Jeffrey Omura Explained

Jeffrey Omura
Birth Date:23 April 1985
Birth Place:Lansing, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation:actor, politician, labor organizer
Years Active:2007–present
Party:Democratic
Education:Carnegie Mellon University (BA)

Jeffrey Omura (born April 23, 1985) is an American actor, politician and labor organizer.[1] He is known for his work onscreen in Succession, Hawaii Five-0, Blue Bloods, and Gossip Girl, and onstage with the Public Theater, Playwrights' Realm, Ma-Yi Theater Company, National Asian American Theater Company, Arena Stage, Weston Playhouse, St. Louis Rep, Hartford Stage, and more.

Early life and education

Omura is of Japanese descent and was born at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan, on April 23, 1985, and raised in the suburb of Okemos, Michigan. He is the third child of Linda Omura (born Ratliff) and Glenn Omura. The couple met while attending Michigan State University, and were married in 1969 - only two years after interracial marriage was legalized in the United States in Loving v. Virginia.[2]

Omura graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2007.[3]

Career

Acting

In 2007, Omura was cast in The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park production of Romeo and Juliet, directed by Michael Greif.[4] In 2008 Omura earned his Actors' Equity Association union card performing in "The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks"[5] an early musical written by Tony Award nominee Joe Iconis.[6]

Omura made his television debut on the CW's Gossip Girl episode "Desperately Seeking Serena", playing Todd Jansen, the ex-boyfriend of Nelly Yuki. The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) featured Omura in its 2009 Walt Disney Television Casting Project Showcase.[7]

Political campaigning

Omura was a volunteer for the John Kerry campaign, registering students in Okemos, Michigan, to vote. In 2008, Omura spent a month as a full-time field organizer for the Barack Obama campaign in Lansing, Michigan. In 2018, Omura campaigned for congressional candidate Katie Hill in Santa Clarita, California. Omura was active in two 2020 Democratic campaigns: first, Elizabeth Warren's Democratic Primary campaign in New Hampshire; and then Joe Biden's Presidential campaign in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[2]

Actors' Equity

In 2016, the Actors' Equity Association was gearing up to renegotiate its agreement with the Off-Broadway League of Theaters.[8] Omura created and led the Fair Wage OnStage grassroots movement to demand higher wages.[9] With their help, Equity negotiated record-breaking wage increases from 32% to 83%.[10] In 2017, Omura ran for a seat on Equity's National Council and won a three-year term.[11] In 2018, he was elected the chair of the International Actors Committee, allowing him to advocate for immigrant artists.[12] Omura was re-elected to Equity's Council in 2020, where he has helped and supported union members during an industry-wide shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] He was influential in resolving a public jurisdictional battle between SAG-AFTRA and Equity.[14] He is one of the organizers behind the #BeAnArtsHero campaign, which organized the national arts sector to collectively lobby Congress for direct arts relief during the 2020 pandemic. The campaign was instrumental in securing $15 billion for the arts.[15] [16]

In 2021, City & State New York named Omura to their Labor 40 Under 40 List in recognition of his work with Actors Equity Association.[17]

City Council

Omura ran an unsuccessful campaign to represent New York City Council District 6 in 2021.[18] [19]

Television credits

YearTitleRole
2008Gossip GirlTodd Jansen
2011DamagesHenry Thain
2011White CollarChad Stewart
2013The Michael J. Fox ShowTed
2014Blue BloodsPatrick Dunleavy
2014High MaintenanceBrandon
2016LimitlessDanny
2016The BlacklistTrey
2016The InterestingsRobert Takahashi
2017GoneKyle Parrish
2018ElementarySonny Kwan
2018SuccessionRob

