# Paul Iacono

Paul Iacono is an American actor and writer. He is best known for portraying RJ Berger in the MTV scripted series The Hard Times of RJ Berger.

## Early years

Iacono's parents, Michele and Anthony, are Italian American. He has a younger brother, who works as DJ in New Jersey, and a sister, from his Dad's second marriage. Iacono went to Professional Performing Arts School in New York, with friend and Fame co-star Paul McGill. He graduated in 2006.
At eight years old, Iacono was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He soon began receiving chemotherapy treatments and has been in remission since he was eleven years old.

## Career

A graduate of NYC's Professional Performing Arts School, Iacono is best known for his portrayal of the title character on MTV's, The Hard Times of RJ Berger.
Paul first gained wide notice for his numerous appearances on TV's The Rosie O'Donnell Show after Rosie O'Donnell discovered his unique talents for impersonating Frank Sinatra and Ethel Merman, at age 8.
Starting out as child actor in the NYC theater scene, Paul has appeared in over 100 theatrical productions. He has shared the stage with such greats as Mickey Rooney in The Wizard of Oz and Stephanie Mills in the original "Paper Mill Playhouse" production of Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden. Iacono can be heard on the original cast recording. Other theatrical credits include Mame with Christine Ebersole, Noël Coward's Sail Away with Elaine Stritch and Marian Seldes, and John Guare's Landscape of the Body, with Lili Taylor and Sherie Rene Scott.
Paul's film career includes the MGM's remake of Fame, No God, No Master with David Strathairn, and Darren Stein's teen comedy, G.B.F.. Other films include Drew Barrymore's, Animal, Rhymes with Banana with Zosia Mamet and Judith Light, and "Unreachable by Conventional Means," with Alexandra Daddario and Tovah Feldshuh. According to Entertainment Weekly, co-star Megan Mullally gave Iacono high praise for his improvisational acting and singing skills.
Iacono appears in an Adidas commercial featuring rapper Bobby Ray "B.o.B" Simmons Jr and also appears in Bobby Ray's Music Video "Magic", featuring Rivers Cuomo.
As a creator, Paul wrote and produced the NY play, "Prince/Elizabeth", and is in development on his second pilot, "GIF'ted".
As a writer, Iacono penned the play High Priest. In 2024, the world premiere reading of the play took place at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, directed by Rachel Klein. The piece explores the history of The Factory, with a focus on figures like Ondine, Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgwick, Billy Name, Paul Morrissey, Lou Reed, Nico, and others. Following the reading, a post-show discussion featured Danny Fields and Vincent Fremont.

## Personal life

Iacono is gay and a major LGBTQ activist, having publicly come out in Michael Musto's Village Voice Column in April 2012. He was named one of OUT Magazine's 100 most influential gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender people for 2013.
In an April 2012 interview with Michael Musto from The Village Voice, Iacono revealed that he is attracted to both men and women, but prefers men much more and identifies as a gay man and as bisexual. Iacono stated that "I am attracted to girls, I'm just attracted to guys much more."

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | Winter Solstice | Jr. | Uncredited |
| 2005 | Shakes | Young Shakes | Short |
| 2008 | Glow Ropes: The Rise and Fall of a Bar Mitzvah Emcee | Ricky Lopefrawitz | |
| 2008 | Return to Sleepaway Camp | Pee Pee | |
| 2009 | Fame | Neil Baczynsky | |
| 2010 | Consent | Mickey | |
| 2012 | Mac & Devin Go to High School | Mahatma Chang Greenberg | |
| 2012 | No God, No Master | Tony Cafiero | |
| 2012 | Rhymes with Banana | Ted | |
| 2013 | G.B.F. | Brent Van Camp | |
| 2014 | Animal | Sean | |
| 2017 | Dating My Mother | Richard | |
| 2018 | The Bad Guys | Paul | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | Dora the Explorer | Benny the Bull | Episode "Maestra" |
| 2005 | The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie | Party Boy | TV movie |
| 2007 | Human Giant | Billy Boy | 2 episodes |
| 2010-2011 | The Hard Times of RJ Berger | R.J. Berger | Main role |
| 2014 | Chozen | Fridget | Voice |

### Stage

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1997 | Children of Eden | Donny | Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, New Jersey |
| 1998 | The Wizard of Oz | | |
| 1999 | Mame | | Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, New Jersey |
| 2006 | Landscape of the Body Donny | | Signature Theatre, New York City |
| 2007 | The Dark at the Top of the Staris | Punky Givens | Transport Theatre Company at the Connelly Theatre, New York City. |
| 2015 | Mercury Fur | Lola | The New Group, New York City |
| 2024 | High Priest | Ondine | La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York City |