Nicholas X. Parsons grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia where he studied and trained as an actor at The Governor's School for the Arts, and later a received a B.A. in acting from George Mason University. Upon graduation, he began additional studies with Yuri Kordonsky and later at 'The Actor's Place' with
Keith Flippen. Soon thereafter, he began working in television and film all over the South-East market.
His television break came when he was cast in
Burn Notice (2007), and continued to land roles on shows such as
MacGyver (2016),
Preacher (2016), and
NCIS: New Orleans (2014). You can also find Mr. Parsons recurring as the hacker sidekick 'Stanzi Palmer' on the 3rd season of
Necessary Roughness (2011).
In film, Nicholas continues to play a diverse range of characters in multiple genres; from the dramatic lead in
Power of the Air (2018) opposite
Patty Duke, to comedic roles such as 'Bicycle' in Netflix's
The Lovebirds (2020). But his big break came when he played the role of 'Motel Clerk', who antagonizes
Dwayne Johnson and
Mark Wahlberg directed by
Michael Bay in the dark comedy
Pain & Gain (2013).
You can also find him playing the best friend of
Tyler Hoechlin in the post apocalyptic suspense thriller
The Domestics (2018), as the endearing buddy of
Justin Timberlake, playing 'Ned', in the Apple TV+ family drama
Palmer (2021), and most recently you can see him as 'Fake Jesus' in
We Have a Ghost (2023) and 'Isaac' in
Unseen (2023).
In addition to acting, Nicholas X. Parsons is producing, writing, directing, and editing his first documentary feature
A Horse of a Different Color.