Armenian Actor Jack Topalian Lands Major Role in HBO’s “Euphoria,” Calls It a Career Milestone

INTERVIEW: Armenian American actor Jack Topalian is stepping into the global spotlight this year with major role in the hit HBO drama Euphoria  – a significant moment in his career and expanding representation of Armenian talent in mainstream Hollywood productions.

Topalian, who has built a steady career across television and film, will appear as a recurring character in the upcoming third season of “Euphoria,” one of the most-watched series in the world. The season premiered April 12, 2026. 

In an interview with The Armenian Report, Topalian described the process of landing his role on “Euphoria,” emphasizing the traditional but competitive nature of casting at the highest levels of the industry.

“My agents contacted me about HBO & the casting director requesting to have me come into the casting office for an in-person audition,” Topalian said. “A few days after my initial audition, they asked if I could come back for a Producer’s session, which basically means the final decision makers will see me. I did that too. And a few days later I was told that they liked me for the part and made an official offer as a series recurring character.”

He added that the process reflects how most major roles are secured in Hollywood.

“Afterwards, production contacted me for wardrobe and scheduled me for my filming dates. This is usually the same way it works, for most of the roles I have played throughout my career.”

Topalian’s character in “Euphoria” remains partially under wraps, but he confirmed that he plays an Armenian businessman connected to key figures in the storyline.

“My character is an Armenian businessman and he’s a business associate of Nate,” he said, referring to the character played by Jacob Elordi. “Nate & Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) are getting married and I help them out with some things. That’s really all I can say at this point in time.”

He noted that his character appears in Episode 2 and shares scenes with several of the show’s central cast members.

For Topalian, the role represents both professional recognition and personal validation after years of work across the entertainment industry.

“This is a great opportunity for me to be able to land a major role on one of the most watched TV shows in the world,” he said. “It also shows that the casting directors, the producers, writers and the director really value the work that I do.”

He pointed to his previous work across major networks and studios as part of the foundation that led to this opportunity.

“This is the 3rd HBO show that I have been on. I had a recurring role in ‘True Detective’ and ‘Duster,’” he said. “I also have been on almost all the other major networks like Showtime, Hulu, Netflix, CBS, NBC, Fox.”

Topalian has also appeared alongside major Hollywood figures, including Denzel Washington and Woody Harrelson, experiences he said reinforce his place in the industry.

“This shows me that all of the major studios and producers believe I have what it takes to share the screen with the best talent and on top shows,” he said. “However, I’m grateful, I never take it for granted, as I continue to work hard and prepare for each and every opportunity.”

Preparation for “Euphoria” involved close collaboration with the show’s creator, Sam Levinson.

“HBO shows have some of the best writers in the world,” Topalian said. “Sam Levinson created this character and when we met, he described how he envisioned this person. I also brought in my own perspective and ideas and he liked what I had prepared.”

He said the character came together through detailed work on behavior and personality.

“We combined all of those things and really started to understand who my character was — what he sounded like, how he walked, how he drank his coffee or looked at Nate or Cassie,” he said.

Topalian, who was born in Armenia and raised in the United States, said his identity plays a meaningful but not limiting role in his career.

“I’m a very proud Armenian, who came to the United States when I was young,” he said. “I love my homeland, my ancestry and my roots. Everyone that knows me personally, knows that I’m Armenian and I was born in Armenia.”

At the same time, he emphasized versatility in his work.

“I have played many different ethnicities on the screen — American, Greek, Spanish, Russian, Arab, Italian, Israeli and of course Armenian,” he said. “The balance is not difficult and I don’t feel that being Armenian has stopped me from getting ahead in Hollywood.”

Topalian also addressed broader concerns about representation, particularly when it comes to roles tied to crime or darker narratives.

“Writers create characters such as a gangster or criminal based on their perception,” he said. “As actors, it’s our job to bring a sense of reality to those roles.”

He stressed that such portrayals do not define entire communities.

“We also must acknowledge that all communities, including Armenians, have dark or criminal characters in real life,” he said. “They are of course a very small minority. Most Armenians are hardworking, law-abiding, good people.”

To counter stereotypes, Topalian said storytelling from within the community is essential.

“If we want to show the world what Armenians are really all about… then we have to tell our own stories,” he said. “That’s why I write screenplays and make my own projects.”

He revealed he is currently developing a project based on an Armenian family with ties between Glendale, California, and Armenia.

“This is a story that all people will watch, understand and relate to, no matter what their background or ethnicity is,” he said. “We must control the narrative and tell our stories from our perspective.”

Topalian credited his family as a key source of support throughout his career.

“My wife and three children have supported me from day one,” he said. “They are always encouraging me to keep trying, because they see my determination and drive.”

His personal story is deeply connected to Armenian history. His grandparents were survivors of the Armenian Genocide, and his family’s journey spans Syria, Greece, Armenia and eventually the United States.

“I was born in Yerevan… I have a lot of fond and happy memories of my childhood,” he said. “In the late ’70s, my family emigrated to the United States and we settled in San Francisco, California.”

Before entering acting in his 40s, Topalian built a successful career in business — an experience he said continues to shape his work.

“The fact that I got into acting in my 40s has allowed me to bring realistic characters to life because I’ve lived a life full of experiences,” he said.

As his career continues to grow, Topalian said he remains focused on discipline and long-term development.

“The biggest challenge in any industry is getting your foot in the door and showing people that you are a professional… and that you belong there,” he said. “However, once you are there, you still have to work hard and maintain those things.”

With major roles now secured on two high-profile series, Topalian’s trajectory reflects both persistence and a broader shift toward more diverse representation in global entertainment.

“That’s my story so far,” he said. “And I still have many other stories to tell.”

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