Introducing Jason Diaz, the Toronto-born actor making his talent known in Amazon’s upcoming Stephen King thriller The Institute on July 13th. Jason brings raw physicality, razor-sharp discipline, and deep emotional grit to his breakout role as Tony, a cold and calculating orderly whose sinister presence will haunt viewers long after the credits roll.
Stylist: Estelle Aporongao
Hi Jason, welcome to OLC! So great to have you here, so you play Tony in the upcoming Stephen King thriller. He is a deeply unsettling character and quietly menacing. How did you prepare mentally and emotionally to step into such a dark role?
Thank you for having me; it’s a pleasure to chat with OLC! I’d definitely say that Tony is a sadistic bully with a real petty streak. He genuinely enjoys messing with the kids and finds humor in their attempts to stand up to him. He’s got this almost prickly, mocking attitude, and I really tried to bring that out by staying in that mindset of someone who gets a kick out of having that power and picking on people. So whenever we were on set and in character, I was always looking for ways to pick on poor Joe Freeman.
Stephen King fans are known for their high expectations. What was it like bringing one of his most sinister characters to life—and did you feel any pressure taking on that responsibility?
You know, it’s funny because I’m actually really torn on this. It’s such an honor and privilege to be part of a Stephen King adaptation, but my character, Tony, isn’t actually in the book all that much. In the show, he’s kind of a mash-up of a few different orderly characters from the original story. On one hand, it was exciting to have a blank slate and the freedom to create something new. On the other hand, I do love the challenge of bringing an already established character to life, especially for an audience as passionate and dedicated as Stephen King’s fans.
The Institute is full of psychological tension. How did the atmosphere on set influence your performance, especially in scenes with the kids your character is manipulating or threatening?
The great thing about working on The Institute was that everything was practical, the set was real, and everything was there to interact with, that instantly helped ground you in the world. That, mixed with the beautifully vulnerable performances from the young cast, made it so easy to buy into the cold, dark world we were creating. It just pulled you in and made everything feel real.
Tony seems like a physical presence as much as a psychological one. How did your background in martial arts help shape your performance in such an intense, controlled role?
I think martial arts always helps tremendously. One of the beautiful things about it is that it gives you a great sense of control over your body, which makes physical storytelling so much more precise and intentional. You’re aware of how you move, how you hold tension, how you take up space. And then there’s the discipline, the mindset that comes from martial arts: focus, repetition, patience, it all translates really well into the work we do as actors, especially with a character like Tony.
You’ve played everything from supernatural roles in Vampire Academy and Charmed to charming leads in Hallmark films. How does Tony in The Institute push you in ways previous roles haven’t?
I’d say the biggest thing is that Tony is, by far, the furthest from who I am in real life out of any character I’ve played. He’s the darkest, most cruel, and morally corrupt role I’ve taken on, and that really pushed me. It forced me to stay focused, stay intense, and commit fully to choices that felt uncomfortable, which is exactly the kind of challenge I look for as an actor.
You’ve spoken before about your working-class upbringing in Toronto. How has that shaped your work ethic and perspective in Hollywood?
I come from a family of Portuguese immigrants who made huge sacrifices to build a better life for us. Growing up, the values of hard work, discipline, and most importantly, good character were ingrained in me from a very young age, and I truly believe I owe everything I have to that foundation. I watched my family work incredibly hard for everything they had, and now, being in a position where I get to do something like this for a living, it’s hard to approach it with anything but deep gratitude.
You’ve had a big year with roles on Tracker and A Best Selling Kind of Love, and now The Institute. How do you choose projects—and what kind of roles are you most drawn to next?
You know, that’s always a funny question for me because the truth is, and most actors will relate to this, only a very small percentage of us actually get to choose our roles. For most of us, especially in the early stages of our careers, it’s about auditioning and hoping for an opportunity to tell a great story. That said, I do try to say yes to characters that challenge me or perhaps allow me to explore a new genre. Lately, I’ve been really drawn to roles that feel complex or morally grey, the kind that push me out of my comfort zone and force me to grow. I would love to continue this momentum and get some more villain roles under my belt.
Off-camera, you’re big on family, fitness, and staying grounded. How do you maintain balance while juggling the emotional weight of intense characters and a growing career?
You know, I don’t think there’s ever truly a perfect balance; it’s more of a constant flow. I’ve learned to recognize what season I’m in. If I’m working on a project, I know my energy is going to lean heavily toward the work, and that’s okay, because it’s temporary. What matters is that when the pendulum swings back, I make the most of it. I’ve gotten a lot better at being present in those in-between moments, and really soaking in that time with my family.
With The Institute about to premiere, what do you hope audiences take away from your performance—and what’s next for Jason Diaz?
You know, it might sound simple, but I just hope people enjoy it. At the end of the day, we do this for the audience. We tell these stories to entertain and to move people, so if someone invests their time in watching The Institute, I just hope they walk away feeling like it was time well spent.
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