Billy Magnussen, born William Gregory Magnussen on April 20, 1985, is an American actor known for his versatility across film, television, and theater. He first garnered significant attention for his stage work, earning a Tony Award nomination, and has since built a robust career featuring prominent roles in major Hollywood productions. With a blend of charm and intensity, Magnussen has become a recognizable face in both blockbuster franchises and critically acclaimed independent projects.
Raised in Queens, New York, and later moving to Georgia, Magnussen developed an early interest in acting. He attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he honed his craft before launching his professional career. His breakthrough came on the stage, where he starred in the 2013 Broadway production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, a play by Christopher Durang. For his performance as the charismatic but dim-witted Spike, Magnussen received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play, establishing him as a formidable talent in the theater world.
Magnussen transitioned seamlessly to film and television, earning early credits in movies like Into the Woods (2014), where he played the Rapunzel prince alongside Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt. He continued to build his filmography with notable roles in Bridge of Spies (2015), directed by Steven Spielberg, and Birth of the Dragon (2016). His comedic timing shone in the 2018 hit Game Night, where he played the eccentric and competitive Ryan Huddle, earning praise for his scene-stealing performance. He later expanded his reach by voicing the character of Anders in the animated series Disenchantment and appearing in the Netflix series Maniac alongside Emma Stone and Jonah Hill.
In 2019, Magnussen took on the role of Prince Anders, a comedic supporting character, in Disney’s live-action adaptation of Aladdin, directed by Guy Ritchie. The film was a global box office success, further raising his profile. He then starred in the HBO Max sci-fi series Made for Love, playing the unsettling tech mogul Byron Gogol, a role that showcased his ability to blend menace with absurdity. The same year, he appeared in the James Bond film No Time to Die as the villainous Logan Ash, and in the crime drama The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel to David Chase’s The Sopranos. Magnussen has continued to diversify his resume, starring as Rey "The King" Kingston in the family adventure Spy Kids: Armageddon (2023) and taking on the voice and motion-capture role of the alien Pleakley in the live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch, scheduled for release in 2025.
Off-screen, Magnussen remains active in the theater community and has expressed a passion for challenging, character-driven work. He is also known for his role in the television series Get Shorty and for his guest appearances on shows like The Blacklist and Boardwalk Empire. With a career that spans from Broadway to blockbuster franchises, Billy Magnussen continues to prove his range as an actor, consistently delivering memorable performances across all mediums.