Sebastian Stan

Sebastian Stan is a Romanian and American actor who has built a screen career spanning blockbusters and independent films. Born on August 13, 1982, in Constanța, Romania, he has achieved a global box-office gross exceeding $7 billion. He is best known for his portrayal of Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His accolades include a Golden Globe Award and a Silver Bear, as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award.

Stan spent his early childhood in Romania before relocating with his mother to Vienna, Austria, at age eight following the 1989 Romanian Revolution. At age twelve, he immigrated to the United States, settling in Rockland County, New York, and became an American citizen in 2002. Stan began acting in school productions at Rockland Country Day School and performed in musicals at the Stagedoor Manor performing arts camp. He later pursued theater studies at Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts, which included studying abroad at Shakespeare's Globe in London, graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting.

Stan began his professional acting career in 2003 with a guest appearance on Law & Order. After minor film roles, he made his major film debut in The Architect (2006) and his Broadway debut in a 2007 revival of Talk Radio. Between 2007 and 2010, Stan gained early recognition through his recurring role as Carter Baizen in the teen drama series Gossip Girl and his main role in the drama series Kings (2009). In 2010, he appeared in the comedy Hot Tub Time Machine and achieved commercial success with a supporting role in the psychological horror film Black Swan.

Stan achieved mainstream stardom in 2011 after joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Bucky Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger. He reprised the role in major follow-ups, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Alongside his superhero roles, Stan expanded his film credits with appearances in Ridley Scott's science fiction film The Martian (2015), the biographical drama I, Tonya (2017), the crime drama Destroyer (2018), and the thriller film The Devil All the Time (2020).

In 2021, Stan reprised his Marvel role in the miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He subsequently earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for portraying rock musician Tommy Lee in the miniseries Pam & Tommy (2022). In 2024, Stan received further acclaim for his performance in A Different Man, winning a Golden Globe Award and a Silver Bear, and for portraying Donald Trump in The Apprentice, becoming the first Romanian nominee for the Academy Award for Best Actor. In addition to acting, Stan has produced films, performed in Broadway revivals such as Picnic (2013), and supports various charitable causes.