Manny Jacinto Movie and TV Show : Full Filmography and Career

You know the face, even if the name doesn’t ring a bell. Manny Jacinto has a knack for stealing scenes with minimal screen time—whether he’s playing the lovable fool on The Good Place or getting his lines cut from a billion-dollar blockbuster. Here’s the full story of his movies, TV shows, and the roles that almost were. For a complete inventory, see the Manny Jacinto filmography.

Years active: 2014–present ·
Notable TV shows: The Good Place, Nine Perfect Strangers, Supernatural, The 100 ·
Notable movies: Top Gun: Maverick, I Want You Back ·
Ethnicity: Filipino-Canadian

Six key facts across his career, one pattern: Jacinto’s filmography is short on lead roles but long on memorable characters that punch above their screen time. For a full breakdown, explore the Complete list of Manny Jacinto movies and TV shows.

Here is a quick fact profile of Manny Jacinto:

What is Manny Jacinto famous for?

The Good Place as Jason Mendoza

• Manny Jacinto is best known for playing the hilariously dim-witted Jason Mendoza on NBC’s The Good Place, a role that ran from 2016 to 2020 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)). The character, a Jacksonville Jaguars fan and amateur DJ, became a fan favorite for his deadpan delivery and unexpected depth.
• Jacinto’s performance earned him critical praise and a larger profile, even though he was initially cast in a supporting role (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

Other notable TV roles

• He played Yao, a mysterious wellness resort employee, in Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers (2023) (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
• Earlier guest appearances include Supernatural, The 100, and Bates Motel (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
• He voiced Scott Denoga in the Disney Channel animated series Hailey’s On It (2023–2024) (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

Film appearances

• Jacinto appeared in the ensemble thriller Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
• He co-starred in the romantic comedy I Want You Back (2022) as Logan (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
• His highest-profile film role to date is Lt. Billy “Fritz” Avalone in Top Gun: Maverick (2022) (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

The pattern: Jacinto has built a career on supporting roles that leave a lasting impression, often in shows and films that become cultural touchstones.

Was Manny Jacinto cut from Top Gun?

His role as Lt. Billy “Fritz” Avalone

• In Top Gun: Maverick, Jacinto played Lt. Billy “Fritz” Avalone, a fighter pilot trainee. He appears in several group scenes but his dialogue was almost entirely removed from the final cut (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

The line-cut controversy

• Jacinto has spoken about the experience, noting that he shot multiple scenes with dialogue that never made the theatrical release (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)). Despite the cuts, his character is still visible in background shots and cockpit sequences.
• According to reports, the scene removals were a creative decision to streamline the story, not a reflection of his performance (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

What this means: For an actor already known for scene-stealing side characters, having his lines cut from the year’s biggest film was a bittersweet milestone—proof of his casting in a major franchise, even if the editors didn’t give him the lines to prove it.

Was Manny Jacinto in The Good Doctor?

Episode appearance: Bobby Ato

• Yes, Jacinto appeared in the fifth episode of The Good Doctor‘s first season (2017), playing a patient named Bobby Ato (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

Character context

• Bobby Ato is a young man with a medical condition that requires surgery; the episode focuses on Dr. Shaun Murphy’s unorthodox method of treating him. It was a minor but credited role (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

The catch: Jacinto’s many one-off guest spots, from The Good Doctor to Supernatural, show a résumé built on versatility—but they also mean his filmography is scattered across half a dozen shows where viewers may not even recognize him.

Who did Manny Jacinto play in Supernatural?

Season 8, episode 20: Pac-Man Fever

• Jacinto appeared in the 2013 Supernatural episode “Pac-Man Fever” (Season 8, Episode 20) (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

Character role

• His character name is not widely documented in major sources. (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))

The catch: Even a minor, unnamed role in a long-running series like Supernatural adds to his résumé of versatile guest appearances.

Is Manny Jacinto a mixed person?

Manny Jacinto’s heritage

• Manny Jacinto is of Filipino descent. He was born in Canada to Filipino parents, making him Filipino-Canadian. He is not mixed; both parents are Filipino. (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))

The pattern: His ethnic background is often a point of interest, but he identifies as fully Filipino-Canadian.

For a comprehensive look at his entire career, you can explore this complete filmography of Manny Jacinto movies and TV shows featured on News Signal.

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