Theater credits

Off-Broadway

Regional

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Quinnell . Kenneth . May 7, 2021 . Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Jeffrey Omura AFL-CIO . October 3, 2024 . aflcio.org . en.
  2. News: Jeffrey Omura for City Council – About. January 23, 2021. February 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210215170922/https://www.jeffreyomura.com/about-jeffrey. live.
  3. Web site: About Jeffrey. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210215170905/https://www.jeffreyomura.com/about-jeffrey. February 15, 2021. January 23, 2021. Jeffrey Omura for City Council.
  4. News: The Michael Greif-directed Romeo and Juliet — the first summer 2007 production of Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park — begins previews June 6. Gans. Andrew. June 6, 2007. Playbill. January 23, 2021. February 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210215170901/https://www.playbill.com/article/public-theaters-starry-romeo-and-juliet-begins-previews-june-6-at-the-delacorte-com-141261. live.
  5. Web site: The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks — Mr Joe Iconis. July 29, 2008 . January 23, 2021. June 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200623234345/https://mrjoeiconis.com/the-plant-that-ate-dirty-socks. live.
  6. News: Joe Iconis Official Website. mrjoeiconis.com. January 23, 2021. February 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210208023258/https://mrjoeiconis.com/. live.
  7. News: Disney/ABC Television Group Casting Project Presents 8th NY Actor's Showcase at the Acorn Theatre. August 27, 2009. BroadwayWorld.com. BroadwayWorld. January 23, 2021. February 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210215170920/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/DisneyABC-Television-Group-Casting-Project-Presents-8th-NY-Actors-Showcase-At-the-Acorn-Theatre-910-20090827/. live.
  8. News: Actors' Equity Negotiates Significant Wage Increases in New Contract With Off-Broadway Theaters. McHenry. Jackson. November 19, 2016. vulture.com. Vulture. January 23, 2021. November 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108131930/http://www.vulture.com/2016/11/actors-equity-negotiates-large-wage-increases.html. live.
  9. Web site: Home. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210207211237/https://fairwageonstage.org/. February 7, 2021. January 23, 2021. Fair Wage OnStage.
  10. News: Off-Broadway Equity Actors and Stage Manager Win Pay Increase. Paulson. Michal. Schuessler. Jennifer. November 18, 2016. The New York Times. January 23, 2021. November 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108132648/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/arts/off-broadway-equity-actors-and-stage-managers-win-pay-increase.html. live.
  11. News: Kate Burton, Nikka Graff Lanzarone Among New Members of Actors' Equity National Council. McPhee. Ryan. June 2, 2017. Playbill. January 23, 2021. August 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190830201200/http://www.playbill.com/article/kate-burton-nikka-graff-lanzarone-among-new-members-of-actors-equity-national-council. live.
  12. Web site:
    1. FWOC2020
    . February 15, 2021. January 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128103051/https://www.fairwageoncouncil.org/. live.
  13. News: Actor's Equity 2020 Council Election Results. actorsequity.org. Actor's Equity. January 23, 2021. November 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201121032948/https://actorsequity.org/news/PR/CouncilElections2020/. live.
  14. News: "SAG-AFTRA and Actors' Equity Unions Fight Hollywood Pandemic. Sakoui. Anousha. October 22, 2020. Los Angeles Times. January 23, 2021. December 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201209010208/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-10-22/sag-aftra-actors-equity-union-fight-hollywood-pandemic. live.
  15. News: STANDING UP FOR THEATER - Actors and Writers and Now, Congressional Lobbyists. Vincentelli. Elisabeth. December 23, 2020. The New York Times. January 23, 2021. January 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126120553/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/23/theater/be-an-arts-hero.html. live.
  16. Web site: Our Team. Be An Arts Hero. January 23, 2021. October 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201029183304/https://beanartshero.com/our-team. live.
  17. News: The 2021 Labor 40 Under 40. March 8, 2021. cityandstateny.com. City and State New York. March 8, 2021.
