Lejon Stewart has spent time on some of the biggest sets in Hollywood — and on the LEGO shelf. The actor, producer, and casting director is best known for playing a Black Pearl Pirate in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, a role memorable enough that Disney and LEGO turned it into a toy.
From Tortuga to the LEGO Shelf
Stewart was cast as a Black Pearl Pirate in The Curse of the Black Pearl and Dead Man’s Chest, and appeared as a Queen Anne’s Pirate in On Stranger Tides. Director Gore Verbinski gave the character his name, Lejon, and Disney’s own Wikipedia describes him as the Black Pearl Pirate found on the Island of Tortuga. His other film credits include The Dark Knight Rises, Cardboard Boxer, Stigmata, Auto Focus, and more than 40 other features, alongside television work on NBC’s Community and Parenthood, Disney+’s Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, FX’s Legit, and the pilot Art Prison. His national commercial work spans Mercedes-Benz, McDonald’s, Reebok, and Mountain Dew.
Recent Work and Recognition
Stewart’s recent short film work includes Lucy the Lion, directed by Academy Award nominee Kalman Apple, in which he played a wheelchair-bound Vietnam veteran; Echoes of the Forest, directed by Nestor Vinelli, in which he plays The Shadow, a monster of the internet; and two films directed by Craig Railsback, Down & Out in Vampire Hills (as Boris) and The Job (as Todd). The Job has picked up numerous awards worldwide, and Stewart himself recently won Best Actor at the Culver City Film Festival, out of more than 300 short films, and Best Improv Actor at the Golden State Film Festival, out of 700 entries. He was also honored with the Golden Bridge Award for Actor 2026 (also known as the NIFF Golden Actor Award) at the 11th NEZ International Film Festival, and in March 2026 was officially named Film and Hollywood Ambassador for the Hellenic Los Angeles Media Network.
Family and Community
Stewart is divorced with three adult children and two grandchildren, and is a major component of the Relief Alliance, an organization that feeds the homeless in Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. He is currently producing a feature, The Untitled Victor Dos Santos Project, which co-stars Stewart alongside his 91-year-old mother, Frankie Stewart, Ms. Senior America.
Interview
What follows is Stewart’s own account of breaking into the industry, working across the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, and building the relationships that sustain a career, including his thoughts on the value of proper representation, a subject covered in this guide to landing a talent agent.
Can you tell us about your journey into acting and what inspired you to pursue a career in Hollywood?
"My journey into acting happened organically because my brother Leon (a year older) and I would act all the time, starting when we were seven and six, respectively, until we were eleven and ten. We would use movies, TV, and plays to inspire us to create our own stories. I have always known my whole life that I would become an actor. My emphasis at Loyola Law School was Entertainment Law."
You’ve been part of major productions like Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl — what was that experience like?
"Working on three features in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has been incredible for many reasons. A very obvious reason is the great pay. Traveling first class to Dominica for 3 months, followed by six months in the Grand Bahamas within a year, was incredible. I love to travel, but I didn’t have to foot the bill. Working with A-list actors, as well as upcoming talented actors, and connecting with background actors and crew is the greatest experience. Of course, the preparation and actual work are very demanding, but if you have done your homework, it feels like a non-stop party. Every location change in the Caribbean always ended with a lavish island party hosted by Jerry Bruckheimer. I could write a book about the other thousand-plus benefits, by the way."
What are the biggest challenges of being a working actor in Hollywood today?
"Finding work, therefore finding projects to work on, is the #1 challenge for non-working actors [hint! hint!], “working” actors, and even superstar actors. There are more than 3M actors on IMDb, yet far fewer are actively working. A great gig can sustain an actor for life, a la Star Wars. In the case of a “Johnny Depp” type, for example, his biggest challenge is probably to prevent himself from being sued or ridiculed by the tabloids. Finding proper (or any) representation is always a challenge for most actors. Connecting with the right people is always a major challenge in Hollywood."
What have you learned from working on large-scale film sets?
"When working on large-scale film sets, my best advice for any actor is to use their own best judgment. A better actor on a large-scale film set knows when to be the loudest person in the room and when to be almost invisible on that same set. The bigger the set, the more money is usually at stake. Big sets can garner bigger box-office revenue but unfortunately could mean bigger losses. Stay out of the way, listen to everything you hear, and make sure you are exactly where production expects you to be at all times."
How important is networking and relationships in the film industry?
"The film industry is unique because it primarily requires establishing a relationship with someone or an entity: an agent, business manager/management, manager, casting director/casting company, or someone you know personally. Often, an acting teacher or coach is instrumental in helping a former or current student get their first paid job. For me, I joined extras casting companies such as Sande Alessi Casting, Alessi/Hartigan Casting, Bill Dance Casting, Jeff Olan Casting, Christopher Grey, and Networks Casting. A simple analogy is understanding the relationship rules imposed on a body and a brain."
