Umbrella Academy cast: Who plays Leonard in The Umbrella Academy? Meet John Magaro

Netflix’s adaptation of The Umbrella Academy comics have proven a hit and the second season is out now. The series has attracted a lot of new attention and there are plenty of fans watching the first season. Fans are keen to find out who plays Leonard Peabody in the series, and Express.co.uk has everything you need to know.

Who plays Leonard in The Umbrella Academy?

Leonard Peabody is introduced at the start of season one and he introduces himself as one of Vanya’s (played by Ellen Page) new violin students.

He seems to take a liking to her and the pair form a romantic relationship, but he is not the man Vanya thinks he is.

Leonard is played by American actor John Magaro, who was born in Ohio and has been active as an actor since 2005.

He is known for his roles in Not Fade Away, The Big Short and Orange Is the New Black.

The 37-year-old made his Broadway debut in The Front Page in 2016, playing the role of Earl Williams.

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His father is of Italian descent and both of his parents were teachers.

He began taking part in local theatre classes while he was at school, and as a child, he appeared in a few TV commercials.

After school, he studied theatre at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, and his first role was in the film Prisoners of War in 2005.

His role as Leonard Peabody in The Umbrella Academy in 2019 was his first main role in a TV series.

Fans would have recognised him from his role as Vince Muccio in the Netflix hit, Orange Is the New Black.

Leonard had been born Harold Jenkins – a child who was born on the same day as the Hargreeves family.

He believed he had special powers like them, but he was ridiculed when he tried to join The Umbrella Academy.

In an act of vengeance, he stole a notebook containing secrets about Vanya’s hidden powers, and he used her in order to release her hidden abilities.

Vanya ended up getting her revenge on him after she found out the truth about what he had done, and she later killed him.

In an interview, he said he always knew the “basics” of his character Leonard.

He said: “I kind of always had an idea of where he was going, and we were trying to write that line of this guy is kind of a weirdo.

“Ellen’s character is so vulnerable, she has never had anyone give her any attention at all – so I get why some people were like ‘I get why she’s hanging around him.

“He’s a total gas lighter, he’s a total manipulator, it’s a very abusive relationship.”

He said the biggest surprise was reading the information about Leonard’s childhood as Harold Jenkins.

He said: “We never talked about that… seeing that stuff happen, that was a real surprise to me.”

The Umbrella Academy is available to watch on Netflix now.

source: express.co.uk