Nico Tortorella
{{Short description|American actor (born 1988)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Nico Tortorella
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|7|30}}
| birth_place = Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|model}}
| years_active = 2009–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Bethany C. Meyers|2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BgbUrzFFisV/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BgbUrzFFisV |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration |title=@nicotortorella on Instagram: "just married. for real. @bethanycmeyers and i wrote a very special piece about our wedding and unconditional love exclusively for @them -..."|website=Instagram|access-date=December 28, 2018}}{{cbignore}}
| children = 2
}}
Nico Tortorella (born July 30, 1988) is an American actor and model, known for screen roles including the slasher film Scream 4 (2011), the Fox crime drama series The Following (2013–2015), and the TV Land comedy drama series Younger (2015–2021). He also played Felix Carlucci on the AMC series The Walking Dead: World Beyond (2020–2021).
Life and career
Tortorella is a native of Wilmette, Illinois, and a graduate of New Trier High School. He is of Italian descent.{{cite web |url=http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/television/19700419-421/wilmettes-nico-tortorella-makes-his-exit-from-the-following.html |title=Wilmette's Nico Tortorella talks about his fate on The Following |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=February 16, 2014}} In May 2009, The CW ordered a 13-episode first season of the drama series The Beautiful Life: TBL.{{cite web |last=Calabria |first=Rosario T. |url=http://yourentertainmentnow.com/2009/05/19/the-cw-picks-up-the-beautiful-life-melrose-place-and-vampire-diaries-but-passes-on-gossip-girl-spinoff-and-cancels-privileged-and-the-game/ |title=The CW Picks Up The Beautiful Life, Melrose Place and Vampire Diaries; But Passes on Gossip Girl Spinoff and Cancels Privileged and The Game [Update: Reaper and 'Chris' Also Canceled |website=Your Entertainment Now |date=May 19, 2009 |access-date=February 16, 2014 |archive-date=November 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112122639/http://yourentertainmentnow.com/2009/05/19/the-cw-picks-up-the-beautiful-life-melrose-place-and-vampire-diaries-but-passes-on-gossip-girl-spinoff-and-cancels-privileged-and-the-game/ |url-status=dead }} The series centered on a group of models sharing a residence in New York City and Tortorella portrayed the role of an up-and-coming underwear model Cole Shepard. The series premiered on September 16, 2009, to mixed reviews from critics. The CW cancelled the series after its second episode due to low ratings.{{cite web |first=Nikki|last=Finke|url=https://deadline.com/2009/09/cw-cancels-the-beautiful-life-16553/ |title=First Fall TV Season Fatality: CW Cancels 'The Beautiful Life' |website=Deadline|date=September 25, 2009|access-date=March 6, 2019}}
In June 2009, Tortorella was announced to star in the ABC Family teen drama television series Make It or Break It,{{cite web |last=Fienberg |first=Daniel |url=http://www.hitfix.com/articles/abc-family-stretches-out-make-it-or-break-it |title=ABC Family stretches out Make It or Break It |website=Hitfix.com |date=August 24, 2009 |access-date=February 16, 2014}} where he took on the role of Razor, an aspiring singer. Tortorella temporarily left the series to pursue work on The Beautiful Life and, after that series' cancellation, returned to Make It or Break It in a recurring role. In August 2010, Tortorella made a special guest appearance in the episode "If Only..." which marked his final appearance on the series. That year, Tortorella also had a small role in the Joel Schumacher film Twelve.{{cite web |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/37986/nico-tortorella-more-meat-beast-scream-4 |title=Nico Tortorella More Meat for the Beast in Scream 4 |date=June 13, 2010 |publisher=Dread Central |access-date=February 16, 2014}}
