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Justin Baldoni

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Justin Baldoni
Baldoni at the 2015 PaleyFest presentation for Jane the Virgin
Born (1984-01-24) January 24, 1984 (age 40)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materCalifornia State University, Long Beach
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • producer
  • author
Years active2004–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2013)​
Children2

Justin Louis Baldoni (born January 24, 1984)[1] is an American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for portraying Rafael Solano on The CW satirical romantic dramedy Jane the Virgin (2014–2019) as well as directing the films Five Feet Apart (2019) and Clouds (2020).

Early life

Baldoni was born in Los Angeles, California, and was raised in Medford, Oregon, the son of Sharon and Sam Baldoni.[2] His mother is from a Jewish family and his father is of Italian ancestry. His paternal grandfather is Louis Baldoni, an Indiana senator and Italian immigrant.[3] Baldoni's parents joined the Baháʼí Faith, which Baldoni practices devoutly.[4][5] Baldoni played soccer and ran track in high school, and was a radio disc jockey at a local top-40 radio station. While moving into a new apartment building, Baldoni met a manager who advised him to pursue a career in acting.[6] He attended college on a partial athletic scholarship, but later dropped out. [7]

Justin Baldoni giving a speech in 2017

Career

In 2008, Baldoni wrote, produced, and directed his first music video that was selected and won him his first "Audience Choice Award" at Dawn Breakers International Film Festival.[8]

Justin Baldoni at the 2017 SAMHSA award ceremony

In 2012, Baldoni created a digital documentary series, My Last Days, a show about living – as told by the dying. The show eventually became one of the most-watched documentary series' streamed online. The second season of My Last Days aired on CW and third season was released in the winter of 2018. On the heels of that success Baldoni founded Wayfarer Entertainment, a digital media studio focused on disruptive inspiration.[9] In December 2018, Baldoni spoke at the annual End Well Symposium about why he believes that thinking about our death can help us live better.[10]

From 2014 to 2019, Baldoni played Rafael Solano in the CW show Jane the Virgin. In May 2016 he launched a time-lapse video app for pregnant women and new mums called Belly Bump.[11]

In July 2017, Variety announced that Baldoni was developing a male talk show through his media company Wayfarer Entertainment. The show, entitled Man Enough, is described as a disruptive panel series that explores what it means to be a man today.[12] In an interview, Baldoni described the reason he created the show. "Man Enough really came about because I wanted to take a dive into what it really means to be a man, and this question of 'do we have it right?'"[13] The show includes prominent men like Matt McGorry and Javier Muñoz.[14] In August 2017, TED announced Baldoni would be a speaker at the annual TEDWomen Conference.[15]

Baldoni directed and produced CBS Films' Five Feet Apart, starring Cole Sprouse and Haley Lu Richardson, and based on an original script by Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis. The film was released on March 15, 2019, and chronicles the lives of two teenagers living with cystic fibrosis.[16]

He directed and produced Clouds, a film depicting the life of musician Zach Sobiech with Warner Bros. On May 14, 2020, it was announced Disney+ had acquired distribution rights to the film from Warner Bros., in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the film industry. It was released on October 16, 2020.[17] He is also scheduled to direct, produce, and star in It Ends with Us, based on the novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover.[18]

In 2021, Baldoni released a book under the same premise as his previous talk show and TED Talk titled Man Enough: Undefining my Masculinity.[19] He began a podcast series under the same name with co-hosts Liz Plank and Jamey Heath. A children's version of the book Boys Will be Human was released in October 2022.[20]

Wayfarer Studios

Baldoni founded a production company with Ahmed Musiol called Wayfarer Studios that produces television, films, and digital content. In 2019, Wayfarer sold majority stake setting up the $25M content fund.[21][22] The philanthropic branch of the company, called the Wayfarer Foundation, benefits homeless residents of Los Angeles. They host an annual Skid Row Carnival of Love, which provides resources for employment, education, non-emergency medical care, food, clothing, hygiene, and other festivities such as face-painting, live concerts, and children's activities, serving over 4,000 homeless guests each year.[23]

Personal life

After over a year of dating, Baldoni married Swedish actress Emily Baldoni (née Fuxler) in July 2013 in Corona, California.[24] They have a daughter, Maiya, who was born in June 2015[25] and a son named Maxwell, who was born in October 2017.[26]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Yesterday's Dream Pat
The Helix...Loaded Jason
2008 The House Bunny Waiter
2009 After Dusk They Come Peter Video
Alpha Males Experiment Gavin
2010 Unrequited Todd Brown
2011 Royal Reunion Nicky Short film
Intervention: Cinderella Aladdin
Minkow[27] Young Barry Minkow Released in 2018 as Con Man
2012 Undercover Bridesmaid Jake TV movie
2013 Isolated Ambassador for Peace
Not Today Eli Hill
The Proposal Justin Short film
2014 A Fine Step Marzo Bolivar
2019 Five Feet Apart Director and producer
2020 Clouds
2023 The Senior Producer
2024 Empire Waist
It Ends with Us Ryle Kincaid Also director and executive producer
TBA Laughing at My Nightmare Post-production; director and executive producer

