Jamie Costa
{{Short description|American actor (born 1990)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jamie Costa
| image = Jamie Costa Australia 2022 Small.jpg
| caption = Jamie Costa at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Australia in 2022
| birth_name = James Edward Costa
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1990|5|12}}
| birth_place = Charleston, South Carolina
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Actor
- producer
- voice-over artist}}
| years_active = 2013–present
}}
James Edward Costa (born May 12, 1990) is an American actor, voice actor, writer and director.{{cite news|title=Jamie Costa's Robin Williams impersonation leaves fans clamoring for a whole film.|work=CNN News|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/13/entertainment/jamie-costa-robin-williams-intl-scli/index.html}}{{cite news |last1=Berkowitz |first1=Joe |title=Take A Break From "Young Han Solo" News With A Shockingly Good Young Han Solo Fan Film Get your pew-pew-pew fix with Han Solo: A Smuggler's Trade, a fan-made film that captures the spirit of the real thing |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3066972/take-a-break-from-young-han-solo-news-with-a-shockingly-good-young-han-solo-fan-fi |access-date=October 22, 2022 |work=Fast Company |date=January 5, 2017}} He gained international attention{{cite news |title=This Robin Williams lookalike is uncannily good at impressions: You can't beat a good impression and this guy is stellar at them. |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/celebrity/arid-20329235.html |access-date=November 9, 2022 |work=Irish Examiner |date=May 7, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Barnett |first1=David |title=What is it we all like about impressions? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/long-reads/why-like-impressions-impersonation-comedy-b1976674.html |access-date=November 8, 2022 |work=The Independent (Daily Edition) |date=January 13, 2022}} for his impersonation of Robin Williams.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/movies/robin-williams-daughter-asks-fans-to-stop-spamming-her-with-viral-impression-video-of-her-dad/|title=Robin Williams' Daughter Asks Fans to Stop 'Spamming' Her with Viral Impression Video of Her Dad|last=Bjornson|first=Greta|date=October 14, 2021|work=People|access-date=August 22, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2021/10/13/robin-williams-jamie-costa-youtube-impersonation-sparks-biopic-calls/8444699002/|title=Jamie Costa channeling Robin Williams on YouTube 'screen test' has fans calling for a biopic|last=Alexander|first=Bryan|date=October 13, 2021|work=USA Today|access-date=August 22, 2022}} He made his film debut in the crime-thriller film, Bring Him to Me.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/barry-pepper-sam-neill-bring-him-to-me-1235452762 |title=Barry Pepper, Sam Neill to Star in Mob Thriller 'Bring Him to Me' (EXCLUSIVE) |date=December 7, 2022}}
Early life
Jamie Costa was born on May 12, 1990, and grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. He attended private Christian schools up until high school when he was sent to a military boarding school in Virginia where he ended up graduating highest-ranking cadet.{{cite news |last1=Paras |first1=Andy |title=The real Jamie Costa: Charleston native recognized for Robin Williams, Harrison Ford impressions |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/business/the-real-jamie-costa-charleston-native-recognized-for-robin-williams/article_091b8a55-e009-5651-b31c-53a607d9bb44.html |access-date=November 7, 2022 |work=Post and Courier |date=March 11, 2015}} He briefly attended college at The Citadel and eventually ended up studying theater at North Greenville University in South Carolina. He took a semester to study film in Los Angeles, and {{cite web|last=Costa|first=Jamie|title=Jamie Costa '15|url=https://ngu.edu/success-stories/jamie-costa/|website=ngu.edu}} then finally graduated in December 2013.{{cite news|last=Costa|first=Jamie|date=August 4, 2015|title=NGU Grad Appears on 'America's Got Talent'|work=Greenville News|url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/entertainment/2015/08/04/north-greenville-grad-appears-americas-got-talent/31116061/}} He also has a brother named Caleb.
Career
Starting in 2015, Costa began posting impersonations on YouTube, including Robin Williams,{{cite news |last1=Blumm |first1=K.C. |title=Jamie Costa Does the Best Robin Williams Impressions You Will Ever See |url=https://people.com/movies/jamie-costa-does-the-best-robin-williams-impressions-you-will-ever-see-video/ |access-date=December 9, 2022 |work=People |date=April 15, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Hodgson |first1=Claire |title=This guy's Robin Williams impressions are INCREDIBLE |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/news/a34951/robin-williams-impressions-jamie-costa/ |access-date=October 22, 2022 |work=Cosmopolitan |date=April 15, 2015}} Ian McKellen,{{cite magazine |last1=Wasman |first1=Olivia B. |title=This Master Robin Williams Impressionist Is Back With More Spot-On Celebrity Imitations |url=https://time.com/3850169/robin-williams-impersonator-gandalf-fellowship-celebrities/ |access-date=October 22, 2022 |magazine=Time |date=May 7, 2015}} Owen Wilson, Matthew McConaughey, and Harrison Ford.
