Cool America Live

There’s a moment before the cameras roll where everything settles. That space—between preparation and performance—is where this conversation truly began.

Jason Diaz on Stephen King, Fatherhood, and Finding His Rhythm

By Lindsey Vettorel | Cool America Magazine

Jason Diaz has quietly built one of television’s most compelling careers — slipping seamlessly between genres, worlds, and emotional extremes. From Charmed and The 100 to Vampire Academy, his performances carry both grit and heart. Now, Diaz steps into the unsettling universe of Stephen King with The Institute, a project that feels like a natural evolution for an actor drawn to complexity, darkness, and humanity.

When Diaz joins me, he’s warm, thoughtful, and refreshingly honest — equally comfortable talking about horror as he is about fatherhood.

Entering Stephen King’s World

When Diaz got the call for The Institute, there was nothing polished about his reaction.

“I freaked out,” he laughs. “I auditioned, then a month went by with nothing. I assumed it was done. Then I booked a family trip to Portugal — nonrefundable flights — and the next morning I get a call saying Jack Bender wants to meet on Zoom. I was running laps around my kitchen.”

Beyond the thrill of joining a Stephen King adaptation, what truly drew him in was the story’s emotional core.

“At its heart, The Institute is about power — unchecked authority and what happens when there’s no accountability,” Diaz explains. “These kids realize no one’s coming to save them. They have to save themselves. That really hit me. You don’t often see stories where the children take control like that.”

Letting Go of the Source Material

While King’s fanbase is famously devoted, Diaz made a deliberate choice when preparing for his role.

“I started reading the book after I booked it, but quickly realized my character wasn’t a direct adaptation,” he says. “Tony is kind of a mashup. Once I figured that out, I stopped reading and focused on the script. It gave me freedom.”

That freedom allowed him to shed pressure — and King fans, he says, only heighten the experience.

“They’re passionate, and that’s exciting. You want people who care deeply about the world you’re building.”

As for what viewers should watch for?

“There’s a testing scene in episode four,” he teases. “It’s dark, twisted, and one of my favorites. We had to wait almost the entire season to shoot it, so by the time we did, the anticipation was intense. The darker it got, the more fun it was to perform.”

Behind the Darkness

Despite the show’s unsettling tone, Diaz says the set itself couldn’t be lighter.

“The second they yell ‘cut,’ it’s a total energy shift,” he says. “Same crew from From, lots of jokes, lots of laughter. That balance actually makes it easier to go dark on camera.”

Lessons From The 100

Among his many roles, Diaz points to The 100 as the one that shaped him most.

“It was my first big arc,” he says. “I remember stepping onto those massive sets and completely blanking on lines I’d known forever. That show taught me how to function on a big set — not just act on one.”

His advice to newer actors facing those moments?

“Be patient with yourself. You don’t know what you don’t know. You’re going to mess up — that’s how you learn. We’re not saving lives; we’re making TV. Don’t crush yourself with perfection.”

Fatherhood Changes Everything

Diaz became a father as his career was accelerating — and says nothing prepared him for how deeply it would impact him.

“I love it more than anything,” he says simply. “The hardest part is being away for work. But watching my daughter grow outweighs everything.”

His daughter, now one and a half, has already learned the art of persuasion.

“She just learned to say ‘please,’” he laughs. “She’ll ask for something, get ignored, then go ‘please, please.’ And I’m done. I cave every time.”

Fatherhood has reshaped how he approaches acting, too.

“It gives you perspective — on love, patience, empathy. It made me understand my own parents more. I approach characters with more vulnerability now.”

If his daughter ever wants to follow him into acting?

“Whatever makes her happy,” he says. “I just want her to find what lights her up.”

“Whatever makes her happy,” he says. “I just want her to find what lights her up.”

Still Nervous — And Grateful for It

Despite years of experience, Diaz admits the nerves never go away.

“Every day,” he says. “It’s not fear — it’s standards. I want to perform at the level I know I can. The day I stop feeling nervous is the day I’ll worry.”

What’s Next

If acting hadn’t worked out, Diaz laughs that accounting was never an option.

“Before acting, I trained seriously in mixed martial arts. I wanted to compete. I realized I loved the discipline more than the fighting — acting ended up being another version of that.”

He’s open to action roles — and even stunts — as long as they don’t involve hanging off airplanes.

And five years from now?

“I hope people say I finally got my superhero movie,” he says with a grin. “And as a dad — that I raised a kind, curious, confident little human.”

The Cool Factor

When asked what he finds coolest about America, Diaz doesn’t hesitate.

“The ambition. People dream big here — and chase what they love.”

As for the one thing that belongs on his “Cool Resume”?

“I’m a massive pro wrestling fan,” he admits. “My wife teases me nonstop. But if I ever got a WWE cameo? That would be a dream.”

Diaz brings humor, humility, and heart to everything he does — on screen and off. And as The Institute prepares to pull audiences deeper into Stephen King’s haunting world, one thing is clear: Jason Diaz is right where he belongs — still growing, still grounded, and still chasing what’s next.

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