near him that has catapulted his profession.
Roumie — a ministry chief who has served as a unprecedented minister of Holy Communion throughout the Catholic Church — was born in New York Metropolis. He bought his begin within the leisure business with a sequence of behind-the-scenes gigs that included voice-over work for video video games and TV reveals.
He labored as a manufacturing assistant and site scout for films like “Spider Man,” “I Am Legend,” and “National Treasure.” Later, he appeared in a handful of TV reveals akin to “Law and Order,” “As The World Turns” and “All My Children,” earlier than touchdown a task on the large display for the a part of John Wilkes Sales space within the 2012 film “Saving Lincoln.”
However after a couple of years, the performing gigs began drying up and the star stated he discovered himself overdrawn on his funds and with solely sufficient meals to final at some point.
Roumie has beforehand shared that, whereas religion had at all times been part of his life, issues modified 5 years in the past when he surrendered his profession to God.
“Life literally backed me into a corner until I got on my knees in front of my crucifix and poured out my heart to God,” Roumie instructed Fox Information.
“I couldn’t even get a catering job, and I had bills come in and I had rent. And I got to the point on a Saturday morning in May in 2018 where I was out of money,” he stated.
“I’d always had a relationship with my faith, but I had never surrendered my career so viscerally or felt that I had no other choice before,” he added. “So, I believe God type of knew that and stated, ‘I need everything from you.’”
“And in order to do that, I need to bring you to the edge of the cliff and give it all to Him,” Roumie continued. “And I did that day. That morning. And I said, ‘It’s now not my drawback. It’s your drawback, God. So, you’re going to see me via this? Your yoke is simple. Your burden is mild. I’m supplying you with mine. And no matter occurs, occurs.’”
Roumie stated he returned to his condo later that day to seek out 4 checks in his mailbox from unknown sources. “All I can say is that God provided me a financial miracle when I needed it, when I completely gave myself over to his care.” Just a few months later, Roumie bought a cellphone name from “The Chosen” sequence creator Dallas Jenkins and the remaining is historical past.
Talking just lately on the “Ozarks Live,” Roumie known as the chance to play Jesus the “greatest and most humbling honor” of his life.
“The impact has been profound,” the actor defined. “Not just on viewers but on me personally. So it’s been something that I don’t think anything else can compare to.”
One critic known as his portrayal of Jesus, “Damn good in the hardest role ever played,” in keeping with his web site.
The Atlantic known as the character he portrayed, “someone you’d actually like to hang out with, projecting divine gravity accented with easygoing warmth.”
His work on the present has additionally given him the primary recognition from the business. In 2020, 2022, and 2023 he was nominated by the Film Information Awards for the Grace Prize for Most Inspiring Efficiency for TV and took house the award in 2020.
In Roumie’s newest undertaking, he performs “charismatic hippie preacher” Lonnie Frisbee within the “Jesus Revolution” alongside actor Kelsey Grammar. The transfer is based mostly on “the true story of a national spiritual awakening in the early 1970s and its origins within a community of teenage hippies in Southern California.”
Conservative tv and film star Grammar performs the late Chuck Smith, the pastor who based the Calvary Chapel motion and mentor to Pastor Greg Laurie. Frisbee — who Roumie known as “a bit of a tortured soul … with deep, deep wounds” — was abused as a baby and struggled with drug dependancy earlier than he discovered God.
“In the film, we focus on his [Frisbee’s] time where he’s got God sort of lifting him up and sending him out as an apostle with these amazing, charismatic spiritual gifts — gifts of the Holy Spirit in very overt ways,” Roumie instructed OSV Information.
“When you talk to some of the people that saw him do … healings, (they say) it was like walking with an apostle. It was that extraordinary,” he added. “He wasn’t a god. He was a man that God used fully, to his service.”
Critics have known as Roumie’s on-screen portrayal of Frisbee a “breakout performance” and extra.
“[A] Breakout performance of Jonathan Roumie as Jesus,” one critic wrote. “Roumie … brings an unparalleled warmth, gentleness, and humor to this daunting role, lighting up the screen.”
One other wrote, “Superb acting by Jonathan Roumie.” Whereas one other opined that, “Roumie has such a quiet but commanding presence … he speaks with such calm authority, and it carries throughout the series as he brings such humanity and sincerity to this role.”
Throughout Roumie’s interview on “Ozarks Live” he additionally talked about the place he thought his profession would go from right here and answered if he deliberate to stay in simply the faith-based style.
“I’m open to good stories,” Roumie stated. “I don’t have any limitations. Before ‘The Chosen’ I was working almost explicitly in TV and films in traditional Hollywood settings. If the stories are good and they’re inspiring I will do them.”
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