In July 2015, Costa moved to LA to continue his career in acting and filmmaking and has since appeared in various film and television projects both on screen and as a voice over artist.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} He has produced and acted in Star Wars fan films hosted on his YouTube channel.
In 2017, Costa played supporting roles in the feature film Heaven Bound,{{cite news |last1=Arce |first1=Nichole |title=Watch Actor Jamie Costa Pay Tribute To Robin Williams With 20 Amazing Impressions |url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/46350/20150415/watch-actor-jamie-costa-pay-tribute-to-robin-williams-with-20-amazing-impressions.htm |access-date=October 25, 2022 |work=Tech Times |date=April 15, 2015}} and on the TV show, My Crazy Ex.{{cite news |last1=Kaur |first1=Jaspreet |title=Who is Jamie Costa, as comedian's Robin Williams impression goes viral |url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/10/13/who-is-jamie-costa-as-comedians-robin-williams-impression-goes-viral/ |access-date=October 25, 2022 |work=HITC}} In 2018, he played a supporting role in the movie Funny Story{{cite web |title=Funny Story - Full Cast & Crew |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/funny-story/cast/2000235305/ |website=TV Guide |publisher=Fandom Company |access-date=October 25, 2022}} and the Price of Fame tv series.{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Zarik |title=Hanging with the first Young Han Solo, Jamie Costa |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2018/05/14/hanging-with-the-first-young-han-solo-jamie-costa/ |access-date=October 25, 2022 |work=AIPT Comics |date=May 14, 2018}} Costa played a soldier in the 2020 B-rated film, Robot Riot.{{cite news |last1=Barton |first1=Rebekah |title=Robin Williams's Daughter Begs People to Stop "Spamming" Her With Viral Video |url=https://insidethemagic.net/2021/10/zelda-williams-stop-spamming-viral-video-rwb1/ |access-date=October 25, 2022 |work=Inside the Magic |date=October 14, 2021}}
In 2021, Costa posted a five minute piece titled "ROBIN Test Footage Scene" to YouTube. The video shows Williams, played by Costa, in his trailer preparing for an episode of Mork & Mindy. His co-star Pam Dawber (portrayed by Sarah Murphree) brings news of John Belushi's death, prompting an emotional reaction from Williams.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/movies/robin-williams-fans-are-blown-away-by-actor-jamie-costas-impersonation-we-need-a-biopic/|title=Robin Williams Fans Are Blown Away by Actor Jamie Costa's Impersonation: 'We Need a Biopic'|author=Cher|date=October 12, 2021|work=People|access-date=August 22, 2022}} The video received several million views. USA Today and The Independent both called his imitation of Williams "uncanny".
In 2022, in an interview with Silver Screen magazine,{{Cite web|url=https://www.silverscreenmagazine.com/|title=Silver Screen Magazine - Cinema, Stars, Hollywood, News|date=April 10, 2022|accessdate=January 27, 2024}} Costa announced that he will have a guest role as young Kurt Russell on one of the episodes for the Netflix adult animated series: Agent Elvis starring Matthew McConaughey as Elvis. He also starred in a short film titled The Cowboy & the Samurai with director and writer, Jake Lewis.{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Hayley |title=Agent Elvis: Truth behind Kurt Russell being Walt Disney's final words and kicking Elvis |url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1746482/agent-elvis-cast-netflix |access-date=May 5, 2023 |work=Express UK |date=March 15, 2023}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.silverscreenmagazine.com/jamie-costa-interview/ |title=Jamie Costa Interview |magazine=Silver Screen Magazine |date=May 26, 2022}}
Costa made his theatrical debut in the 2023 feature Australian film Bring Him to Me, a crime thriller alongside actors Barry Pepper and Sam Neill.{{cite news |title= Bring Him to Me Official Trailer |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N37TlmogMf0|access-date=October 16, 2023 |work=youtube |date=Aug 23, 2023}}
In 2024, he was originally going to voice The Grandmaster in the third season of What If...? but was replaced by actor and comedian, Matt Friend.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxtlB_QRVG-27gT9xX33ql4V_xMrj--LH5|title=Jamie Costa - YouTube|website=www.youtube.com|accessdate=January 27, 2024}} He also starred as Agent Richard Beckett in the pilot episode of the independent web-series, Zack In Time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CEpOQwFlgDI/?igsh=Z3JpcnoweG94Zmlt|title=Instagram|website=www.instagram.com|accessdate=January 27, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3DmZEkYvxQ&t=2s|title=Zack In Time - Episode 1: The Watch|website=www.youtube.com|accessdate=January 19, 2025}}
= Upcoming projects =