In June 2010, Tortorella was announced to star in the horror film Scream 4, the fourth installment of the Scream film series.{{cite web |last=Vena |first=Jocelyn |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1644714/scream-4-stars-rory-culkin-nico-tortorella-on-working-with-original-scream-cast/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021030942/http://www.mtv.com/news/1644714/scream-4-stars-rory-culkin-nico-tortorella-on-working-with-original-scream-cast/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2014 |title='Scream 4' Stars Rory Culkin, Nico Tortorella On Working With Original 'Scream' Cast|publisher=MTV|date=July 29, 2010 |access-date=February 16, 2014}} He portrayed Trevor Sheldon, a Woodsboro teenager whose life is in danger when school peers are killed off one by one.{{cite web |url=https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/20550 |title=Another Young Teen to Solve the Riddle of 'Scream IV' |website=Bloody Disgusting|date=June 13, 2010 |access-date=February 16, 2014}} Tortorella next appeared on the Fox serial killer drama The Following. The show was created by Kevin Williamson, who also wrote Scream 4. In 2014, Tortorella was cast as Josh, Sutton Foster's character Liza's younger lover in the TV Land comedy-drama Younger, created by Darren Star.{{cite press release |title=Younger, Darren Star's new single camera comedy to premiere Tuesday, January 13th at 10pm ET/PT on TV Land |url=http://biz.viacom.com/sites/tvlandpress/Press%20Release/FINAL%20YOUNGER%20RELEASE%2010-2%20(2).pdf |publisher=TV Land |date=October 2, 2014 |access-date=October 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006082611/http://biz.viacom.com/sites/tvlandpress/Press%20Release/FINAL%20YOUNGER%20RELEASE%2010-2%20(2).pdf |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |url-status=dead }} His first leading film role was in the 2015 independent film Hunter&Game, in which he played hard-partying electronic musician Carson Lowe, which he described as a "role I was meant to play."{{cite web |url=http://www.teeco71.com/2015/11/nico-tortorella-heart-hunter-game/ |title=Nico Tortorella and the Heart of Hunter&Game |publisher=Teeco71 |date=November 11, 2015 |access-date=November 3, 2016 |archive-date=May 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510080624/http://www.teeco71.com/2015/11/nico-tortorella-heart-hunter-game/ |url-status=dead }} The film premiered at the LA Indie Film Fest in October 2014, where it won Best Feature and Best Director of a Feature Awards. The film had its East Coast premiere at the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival in May 2015, where it won the Best Feature award.
Tortorella launched The Love Bomb podcast on the At Will Radio network in September 2016.{{Cite web |url=http://atwill.us/artists/the-love-bomb/ |title=The Love Bomb |website=At Will Radio |access-date=December 15, 2016 |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220194217/http://atwill.us/artists/the-love-bomb/ |url-status=dead }} Tortorella and Matteo Lane were featured on the Nancy podcast on May 1, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/podcasts/527636117/nancy/partials?start=placeholder|title=Nancy podcast episodes|year=2018|publisher=NPR|access-date=September 30, 2018}} Tortorella competed on RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race in April 2020.{{cite magazine |last1=Quinn |first1=Dave |title=RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race: See Every Star's Unrecognizable Drag Queen Transformation |magazine=People |date=May 18, 2020 |url=https://people.com/tv/rupauls-secret-celebrity-drag-race-see-every-transformation/ |access-date=June 2, 2020}}
Personal life
Tortorella previously used they/them pronouns,{{Cite news|last=Petter|first=Olivia|date=May 8, 2018|title=Nico Tortorella speaks out about exploring gender identity and using they/them pronouns|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/nico-tortorella-gender-identity-sexuality-them-they-pronouns-a8341946.html|access-date=October 15, 2020}}{{cite web | title='Younger' star Nico Tortorella discusses nontraditional marriage, sobriety and advocacy for LGBTQ+ community | website=ABC News | date=October 24, 2019 | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/younger-star-nico-tortorella-discusses-nontraditional-marriage-sobriety/story?id=66472934 | access-date=September 25, 2021}} though in 2024 shared that he had shifted to using he/him pronouns.