Michael Joseph Cognata (born May 5, 1988) is an American actor from Boston, Massachusetts. He played Julian Robbins in NBC's Chicago Fire and Tito in Showtime's Shameless. He appears as Allen Billings in the series, The Pitt.
Career Cognata attended the Boston Arts Academy (2006) where he majored in theatre. In 2008, Cognata made his television debut in a national commercial for Subway and performed with the poetic entertainment group called ARTiculation. The Boston Herald writes in a 2009 article, "Give the creativity and enthusiasm of this highly talented group of young poets a chance. Their performance is good enough to make even a cynic believe in the power of art." Cognata then moved to New York City and Los Angeles to obtain television roles including Julian Robbins, brother-in-law to battalion chief Wallace Boden on NBC's Chicago Fire (2018), and recurring as Tito, Lip's intern on Showtime's Shameless (2016). He appeared in Hallmark's Romance at Reindeer Lodge (2017). In addition to his work in film and TV, Cognata represented his hometown in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (2006), where he performed the play A More Perfect Union.
Filmography
Television Year Title Role Notes 2015 The Young and the Restless Rescue Worker 4 episodes The Last Ship Firefighting Sailor Season 2, episode 12 2016 Castle Darren Ives Season 8, episode 16 Shameless Tito 2 episodes 2017 Life in Pieces Realtor Don Season 2, episode 10 2018 Chicago Fire Julian Robbins 2 episodes 2019 Grown-ish Officer Dickson Season 2, episode 3 Taking Stock Kevin 3 episodes 9-1-1 Officer Crawford Season 2, Episode 13 The Fix Andre Spencer Season 1, episode 9 2020 Good Trouble Derrick Season 2, episode 12 2023 Julia Martin Season 2, episode 1 2026 The Pitt Allen Billings Season 2, episode 1, 2, 5
Film Year Title Role Director Notes 2010 Breakdance Academy Kyle Jon Artigo 2012 A Deadly Obsession Kellen John Stimpson 2013 Worldly Pursuits Brian Higgins Hugh Guiney Short Film Sins of the Preacher Police Officer John Stimpson Hatfields & McCoys Ernie Rivas Michael Mayer 2014 The Assault Jordan Jason Winn 2016 Downpour Summer Brendan Diante Singley Trash Bags Miles Diante Singley 2017 Slamma Jamma Lizare Timothy A. Chey Platform Release Romance at Reindeer Lodge Greg Colin Theys Remote Capture Elijah/Day 9,145 Diante Singley 2019 A True Crime Detective Myers Marques Green 2020 Nothing and No One Ernie Diante Singley 2021 Killer Whales Father T-Dale William J.L. Hamilton Post-Production
Discography Cognata has released several singles. + List of singles as a lead artist Title Year Silvasurf2020 I Might Be2021 Bad Man King Burial (Instrumental)
References
External links
Michael Cognata on YouTube Mike Cognata on Twitter Mike Cognata on Instagram Mike Cognata discography on MusicBrainz