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Entertainment • Actor

Young Mazino

Young Mazino is an American actor best known for his breakout role as Paul Cho in the Netflix series Beef.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Young Mazino is an American actor best known for his breakout role as Paul Cho in the Netflix series Beef. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for that performance and later joined the cast of HBO’s The Last of Us as Jesse. He was born Christopher Young Kim and uses Young Mazino as a stage name.

Early life

Young Mazino was born Christopher Young Kim in Montgomery County, Maryland, and is of Korean descent. Sources describe him as a Korean-American actor who later moved to New York City to pursue acting.

Acting career

Mazino built his career through short films and television guest roles before his breakout in Beef. He has also appeared in series including Blindspot, New Amsterdam, Tommy, Blue Bloods, and Prodigal Son.

Breakthrough with Beef

Mazino gained wide recognition for playing Paul Cho in Netflix’s Beef. The role brought him major attention and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

The Last of Us

In 2024, Mazino was cast as Jesse in the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us. By 2025, sources identify him as part of the series’ cast in that role.

Key facts

  • He is a Korean-American actor.
  • His breakout role was Paul Cho in Beef (2023).
  • He received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Beef.
  • He stars as Jesse in HBO’s The Last of Us.
  • He was born Christopher Young Kim and adopted the stage name Young Mazino in 2018.
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Canadian context

Young Mazino is relevant to Canadian readers through the global popularity of Netflix’s Beef and HBO’s The Last of Us, both widely viewed in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Young Mazino?
Young Mazino is an American actor known for his role as Paul Cho in Beef and as Jesse in The Last of Us.
What is Young Mazino’s birth name?
His birth name is Christopher Young Kim.
When was Young Mazino born?
He was born on August 27, 1991.
What was his breakout role?
His breakout role was Paul Cho in the Netflix series Beef (2023).
Has Young Mazino been nominated for an Emmy?
Yes. He received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Beef.
What role does he play in The Last of Us?
He plays Jesse in HBO’s The Last of Us.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Mazino
    Supports: Birth name, birth date, birthplace, stage name, occupation, breakout role, Emmy nomination, and role in The Last of Us.
  2. Film Independent — https://www.filmindependent.org/people/young-mazino-new-wave-actors/
    Supports: Career background, move to New York, acting training, and credits including Beef, Prodigal Son, Blue Bloods, New Amsterdam, and Blindspot.
  3. Stella Adler Studio of Acting — https://classes.stellaadler.com/profiles/young-mazino/
    Supports: Emmy-nominated status, breakout role as Paul Cho in Beef, and casting as Jesse in The Last of Us season 2.
  4. Netflix Tudum — https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/young-mazino-interview-photos
    Supports: Character and role details for Beef, and identification as a Korean American actor.
  5. Elle — https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a64673763/young-mazino-hollywood-rising-interview-2025/
    Supports: Explanation of stage name origin and use of Young Mazino.