Jeffrey Omura (born April 23, 1985) is an American actor, politician, and labor organizer. He has appeared on TV shows such as Succession, Hawaii Five-0, Blue Bloods, and Gossip Girl, as well as onstage with The Public Theater, Weston Playhouse, and Hartford Stage.
Early life and education Jeffrey Omura was born at the Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan on April 23, 1985, and raised in the suburb of Okemos, Michigan. Omura is of Japanese descent, the third child of Linda Omura () and Glenn Omura. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2007.
Career Acting Omura has acted in several theatre roles (see acting credits below). In 2007, Omura was cast in The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park production of Romeo and Juliet, directed by Michael Greif. In 2008, Omura earned his Actors' Equity Association union card performing in The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks, an early musical written by Tony Award nominee Joe Iconis (based on the children's book series of the same name, written by Nancy McArthur).
Omura made his television debut on The CW's Gossip Girl episode "Desperately Seeking Serena," playing Todd Jansen, the ex-boyfriend of Nelly Yuki. The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) featured Omura in its 2009 Walt Disney Television Casting Project showcase.
Political campaigning Omura was a volunteer for the 2004 John Kerry campaign, registering students in Okemos to vote. In 2008, Omura spent a month as a full-time field organizer for the Barack Obama campaign in Lansing. In 2018, Omura campaigned for congressional candidate Katie Hill in Santa Clarita, California. Omura helped organize a last minute campaign for Presidential candidate Kamala Harris called Queers for Kamala in 2024.https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/queers-for-kamala-harris-pennsylvania-canvassing-trump-1235152280/ He took part in two 2020 Democratic campaigns: first, Elizabeth Warren's Democratic Primary campaign in New Hampshire; and then Joe Biden's Presidential campaign in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Actors' Equity In 2016, the Actors' Equity Association renegotiated its agreement with the Off-Broadway League of Theaters. Omura created and led the Fair Wage On Stage grassroots movement to demand higher wages. Equity was able to negotiate record-breaking wage increases from 32% to 83%. In 2017, Omura ran for a seat on Equity's National Council and won a three-year term. In 2018, he was elected the chair of the International Actors Committee, allowing him to advocate for immigrant artists. Omura was re-elected to Equity's Council in 2020; during this second term, he helped and supported union members during an industry-wide shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He helped resolve a public jurisdictional battle between SAG-AFTRA and Equity. Omura was an organizer for #BeAnArtsHero, an advocacy group focused on securing federal relief for the arts sector in 2020. The campaign lobbied for the funding that was eventually included in the $15 billion arts relief package.
In 2021, City & State named Omura in their "Labor 40 Under 40" list in recognition of his work with Actors' Equity Association.
New York City Council Omura ran unsuccessfully to represent New York City Council District 6 in 2021, losing the Democratic primary to then-Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.
Acting credits
Television YearTitleRoleSeason/Episode2008Gossip GirlTodd Jansen1/152011DamagesHenry Thain4/32011White CollarChad Stewart3/62013The Michael J. Fox ShowTed1/52014Blue BloodsPatrick Dunleavy4/182014High MaintenanceBrandon2/22016LimitlessDanny1/12, 1/19/, 1/212016The BlacklistTrey3/21, 3/222016The InterestingsRobert TakahashiAll2017GoneKyle Parrish1/22018ElementarySonny Kwan6/22018SuccessionRob1/7
Theatre YearProductionRole(s)Director / Production or LocationNotesRef.2007Romeo & JulietEnsembleMichael Greif, Shakespeare in the ParkOff-Broadway2008The Plant That Ate Dirty SocksJason; MackenzieJoe Iconis, TheatreWorks USA2013La DisputeAzorDarko Tresnjak, Hartford StageRegional2014A Midsummer Night's DreamPaul Mason Barnes, Repertory Theater of St. Louis2015Charles Francis Chan, Jr.'s Exotic Oriental Murder MysteryCharles Francis Chan (Frank Chan); HastingsEd Iskandar, NAATCOOff-Broadway2016House RulesJJRalph Pena, Ma-Yi2016HamletHoratioPatricia McGregor, The Public Theater2017Captain Brassbound's ConversionFelix DrinkwaterDavid Staller, Gingold Theatrical Group2018Hello from the Children of Planet EarthWilliamJade King Carroll, Playwrights' Realm2019Who's Afraid of Virginia WoolfNickMike Donahue, Weston PlayhouseRegional2019Fruiting BodiesEddie; Morel; ten-year oldShelley Butler, Ma-YiOff-Broadway2019On That Day in AmsterdamKevinKareem Fahmy, Cherry Lane Theatre2019Take Me Out2022Change AgentCord MeyerCraig Lucas, Arena StageRegionalKing LearEd Iskandar, Exit, Pursued by a BearMacbethLennoxRegional
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