How Concordia’s Department of Theatre helped alum Patrick Sabongui find purpose on screen and in the classroom

The actor and educator draws on his university experience to inspire the next generation of performers

November 12, 2025

By Rita Simonetta

A group of people stand in a high-tech operations room, looking focused and serious.

Patrick Sabongui on set of NBC’s The Hunting Party | Credit: NBC

For Patrick Sabongui, BFA 00, Concordia’s Drama in Education program was more than a path to acting — it was a training ground for creativity, empathy and leadership. Two decades later, those same values guide his work across film, television and the classroom.

“It’s a discipline that could lend itself to drama therapy, community building,” explains the actor, stunt performer and teacher. “It has real-world applications in addition to acting.”

Sabongui has turned that foundation into a wide-ranging career, with more than 200 professional credits in film, television and theatre. He has appeared on TV series such as The Flash and Shameless; films from the trailblazing 300 to Godzilla and this year’s Cold Light, where he starred opposite Helen Hunt; and stage productions including the Canadian premiere of Ayad Akhtar’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Disgraced.

He’s currently filming the second season of the NBC series The Hunting Party, in which he stars as Jacob Hassani, a CIA agent tasked with tracking down escaped inmates.

‘A defining moment’

Of all his projects, 300 stands out. The 2006 blockbuster directed by Zack Snyder, based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel, tells the story of how the king of Sparta leads his outnumbered, but loyal soldiers against the Persian army — and became iconic for its distinct visual style.

A man in a navy blazer and white shirt sits with his hands clasped, looking confidently at the camera.

“I’ve always had a passion for teaching and mentoring,” says Sabongui. | Credit: Charles Zuckerman

“It changed my life, career and my perspective on the industry,” Sabongui recalls. “I met a lot of colleagues that went on to become family. It was also a defining moment for me and for the stunt industry.”

Another career highlight came with the 2017 Canadian thriller Drone, starring Sean Bean. Sabongui was drawn to the film’s exploration of modern warfare — and by the opportunity to act alongside one of his idols.

“He’s a childhood icon of mine,” Sabongui says. “After the filming ended I had the chance to tell him, ‘I modeled part of my craft after you.’”

Passing it forward

When he’s not on set, Sabongui is the program director and head of the BFA Acting Program at Brooklyn College.

“I’ve always had a passion for teaching and mentoring,” he says. “Passing on the knowledge I’ve received makes me stronger as a performer.” That commitment to mentorship led him to create Dreams Beyond Thirty, an artist collective that develops original works, including the award-winning play Felony.

Sabongui’s dedication to his craft earned him the Brooklyn College Faculty Award for Scholarly and Creative Work this year.

Through it all, he strives to reimagine actor training through a guiding principle: Be yourself. Professionally.

“It empowers students to cultivate their authentic artistic voices while navigating professional demands,” he says — words that reflect the same drive that has fuelled his own career.

How Concordia’s Department of Theatre helped alum Patrick Sabongui find purpose on screen and in the classroom

‘A defining moment’

Passing it forward

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