James Edward Costa (born May 12, 1990) is an American actor, voice actor, writer and director.[1][2] He gained international attention[3][4] for his impersonation of Robin Williams.[5][6][7] He made his film debut in the crime-thriller film, Bring Him to Me.[8]
Jamie Costa | |
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![]() Jamie Costa at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Australia in 2022 | |
Born | James Edward Costa May 12, 1990 |
Occupations |
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Years active | 2013–present |
Early life
editJamie 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.[9] 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 [10] then finally graduated in December 2013.[11] He also has a brother named Caleb.
Career
editStarting in 2015, Costa began posting impersonations on YouTube, including Robin Williams,[12][13] Ian McKellen,[6] Owen Wilson, Matthew McConaughey, and Harrison Ford.[13]
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] 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[14] and on the TV show My Crazy Ex.[15] In 2018, he played a supporting role in the movie Funny Story[16] and the Price of Fame TV series.[17] Costa played a soldier in the 2020 B-rated film, Robot Riot.[18]
In 2021, Costa posted a five minute piece titled "ROBIN Test Footage Scene" to YouTube.[1] 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.[19][5] The video received several million views.[4] USA Today and The Independent both called his imitation of Williams "uncanny".[7][4]
In 2022, in an interview with Silver Screen magazine,[20] 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.[21][22]
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.[23]
Upcoming projects
editCurrently in post-production, Costa will also be portraying Herman Schultz / Shocker ll in the upcoming 2024 web series Spider Man and the Monsters of Manhattan after it was previously announced to be released in 2021.[24]
He also has other voice roles in upcoming projects such as the third season of What If...?[25] in one episode and as Agent Richard Beckett in the independent web-series, Zack In Time.[26]
Costa announced on his YouTube community tab page that he will star in the 2024 horror film titled, Scurry alongside newcomer Australian RnB artist, Emalia. Scurry will be Costa's first one-shot film. [27]
Costa will also star in the action-supernatural film, Fight For Your Life with Luke Sparke alongside Entourage star, Jeremy Piven.[28]
Filmography
editThis section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (January 2023) |
Film
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Heaven Bound | Curt | Direct to DvD |
2018 | Funny Story | Waiter | Extra |
2019 | Zeroville | Additional voices | |
2020 | Robot Riot | Peterson | Supporting |
2023 | Bring Him to Me | Jake the Passenger | Feature Film[29] |
The Activated Man | Ors Gabriel | Feature Film |
Short Film
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Wolverine | Logan | Fan Film |
Shifter | TV Host/TV Chef | Short film
Also director | |
2014 | Take a Deep Breath | Pizarro | Short film
Voice only |
Shadows of Man | Man | Short film | |
2015 | Cures Anything | Cash | Short film |
2016 | We Can't Die | Richard West | Short film |
Han Solo: A Smuggler's Trade | Han Solo | Fan film[30] | |
2018 | A Magician Home Alone | Harv | Short film |
Jurassic World: Exodus | Neal "Doc" | Fan Film | |
2019 | KENOBI: A Star Wars Story | Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi | Fan Film |
Star Wars: Origins | Walter | Fan Film | |
2021 | Batman: Dying Is Easy | Jervis Tetch / Mad Hatter | Fan Film |
Robin | Robin Williams | Test footage | |
2022 | Defiance: A Joker Fan Film | Voice of Joker | Fan Film |
2023 | The Cowboy and The Samurai[31] | Jack Nicholson | Short Film |
Outpost[32] | Sager/The Thief | Short Film |
Television
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | Jimmy's Books | Jimmy / Cool Robot / Director | Voice only |
The 3rd Annual Geekie Awards | Marty McFly | TV movie | |
Schmoes Know Movie Show | Himself | Episode 213 | |
2016 | Making an Impression | Himself | Documentary |
Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon | Himself | #2.3 | |
2017 | My Crazy Ex | Billy | #4.11 |
The Inspectors | Duncan Soto | #2.16 (Guest Appearance) | |
2018 | The Price of Fame | Patrick Swayze | #1.5 |
2023 | Agent Elvis | Kurt Russell | Voice role; 1 episode |
The Beech Boys | FBI Agent Ashley | 7 episodes | |
TBA | What If...?[25] | TBA | Voice role; 1 episode |
Web series
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | How It Should Have Ended | The Genie | Voice role; 2 episodes |
2024 | Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man and the Monsters of Manhattan | Herman Schultz / Shocker II | Web Series |
TBA | Zack In Time | Agent Richard Beckett[26] | Voice role |
Video games
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | Final Fantasy VII Remake | Additional voices | |
2021 | Doki Doki Literature Club | Caeser | |
2023 | Pinball M - The Thing | R.J. MacReady | |
2024 | What If...? An Immersive Story | Steve Rogers/Titan Judge |
Stage
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Twelfth Night | Sebastian | Theatre |
References
edit- ^ a b "Jamie Costa's Robin Williams impersonation leaves fans clamoring for a whole film". CNN News.
