Stef Tovar - The Map: An Actors Guide to On-Camera Acting

Stef Tovar is a professional actor, teacher, and a native of Chicago, Illinois. His breakout on-screen role was Dr. Arrington in Contagion, directed by Steven Soderbergh (2011). Dr. Arrington treats Patient Zero (Gwyneth Paltrow) and must tell her husband (Matt Damon) of her death.

Stefs television credits include 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 (20122013); the 2018 season finale of Empire for FOX (giving some bad news to Jussie Smollett); 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; Studio Exec in The Bobby Roberts Project (with Fred Willard, 2018); and The Gymnast, directed by Ned Farr (2006)as well as the sequel, The Aerialist, which premiered in 2020 on Amazon.

Select Chicago theater credits include Yossi Bellin in the Chicago premiere of Oslo with TimeLine Theatre Company at the Broadway Playhouse, directed by Nick Bowling; Clem/Nails/Kellerman in the world premiere of The Adventures of Augie March (adapted by David Auburn) and the Theban Shepard in Oedipus Rexboth directed by Charles Newell at Court Theatre; Harry Bright in Mamma Mia! at Drury Lane Theatre directed by William Osetek; Doug in the Chicago premiere of Boy for TimeLine Theatre, directed by Damon Kiely; 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 Chicagos Jeff Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1997 for his portrayal of Vinal in Blade to the Heat at Apple Tree Theatre, directed by Gary Griffin, and was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical as Luther Billis in South Pacific at Marriott Theatre, directed by David H. Bell.

Stef was the founder and artistic director of Route 66 Theatre Company, which produced shows in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City. For Route 66, Stef was seen on stage as Jack in On an Average Day, by John Kolvenbach; in the musical High Fidelity (as record-store owner Rob); and as Don in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Sloan Kettering Memorial Cancer Center of New York City. Stef created the role of Noah in A Twist of Water, by Caitlin Parrish, which opened in Chicago and ran Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theaters. A Twist of Water was made into a television show for CBS titled The Red Line, with Noah Wylie. Stef also played Nolan in No Wake, by William Donnelly, at 59E59 Theaters after runs in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Stef has taught his on-camera workshop at a variety of universities, acting studios, and casting offices across the country. He splits his time between Los Angeles and Chicago, and is the proud father of Sam. www.steftovar.com

I first and foremost want to thank Damon Kiely, a friend and mentor who helped me become a better teacher, encouraged me to write this book, and who was instrumental in lighting the spark that made it better; Lauren Sheely (my editor before I submitted my first draft), for making this book so much better than I could have on my own; John Cerullo, Barbara Claire, Ashleigh Cooke and everyone at Applause Books for their support; Andrea Bendewald, for her friendship and for helping to recall our story and make it even funnier; Brandy OBriant, for a first edit and advice(her Page1 Books is an amazing book delivery service); Matthew Miller, for believing in me enough as an on-camera coach to send actors my way and for giving me notes on the book that were absolute game changers; Marco Fargnoli, for telling me what directors on set really want actors to be able to do; Brandon Dahlquist, for his friendship and his awesome photography (www.brandondahlquistphotography.com); my pictured actors (and students!): Rochelle Therrien and Terry Bell; Johnny Clark, for his belief in me as an actor and writer; Carrie Johnson, my former agent who stuck with me during those two years when I wasnt booking anything in L.A.; Todd Turina and everyone at Stewart Talent Chicago, who navigated my Contagion experience; Lisa Roth and Cassie Slater, for their help, encouragement, and love; Haley Carlson, for her subtle mindset coaching and the belief she instilled me; Susan Haimes, for being the mother I needed during this process; Katie-Sarah Phillips, for being my home base; Karen Camelet, for being an amazing mom to Sam and being proud of me; my teachers: Bruce Cromer, my college professor and mentor at Wright State University, for his guidance, and Don Haefliger, who sent me down the path of being an actor when I was just in high school; Emily Rohm, who first encouraged me to coach actors years agowho watched me fail and helped me get better at itthank you. To ALL my students Ive coached over the yearsthank you for allowing me to be your teacher and helping to shape the MAP technique. And to Sam, for growing up backstage with me, letting me use his room to tape actors, and never blinking an eye at the crazy path his dad chose in life. I love you.