Rhys John Coiro (born March 12, 1979) is an American actor known for his work in film, television and theater. He is best known for his role as filmmaker Billy Walsh in the HBO series Entourage.
Contents
Early life
Coiro was born in Calabria, Italy, and grew up Washington, D.C., New York City, and Upstate New York before his family settled in Princeton, New Jersey, when he was 9 years old. He studied theater at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) earning a BFA and also trained at the Moscow Art Theatre in Russia.
Career
Theater
At age 19, Coiro got his first professional gig as an understudy to three roles in the American premiere of Conor McPherson's off-Broadway play This Lime Tree Bower directed by Harris Yulin at Primary Stages.
Within a month of graduating from CMU, Coiro landed the role of Eddie the Bellhop in the Lincoln Center revival of George S. Kaufman's Dinner at Eight, directed by Gerald Gutierrez.
In 2009, Coiro returned to the theatre, starring in a production of Howard Korder's Boys' Life at Second Stage in New York opposite Jason Biggs.
In 2023, Coiro returned to Lincoln Center Theater, originating the role of Noah in the Off-Broadway premiere of The Coast Starlight by Keith Bunin, directed by Tyne Rafaeli.
Film & television
In 2004, Coiro was cast as filmmaker Billy Walsh in HBO's Entourage. He portrayed the character throughout the show's run.
In 2010, Coiro starred in Slamdance winner Snow and Ashes and in 2011 appeared alongside Alexander Skarsard in Screen Gems' remake of Straw Dogs.
In 2014, Coiro was antagonist to Stevie Van Zandt's character on the final season of Netflix's first original series, the Norwegian mega-hit Lillyhammer and he played one of the original Texas Rangers in The History Channel's mini-series Texas Rising, alongside Ray Liotta, Bill Paxton and Brendan Fraser.
In 2015, Coiro played Armenian gangster Ari Adamian on the final season of USA's Graceland.
In 2017 and 2018, Coiro appeared as a series regular in Unsolved and in arcs on Ray Donovan, The Walking Dead, and S.W.A.T.
In 2019, Coiro appeared opposite Tim Robinson in the "The Bones Are Their Money" musical sketch from I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, which became one of the series' most widely recognized sketches.
In 2022, Coiro made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as stage magician Donny Blaze in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
In 2024, Coiro appeared as Gotham City councilman Sebastian Hady in HBO's The Penguin.
Personal life
He is married to film director Kat Coiro. They have three children and live in Los Angeles.
