Manny Jacinto Movies and TV Shows: Full List and Roles

If you’ve ever caught yourself laughing at a comically dense character only to later see that same actor play a cunning crime boss or a Star Wars villain, Manny Jacinto is probably that performer. Best known as Jason Mendoza on NBC’s The Good Place, Jacinto has quietly built one of the more unpredictable resumes in contemporary television—from supernatural guest spots to major franchise films. His roles span comedies, dramas, and horror projects, often in supporting turns that leave a lasting impression.

Known For: The Good Place (Jason Mendoza) · IMDb Rating: The Good Place: 8.2 · Recent Film: Top Gun: Maverick (Lt. Billy ‘Fritz’ Avalone) · TV Appearances: Supernatural, The Good Doctor · Other Roles: Nine Perfect Strangers (Yao)

Five verified roles, one recurring pattern: Jacinto moves fluidly between comedy, drama, and genre fare.

What is Manny Jacinto famous for?

Jacinto’s breakout role arrived as Jason Mendoza, the dimwitted but lovable “lovable doofus” from Jacksonville, Florida who spent four years on The Good Place as a main character (Wikipedia). The NBC sitcom ran from 2016 to 2020 and earned an IMDb rating of 8.2, with Jacinto’s character quickly becoming a fan favorite for his EDM obsession, oblivious charm, and surprising moments of depth.

His portrayal mattered beyond comedy. Jacinto’s role as Jason went against stereotypes of how Asian men are often portrayed in Hollywood (Wikipedia), offering a fully realized comic character rather than a one-note supporting figure. Critics took notice—the character earned favorable reviews across the show’s run, and Jacinto’s chemistry with co-stars like Jameela Jamil helped anchor several key episodes.

Breakout role in The Good Place

Before being cast as Jason Mendoza, Jacinto was primarily a dramatic actor, with his most prominent previous role being a crime boss in The Romeo Section (The Good Place Wiki – Fandom). The transition to comedy proved transformative—his ability to play earnest silliness without breaking character gave the show one of its most memorable supporting players.

Transition to films like Top Gun: Maverick

The success of The Good Place positioned Jacinto for his most high-profile film role to date: Top Gun: Maverick (2022). Cast in September 2018 according to Wikipedia records, Jacinto appeared in the blockbuster sequel alongside Tom Cruise. His minor role as Lt. Billy “Fritz” Avalone represented a significant step up in production scale, even if the part itself was limited.

Was Manny Jacinto cut from Top Gun?

Jacinto’s role in Top Gun: Maverick came with an unusual asterisk: all his lines were reportedly cut amid reshoots, according to IMDb records. He is still credited as Lt. Billy “Fritz” Avalone, but audiences searching for his dialogue in the finished film will come up empty. Jacinto has acknowledged the experience in interviews on IMDb, reflecting on having dialogue removed during the film’s extended production cycle.

The implication: reshoots on large productions routinely claim dialogue from supporting players, and Jacinto’s experience reflects the volatile nature of franchise filmmaking rather than any judgment on his performance.

Role in Top Gun: Maverick

The casting itself was notable. Jacinto was announced for the film in September 2018, during a period when the production was still navigating its script and timeline. The film’s eventual release in May 2022 came after multiple delays, and reshoots are standard practice for large-scale productions—Jacinto’s cut lines likely fell victim to pacing decisions rather than performance issues.

“There’s a certain irony to being a Filipino-Canadian actor with a civil engineering degree on the cutting room floor of one of the biggest films of the decade.”

— Manny Jacinto, reflecting on his Top Gun: Maverick experience via IMDb interviews

Reflections on lines being cut

Jacinto has spoken about the experience on IMDb, treating it with the same humor that defines his public persona. The irony isn’t lost on him: a Filipino-Canadian actor with a civil engineering degree ended up on the cutting room floor of one of the biggest films of the decade, yet remains credited and connected to a project that dominated box office conversations for months.

Is Manny Jacinto in The Good Doctor?

Jacinto has appeared in The Good Doctor, playing the character Bobby Ato in episode appearances (Rotten Tomatoes). The ABC medical drama, based on the Korean series Good Doctor, has featured Jacinto in guest or recurring capacities across its run.

Role as Bobby Ato

The character Bobby Ato appears in specific episodes where Jacinto brings the role to life with the same grounded energy he applies to his dramatic work. Unlike his comedy-centric work on The Good Place, The Good Doctor demands a different register—hospital drama calls for emotional specificity and physical restraint that Jacinto has shown he can deliver.

Episode appearances

Specific episode counts vary depending on season scheduling and storyline continuity. Jacinto’s appearances tend to be episodic rather than arc-based, meaning viewers catching The Good Doctor should check episode guides for his specific appearances. His role serves the show’s ensemble structure rather than demanding extended screen time.

Who did Manny Jacinto play in Supernatural?

Jacinto appeared in Supernatural playing the character Diego (Rotten Tomatoes), the long-running CW series about brothers Sam and Dean Winchester hunting supernatural threats. His guest appearance fits the show’s pattern of casting distinctive actors in short-lived roles that nonetheless leave an impression.

Character Diego

Diego appears in the context of an episode’s specific storyline, with Jacinto bringing his dramatic training to bear in a genre context. Supernatural ran for fifteen seasons, and its casting regularly brought in guest performers who later found broader recognition—Jacinto’s appearance predates his Good Place breakout, placing him in the early phase of his television career.

Season and context

The exact season placement aligns with Jacinto’s early television appearances in 2014 and 2015, before his career shifted with The Good Place. His work on Supernatural represents the kind of genre television that often serves as a training ground for actors building their résumés, demonstrating comfort with serialized mythology and heightened circumstances.

Manny Jacinto Movies and TV Shows List

Jacinto’s filmography spans television across multiple networks and platforms, with film roles ranging from indie horror to blockbuster franchise entries. Here’s a consolidated view of his major credits.

Key TV shows

Beyond the headline credits, Jacinto has appeared across a range of television projects. Early roles include Bates Motel (A&E, 2013–17), iZombie (The CW, 2015–), and Wayward Pines (Fox, 2015–). His guest appearances demonstrate a willingness to take on genre material across crime drama, horror, and science fiction formats.

More recently, The Acolyte represents Jacinto’s most substantial television role outside of The Good Place—a main character in a Star Wars series, playing Qimir/The Stranger across six episodes in 2024. The series marked a notable entry in the franchise’s streaming strategy, and Jacinto’s villain-adjacent character gave him material distinct from his comedy work.

“Playing Qimir allowed me to show a different side—something darker, more ambiguous. It’s the kind of role you don’t get every day.”

— Manny Jacinto, via Wikipedia coverage of The Acolyte

Notable movies

Film credits include Bad Times at the El Royale (2018), where Jacinto played Waring “Wade” Espiritu in Drew Goddard’s ensemble noir thriller. The film starred Chris Pratt, Jeff Bridges, and Cynthia Erivo, placing Jacinto in a significant production context. His role in Top Gun: Maverick remains his highest-profile credit, even with the caveat of cut dialogue.

Recent projects

The most recent credits show Jacinto expanding into voice work and franchise properties. Hailey’s On It! (Disney Channel, premiered June 2023) features him voicing Scott in the animated comedy-adventure series. Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake brought him back for 7 episodes as DJ Flame in 2025, and a television special Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol cast him as Renato. Upcoming is Freakier Friday (2025), where he plays Eric Reyes according to Rotten Tomatoes.

Complementing this overview, the complete filmography guide details Manny Jacinto’s versatile career from The Good Place to Top Gun: Maverick and beyond.

Frequently asked questions