Currently in post-production, Costa will also be portraying Herman Schultz / Shocker ll in the upcoming web series Spider Man and the Monsters of Manhattan after it was previously announced to be released in 2021.{{cite web |title=Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man and the Monsters of Manhattan SERIES (2021) |url=https://en.kinorium.com/2710543/ |website=Kinorium.com |access-date=October 25, 2022}}
Costa announced on his YouTube community tab page that he would star in the 2024 horror film Scurry alongside newcomer Australian RnB artist, Emalia. Scurry will be Costa's first one-shot film. The film had its world premiere at the 2024 Sydney Sci-fi Film Festival. It is scheduled to be release in limited theatres in the U.S. sometime in 2025.{{cite new |title= Celebrating SCURRY at Sydney Sci-fi Film Festival |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0jhmLUsWPg|website=Youtube.com/@JamieCosta |access-date=January 12, 2025}}{{cite news |title= Scurry |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/umbrella-entertainment-luke-sparke-film-scurry-australia-1235770419/ |website=Variety.com |access-date=November 4, 2023}}
Costa will also star in the action-supernatural film, Fight For Your Life with director Luke Sparke alongside Entourage star, Jeremy Piven on a undisclosed date.{{Cite web |last=Ritman |first=Alex |date=2023-05-19 |title=Cannes: Jeremy Piven to Lead Supernatural Gladiator Actioner ‘Fight for Your Life’ (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jeremy-piven-supernatural-gladiator-actioner-fight-for-your-life-1235495123/ |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
He will also have a role in the indie film, Zombie Apache as Sheriff Hatfield with the film also set to be released at an undisclosed date.{{cite new |title=Zombie Apache Trailer|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgJJF2G90vc|website=Youtube.com/@JamieCosta |access-date=January 19, 2025}}
Filmography
{{BLP sources section|date=January 2023}}File:Jamie Costa in 'Kenobi' fan film.jpg
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2017
|Heaven Bound |Curt |Direct to DvD |
| 2018
|Waiter | Extra |
| 2019
| |Additional voices |
| 2020
|Robot Riot |Peterson |Supporting |
| rowspan= "2" | 2023
| Jake the Passenger |Feature Film{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/barry-pepper-sam-neill-bring-him-to-me-1235452762/amp/ |title=Bring Him To Me |website=Variety |date=December 7, 2022}} |
| The Activated Man
|Ors Gabriel |Feature Film |
=Short Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| rowspan= "2" | 2013
|Wolverine |Fan Film |
| Shifter
|TV Host/TV Chef |Short film Also director |
| rowspan= "2" | 2014
|Take a Deep Breath |Pizarro |Short film Voice only |
| Shadows of Man
|Man |Short film |
| 2015
|Cures Anything |Cash |Short film |
| rowspan= "2" | 2016
|We Can't Die |Richard West |Short film |
| Han Solo: A Smuggler's Trade |
| rowspan="3" | 2018
|Harv |Short film |
| Deadpool The Musical 2 - Ultimate Disney Parody
|Iron Man (voice) |Fan film |
| Jurassic World: Exodus
|Neal "Doc" |Fan Film |
| rowspan= "2" | 2019
|KENOBI: A Star Wars Story |Fan Film |
| Star Wars: Origins
| Walter |Fan Film |
| rowspan= "2" | 2021
|Fan Film |
| Robin
|Test footage |
| 2022
|Defiance: A Joker Fan Film |Voice of Joker |Fan Film |
| rowspan= "2" | 2023
|The Cowboy and The Samurai{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P95e0DMy2Ww&t=1s |title=THE COWBOY AND THE SAMURAI - the Legend of Jack Nicholson and John Belushi |website=YouTube }} |Short Film |
| Outpost{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AcklHMN3TY | title=OUTPOST - 4K Trailer | website=YouTube }}
|Sager/The Thief |Short Film |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| rowspan= "3" | 2015
|Jimmy's Books |Jimmy / Cool Robot / Director |Voice only |
| The 3rd Annual Geekie Awards
|TV movie |
| Schmoes Know Movie Show
|Himself |Episode 213 |
| rowspan= "2" | 2016
|Making an Impression |Himself |Documentary |
| Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon
|Himself |#2.3 |
| rowspan= "2" | 2017
| Billy |#4.11 |
| The Inspectors
|Duncan Soto |#2.16 (Guest Appearance) |
| 2018
|The Price of Fame |#1.5 |
| rowspan= "2" | 2023
|Voice role; 1 episode |
| The Beech Boys
|FBI Agent Ashley |7 episodes |
= Web series =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2019
|Voice role; 2 episodes |
| 2024
|Zack In Time | Voice role |
| TBA
| Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man and the Monsters of Manhattan |Web Series |
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 2020
| |Additional voices |
| 2021
|Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! |Caeser | |
| 2023
|Pinball M - The Thing | |
| 2024
|What If...? An Immersive Story |Steve Rogers/Titan Judge |
= Stage =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2017
|Sebastian |Theatre |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|4822304}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Costa, Jamie}}
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:Male actors from Charleston, South Carolina
Category:North Greenville University alumni
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors