Ethan Walker
Jonathan Roumie is a devout Catholic actor best known for his role as Jesus in the hit series The Chosen. Roumie was baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church but converted to Roman Catholicism after moving from New York to its suburbs. He has been actively involved with his Catholic faith and has served as a ministry leader and an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion within the Catholic Church. He has also been a keynote speaker at the March For Life and was awarded an honorary doctorate in fine arts by the Catholic University of America.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1 July 1974 |
| Religion | Baptized in Greek Orthodox Church, converted to Roman Catholicism |
| Parents' religion | Father: Greek Orthodox, Mother: Roman Catholic |
| Notable works | The Chosen, Jesus Revolution, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Hallow |
| Awards | Honorary doctorate in fine arts by the Catholic University of America |
| Notable for | Playing Jesus in The Chosen |
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What You'll Learn
Jonathan Roumie's Catholic faith
Jonathan Roumie is a devout Catholic actor best known for his role as Jesus in the hit series "The Chosen". He was baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church but converted to Catholicism after moving from New York to its suburbs. His father, who was born and raised in Egypt, attended Catholic school and was familiar with the Catholic faith. His mother is a Roman Catholic from Ireland.
Roumie has been actively involved with his Catholic faith throughout his life. He has been a ministry leader and an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion within the Catholic Church. He is a strong advocate of the sacraments, ecumenism, humility, and charity. He serves on the board of Catholics in Media Associates. In recognition of his faith and work, he was nominated for a papal knighthood, the Order of St. Gregory the Great, in 2020. He was also named one of Aleteia's "10 Catholics Who Restored Our Faith in Humanity" in 2021 and was listed as one of the Catholics of the Year by Our Sunday Visitor in 2022.
Roumie has been vocal about his devotion to the Divine Mercy chaplet. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he prayed the chaplet live on his Facebook page daily, reaching Catholic and non-Catholic fans alike. Some viewers even expressed a newfound calling toward conversion after witnessing his devotion. Roumie has also participated in various prayer challenges on the popular Catholic prayer and meditation app, Hallow, such as the #Pray40 Lent Challenge and the Advent Featuring The Chosen: #Pray25 Prayer Challenge.
In addition to his acting career, Roumie has used his platform to advocate for the Catholic faith and the teachings of the Church. He served as the commencement speaker for the Catholic University of America's 2024 graduation ceremony. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate in fine arts by the same university in 2024 for his work in evangelizing through his acting career. Roumie has also been a keynote speaker at the March for Life in 2023 and 2024, where he expressed his pro-life stance, stating, "God is love, and true love gives way to life, not death."
Roumie's faith has influenced his career choices, and he has been selective in the roles he portrays. Notably, he has played Jesus in various productions, including "The Chosen," a television series about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. Roumie's portrayal of Jesus has touched the lives of millions worldwide, and he has become a beloved figure in popular culture.
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Roumie's acting career
Jonathan Roumie is an actor and producer of Syro-Lebanese and Irish origin. He was born in New York City, where his parents met, and was raised in its suburbs. Roumie began his career in entertainment as a production assistant and worked as a location scout for major films such as *Spider-Man*, *National Treasure*, and *I Am Legend*. He also played the drums in a contemporary rock band before moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting full-time.
Roumie's first acting role was as a voice actor for an MTV series. He then went on to land minor roles in television series, including *The Good Wife*, *As the World Turns*, and *Castle*. In 2014, he met Dallas Jenkins, the creator of *The Chosen*, and was cast in the role of Jesus in a short film about the Two Thieves. Roumie has since portrayed Jesus in several projects, including a touring multi-media project about the life of the messiah and the 2023 film *Jesus Revolution*, in which he played the charismatic hippie evangelist Lonnie Frisbee.
Roumie is also the co-producer, co-director, and lead actor of *The Last Days: The Passion and Death of Jesus*, a live performance about the passion of Christ. In addition to his on-screen roles, Roumie has provided voiceover work for various video games, such as *Batman: Dark Tomorrow*, *Fallout 4*, and *Days Gone*. His most notable voice acting role is as Dollman in Hideo Kojima's 2025 game *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach*.
Roumie has also served as a narrator for the Catholic prayer app Hallow, which he promoted in a Super Bowl commercial in 2024, leading to a spike in downloads for the app. In addition to his acting career, Roumie is a talented illustrator and has won awards for his work. He holds a degree in film from the School of Visual Arts and was awarded an honorary doctorate in fine arts by the Catholic University of America in 2024 for his work evangelizing through his acting career.
