{"id":2520,"date":"2026-08-07T11:58:38","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T11:58:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/recipelab.delicedcook.com\/?p=2520"},"modified":"2026-08-07T11:58:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T11:58:38","slug":"award-winning-actor-host-of-real-ones-podcast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/recipelab.delicedcook.com\/?p=2520","title":{"rendered":"Award-Winning Actor &#038; Host of Real Ones Podcast"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>Biography at a Glance<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Emmy-winning actor Jon Bernthal rose to prominence with his breakout role in AMC&#8217;s record-breaking\u00a0<em>The Walking Dead<\/em>\u00a0and has since built one of Hollywood&#8217;s most versatile careers.<\/li>\n<li>Bernthal\u00a0notably starred\u00a0in Christopher Nolan&#8217;s\u00a0<em>The Odyssey<\/em>\u00a0and reprised\u00a0<em>The Punisher<\/em>\u00a0in\u00a0<em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li>His\u00a0other\u00a0acclaimed performances include\u00a0<em>The Bear<\/em>,\u00a0<em>The Wolf of Wall Street<\/em>,\u00a0<em>Ford v Ferrari<\/em>,\u00a0<em>King Richard<\/em>, Marvel&#8217;s\u00a0<em>The Punisher<\/em>, and his Broadway debut in\u00a0<em>Dog Day Afternoon<\/em>.\n<div id=\"div-2\" class=\"ad-container mb-6\"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>Bernthal believes greatness requires a willingness to fail, arguing that playing it safe is the surest path to mediocrity and that vulnerability is the foundation of transformative work.<\/li>\n<li>Through his weekly podcast\u00a0<em>Real Ones<\/em>, whose TikTok community has grown to more than one million followers, Bernthal sits down with soldiers, doctors, activists, police officers, and first responders for candid conversations about resilience, purpose, and service.<\/li>\n<li>Off screen, Bernthal teaches boxing to at-risk youth, rehabilitates abused pit bulls, and founded the Ojai Theatre Festival, reflecting his commitment to mentorship, community, and storytelling beyond the screen.\n<div id=\"div-3\" class=\"ad-container mb-6\"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>Bernthal draws on rigorous training at the Moscow Arts Theatre and Harvard&#8217;s American Repertory Theatre, an Emmy-winning career spanning film, television, theatre, producing, and writing, and a belief that the most powerful stories are the ones told with honesty.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.treeiq.biz\/site_134\/2026\/08\/image-33-d094fab9-8103-49ab-b4fc-692e549fdc96.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Biography<\/strong>Classically trained actor Jon Bernthal consistently captivates audiences with various roles across a multitude of genres.\n<div id=\"div-4\" class=\"ad-container mb-6\"><\/div>\n<p>Bernthal can recently be seen in the HBO Series\u202f<em>We Own This City\u202f<\/em>as \u2018Sgt. Wayne Jenkins\u2019 for which he received rave reviews including Vulture stating \u201cBernthal infuses Jenkins with distinctly Baltimorean swagger. Speaking with boastful, rounded o\u2019s and walking with a sway that suggests he\u2019s ready to spring into attack mode at any time, you can\u2019t take your eyes off the guy even when his behavior is so abhorrent you want to\u2026 It\u2019s a high-voltage, Emmy-worthy performance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Prior, he was seen in Lena Dunham\u2019s feature film\u202f<em>Sharp Stick,\u202f<\/em>alongside Kristine Froseth, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Taylour Paige. He also starred in\u00a0<em>King Richard\u00a0<\/em>from director Reinaldo Marcus Green, alongside Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis. Bernthal played Serena and Venus Williams\u2019 famed tennis coach Rick Macci. The film was nominated for a SAG Award for Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture and also received a Critics Choice nomination for Best Picture. Bernthal appeared in Netflix\u2019s original feature\u00a0<em>The Unforgivable,\u00a0<\/em>opposite Sandra Bullock, which broke into the all-time Top 10 movies watched on Netflix.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Embedded video\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2-jDYZEkXp4\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe>In addition to his on-screen projects, Bernthal recently started a weekly podcast called \u201cReal Ones\u201d in which he gives the microphone to some of the most interesting, authentic people living on the front lines of the big issues of our time including soldiers, doctors, police officers, activists, and first responders. The product is an honest, open dialogue that is informative, funny, and at times heartbreaking. The most recent episode received almost 5 million views.