Talking With Actor Jonah Robinson from ‘Days of Our Lives’

This edition of Talking With focuses on actor Jonah Robinson, who has become known to millions of fans as the handsome Dr. Mark Greene on Peacock’s soap opera series ‘Days of Our Lives’.

The character was introduced earlier this summer as part of the Greene family siblings. Mark is the older brother to Felicity, played by Kennedy Garcia, the first actor with Down syndrome to recur on the series, and younger brother Aaron, played by Louis Tomeo.

In real life, Jonah hails from Los Angeles but spends time working on both coasts. He’s played iconic roles on stages across the country including the Goodspeed Opera House, The Utah Shakespeare Festival, The Kravis Center, and The Fountain Theatre. And he recently made his TV debut appearing in Amazon Prime’s show ‘Daisy Jones and the Six’.

To learn more, we’re Talking With Jonah Robinson:

Why did you want to be Dr. Mark Greene on ‘Days of Our Lives’?

Jonah Robinson: I would've loved to play any role on Days. Soaps have been a first stepping stone for many - now - big names as they were starting out, so I was very excited at the opportunity to possibly follow in their footsteps. When I first auditioned for the show, the role of Dr. Mark Greene hadn't been conceived yet. It just so happened that Mark Greene and I came about at the same time, and it was a perfect fit.

What helped you the most in bringing this character to life?

Jonah Robinson: All I knew when I sat down with my first few scripts for the show was that Mark Greene was good at his job and a great big brother. Those principles were a wonderful jumping off point in how to approach my scenes. As the older brother of two younger siblings myself, who I absolutely adore, it wasn't much of a stretch to connect with that driving aspect of who Mark Greene is.

What was your favorite moment from working on the show?

Jonah Robinson: There are so many specific moments I could point to, but my favorite part about working on Days has been the comradery backstage amongst the cast. There is this sense of joy, unity, and a mutual unspoken motivation to collaborate, connect and bring the work to life. I'd find myself in someone else's dressing room working through the scene before we'd tape it, playing music, chatting and getting to connect as humans as well as characters. That's not a common thing- Marnie Saitta, our casting director, has really orchestrated the bringing together of an amazing group of people.

Had you ever watched the daytime drama prior to booking the role?

Jonah Robinson: I hadn't watched any daytime dramas before Days, but I started watching once I got the audition for the show and was shocked by how quickly I was drawn in. I immediately understood why the show has been running for almost 60 years.

Why do you think fans enjoy these characters so much?

Jonah Robinson: These characters are all people who are walking through life unabashedly. They're unafraid to share their feelings or what they're passionate about, which really gives the audience a chance to get to know them intimately and quickly root for them or against them. Within all the deception and secrets in Salem, that openness is something I hope I am able to bring to Mark Greene and the audience.

You have a solid theater background. How has that helped you with your on-camera roles?

Jonah Robinson: I fell in love with performing in high school and I was lucky enough to have the support to follow my passion, but I knew that I wanted and needed more training if I was going to pursue a career in acting. Theater, and especially musical theater was, and still is, the most incredible training ground I could've asked for to learn how to be an effective storyteller, and gave me skills that have been transferable to every other medium. Being on a soap is like doing a new play a day with no rehearsal! Coming from theater where every night you get one chance, or one take, to tell a story, I was well prepared for this unique format.

We hear you’re also a musician; tell us about that.

Jonah Robinson: Music has always been my reliable, steadfast companion through the ebbs and flows of my career in the arts. My dad taught me a few chords on the guitar when I was a kid, and since then it's been a passion of mine to learn how to play any instrument I find myself in the room with. It's kind of a master of none situation, but I can get by on ten or eleven instruments as of now. The cello is next on my list! I'm hoping to get new music out by the end of the year under my artist name Not The Whale.

What inspires you the most creatively?

Jonah Robinson: The driving force of my creativity comes from the people around me. I feel like I may be in the minority of artists who feel this way, but I don't feel that I personally have much of a story I need to share. However, it is my passion to support those who do, by raising them up and being a small part of the story they have to tell in whatever way I can - whether that's as an actor, a producer, or director.

Finally, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

Jonah Robinson: I'm excited to be performing in a new musical this fall at the Colony Theater in Burbank. The Civility of Albert Cashier tells the astonishing true story of a Civil War soldier whose life defied definition. It's a story that I feel so lucky to tell. I think it's an incredibly important piece of theater for our current world, a world that in many ways doesn't look as different from the 19th century as we might've hoped.

Keep up with Jonah Robinson at: JonahRRobinson.com and on Instagram: @JonahRRobinson