Peter Jerrod Macon is an actor from the United States. He is well known for his portrayal as LT. Commander Bortus on Seth MacFarlane’s comedy-drama science fiction television series The Orville (2017–present). He auditioned for Bortus and immediately fell in love with the part, performing the cold open of the episode Command Performance, in which Bortus begs permission from Captain Ed Mercer to nest his egg, in front of the casting director. Seth MacFarlane texted Macon the night of the screen test to inform him that he had been hired.
Macon grew up in Minneapolis and attended North Community High School, where he was a member of the drama club. His mother taught, while his father drove a truck. Macon later got master’s degrees in acting from the San Francisco Art Institute and Yale School of Drama. He married Lucia Brawley, a Yale-educated actress, in 2005. David Dinkins, a former mayor of New York City, officiated.
Macon spent over three decades performing in Twin Cities companies like Penumbra, Illusion, and Children’s Theatre Company. He also appeared in the lead role of Othello at the Guthrie Theater and in performances of the play in Dublin, Colorado, and Oregon. Macon has guest starred on Nash Bridges, Law & Order: SVU, Without a Trace, Supernatural, The Shield, Dexter, Bosch, SEAL Team, and Shameless. He keeps up with his fans on Instagram, where he boasts more than 4,000 followers.