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Jason Stuart is a prolific character actor and stand-up comedian. Born in the Bronx and raised in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles, he now lives in Palm Springs next to his 85-year-old Jewish mother, Gloria, though they do not share a home. Stuart describes himself as an insecure Jewish kid who turned to theater and performing to conceal his emerging sexual identity. He admits, "Barbra Streisand in 'Funny Girl' saved my life." Streisand’s influence was profound and indescribable, and like many gay men of his generation, he ironically found himself attracted to Omar Sharif. Stuart has overcome typecasting, notably portraying Joseph Randall, a heterosexual Christian plantation owner in 1831, in the critically discussed film "The Birth of a Nation" by filmmaker Nate Parker. This drama, which dealt with the prejudice Stuart has battled throughout his life, helped build the confidence he carries today. As an advocate for LGBTQ rights through his nuanced performances, Stuart merges his humanitarian values with his acting craft, reflecting his life’s mission. As a teenager, he played Santa Claus in a play. Wearing a fat suit gave him insight into what being a Jewish, closeted gay teen felt like—similar to wearing a Santa suit. A devoted fan of "I Love Lucy," Stuart noticed Lucille Ball received the biggest laughs when pregnant. He realized that great acting involves the unexpected and performed his role as if he were a pregnant Lucy—a formula that has served him well ever since.
Hollywood began to take notice, casting him in films like "Kindergarten Cop," "Vegas Vacation," and TV shows such as "The Closer" and "My Wife & Kids." After years of hiding his true self, Jason publicly came out on a notorious episode of Geraldo Rivera’s show centered on "Unconventional Comedians." He went on to guest star in series like "Goliath" opposite J.K. Simmons, "Love" from comedy maestro Judd Apatow, and indie films like "Tangerine" by Sean Baker and "Love is Strange" alongside John Lithgow and Alfred Molina. Stuart struck comedy gold with co-star and co-creator Mitch Hara in their Amazon comedy series "Smothered," for which he won the Indie Series Award for Best Actor in a Comedy. This success sparked widespread interest in Stuart and Hara as content creators, resonating with the cultural moment and fueling their creativity and purpose. Their motto is "we do not wait for permission to create." They are currently in post-production on season two, set to release this fall.
Today, Jason keeps his comedic skills sharp through stand-up gigs nationwide and recently released the comedy album "I'm The Daddy And I Have Candy," featured on Sirius XM radio. He is also a sought-after speaker on workplace diversity and author of the autobiography "Shut Up, I'm Talking!" Additionally, he serves as the National Co-Chairman of the SAG-AFTRA LGBTQ Committee, which he co-founded in 2004. Recently, he completed several projects streaming now, showcasing diverse roles such as the thriller "Immortal" opposite Sam Levine and starring Dylan Baker and Tony Todd, the Showtime action film "Abducted" (playing detectives in both), and a leading role in the indie drama "Hank" by director Hongyu "Neo" Li. "Hank," which explores a couple considering an open relationship, has earned high praise at multiple festivals, winning Best LGBTQ Short at the Los Angeles International Film Festival and securing a Best Actor nomination at the Glendale International Film Festival.
One of the busiest and most respected actors and stand-up comedians, Stuart always honors the genius of Lucille Ball and the words of Viola Davis: "My dreams had to be bigger than my fears." He keeps his focus on the ultimate goal—a significant role in a major Hollywood feature—while never forgetting his roots. "My dad, who passed away 10 years ago, was a Jewish immigrant who always told me (in a thick Polish accent), 'When you go to the interview, wear a tie and show them you mean business.' I took that to mean, 'Be your best self.' And that's who I strive to be.