<\/p>\n<div id=\"div-5\" class=\"ad-container mb-6\"><\/div>\n<p>Last fall, Bernthal played Tony Soprano\u2019s father, \u2018Johnny Boy Soprano\u2019 in the\u00a0<em>Sopranos<\/em>\u202fmovie prequel,\u202f<em>The Many Saints of Newark,\u202f<\/em>opposite an all-star cast. Additionally, Bernthal recently starred in the feature film adaptation of\u202f<em>Small Engine Repair<\/em>, which he also co-produced based on the award-winning stage production which he also produced and starred in.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container ad-content_middle my-8 block\"><\/div>\n<p>On the television side, he starred in the BJ Novak anthology series,\u202f<em>The Premise,\u202f<\/em>for a compelling episode titled \u2018Moment of Silence\u2019 which has garnered critical acclaim for its thought-provoking subject matter and for his standout performance. He also appeared in an episode of Hulu\u2019s\u00a0<em>The Bear<\/em>\u00a0and can be seen in Showtime\u2019s adaptation of American Gigolo.<\/li>\n<li>&nbsp;\n<p>Bernthal starred in James Mangold\u2019s\u202f<em>Ford V. Ferrari<\/em>\u202fas Lee Iacocca, alongside Christian Bale and Matt Damon. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2019 to critical acclaim and received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. In 2019, he also appeared in\u202f<em>The Peanut Butter Falcon\u202f<\/em>alongside Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson. The film received the Narrative Spotlight Award at SXSW Festival in March 2019 and was nominated by the DGA for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Feature Film. Bernthal opened multiple films in 2017, including Edgar Wright\u2019s\u202f<em>Baby Driver\u202f<\/em>for Sony Pictures, in which he starred alongside Ansel Elgort, Lily James, Jon Hamm, and Jamie Foxx.<\/p>\n<div id=\"continue-tail-287232\" class=\"continue-tail is-collapsed\">\n<p>In 2013, he starred in Martin Scorsese&#8217;s\u202f<em>The Wolf of Wall Street<\/em>, opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, and Margot Robbie. Terence Winter wrote the script about the rise and fall of Wall Streeter Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio). The film was released by Paramount Pictures on Christmas day and was nominated for five Academy Awards \u2013 including Best Picture.<\/p>\n<p>Additional film credits include Taylor Sheridan\u2019s\u202f<em>Those Who Wish Me Dead,\u202f<\/em>Steve McQueen\u2019s\u202f<em>Widows\u202f<\/em>released by 20th\u202fCentury Fox; Taylor Sheridan\u2019s\u202f<em>Wind River;\u202f<\/em>Jamie Dagg\u2019s\u202f<em>Sweet Virginia<\/em>\u202freleased by IFC Films; Ric Roman Waugh\u2019s\u202f<em>Shot Caller\u202f<\/em>released by Saban Films; Gavin O\u2019Connor\u2019s\u202f<em>The Accountant<\/em>\u202freleased by Warner Brothers; Brendan Muldowney\u2019s\u202f<em>Pilgrimage\u202f<\/em>released by RLJ Entertainment; Denis Villeneuve&#8217;s\u202f<em>Sicario\u202f<\/em>released by Lionsgate; David Ayer\u2019s Fury released by Sony; and Alfonso Gomez-Rejon\u2019s film adaptation to\u202f<em>Me &amp; Earl &amp; the Dying Girl.\u202f<\/em>He also appeared in \u202f<em>Date Night<\/em>\u202fwith Steve Carell and Tina Fey; in Roman Polanski&#8217;s award-winning\u202f<em>The Ghost Writer\u00a0<\/em>opposite Ewan McGregor;\u00a0<em>Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian\u00a0<\/em>opposite Ben Stiller, Christopher Guest, and Hank Azaria;\u202f<em>Grudge Match\u00a0<\/em>opposite Robert De Niro; and the independent films\u202f<em>The Air I Breathe\u00a0<\/em>with Kevin Bacon and Julie Delpy, and\u202f<em>Day Zero\u00a0<\/em>with Elijah Wood.\u202fBernthal&#8217;s first major film role was in the Oliver Stone picture\u202f<em>World Trade Center\u00a0<\/em>with Nicholas Cage and Maria Bello.<\/p>\n<p>Alongside his father, Bernthal launched a production company called Story Factory with several film and television projects in development.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"continue-tail-287232\" class=\"continue-tail is-collapsed\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p>Bernthal played the role of &#8220;Frank Castle\/The Punisher&#8221; in the Netflix spin-off series\u202f<em>The Punisher\u00a0<\/em>based on the Marvel comic. He received rave reviews for his performance in the series, which premiered in November 2017. The show\u2019s second season debuted in January 2019. His performance originated in the second season of Netflix\u2019s\u202f<em>Daredevil\u202f<\/em>series, which debuted in 2015. Additionally, Bernthal starred in HBO\u2019s mini-series\u202f<em>Show Me A Hero\u202f<\/em>alongside Oscar Isaac, Jim Belushi, and Winona Ryde, which also premiered in 2015.