{{cite news |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Mathew |title=Nico Tortorella Updates Pronouns to He/Him: "I Feel Like a Man More Than I Ever Have" |url=https://www.them.us/story/nico-tortorella-updates-pronouns-he-him-bethany-meyers-full-of-shift-podcast |access-date=22 October 2024 |work=Them |date=22 October 2024}} He has identified as bisexual,{{cite web |last=Jung |first=E. Alex |url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/10/nico-tortorella-younger-c-v-r.html |title=Nico Tortorella Wants to Be 'The Future Man' |publisher=Vulture |date=October 30, 2016 |access-date=November 3, 2016}} demisexual,{{Cite web |last=Schmidt |first=Chantelle |date=November 8, 2018 |title=Nico Tortorella's Sage Advice For Exploring A Polyamorous Relationship |url=https://www.pedestrian.tv/sex-dating/nico-tortorella-polyamorous-relationship-advice/ |access-date=February 11, 2023 |website=PEDESTRIAN.TV |language=en-US}} and gender fluid.{{Cite news|last=Damshenas|first=Sam|date=May 17, 2018|title=American actor Nico Tortorella comes out as gender fluid|work=Gay Times|url=http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/american-actor-nico-tortorella-comes-out-as-gender-fluid/|access-date=October 7, 2020}}
Tortorella and Bethany C. Meyers dated for over a decade before they revealed their polyamorous relationship created divisions with their respective families.{{Cite magazine |url=https://people.com/tv/nico-tortorella-partner-arent-welcome-at-familys-holiday-celebrations-as-theyre-polyamorous/ |title=Nico Tortorella & Partner Aren't Welcome at Family's Holiday Celebrations As They're Polyamorous |magazine=People |access-date=December 25, 2020 |date=November 14, 2017 |first=Alexia |last=Fernández}} Tortorella and Meyers civilly married March 9, 2018, at a Manhattan City clerk's office before exchanging vows at St. Paul's Chapel.{{cite web|url=https://www.them.us/story/inside-nico-tortorella-and-bethany-meyers-private-epic-wedding|title=Inside Nico Tortorella and Bethany Meyers's Private, Epic Wedding|website=Them.us|date=March 17, 2018|access-date=December 28, 2018}} The couple have a daughter, born in 2023,{{cite magazine |last=Andaloro|first=Angela |title=Nico Tortorella and Bethany C. Meyers Welcome First Baby, Daughter Kilmer Dove, in 'Beautiful' Home Birth |magazine=People |date=March 13, 2023 |url=https://people.com/parents/nico-tortorella-bethany-c-meyers-welcome-first-baby-daughter-kilmer-dove-in-home-birth/ |access-date=March 1, 2024}} and a son born in 2024.{{Cite magazine |title=Nico Tortorella and Wife Bethany C. Meyers Share Journey to Welcoming Baby No. 2 in the 'Middle of Hurricane Milton' (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/nico-tortorella-and-wife-bethany-c-meyers-share-their-journey-to-welcoming-baby-no-2-8730146 |access-date=October 18, 2024 |magazine=People |language=en}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2010
| Twelve | Tobias | |
| rowspan="2"|2011
| Scream 4 | |
| Trespass
| Jake | |
| 2013
| Simon Varner | |
| 2014
| Carson Lowe | |
| 2019
| Fluidity | Matt | |
| 2023
| data-sort-value="Mattachine Family, The" | The Mattachine Family | Thomas Reid | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2009
| {{sortname|The|Beautiful Life}} | Cole Shepherd | Main role |
| 2009–2010
| Razor | Recurring role |
| 2013
| {{sortname|The|Following}} | Main role (season 1) |
| 2015–2021
| Younger | Josh | Main role |
| 2016
| Mamma Dallas | Jesse | Television film |
| 2017
| Television film |
| rowspan="2"|2018
| Himself | Episode: "Tap That App"; also guest judge{{cite web|url=http://www.newnownext.com/rupauls-drag-race-season-10-judges-trailer/03/2018/|title=Shania Twain, "Broad City" Stars And More Join The Judges' Panel On "Drag Race" Season 10 - NewNowNext|website=Newnownext.com|access-date=December 28, 2018}} |
| Trailblazer Honors
| | Television film |
| 2018–2019
| Himself |
| 2019
| Himself | Guest |
| rowspan="2"|2020
| RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race | Himself | Competitor |
| Legendary
| Himself | Guest judge, episode: "Wild Wild West" |
| 2020–2021
| data-sort-value="Walking Dead: World Beyond, The" | The Walking Dead: World Beyond | Felix Carlucci | Main role |
| 2021
| Cribs | Himself | Guest |
| 2023
| William | Main role |
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Artist |
|---|
| 2013
| "Valentine's for One" | Kissing man | Forklift Comedy |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tortorella, Nico}}
Category:21st-century American actors
Category:American bisexual actors
Category:American LGBTQ models
Category:American non-binary actors
Category:American television actors
Category:LGBTQ people from Illinois
Category:New Trier High School alumni
Category:Non-binary bisexual people
Category:People from Wilmette, Illinois