Matt McGorry

Matthew David McGorry is an American actor and activist best known for his nuanced performances in several high‑profile television series. Born on April 12, 1986, in New York City, he grew up in Manhattan where he began performing at the age of nine, an early start that foreshadowed his later dedication to the craft. He attended the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School before earning a degree from Emerson College in Boston in 2008, where he refined both his acting skills and his interest in social issues. Before breaking into acting, McGorry worked as a personal trainer, contributed fitness columns to Men’s Journal, and even competed as a bodybuilder, experiences that gave him a disciplined work ethic and a deep understanding of physicality that he later brought to his roles. His television debut came in 2011 on the ABC soap One Life to Live, and he quickly accumulated guest spots on shows such as Person of Interest, Gossip Girl, and Royal Pains. The breakthrough arrived in 2013 when he was cast as corrections officer John Bennett on Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black, a role that showcased his ability to blend humor with pathos. In 2014 he became a series regular as Asher Millstone on Shonda Rhimes’ critically acclaimed legal thriller How to Get Away with Murder, appearing in ninety episodes and earning a reputation for delivering sharp, empathic performances. Beyond the screen, McGorry is an outspoken police and prison abolitionist, feminist, and advocate for various social justice causes, often using his platform to discuss issues of gender equity and institutional reform. He has identified as heterosexual and polyamorous, and in a 2018 interview he openly reflected on youthful experimentation, emphasizing the importance of destigmatizing such experiences. In 2024 he disclosed a diagnosis of long COVID, demonstrating his willingness to share personal health challenges in order to raise awareness. His multifaceted career, activism, and candid public presence make him a distinctive figure in contemporary American entertainment.