OFFICIAL BIO

Stef Tovar is an award-winning actor, author, and on-camera acting coach from Chicago. His book, The Map: An Actor’s Guide to On-Camera Acting, was published by Applause Books in 2021 and is available through Amazon and other retailers. 

As an actor, Stef’s breakout on-screen role was Dr. Arrington in Contagion, directed by Steven Soderbergh—where he treats Patient Zero (Gwyneth Paltrow) and must tell her husband (Matt Damon) of her death. 

Stef’s television credits include Dr. Charles’ (Oliver Platt) therapist, Dr. Otis Greenwell on Chicago Med; Barney Atash on 4400 for the CW Network (2021); Elliot Meyers on Chicago Med for NBC (2020), Bob Callaway on Proven Innocent for CBS (2019); Daniel Schwartz on the premiere season of Chicago Fire, also for NBC (2012–2013); the 2018 season finale of Empire for FOX; Boss for Starz (2011) and The Chi for Showtime (2020) as “White Donor.” Other film credits include “Finance Guy” in Widows (with Colin Farrell), directed by Steve McQueen (2018); Kenny in Employee of the Month (with Matt Dillon, Steve Zahn, and Christina Applegate), directed by Mitch Rouse (2004); Scott in the award-winning Olympia (2018); “Studio Exec” in The Bobby Roberts Project (with Fred Willard, 2018); The Gymnast, directed by Ned Farr (2006)—as well as the sequel, The Aerialist, which premiered in 2020 on Amazon.

Select theatre credits include Miller in the world premiere of Fever Dreams (Of Animals on the Verge of Extinction) by Jeffrey Lieber, directed by Susan Booth at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival; Frank in the musical Life After at the Goodman Theatre; Yossi Bellin in the Chicago premiere of Oslo with TimeLine Theatre Company at the Broadway Playhouse; Clem/Nails/Kellerman in the world premiere of The Adventures of Augie March (adapted by David Auburn) at Court Theatre; Harry Bright in Mamma Mia! at Drury Lane; Doug in the Chicago premiere of Boy for TimeLine Theatre; Harold Hill in The Music Man directed by Rachel Rockwell for Paramount Theatre, and Edward Bloom in the Midwest premiere of Big Fish. Stef won Chicago’s Jeff Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1997 for his portrayal of Vinal in Blade to the Heat, directed by Gary Griffin, and was nominated for Best Supporting actor in a Musical as Luther Billis in South Pacific at Marriott Theatre.