Choctaw actor, Jeremy “JP” Gauna, may not have planned a career in front of the camera, but a chance encounter on his way to work one morning set his trajectory for a life onscreen. Luckily, he was raised with a strong work ethic and the desire to do great things.
As a child, Guana didn’t realize his family was struggling, but looking back on his upbringing, he now realizes the incredible amount of diligence and resilience it took to overcome those daily challenges. Gauna’s grandfather, Jimmy Lee Marcus, taught him the importance of an honest day’s work.
“One thing I can say about my grandfather, that he instilled in me, was that if you got a car, it doesn’t matter where your job is. You get to work and you work,” said JP.
Before acting, Gauna worked for seven years in marketing and advertising at The Dallas Morning News. Then, during an ordinary walk to work, he passed a television crew filming across the street. A crew member waved him over, handed him a card, and told him to take a photo. Minutes later, he was booked as a background actor on USA Network’s “Queen of the South.”
That chance encounter opened a door. On set, Indigenous actors encouraged Gauna to take acting classes, recognizing his potential. Balancing work at the newspaper and training, he eventually landed a small speaking role, which led to an agent and new possibilities. When his paid time off ran out, Gauna faced a crossroads.
“The Dallas Morning News wanted me to chase my dream and gave me a severance package,” said Gauna. “They were like, ‘We want you to go for it. Here. Go. We love you. Good luck.’”
Weeks later, COVID shut the industry down.
Surviving on the severance he got from the newspaper was not ideal.
Thanks to a call from his friend, Willie Molina, Gauna accepted a job as a production assistant on location for “The Chosen,” a historical drama that chronicles the life of Jesus. Working on the show became transformative.
Being part of “The Chosen” reaffirmed Gauna’s belief in storytelling that confronts difficult truths—stories often left untold or softened to appeal to wider audiences.
“You don’t want to deal with it because it’s too rough; it’s too personal; it’s too close to home. Those are the stories that I want to be a part of—the ones that make you feel uncomfortable and make you understand [what really happened],” said Gauna.
Gauna feels called to share narratives rooted in honesty, including those of his grandfather and his Choctaw ancestors. He believes his path is not just his own, but a responsibility. To him, love, understanding, and shared stories are how we grow stronger together.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to walk and step through that door but then stick a boulder in the door to keep it open for others,” Gauna said.
According to IMDB, Gauna has been cast in 13 productions from 2018 to 2025, including the wildly successful “Yellowstone” spinoffs “1883” and “1923.”
His most recent role was Kansas in five episodes of “Blue Ridge: The Series.”
To follow what is happening in Gauna’s career, follow him on Instagram @choctawnativejp.