NJ Actor Stars In New Movie About Late Celebrity Chef

CHERRY HILL, NJ — One of the most famous celebrity chefs in pop culture history was from the Garden State, and now an actor from New Jersey is bringing his story to the big screen.

Dominic Sessa, a Cherry Hill native, portrayed "Parts Unknown" star Anthony Bourdain in the new movie, "Tony," that releases nationwide in theatres on Friday.

Sessa, now 23, grew up around South Jersey with a mother who was a teacher and a dad who worked in a payroll department.

Neither food nor acting was in the plans for Sessa, whose performances were tied largely to hockey before a femur injury from his time on the ice led him to take a deep dive into theatre.

"I saw the truth in him from day one," his "Tony" costar, Antonio Banderas, said of Sessa to GQ. "He understood the complexity of the character, and he didn't even play it-he lived it during the time that we were shooting in Cape Cod. He is, for me, a real actor."

For Sessa, who rose to fame after 2023's "The Holdovers," getting used to the bright lights of Hollywood has been about keeping everything in perspective.

"What I've learned is sometimes you can get too serious about what you're doing to where you can't make adjustments," Sessa told Backstage, "...If anything, I've tried to remind myself that this should be fun. It doesn't have to be painful."

His new starring role centers around the story of a young Bourdain's venture following a crush to Provincetown, Massachusetts.

At 19-years-old, it was this trip that ultimately served to build his career into the culinary and cultural mainstay that it was.

Bourdain, who was born in Brooklyn and grew up in the Leonia section of Bergen County, was broke and homeless on the beach when a local restaurant owner brought him in as a dishwasher.

RELATED COVERAGE: See Where NJ Native Anthony Bourdain Loved To Eat

He proceeded to hone his craft in kitchens throughout New York City.

Over the next few decades, "Tony" went on to become a New York Times bestselling author and household name after the release of his book "Kitchen Confidential" which told the story of his escapades both in and out of the kitchen.

He went on to win an Emmy Award for his global food and travel documentary journeys, "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown."

Bourdain died by suicide on June 8, 2018 at the age of 61 while filming for the series in France.

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