D. J. Cotrona

Donald Joseph Cotrona (born May 23,[1] 1980) is an American actor, known for his role in the film G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013) and as Seth Gecko in the El Rey Network horror television series From Dusk till Dawn. He was cast as Pedro Peña in the DC Extended Universe film Shazam! and returned for the role in the 2023 sequel.

D. J. Cotrona
A picture of D. J. Cotrona smiling towards the camera
D.J. Cotrona in 2013
Born
Donald Joseph Cotrona

(1980-05-23) May 23, 1980
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
OccupationActor
Years active2003–present

Early life

Cotrona was born in New Haven, Connecticut. His mother, Sheree, is a teacher, and his father, Donald, works for a recycling company.[2] Cotrona has partial Italian ancestry.[2] He began studying to be a lawyer at Northeastern University in Boston, but after doing a summer internship at a law firm, he realized that he did not like working with lawyers.[2] In his sophomore year, he switched to acting. During his spring break, he went to visit a friend in Los Angeles and never returned to college.

Career

After a few guest-starring roles, Cotrona was considered for the role of Ryan Atwood on the television series The O.C.[2] but that role went to Ben McKenzie. Shortly after that, Cotrona was cast as the male lead in another of Fox's new dramas of 2003, Skin, produced by the Jerry Bruckheimer.[2] Cotrona played Adam Roam, the son of the Los Angeles District Attorney. His character becomes involved with Jewel Goldman (Olivia Wilde), whose father runs a pornography company. With their fathers' feud looming over them, they pursue a "Romeo and Juliet" relationship. Skin was cancelled after three episodes aired, due to poor ratings and the controversial story lines. All eight episodes of the series were shown on SOAPnet in 2005.

Cotrona appeared in the 2005 horror film Venom,[3] which was directed by Jim Gillespie. Cotrona also starred in the 2006 Slamdance Film Festival film Love is the Drug.[4]

In 2005, Cotrona again landed a lead role in a TV series, playing Sean Mathers, a flower shop worker with a dark past who is one of a group of lottery winners, in the NBC series Windfall.[5] The series was shown in the summer of 2006 rather than as a mid-season replacement for the 2005-06 TV season.

Cotrona was cast in the role of Superman for Warner Bros.' planned film Justice League: Mortal,[6] but after issues resulting from the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike and other production concerns, the film was cancelled.

In 2010, Cotrona appeared in the film Dear John.[7][8][9] In February he was cast as Detective John Stone[10] in the ABC pilot 187 Detroit, which also stars Michael Imperioli, Shaun Majumder, and Erin Cummings among others.[11] When ABC ordered the series it was renamed Detroit 1-8-7. His character was killed in "Stone Cold", the sixteenth episode of the series.

Cotrona played Flint, one of the leading roles, in the sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013).[12]

In March 2014, the horror television series From Dusk till Dawn developed by Robert Rodriguez based on his own cult horror film of the same title, was aired on the newly launched El Rey Network. Cotrona played Seth Gecko in the series, being a member of the main cast until the series ended in 2016.[13]

Cotrona has since appeared in the promotional 30-minute short film for Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands, which aired in February 2017.[14]

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
2005VenomSean
2006Love is the DrugLucas Mitchell
2010Dear JohnNoodles
2013G.I. Joe: RetaliationDashiell R. Faireborn /
Flint
2017Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands: War Within the CartelRicky SandovalShort film
2019Shazam!Super Hero Pedro
2023Shazam! Fury of the GodsSuper Hero Pedro
Spy Kids: ArmageddonAgent Devlin

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
2003Law & Order: Special Victims UnitDonovan AlvarezEpisode: "Grief"
2003–2005SkinAdam Roam8 episodes
2004Hollywood DivisionUnsold pilot
101 Most Unforgettable SNL MomentshimselfTelevision special
2006WindfallSean Mathers13 episodes
2010–11Detroit 1-8-7John Stone16 episodes
2012IC Places HollywoodhimselfEpisode 1x12
1st LookhimselfEpisode 2x04
2013Reel Junkiehimself1 episode
Up Close with Carrie KeaganhimselfEpisode March 27, 2013
Vivir de cinehimselfEpisode 1x23
2014–16From Dusk till Dawn: The SeriesSeth Gecko30 episodes
2014MatadorParty GuestEpisode: "Quid Go Pro"
2020L.A.'s FinestLuca Verone4 episodes

References
  1. "D.J. COTRONA Detective John Stone on ABC's "Detroit 1-8-7"" (Press release). ABC Medianet. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  2. Bianco, Robert (October 20, 2003). "For D.J. Cotrona, 'Skin' is in". USA Today. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
  3. Chang, Justin (September 15, 2005). "Venom". variety.com. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  4. Chang, Justin (February 6, 2006). "Love Is The Drug". variety.com. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  5. "NBC GETS SURGE FROM 'WINDFALL,' NEW DRAMA SERIES FOR MID-SEASON 2005-06". thefutoncritic.com. July 21, 2005. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  6. Cieply, Michael (March 1, 2008). "A Film's Superheroes Face Threat of Strike". The New York Times. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  7. Lowry, Brian (February 2, 2010). "Dear John". variety.com. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  8. "allmovie.com – dear john – cast". Allmovie. Archived from the original on February 17, 2010. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  9. "Dear John". Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). May 7, 2010. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  10. "2010 ABC PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT GUIDE - DRAMA SERIES". thefutoncritic.com. March 25, 2010. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
  11. "DEVELOPMENT UPDATE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23". thefutoncritic.com. February 23, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  12. "'G.I. Joe': RZA Joining Sequel (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. June 27, 2011.
  13. Petski, Denise (October 26, 2015). "'From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series' Renewed For Season 3 On El Rey Network".
  14. "IMDb: Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands: War Within the Cartel". IMDb.
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