Paul Stanley Iacono is an American actor. Paul Iacono's biography begins in Secaucus, New Jersey. He was born on September 7, 1988 in the family of Italian Michelle and American Anthony Yacono, who worked in the city administration.
Yakono attended New York's Professional School of Performing Arts with friend and Fame co-star Paul McGill.
As an actor, Paul Iacono is best known for his role as R. J. Berger on Berger's Dignity, an American comedy film created by David Katzenberg and Seth Graham-Smith for MTV. Yakono's character was an unpopular sophomore at the fictional Pinkerton High School in Ohio who is endowed with macrophallic powers.
At the age of eight, Yakono was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He soon began receiving chemotherapy and has been in remission since the age of eleven. Currently, Paul is proud to be a philanthropist for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America.
Career
Paul Iacono first gained mainstream recognition for his many appearances on the TV show "Rosie O'Donnell" afterhow Rosie O'Donnell discovered her unique talent for mimicking Frank Sinatra and Ethel Merman at the age of 8. Starting to play on the New York theater scene as a child, Paul took part in more than 100 theatrical productions. He shared the stage with such greats as Mickey Rooney in The Wizard of Oz and Stephanie Mills in the original Paper Mill Playhouse production of Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden. Paul Iacono can be heard in the original cast recording.
Other theater credits include "Mame" with Christine Eberzol, "Sail Away" with Elaine Stritch and Marian Seldes, "Landscape of the Body" by John Guar with Lili Taylor and Sheri Rene Scott. Paul's career includes the MGM remake of Fame, No God, No Master with David Strathairn, and Darren Stein's teen comedy When Your Best Friend Is Gay (G. B. F.).
According to Entertainment Weekly, co-star Megan Mullally praised Yakono for his improvisational acting and vocal skills. Paul Iacono starred in adidas commercials featuring rapper Bobby Ray "B.o. B" Simmons Jr., as well as Bobby Ray's "Magic" video featuring Rivers Cuomo.
As a creator, Yakono wrote and produced the play "Prince/Elizabeth" in New York and participated in his second project "Gifted" (GIF'ted).
List of authors and directors,he aspires to work with includes Tony Kushner, Aaron Sorkin, P. T. Anderson, and Wes Anderson.
Private life
Paul Iacono is open about being gay and a major LGBT activist who came out publicly in Michael Musto's Village Voice column in April 2012. He reported that he is attracted to both men and women, but has a much greater preference for men and considers himself gay and bisexual. Yacono was named one of the 100 most influential gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in 2013 by OUT magazine.
Yacono was 23 when he made his statement to the Village Voice. He explains it this way:
I think now is the best time to speak up. I grew up in a very traditional Italian family in New Jersey. At school, from the age of 13 - 14, I was always pressured. I've just come to terms with the fact that I'm bisexual and culturally I identify as gay: I'm attracted to girls, but I'm just more attracted to guys. It wasn't until I was 18 that I was able to tell my parents about it. I got older and was able to look at it from a different perspective.
Paul also says that one of the reasons he went public was to be a role model for kids so they don't have to grow up and be afraid of their sexuality.
Filmography
Year of issue |
Name |
Role |
|
2004 |
Winter Solstice | Junior |
| 2005 | Shakes | Young Shakes |
| 2008 | Glow Ropes: The Rise and Fall of a Bar Mitzvah Emcee | Ricky Lopefrawitz |
| 2008 | B | Pi Pi |
| 2009 | Glory (Fame) | Neil Bazinsky |
| 2010 | Consent | Mickey |
| 2012 | Mac & Devin Go to High School | Mahatma Chang Greenberg |
| 2012 | No God, No Master (No God, No Master) | Tony Cafiero |
| 2012 | Rhymes with Banana | Ted |
| 2013 | When your best friend is gay (G. B. F.) | Brent Van Kamp |
| 2013 | The bad guys | Gender |
| 2014 | Animal | Sean |
Roles in televisionshow
| Year | Name | Role | Note |
| 2000 | Dora the Explorer | Benny the Bull | Episode "The Teacher" |
| 2005 | The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie | Party animal | |
| 2007 | Hooligans (Human Giant) | Billy Boy | 2 episodes |
| 2010-2011 | The Hard Times of RJ Berger | R. J. Berger | 24 episodes |
| 2014 | Chosen | Fridget |
Voice acting |
