P.J. Schulte

Philip John Schulte, known professionally as PJ Schulte is an American actor, author and entrepreneur.^[1][2]

Schulte was born in Olympia, Washington, D.C.,^[3] and grew up in the Washington, D.C. area.^[4]  He was adopted as a child, after being given a foundation by Catholic Charities.^[5][4] He attended Portland State University.^[3] In an interview Schulte has noted that his early years in D.C. were focused on football, playing for the Portland State University Vikings,^[6][7][8] and that acting did not become a serious interest until later in life.^[4]

Schulte started his career as a talent manager. In 2019, he became the manager of German YouTuber and content creator Erik Range, also known as Gronkh.^[9] He also brokered the endorsement deal between professional boxer Ryan Garcia and apparel brand YoungLA.^[10] Additionally, some entertainment brands he represents include Lionsgate and the Michael Jackson Estate.^[11][5]

Schulte discovered a passion for acting in 2024 after he stepped in for a client who was an acting student at a Los Angeles drama school.^[12][11] Although he initially attended classes to better understand his clients, he “ended up falling in love with the craft”.^[13]  He subsequently graduated from the acting program and began taking roles in films.^[12][11]

In 2023, he both produced and starred in Swindle, a psychological thriller directed by Zach Koepp.^[14] The film Swindle featured Schulte as Jordan, a struggling music producer who pretends to own a Hollywood Hills mansion. Swindle garnered international attention on the festival circuit and won acting awards for his performance, including a Best Actor prize.^[15][16]

Schulte also had a leading role in Koepp’s feature film Ava in 2024, produced by Jeffrey Reddick.^[15] In the movie, he was cast alongside late veteran actor Michael Madsen and Brian Letscher.^[15] Schulte was also cast in director Isaiah Washington’s film Luna.^[17][18] He played the role of Mario Cardone.

He is billed to cast in Martin Scorsese's upcoming Netflix movie.^[19][20][21]

In 2020 Schulte branched into writing.  He co-wrote a self-help book entitled The Eight H’s: A Young Person’s Guide for the “Real World”, with his father, Philip W. Schulte.^[18][22]

Schulte is also active in adoption and foster-care advocacy, inspired by his own childhood.^[23][11] He donates regularly to adoption and foster-care organizations and works with programs that support teenagers aging out of the foster system.^[5][12]

Films

• P.J. Schulte at IMDb