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The Last of Us Season 2: Know Everything About Young Mazino who Plays Jesse
Young Mazino is stepping into the spotlight once again—this time as Jesse in The Last of Us season two, a role poised to cement him as a household name. Best known for his Emmy-nominated performance as Paul Cho in Netflix’s Beef, Mazino is now trading emotional family drama for a post-apocalyptic world filled with survival, sacrifice, and humanity.
In a March 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, Mazino opened up about the character of Jesse, describing him as “a bit of a Boy Scout.” He added, “He definitely tapped into the brighter, warmer side of myself because I think I’m by default a little darker than him spiritually.” While the role may showcase Mazino’s softer side, the actor is still adjusting to life in the spotlight.
“I’m still perplexed by everything,” he shared in the same interview. “I don’t know where this world is headed, but it seems to get more and more surreal.” Want to know more about the actor behind Jackson’s most selfless leader? Here’s everything to know about Young Mazino.
5. He’s a Maryland Native
Mazino was born Christopher Young Kim to Korean immigrant parents and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. He stayed local for college, briefly attending the University of Maryland, Baltimore County before relocating to New York City to study acting at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.
4. Young Mazino is a Stage Name Inspired by Anime
When registering with SAG-AFTRA, Mazino learned there were several actors already using the name Christopher Kim. To stand out, he adopted "Young" (his Korean name) and "Mazino" from Urek Mazino, a powerful character from the anime series Tower of God.
3. He Balanced Acting with a Corporate job
Before landing major roles, Mazino juggled acting auditions with a full-time corporate job. “I was terrified that I would lose my job if they found out I was running to auditions during lunch, or leaving a little early, or using my vacation days at random to shoot short films,” he said in a past interview with GOAT.
2. ‘Beef’ was his Breakout Moment
Mazino’s career changed dramatically after his performance in Beef aired in April 2023. His portrayal of Paul Cho earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Though he ultimately lost to Paul Walter Hauser for Black Bird.
1. He’s a huge Anime, Manga, and old Cinema fan
In a 2023 interview with Timid Mag, Mazino shared his love for anime and manga: “I think that live-action anime spaces have a tremendous potential to create some really, really cool stuff.” It’s a passion that may someday influence the kind of roles he chooses—or even inspire future projects of his own. Regarding old cinema and art house film he expressed that:
"I also have a heart for good old cinema. I would love to work on something like Taxi Driver or just be in the world of Tarkovsky and Stalker or be in something like Pierrot le Fou by Godard. I love arthouse too, and I don't mind action and adventure, but I think for me I gravitate just purely to good storytelling, good scripts."
From corporate day jobs to Emmy nominations and now a pivotal role in one of TV’s most acclaimed dramas, Young Mazino’s rise is nothing short of remarkable. And as Jesse’s storyline unfolds in The Last of Us season two, all eyes will be on Mazino to see just how far his talent can take him.
Where can you Stream The Last of Us Season 2?
The Last of Us season two is now streaming on HBO and Max, with new episodes airing weekly on Sundays. The second episode will premiere on April 20, 2025.
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