JOE MANGANIELLO

Name, Age & Origins

Full Name: Joseph Michael Manganiello
Born: December 28, 1976 (age 48) 
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
He grew up in the suburb of Mt. Lebanon, PA, alongside his younger brother Nicholas, in a sports-loving Catholic household .

Education & Early Interests

Joe attended St. Bernard School and then Mt. Lebanon High School, where he excelled—playing varsity football, basketball, and volleyball, and even captaining each team . A notable knee injury shifted his focus from athletics to drama; joining school plays like Oklahoma! led him to aim for Carnegie Mellon’s Drama School. Initially rejected, he spent a year at the University of Pittsburgh before earning a scholarship to CMU, graduating with a BFA in Acting in 2000 .

Rise to Screen Stardom

Fresh out of CMU, Joe landed his first major film role as Flash Thompson in Spider-Man (2002), with a cameo reprise in Spider-Man 3 (2007). He built his résumé with guest roles on series like ER, How I Met Your Mother, and One Tree Hill .
His breakout TV moment came as Alcide Herveaux, the rugged werewolf on HBO’s True Blood (2009–2014), earning him multiple pop-culture awards . Later, he expanded his film work with memorable turns as Big Dick Richie in Magic Mike (2012), its sequels, and roles in Sabotage (2014), Rampage (2018), and The Kill Room (2023) .

Producer, Director & Author Ventures

Joe penned Evolution, a fitness/philosophy book released in 2013 . His directorial debut came in 2014 with La Bare—a documentary he financed and produced, which won a Triple Threat Award at the Maui Film Festival . He and his brother’s production company, 3:59, co-produced the 2019 drama Bottom of the 9th starring Joe and Sofía Vergara .

Passion Projects: Dungeons & Dragons & Gaming Culture

A lifelong D&D geek, Joe is an official ambassador and consultant, co-creating the character Arkhan the Cruel featured in official modules, games, and merchandise . He’s appeared in Force Grey, Critical Role, and has actively developed D&D-themed content. In 2022 he signed on to co-direct a documentary about Dungeons & Dragons set to release for the game’s 50th anniversary .

TV Hosting & Recent Roles

In 2024, Joe debuted as host of NBC’s Deal or No Deal Island—a hybrid adventure-game show filmed in Panama, where his charm and strategy game skills earned praise . He also appeared on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, joking about almost changing his last name early in his career . His upcoming projects include starring in Nonnas and voice work for Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas .

Awards & Accolades

• NewNowNext, Saturn, Scream awards for his role in True Blood 

• Maui International Film Festival’s Triple Threat Award for La Bare

• Mid‑Atlantic Emmy (2017) for narrating the Penguins documentary Pittsburgh is Home 

Personal Life & Philanthropy

Joe was married to Modern Family star Sofía Vergara from November 2015 until their divorce in February 2024 . Since September 2023, he's been in a relationship with actress Caitlin O’Connor . He holds dual American–Italian citizenship (granted October 2022), connects deeply with his Sicilian heritage, and actively supports Armenian relief organizations . He's long been a supporter of The Art of Elysium and HIV/AIDS charities, and serves on the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s board .

Joe Manganiello’s journey—from Midwestern athlete to versatile actor, director, author, gamer, and game-show host—is a story of passion, reinvention, and authenticity. His dynamic roles on screen and behind the scenes reflect a talent driven by creativity and heart.