Ignacyo Mateusz Matynia is a Polish born, American raised actor known for his performance in the feature film Break Every Chain as Police Officer Jonathan Hickory. He's starred in multiple made for TV films such as the Lifetime original film My Nightmare Landlord (2020), The Man in the Guest House and Breaking Girl Code His notable television credits include guest starring spots on Law and Order: SVU, Vida, Marvel's Luke Cage, Forever and Dietland.
Early life Matynia was born in Busko Zdroj, Poland and moved with his family to the United States, settling in Brooklyn, NY. After graduating from Xaverian High School, he began his studies at the SUNY University of Albany with a desire to go to medical school. But it was there that he began his passion for acting, he dropped out of college to pursue this as a career, while working part-time as a DJ.
Career In 2014, Matynia was discovered by Sedly Bloomfield of the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, who became his mentor. His studies led him to star in over 40 short films, some of which earned him numerous awards and nominations at film festivals, including the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema. That same year, he made his feature film acting debut in The Grievance Group. He then went on to appear in guest roles on television shows including ABC's Forever, Marvel Studios' Luke Cage, Starz' Vida and NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
In 2018 and 2019, after moving to Los Angeles, he was cast in the feature films Like Dogs and One and the Same, the latter of which was released by Gravitas Ventures on Blu-ray and on demand on March 23, 2021.
In 2020, Matynia was cast in The Institute and Break Every Chain, two of the first films that were able to proceed with production, with COVID-19 safety measures in place. The latter film, in which he plays police officer Jonathan Hickory, who wrote the autobiographical novel the film is based on, held its world premiere on February 20, 2021, in Tempe, Arizona.
Personal life Matynia is Catholic.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2014 My Craigslist Hook-Up Bert Short film 2014 Bright Shadow Jason Jones Short film 2014 The Grievance Group Gavel 2014 The Grievance Group: The Pardon Gavel 2016La Petite Mort Ordo Magnus Gaudens member Short film2016264 Days Adam Short film2016Roselyn William Bennington Short film2016Fadó Stephen Brown Short film; also producer2016Kun Fayakun Henry Short film; also producer2016Get Happy! Regular at Happyning 2016Girl Problems Chad Richards Television film2017The Choices We Make Jake Monroe Short film2017My Brothers Keeper Banquo 2017Gym Problems Ben Williams Short film2017The Cabinet in the Woods Carl Short film2017The Arrangement Brad Short film2017Roaring Tides Joey Short film2018Private Barry Private Edwin Thompson Short film2018Ben's Entanglement Ben Short film2018Christmas Camp Ryan Hallmark Channel television film2018Nice Things Jake Short film2019Life Coach Connor 2019Paradise Program Cyan Hoffman Short film 2020My Nightmare Landlord DrewLifetime television film 2020Scarlet RE Agent Short film 2021Break Every Chain Jonathan Hickory 2021One and the Same Kenny McCoy 2021Like Dogs Adam 2022The Institute Daniel Sullivan 2022Higher Grounds Razzorakk Short film 2023Breaking Girl Code Ethan St. Ignace Lifetime television film 2023A Christmas Vintage Parker Williams 2024The Man in the Guest House Brandon Burke Lifetime television film 2024Project MKHEXETim
Television Year(s) Title Role Notes 2015Forever Young Teddy Graves Episode: "The Night in Question" 2016Scorned: Love Kills Mike Turpin Episode: "Kentucky Thrill Ride" 2016 Luke Cage ThugEpisode: "Just to Get a Rep" 2016 Deadly Possessions DetectiveMini-series; Episode: "Dr. Kevorkian's Death Van and Natalie Wood's Yacht" 2018 Dietland FullbackEpisode: "Monster High" 2019 People Magazine Investigates Chris Smith Episode: "Vanished" 2020 Vida Cater Waiter Episode: "Episode 17" 2020 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards Himself TV special 2020 Bad Influence Nick Pilot episode 2021-2022 A Good Cop Jaylen Daniels Main role 2022 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Ricky Nowak Episode: "Tommy Baker's Hardest Fight" 2022 Alliance Blake 4 episodes 2023 Breaking Bread Self Episode: "Ignacyo Matynia"
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Notes 2016 Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards August Award - Best ActorKun Fayakun August Award - Best Experimental Student Shared with Dharius Zulkefli and Diego Cordero Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival September Award - Best Actor September Award - Best Drama Shared with Dharius Zulkefli and Diego Cordero Grove Film Festival, New Jersey Best Actor The Cabinet in the Woods 2017 IndieFEST Film Awards Actor: Leading The Choices We Make Brightside Tavern Film Festival Best Actor - Horror The Cabinet in the Woods 2018 Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema Best Actor - Featurette Best Ensemble Cast - Featurette Shared with Lauren Dougherty and Karen Sweeney 2019 New Jersey Web Festival Best Ensemble Cast In a Comedy Labeled New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival Best Actor The Cabinet in the Woods International New York Film Festival Gold Award - Best Actor Private Barry 2021 Vegas Movie Awards Award of Prestige - Best ActorBreak Every Chain Falcon International Film Festival Best Actor International Police Awards Art Festival Best Actor IndieX Film Fest Best ActorJesters Paradise Independent Shorts Awards Bronze Award - Best Actor Canadian International Faith and Family Film Festival Best ActorBreak Every Chain Green Mountain Christian Film Festival Best Actor
References
External links Ignacyo's Website