Manny Jacinto Goes From Sitcom Star to Disney’s Newest Romantic Lead
So, have you seen Manny Jacinto lately? You probably remember him as Jason Mendoza, the lovable doofus from The Good Place . Back then, he was all comic relief and clueless charm. But fast forward to now—Manny's stepping into full-on leading man territory, and it’s happening in a major way.
He’s starring in Freakier Friday , the new sequel to that classic body-swap comedy, alongside none other than Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. Yup, they’re back, and this time Manny plays Eric Davies—a charming, slightly oblivious chef and single dad who's engaged to Lohan’s character. The twist? His fiancée swaps bodies with her teenage daughter, and his own daughter ends up switching places with Jamie Lee Curtis’s character. Wild, right? And Manny’s character, poor guy, has no idea it’s happening. He just thinks everyone’s acting really, really weird.
But this role is more than just another comedy gig. For Manny, it’s a career milestone—and a cultural one too. At 37, he’s now officially the first Southeast Asian romantic lead in a major Disney theatrical release. That might not sound huge at first, but in a Hollywood landscape that’s been historically limiting for Asian American men, especially in romantic roles, it’s a big deal. People are noticing. Critics and fans alike are praising the shift. As one professor put it, there’s something refreshing about seeing an Asian man finally getting the “romantic lead” spotlight in a mainstream film—and not as the sidekick or punchline.
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Manny’s path to this moment has been anything but ordinary. After The Good Place , he took on roles that pushed him far beyond the sitcom box—like a brooding Sith Lord in The Acolyte , and a key role in Nine Perfect Strangers opposite Nicole Kidman. His performances showed depth, vulnerability, and, let’s be honest, a whole new level of screen presence. TikTok even blew up with edits of him—shirtless and emotional—leading fans to totally reassess their “TV crush” rankings.
And according to the Freakier Friday director, his role actually expanded during filming because of how good he was. The man can do comedy, drama, and everything in between. He even faked a British accent for the role—and pulled it off.
Behind the scenes, he gives a lot of credit to the women who’ve supported his journey—directors like Nisha Ganatra and Leslye Headland, and co-stars like Nicole Kidman. He says women have consistently seen his potential and helped him level up.
Off-screen, Manny’s happily married to Canadian actress Dianne Doan, and he’s looking ahead—maybe more franchises, maybe even acting in French or Tagalog. He’s got big goals, like a dream project he jokingly calls Dirty Dancing 2 . But with Freakier Friday hitting theaters on August 8, one thing’s clear: Manny Jacinto isn’t just playing the love interest. He’s rewriting what a leading man can look like—and doing it with a smile.
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