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2004 The Young and the Restless Ben 3 episodes
Wedding Daze Guillermo Valerio Television film
2005 JAG Azzam Episode: "Bridging the Gulf"
Spring Break Shark Attack J.T. Television film
Charmed Salko Episode: "Something Wicca This Way Goes"
2005–2006 Everwood Reid Bardem Recurring role
2007 CSI: Miami Damon Argento Episode: "Cyber-Lebrity"
2008 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody Diego Episode: "Foiled Again"
2009 Heroes Alex Woolsey Episodes: "Building 26" and "Exposed"
2010 The Bold and the Beautiful Graham Darros Recurring role
CSI: NY Heath Kirkfield Episode: "Out of the Sky"
2011–2012 Single Ladies Derek Recurring role
2012 Blackout Josh Martin TV miniseries
Shadow of Fear Bobby Television film
Undercover Bridesmaid Jake
2013 Happy Endings Marcus Episode: "Fowl Play/Date"
2014–2019 Jane the Virgin Rafael Solano Main role
2017 Madam Secretary Kevin Park Episodes: "The Beautiful Game" and "Labor of Love"

References

  1. ^ Rose, Mike (January 24, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for January 24, 2023 includes celebrities Neil Diamond, Aaron Neville". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  2. ^ Justin Baldoni TV Guide.
  3. ^ @justinbaldoni (February 11, 2017). "This is my grandpa Louis – he would be 113 today. In 1908 his dad ( my great grandfather) left his family in Pitigliano Italy, and crossed the Atlantic Ocean in search of the American dream" – via Instagram.
  4. ^ Boursaw, Jane Louise. "Fall TV". Northern Express. Archived from the original on November 15, 2006. Retrieved November 30, 2006.
  5. ^ "Hollywood Now: New Movies The Judge, Whiplash, Fury & Jane the Virgin's Justin Baldoni". InterfaithFamily. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  6. ^ "Justin Baldoni as Reid Bardem". FanBolt Entertainment. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  7. ^ Baldoni, Justin (2021). Man Enough: Undefining my Masculinity. New York, United States: HarperCollins. p. 63. ISBN 9780063055599.
  8. ^ "DBIFF '08/Take II: Phoenix, Arizona". Archived from the original on November 16, 2010. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
  9. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (August 17, 2016). "'Jane the Virgin' Star Justin Baldoni Focuses on Filmmaking for a Good Cause With 'My Last Days'". Variety. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  10. ^ Purtill, Corinne (December 7, 2018). "The question actor Justin Baldoni asked himself to put his career and life back on track". Quartz. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  11. ^ "Meet the Three Celeb Guys (Yes, Guys) Behind a New Pregnancy App". Fit Pregnancy and Baby. May 17, 2016. Archived from the original on May 19, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  12. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (July 6, 2017). "'Jane the Virgin' Star Justin Baldoni Developing Men's Talk Show (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  13. ^ Matthews, Sophie (January 12, 2018). "Redefining Masculinity With Actor Justin Baldoni (EXCLUSIVE)". Women.com. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  14. ^ Thomas, Chris (September 20, 2017). "'Hamilton' Star Javier Muñoz Joins 'Man Enough,' a New Show Redefining Masculinity". Out. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  15. ^ "Sneak peek: First look at the TEDWomen 2017 lineup". TED Blog. August 22, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  16. ^ Busch, Anita (January 26, 2017). "CBS Films Buys Untitled Justin Baldoni Pitch In Vein Of 'The Fault In Our Stars'". Deadline. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  17. ^ McNary, Dave (February 2, 2016). "Warner Bros. Developing Zach Sobiech 'Fly a Little Higher' Movie". Variety. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  18. ^ McNary, Dave (July 16, 2019). "Justin Baldoni Developing 'It Ends With Us' Romance Movie". Variety. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  19. ^ "Man Enough - Justin Baldoni". HarperOne. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  20. ^ "Boys Will Be Human".
  21. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (January 30, 2019). "Justin Baldoni's Wayfarer Entertainment Sells Majority Stake, Sets $25 Million Production Fund". Variety. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  22. ^ Hayes, Dade (January 30, 2019). "Justin Baldoni's Wayfarer Entertainment Sells Majority Stake, Sets Up $25M Content Fund". Deadline. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  23. ^ "Carnival of Love". Wayfarer Foundation. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  24. ^ Tak, Michelle (February 12, 2015). "Jane the Virgin Star Justin Baldoni and Wife Are Expecting a Baby! See Co-Star Gina Rodriguez's Cute Reaction". E! News. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  25. ^ Leon, Anya (June 30, 2015). "Justin Baldoni Welcomes Daughter Maiya Grace". People. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  26. ^ Juneau, Jen (October 22, 2017). "Justin Baldoni Welcomes Son Maxwell Roland-Samuel". People. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  27. ^ Wilson, Lori (February 24, 2010). "The Bold and the Beautiful Interview: Justin Baldoni". soaps.sheknows.com. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
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