- ^ Berkowitz, Joe (January 5, 2017). "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". Fast Company. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ "This Robin Williams lookalike is uncannily good at impressions: You can't beat a good impression and this guy is stellar at them". Irish Examiner. May 7, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ a b c Barnett, David (January 13, 2022). "What is it we all like about impressions?". The Independent (Daily Edition). Retrieved November 8, 2022.
- ^ a b Bjornson, Greta (October 14, 2021). "Robin Williams' Daughter Asks Fans to Stop 'Spamming' Her with Viral Impression Video of Her Dad". People. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Wasman, Olivia B. (May 7, 2015). "This Master Robin Williams Impressionist Is Back With More Spot-On Celebrity Imitations". Time. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Alexander, Bryan (October 13, 2021). "Jamie Costa channeling Robin Williams on YouTube 'screen test' has fans calling for a biopic". USA Today. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ "Barry Pepper, Sam Neill to Star in Mob Thriller 'Bring Him to Me' (EXCLUSIVE)". December 7, 2022.
- ^ Paras, Andy (March 11, 2015). "The real Jamie Costa: Charleston native recognized for Robin Williams, Harrison Ford impressions". Post and Courier. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ Costa, Jamie. "Jamie Costa '15". ngu.edu.
- ^ Costa, Jamie (August 4, 2015). "NGU Grad Appears on 'America's Got Talent'". Greenville News.
- ^ Blumm, K.C. (April 15, 2015). "Jamie Costa Does the Best Robin Williams Impressions You Will Ever See". People. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- ^ a b Hodgson, Claire (April 15, 2015). "This guy's Robin Williams impressions are INCREDIBLE". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ Arce, Nichole (April 15, 2015). "Watch Actor Jamie Costa Pay Tribute To Robin Williams With 20 Amazing Impressions". Tech Times. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ Kaur, Jaspreet. "Who is Jamie Costa, as comedian's Robin Williams impression goes viral". HITC. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ "Funny Story - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Fandom Company. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ Khan, Zarik (May 14, 2018). "Hanging with the first Young Han Solo, Jamie Costa". AIPT Comics. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ Barton, Rebekah (October 14, 2021). "Robin Williams's Daughter Begs People to Stop "Spamming" Her With Viral Video". Inside the Magic. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ Cher (October 12, 2021). "Robin Williams Fans Are Blown Away by Actor Jamie Costa's Impersonation: 'We Need a Biopic'". People. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ "Silver Screen Magazine - Cinema, Stars, Hollywood, News". April 10, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Hayley (March 15, 2023). "Agent Elvis: Truth behind Kurt Russell being Walt Disney's final words and kicking Elvis". Express UK. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ "Jamie Costa Interview". Silver Screen Magazine. May 26, 2022.
- ^ "Bring Him to Me Official Trailer". youtube. August 23, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ "Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man and the Monsters of Manhattan SERIES (2021)". Kinorium.com. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ a b "Jamie Costa - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ "Scurry". Variety.com. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (May 19, 2023). "Cannes: Jeremy Piven to Lead Supernatural Gladiator Actioner 'Fight for Your Life' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ "Bring Him To Me". Variety. December 7, 2022.
- ^ Orange, B. Alan (January 6, 2017). "This Han Solo Fan Film Will Get You Pumped for the Star Wars Spin-Off". MovieWeb. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ "THE COWBOY AND THE SAMURAI - the Legend of Jack Nicholson and John Belushi". YouTube.
- ^ "OUTPOST - 4K Trailer". YouTube.
External links
edit- Jamie Costa at IMDb