BOY DU JOUR

Man Up MANNY JACINTO MAKES HEARTS RACE ON NBC’S

MANNY JACINTO ARRIVES for his BUST pho- to shoot wearing a gray T-shirt and black slacks, not a track suit like his lovable goofball character, Jason Mendoza, sports on NBC’s The Good Place. We meet on a Saturday in the Hollywood photo studio because he’s busy during the week shoot- ing the final season of the philosophical comedy (premiering September 26). He describes wrap- ping the show as “bittersweet.” “Everything we do now is the last time,” says Jacinto. The camarade- rie between the cast is well documented and Ja- cinto credits his fellow performers for helping him become a better person, just like the premise of the show, in which the deceased learn that points are assigned for good and bad behavior on Earth. “I learned how to be less selfish from watching them,” says Jacinto of his TV family. “Ted Danson works with Oceana [an ocean conservation non- profit]. And Kristen Bell is active with immigra-

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY ELISABETH CAREN 13 BROADCAST / News + Views

The Filipino actor, 31, whose family moved to Canada when he was 3, didn’t intend to be in the arts. He studied civil engineering at The University of British Columbia. But after seeing the mostly Asian American hip-hop dance team Jab- baWockeeZ win the top spot on America’s Best Dance Crew in 2008, he focused on a new passion. “There weren’t many Asian men in entertainment,” says Jacinto. “They inspired me to pursue dancing because I loved it.” Just like his TV alter ego Jason, Jacinto performed in hip-hop dance competitions with a troupe. Then in 2013, he took an acting class to improve his stage presence and fell in love. “I tend to be an anxious person, always thinking about what’s next,” he says. “Acting and danc- ing gave me an outlet for my energy.” His dad—who Jacinto counts as his number-one fan—was supportive but concerned about his son’s decision to pursue acting, suggesting he move back to the Philippines to book gigs. “He didn’t see any Asian actors on TV or in movies in North America,” says Jacinto. “I told him to give me five years.” Luckily, he didn’t need that long to blow up. Jacinto landed bit parts on Once Upon a Time in 2013 and iZombie in 2015. Meanwhile, he closely studied the career paths of Asian Amer- ican actors Daniel Dae Kim and John Cho. “In 2013, things were changing,” says Jacinto. “Fans were demanding more diverse representation and streaming services needed more content. More opportunities opened up.” In 2016, he scored significantly. “During my developing years, I wasn’t around The Good Place role of Jianyu Li, a silent monk who is secretly women,” he says. “Talking to my girlfriend and sister, and Jason Mendoza, a “pre-successful” DJ/failed thief/massive even social media has made me more aware of what it’s really Jaguars football fan from Jacksonville, Florida. The character like for women.” was an immediate hit, especially with female fans. Next for Jacinto is a big-screen role, alongside Tom Cruise, Jacinto, who considers himself a feminist, credits his in Top Gun: Maverick, a sequel to the original 1986 movie. He girlfriend and older sister for helping him negotiate this laughs when I ask if Jason Mendoza would be equally stoked transition, especially since his experiences attending an all- about the film. Jacinto replies, “Totally. It’s got fighter planes boys high school in Vancouver limited his exposure to women and explosions. Everything he loves.” –jennifer chen

Know Before You Go GET SAVVY ABOUT RIDESHARE SAFETY WITH #WHATSMYNAME

WHEN 21-YEAR-OLD University of South Carolina student Sami Josephson got into a car she thought was her Uber on March 29, she paid for that mistake with her life. The driver of that car stabbed Josephson to death and dumped her body 65 miles away. In the wake of this tragedy, Josephson’s parents established the #WHATSMY- NAME Foundation to educate others about rideshare safety. At whatsmyname.org, visi- tors are encouraged to use the acronym SAMI to remember the following guidelines:

Stop Review the safety features on your rideshare app. Plan ahead and do a bit of research on where you’re headed. Ask Before getting in the vehicle, ask your driver, “What’s my name?” to confirm they’ve booked a trip with you via that specific app. Match Also, before you get in the car, match the license plate number, make, and model of the vehicle with the information provided in the app. Alexia Guiducci and Julia Castellano hold candles during an April 2, 2019, vigil for Sami Josephson Inform If you’re using Uber, turn on the “share status” function so you can share B0TTOM PHOTO: SUZETTE LUCAS the details of your trip with a friend. –francesca volpe NYC ASSEMBLY TOP PHOTO: ELISABETH CAREN; T-SHIRT:

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