A veteran of the entertainment industry, A.J. Castro brings over two decades of experience as both a working actor and award-winning writer. He began his journey at Stan Kirsch Studios as a student in 2018 and now returns as a coach with a deep respect for Stan’s original method—infusing it with his own approach to world-building, character truth, and integrating the actor’s authentic self into the work.

On camera, A.J. has delivered memorable performances across television and film, including Special Agent Mark Santos on FOX’s 9-1-1, Elias on NBC's Will & Grace, and Dr. Larson on General Hospital. His career spans network dramas, comedies, motion capture, video games, and voiceover work in both English and Spanish—showcasing a strong presence and emotional range that makes him equally at home in comedy rooms and high-stakes procedurals.

As a writer, A.J. won First Place in the 2024 UCLA Professional Program in Television Writing for his dramedy Fast Break. The script also earned recognition as a Humanitas New Voices semi-finalist and was featured by ScreenCraft and Cannes. His storytelling is defined by emotional depth, family dynamics, and an underdog spirit, with projects ranging from family comedies to supernatural thrillers to post-apocalyptic dramas.

A.J.’s coaching style reflects his belief that the best performances are rooted in environment and specificity. He challenges actors to fully inhabit the world of the script while never losing sight of their own voice in the process.

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