<\/p>\n<p>Bernthal starred as \u201cShane Walsh\u201d in AMC&#8217;s breakout hit television series,\u202f<em>The Walking Dead<\/em>, based on Robert Kirkman&#8217;s comic book of the same name. Bernthal&#8217;s extraordinary portrayal as a survivor of the zombie apocalypse marks another remarkable turn in a career defined by acclaimed and varied performances both on stage and on screen.\u202f<em>The Walking Dead<\/em>\u202fearned recognition as one of AFI&#8217;s Ten Best Television Programs of the Year. The series also\u202fset new records as the most-watched drama series in basic cable history and has aired internationally in over 120 countries and 33 languages.<\/p>\n<p>Bernthal also starred as the lead in Frank Darabont&#8217;s\u202f<em>Mob City\u202f<\/em>for TNT which premiered on December 4th, 2013. The show was set in Los Angeles during the 1940s and &#8217;50s. It&#8217;s a world of glamorous movie stars, powerful studio heads, returning war heroes, a powerful and corrupt police force and an even more dangerous criminal network determined to make L.A. its West Coast base.<\/p>\n<p>His other television work includes the Steven Spielberg HBO miniseries,\u202f<em>The Pacific,\u202f<\/em>as well as on:\u202f<em>Boston Legal<\/em>,\u202f<em>CSI: Miami<\/em>,\u202f<em>Law &amp; Order Special Victims Unit<\/em>,\u202f<em>How I Met Your Mother<\/em>, and\u202f<em>Without A Trace<\/em>.\u202f His first series in a starring role was\u202f<em>The Class<\/em>, created by David Crane and directed by James Burrows.<\/p>\n<p>A veteran of more than 30 productions, Bernthal most recently returned to his roots in the Rogue Machine Theatre&#8217;s production of\u202f<em>Small Engine Repair<\/em>, where he starred as \u201cTerrance Swaino.\u201d Bernthal also produced the play, a dark comedy-drama that charts three working-class friends in Manchester, New Hampshire as they reunite for an evening of drinking, fighting, and reminiscing. Bernthal earned a 2011 Ovation Award nomination for his performance, which had its New York premiere for MCC in the Fall of 2013. Bernthal had previously starred in Neil LaBute&#8217;s\u202f<em>Fat Pig<\/em>\u202fat the Geffen Playhouse. His other theatre credits include Langford Wilson&#8217;s\u202f<em>Fifth of July<\/em>\u202fat New York&#8217;s Signature Theatre, the off-Broadway production of\u202f<em>The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui<\/em>, where Bernthal played \u201cUi,\u201d at the Portland Stage Company; and\u202f<em>This is Our Youth<\/em>, at the Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C.\u202f His love of theatre led him to open his own non-profit theatre company Fovea Floods, in upstate New York.<\/p>\n<p>given the remarkable opportunity to study at the prestigious Moscow Arts Theatre in Russia, renowned for its regimented program and disciplined training. Educated in acting, acrobatics, ballet, and rhythm, the intense training provided Bernthal with a solid foundation in his craft. While studying at MAT, Bernthal was discovered by the director of Harvard University&#8217;s Institute for Advanced Theatre Training, at the American Repertory Theatre in Moscow. He was invited to study there and graduated with a Master of Fine Arts.<\/p>\n<p>Bernthal was a professional baseball player both in the U.S. minor leagues and European Professional Baseball Federation. These days, Bernthal prefers boxing, for which he trains six days a week. He teaches boxing to at-risk children, drawing out their discipline and work ethic, and helping them to channel their issues into a sport that teaches them confidence and control. Bernthal also works to retrain pit bulls that have been abused, subsequently placing them in new, loving homes. Bernthal resides in Ojai, California<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Biography at a Glance Emmy-winning actor Jon Bernthal rose to prominence with his breakout role in AMC&#8217;s record-breaking\u00a0The Walking Dead\u00a0and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2521,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/recipelab.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/recipelab.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/recipelab.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/recipelab.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/recipelab.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2520"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/recipelab.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2522,"href":"https:\/\/recipelab.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520\/revisions\/2522"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/recipelab.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/recipelab.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/recipelab.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/recipelab.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}