James Joseph Aquino (SAG-AFTRA AEA) trained in stage acting at Chicago’s Center Theatre under the tutelage of Dan LaMorte, Artistic Director, and Martha Lavey, Artistic Director Emeritus, at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre. There he earned roles as Father, Paul, and Harvey, in A.R. Gurney’s, “The Dining Room”, and Dorn in Chekov’s, “The Seagull”. He was cast as Golnick in the ACE Award-winning film, "Legacy of Lies", with Martin Landau and Eli Wallack. He worked with Jay Leno on a comedy sketch for "The Tonight Show" and created a class for actors called Acting is a Business, teaching the business side of show business.
In New York, James Joseph’s versatility secured him the dual role of Lucius/Mr. Wilson in the play “Easy Money.” He played Billy Hall, in the world premier of the two-man show, “Saviour?”; Carlos in “The Eleventh Commandment” at 42nd Street’s Theatre Row, and Muscles in “Evaluating Woody” at The Mint Theatre. Cast again in a dual role as Bill Christen/Jeff Daniels in the play, “Do You Mind If I Join You?”, James Joseph was nominated for best actor at The Spotlight On Off-Broadway Awards. Working in Independent film, he was cast in the lead role of Hector in the short film "Mariposa", Carson Greene in "Redirecting Eddie", and Jose in "Beautiful Vacation". He has repeatedly been seen on the "The Late Show" in multiple comedy sketches with Dave Letterman.
Born and raised on Chicago's "South Side", James Joseph comes from a large Puerto Rican, Mexican-American family. Raised with a strong work ethic, he got his first job as a stock boy while in the seventh grade. Competent with many skills, he worked as an electrician's apprentice, a handyman, owned a record store and was a real estate broker for fourteen years. Additionally, he was a partner in Music Unlimited, one of the first mobile DJs. He taught seventh grade CCD (Christian Children Development) for four years, and spent a year in a seminary. With his passion for bodybuilding and health, James Joseph became a personal trainer in 1985. Now a Master Trainer for a select few, he continues to enhance the lives of others. He has embraced meditation in his life and has been a devoted practitioner of Vipassana meditation, as taught by S. N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin, since 2003.