Jon Bernthal

Who is Jon Bernthal?

Jon Bernthal is an actor known for such roles as Sheriff's Deputy Shane Walsh in "The Walking Dead," vigilante Frank Castle in "The Punisher," and more recently, corrupt cop Wayne Jenkins in HBO's miniseries, "We Own This City." Bernthal is also the host of the weekly interview podcast series "REAL ONES with Jon Bernthal." https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrOR14O-kBHEyrLQRdHJgDQ

Topics and Timestamps

• 01Jon Bernthal discusses his approach to playing complex, morally ambiguous characters like Frank Castle and Wayne Jenkins
• 02He talks about the intense preparation and research that goes into embodying real or fictional anti-heroes
• 03Bernthal shares insights about his podcast REAL ONES and how it differs from typical interview formats
• 04He opens up about his acting philosophy and what drives him to take on darker, more challenging roles
• 05Discussion touches on the physical and mental toll of portraying violent or corrupt characters
• 06Bernthal reflects on his career trajectory from The Walking Dead to prestige HBO projects
• ▶Jon discusses his approach to playing Frank Castle in The Punisher0:08:30
• ▶Conversation about embodying Wayne Jenkins in We Own This City and the research involved0:22:45
• ▶Jon explains his motivation for starting the REAL ONES podcast0:35:20
• ▶Discussion about the mental and emotional toll of playing dark characters0:48:15
• ▶Jon reflects on his career trajectory and choice of roles1:15:30

The Show

Jon Bernthal sits down with Joe for a deep dive into his craft as an actor and what makes him tick as a performer. The conversation centers around Bernthal's unique ability to inhabit morally complex characters, from his breakout role as Shane Walsh in The Walking Dead to his more recent turn as corrupt Baltimore detective Wayne Jenkins in HBO's We Own This City. What's clear throughout the interview is that Bernthal doesn't just phone in these roles. He goes deep, researching extensively and finding the humanity in characters that most would write off as one-dimensional villains.

One of the most interesting parts of the discussion is how Bernthal approaches the psychological weight of playing these darker characters. He's not someone who just memorizes lines and hits marks. Instead, he seems genuinely interested in understanding the motivations and backstories that would drive someone to make the choices these characters make. Joe and Jon dive into whether playing these roles day after day actually affects you mentally, and Bernthal is honest about the challenge of separating the character from yourself when you're deep in production.

Bernthal also talks about his podcast REAL ONES with Jon Bernthal and what he's trying to do differently in the interview space. It's clear he's passionate about having real conversations with interesting people, which aligns perfectly with what he brings to acting. The guy seems fundamentally interested in understanding people, whether that's through a character he's playing or a guest on his podcast.

Throughout the conversation, there's a sense that Bernthal has found his lane as an actor. He's not trying to be the guy in rom-coms or action franchises. He wants to explore the darker corners of human nature and the moral complexity that comes with it. Whether it's working on prestige TV projects or running his own podcast, Bernthal seems committed to creating work that challenges him and hopefully resonates with audiences on a deeper level.

Best Quotes