Mikel Mroué (born July 13, 1981), better known as Michael Mando, is a Canadian actor. He played Nacho Varga on the AMC series Better Call Saul (2015–2022), Vaas Montenegro in the video game franchise Far Cry (2012, 2021), Vic Schmidt in the sci-fi series Orphan Black (2013–2014), and Mac Gargan / Scorpion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026). He is a two-time Canadian Screen Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nominee.

Early life and education Mando was born in Quebec City, Quebec, on July 13, 1981. He was raised by his father and is the second of three brothers. The family moved around a lot, living in more than 35 homes in 10 cities across four continents before he was in his mid-20s. His native language is French, and he is also fluent in English and Arabic. He grew up wanting to be a writer or an athlete.

In his mid-20s, he suffered a knee injury and consequently decided to change paths. He was enrolled in many fields, including international relations at the University of Montreal before discovering the performing arts at the Dome Theatre Program at Dawson College in 2004. He went on to play the male lead in all five productions of the program. He graduated in 2007. His Dome credits include Orlando in Shakespeare's As You Like It, Professor Katz in David Edgar's Pentecost, and Valentine Xavier in Tennessee Williams' Orpheus Descending. Steven W. Lecky, the chair of the program, called Mando "one of the finest talents to emerge from the program in the past 25 years".

Career After playing the leading character in two award-winning professional theatre productions in Montreal, Mando founded Red Barlo Productions. The company's first film, Conditional Affection (which Mando starred in, directed and wrote) was released in 2010 and officially selected to Fantasia, Bare Bones,Bare Bones Film Festival ACTRA Short Films, and the New Hope International Film Festivals.

Mando's television debut followed shortly after, and he played a wide range of contrasting characters. His credits include guest appearances in the crime series The Bridge, the medical drama mini-series Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures, as an MS-13 gang member in The Border, and as a close friend of the character Kenzi (played by Ksenia Solo) in the fantasy series Lost Girl.

Mando has often collaborated with directors John Fawcett and Érik Canuel as well as producer David Barlow. He had a starring role in the 2010 feature film Territories. In 2011, he had a recurring role in Les Bleus de Ramville"Backstage help needed on Francophone TV Series", Northern Life, August 20, 2010. Accessed December 30, 2010. and a guest appearance on the series King.

He is the voice and likeness of Vaas Montenegro, a major antagonist of the 2012 video game Far Cry 3. His performance was nominated for several video game awards in 2014, winning Best New Character at The 4th Canadian Videogame Awards. He also starred in a webseries called Far Cry: The Experience as Vaas, who captures and tortures Christopher Mintz-Plasse as himself. In the 2020s, Mando would reprise his role as Vaas for Far Cry VR: Dive Into Insanity and Far Cry 6.

In 2012, Mando was cast in the first season of the science fiction television series Orphan Black, which began airing in 2013. He played Vic Schmidt, an abusive drug-dealer, and was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for his work on the series (having also been nominated for his guest role on Rookie Blue that same year). He reprised his role of Vic in the second season in a recurring role.

In 2014, Mando joined the cast of Better Call Saul, the Breaking Bad spin-off, portraying Nacho Varga, a career criminal. He played the character for all six seasons of the show, earning nominations for awards as part of the show's ensemble in 2019 and 2021, and later for his individual performance in the final season.

Mando played Mac Gargan in the Marvel movie Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017. In 2023, he was set to star in the series Dope Thief, but was fired due to a physical altercation with another cast member. In 2025, it was announced that Mando would reprise his role of Mac Gargan for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Filmography Film

Year Title Role Notes 2010 Conditional Affection Jack Short filmAlso director, writer and producer Territories Jalil Adel-Khalid 2011 Abyss of the Mind Johnny H. 2012 The Good Lie Orville 2013 The Colony Cooper Elysium Rico Uncredited Make Your Move Raphael 2016 Wake Up Johnny H. / Alter Ego Short filmAlso director, writer and producer 2017 Spider-Man: Homecoming Mac Gargan 2018 The Hummingbird Project Mark Vega 2024 King Ivory Ramón Garza 2025 Boyfighter Diego Short film 2026 72 Hours Jaze Spider-Man: Brand New Day Mac Gargan / ScorpionBatman: Knightfall Bane Voice Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes 2008; 2010 The Border Mirza / Marco 2 episodes 2009 The Last Templar Necia First Mate 2 episodes Web of Lies Danny Wilcox Television film Flashpoint Felipe Episode: "Eagle Two" 2010 Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures Dr. Manolas 2 episodes The Bridge K9 Episode: "Voices Carry" Lost Girl Neville Episode: "(Dis)Members Only" 2011 King Esteban Demarco Episode: "T-Bone" Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays Alain Episode: "Unscripted Conversation" 2012 The Pregnancy Project Javier Rodriguez Television film Les Bleus de Ramville Marc-Andre David 8 episodes Psych Chuy Episode: "Let's Doo-Wop It Again" The Killing Vasquez Episode: "Off the Reservation" 2013 The Listener Len Gazicki Episode: "Buckle Up" Rookie Blue Cesar Medina Episode: "The Kids Are Not Alright" Covert Affairs Eduardo Episode: "Into the White" 2013–14 Orphan Black Victor "Vic" Schmidt 9 episodes 2014 La marraine Alvaro Pessoa 5 episodes 2015–22 Better Call Saul Ignacio "Nacho" Varga 33 episodes, main cast 2016 The Crossroads of History Gaum Episode: "Columbus" 2025The American RevolutionMarquis de LafayetteKen Burns documentary series, voice role2026JeffRecurring role

Video games Year Title Voice role Notes 2010 Shaun White Skateboarding Francisco Crystobal 2012 Far Cry 3Vaas MontenegroAlso likeness & motion capture2021 Far Cry 6 Far Cry VR: Dive Into Insanity

Web Year Title Role Notes 2012 Far Cry: The Experience Vaas Montenegro 4 episodes

Accolades Year Award Category Work Result 2013New York Videogame Critics Circle AwardsBest Overall ActingFar Cry 3 D.I.C.E. Awards Outstanding Character Performance - Male or Female National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards Lead Performance, Drama The 4th Canadian Videogame AwardsBest New Character2014Canadian Screen Award Best Guest Performance in a Drama Series Rookie Blue Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Program or Series Orphan Black 2019Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesBetter Call Saul 2021 2022 Hollywood Critics Association Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Cable/Drama Series Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor on Television

References

External links