  18. News: Brewer Joins Candidate Forum as City Council District 6 Race Heats Up. Smith. Allison. January 11, 2021. Gotham Gazette. January 23, 2021. January 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126082230/https://www.gothamgazette.com/city/10057-gale-brewer-candidates-city-council-district-6-2021-race. live.
  19. Web site: Election Results Summary 2021 NYC Board of Elections . October 13, 2024 . www.vote.nyc.
  20. Web site: Public Theater's Starry Romeo and Juliet Begins Previews June 6 at the Delacorte. Gans. Andrew. Jones. Kenneth. June 6, 2007. Playbill. August 30, 2019. August 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190830201157/http://www.playbill.com/article/public-theaters-starry-romeo-and-juliet-begins-previews-june-6-at-the-delacorte-com-141261. live.
  21. Web site: The Joe Iconis musical The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks officially opens at Off-Broadway's Lucille Lortel Theatre July 24.. Hetrick. Adam. July 24, 2008. Playbill. August 30, 2019. August 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190830201151/http://www.playbill.com/article/the-plant-that-ate-dirty-socks-opens-off-broadway-july-24-com-151887. live.
  22. Web site: Review: With 'Charles Francis Chan Jr.'s Exotic Oriental Murder Mystery,' Lloyd Suh Takes on a Legacy. Soloski. Alexis. November 10, 2015. The New York Times. August 30, 2019. August 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190830201155/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/11/theater/review-with-charles-francis-chan-jrs-exotic-oriental-murder-mystery-lloyd-suh-takes-on-a-legacy.html. live.
  23. Web site: Review: 'House Rules' and All Kinds of Games. Soloski. Alexis. April 1, 2016. The New York Times. August 30, 2019. August 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190830201154/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/02/theater/review-house-rules-and-all-kinds-of-games.html. live.
  24. Web site: Review: A 'Hamlet' That Wants to Get Closer. Collin-Hughes. Laura. September 20, 2016. The New York Times. August 30, 2019. August 31, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190831012228/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/21/theater/review-a-hamlet-that-wants-to-get-closer.html. live.
  25. Web site: Review: In Search of Intelligent Life and a Willing Sperm Donor. Soloski. Alexis. March 7, 2018. The New York Times. August 30, 2019. August 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190830201406/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/07/theater/review-hello-from-the-children-of-planet-earth-don-nguyen.html. live.
  26. Web site: FRUITING BODIES At Theatre Row. Claire. Jacqueline. April 30, 2019. Stagebiz.com. Stage Biz. August 30, 2019. August 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190830201154/http://stagebiz.com/fruiting-bodies-at-theatre-row/. live.
  27. Web site: Stage review: 'Out' puts a funny spin on serious issues. Rawson. Christopher. June 13, 2008. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 30, 2019. August 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190830201154/https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/2008/06/13/Stage-review-Out-puts-a-funny-spin-on-serious-issues/stories/200806130152. live.
  28. Web site: A Vigorous Macbeth, Swept Up in the Darkness. Gold. Sylviane. October 11, 2013. The New York Times. August 30, 2019. August 31, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190831012224/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/nyregion/a-review-of-macbeth-at-hartford-stage.html. live.
  29. Web site: Whose Cheatin' Heart Came First?. Gold. Sylviane. September 26, 2013. The New York Times. August 30, 2019. August 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190830201151/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/nyregion/a-review-of-la-dispute-at-hartford-stage.html. live.
  30. Web site: A Midsummer Night's Dream: The Rep Delivers a Visually Spectacular Show. Gay. Malcolm. October 22, 2014. The Riverfront Times. August 30, 2019. August 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190830201156/https://www.riverfronttimes.com/artsblog/2014/10/22/a-midsummer-nights-dream-the-rep-delivers-a-visually-spectacular-show. live.
  31. Web site: 'Virginia Woolf' is funny, terrifying and touching. Lowe. Jim. August 18, 2019. The Rutland Herald. August 30, 2019. August 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190830201154/https://www.rutlandherald.com/features/vermont_arts/virginia-woolf-is-funny-terrifying-and-touching/article_fea2d350-9223-5a50-b98e-4be1ae563e4f.html. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Jeffrey Omura".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.