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Roumie's work as a voice artist
Jonathan Roumie is an American actor of film and television, a voice artist, public speaker, and musician. He is best known for his role as Jesus in the crowd-funded television series "The Chosen", which has garnered over 500 million views worldwide. Roumie's popularity has skyrocketed alongside the show, and he has since been featured in numerous publications and interviewed on various television networks.
Roumie has lent his voice to popular video games such as "Batman: Dark Tomorrow", "Fallout 4", and "Days Gone". His most notable video game role, however, is as Dollman in Hideo Kojima's 2025 game "Death Stranding 2: On the Beach". Roumie's voice talent has also been featured in animation projects. He serves as a narrator for the Catholic prayer app "Hallow", which gained widespread attention after he appeared in a Super Bowl commercial in 2024.
In addition to his voice-over work, Roumie has created music and released his first original song, "Outta Time", in Europe. He also played drums in his friend's contemporary rock band before they began their career in acting. Roumie's versatility as an artist has contributed to a diverse and successful career in the entertainment industry.
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Roumie's family's religious background
Jonathan Roumie was born in New York City on July 1, 1974, and is a second-generation American. His father was born in Egypt and is of Syro-Lebanese descent, while his mother is from Ireland. Roumie's great-grandparents on his father's side were Armenian. His mother was raised on a farm in Ireland, while his father was raised in Cairo, Egypt.
Roumie was baptized in the Orthodox Church. However, after his family moved from New York City to the suburbs of Long Island, they struggled to find a Greek Orthodox church. As his father had attended a Catholic school in Egypt and was familiar with the Catholic faith, and his mother was Roman Catholic, the family began attending the local Catholic Church. Roumie made his first Communion and confirmation as a Catholic and grew up in the Catholic faith.
Roumie has spoken about a deeper conversion experience that he had about five and a half years ago. He had been an active member of his parish and participated in various ministries, but he felt that he had not been letting God take part in his career. It was only when he faced financial difficulties and poverty that he fully surrendered his life to God.
Roumie's devotion to his faith has led him to use his platform to encourage others in their spiritual journeys. He has been open about his pro-life views and has participated in events such as the March for Life, where he spoke about the sanctity of life and the role of faith in facing resistance.
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Roumie's work as a Catholic ministry leader
Jonathan Roumie is a devout Catholic actor, public speaker, and voice artist. He is best known for his role as Jesus in the crowd-funded television series "The Chosen", which explores the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. Roumie's work as a Catholic ministry leader is an extension of his deep faith and commitment to the Catholic Church.
Roumie's journey into Catholicism began with his family background and upbringing. Born in New York City, he was initially baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church. However, when his family moved to the suburbs, they could no longer find a Greek Orthodox church nearby. As a result, they started attending the local Catholic Church, where Roumie received his First Communion and confirmation as a Catholic.
As an adult, Roumie experienced a deeper conversion and actively participated in several ministries within his parish. He served as a lector, ministry leader, and Eucharistic minister. He also co-founded the Good Shepherd Professional Entertainment Fellowship, which aims to bring together Catholics and other Christians in the entertainment industry to share their ideas, hopes, and dreams. The fellowship hosts bimonthly meetings with guest speakers, fostering a community where faith and professional journeys intertwine.
Additionally, Roumie utilizes modern platforms to reach a wider audience. He hosts live prayers on Instagram, with some recordings reaching nearly 100,000 views. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet live on Facebook daily, attracting both Catholic and non-Catholic followers. He is also a narrator for the Catholic prayer app Hallow, which gained popularity after a Super Bowl commercial in 2024 featuring Roumie. Through these diverse avenues, Roumie continues to evangelize and share his faith with people from all walks of life.
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Frequently asked questions
Jonathan Roumie converted to Catholicism from Greek Orthodox Christianity when he moved from New York City to its suburbs and could no longer find a Greek Orthodox church.
Jonathan Roumie is an American actor, voice artist, and public speaker.
Jonathan Roumie is a second-generation American. His father was born in Egypt and is of Syro-Lebanese and Armenian descent, while his mother is from Ireland.
Jonathan Roumie is best known for his role as Jesus in the television series "The Chosen". He has also appeared in television shows like "As the World Turns", "Castle", and "The Good Wife".
