Background and career
Bruce Marchiano (born February 5, 1956) is an American actor and author best known for his portrayals of Jesus Christ in the Visual Bible film series.
Marchiano was born in Los Angeles, California on February 5, 1956. His father is of Italian descent and his mother is of Syrian descent and he has one brother. He attended Catholic schools until graduating from Servite High School in Anaheim, California in 1973. A Dustin Hoffman film he saw in theaters when he was young inspired him to be an actor and he acted throughout high school. Marchiano earned his B.A. in economics from California State University, Fullerton and a J.D. degree from Western State University. He passed the State Bar of California in 1980 but only actively practiced law in 2019.
Marchiano's first role was a 1985 episode of Murder, She Wrote, which was followed by appearances in LA Law, Columbo, and the low-budget horror film, Curse II: The Bite. As of 2021, he has played Jesus in at least ten films; Higher Level Agency claims he has appeared as Jesus in more movies than any other actor. In the 2009 film Road to Emmaus, he portrayed Jesus' mysterious post-resurrection appearance to two disciples as described in the Gospel of Luke. He also voiced an animated Jesus in the children's animation Lion of Judah. In 2012, Marchiano portrayed Jesus in Apostle Peter and the Last Supper, a film about St. Peter recalling his early days as he prepares for his martyrdom in Rome. In 2014 he appeared as Jesus in The Week that Changed the World.
Marchiano has written four books, mostly about his experiences portraying Jesus:
In the Footsteps of Jesus: One Man’s Journey (1997), Harvest House Jesus, the Man Who Loved Women: He Treasures, Esteems, and Delights in You (2008), Howard Books The Character of a Man: Reflecting the Image of Jesus (2010), Howard Books Jesus Wept (2012), Howard Books He also wrote, directed, and appeared in the pro-life film Alison's Choice
Marchiano runs Marchiano Ministries, a non-profit ministry based out of North Hollywood, California that goes on missionary trips to South Africa. He has given talks at schools and churches since 1993.
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
