Early Background
Niko Nicotera grew up in a multiracial environment in Giessen in Germany, on an American military base. His Italian parents instilled a love of arts in him. His father, Fernando, is a sculptor and painter and his mother, Alexandra, has worked mainly in voluntary work. As a child, Nicotera lived in Italy and the United Kingdom before settling in London.
As the youngest of three children, he often looked up to his older sisters, Dharma and Leila. It was their encouragement that led him to try out for a school play, where he found his passion for acting.
At the age of 18, Niko Nicotera moved to London to study classical theater at The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA). During his time there, he was selected to represent his school at the BBC Carleton Hobbs Bursary Award and had the opportunity to perform at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre for the Annual National Classical Theatre Festival. These experiences solidified his love for performance and set the foundation for his acting career.
Niko Nicotera’s Early Career with British Television
While still in school, Nicotera began working in British television and film. His knack for tackling complex characters made him an industry favorite. He acted in various productions across genres and media.
In 2007, he made a bold move by relocating to Los Angeles. Just three weeks after arriving, he met his wife, Lesly, who had also recently moved from London. The couple has since split their time between Los Angeles and Glasgow, Scotland, balancing their professional and personal lives across continents.
Hollywood Breakthrough and Sons of Anarchy
Nico Nicotera broke into Hollywood as Ratboy on FX’s hit series, “Sons of Anarchy.” From a recurring character to a fan favorite, Ratboy was promoted to a series regular. He played the loyal but unpredictable biker gang member and showed he can bring depth to even dirty roles.
Following “Sons of Anarchy,” Nicotera continued to secure prominent television roles. He appeared in major network series including:
- Gotham (FOX)
- Stand and Catch Fire (AMC)
- You’re the Worst (FX)
- The Orville (FOX)
- The Rookie (CBS)
- MacGyver (CBS)
- Criminal Minds (CBS)
- The Player (FOX)
Nico Nicotera’s ability to seamlessly shift between intense dramas and action-packed roles has made him a go-to actor for complex and layered characters.
Niko Nicotera’s Film Career and Recent Work
Beyond television, Nicotera has also made a name for himself in film. He was last seen in “Father Stu” (2022), starring alongside Mark Wahlberg, Jacki Weaver, and Mel Gibson. Before that, he had a standout performance in Clint Eastwood’s “Richard Jewell” (2019), portraying Dave Dutchess, the best friend of the titular character played by Paul Walter Hauser.
His other film credits include:
- The Purge: Anarchy (2014), where he played Roddy in the supernatural horror sequel
- Just Before I Go (2014), a film directed by Courteney Cox
- Mr. Payback: An Interactive Movie (1995), an early experimental project
