Finding out who plays Jody on Shameless usually starts with a "wait, where do I know that guy from?" moment. If you've spent any time in the chaotic world of the South Side, you know Jody Silverman is a special kind of weird. He’s the hyper-positive, polite-to-a-fault, and often stark-naked recovering sex addict who manages to marry Karen Jackson and then somehow dates her mother, Sheila.
It’s a bizarre arc. Honestly, it’s one of the most "Shameless" storylines in the entire series. The man behind the character is Zach McGowan.
McGowan didn’t just play Jody; he lived the role in a way that made a potentially creepy character feel strangely wholesome. He’s got that gravelly voice and a physique that looks like it was chiseled out of granite, but he played Jody with this wide-eyed innocence that shouldn't have worked. It did, though.
Zach McGowan: More Than Just the Naked Guy
Most people know him as Jody, but Zach McGowan is actually a bit of a chameleon. Before he was walking around Sheila Jackson’s kitchen in his birthday suit, he was a New York City kid who grew up doing theater. He wasn’t always the "tough guy" or the "weird boyfriend" type. In fact, he was a massive athlete in high school—captain of the football and hockey teams.
When he landed the role of Jody Silverman, it was originally supposed to be a guest spot in Season 2. But the fans (and the writers) loved the weird energy he brought to the Jackson household. He was promoted to a series regular for Season 3.
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There’s a funny bit of trivia about his audition for Shameless. Apparently, when he was told the role would involve a lot of nudity, his mother-in-law was the one who told him to take the job anyway because "you've got a kid now." Practical advice for a show that's anything but practical.
The Mystery of the Tattoo-less Artist
If you’re a die-hard fan, you’ve probably noticed one of the biggest plot holes in the show involving Jody. He is introduced as a professional tattoo artist. He even works in a shop.
Yet, if you look at Zach McGowan in all those shirtless scenes—and there are many—he doesn't have a single tattoo. Not one. It’s become a bit of a meme in the Shameless community. Why would a tattoo artist have zero ink? Some fans joke that he’s just too scared of needles, while others think the production team just didn't want to spend three hours in the makeup chair every morning.
Life After the South Side
So, where did Zach go after Jody and Karen drove off into the sunset toward Arizona at the end of Season 3? If you haven't kept up with him, you're missing out. He basically traded the suburban weirdness of Chicago for much more intense, "tough guy" roles.
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He went from being a soft-spoken sex addict to a terrifying pirate. Seriously. Shortly after leaving Shameless, he was cast as Captain Charles Vane in the Starz series Black Sails.
If you haven't seen it, it's a massive shift. Vane is a brutal, gravel-voiced pirate who would probably kill Jody just for breathing too loudly. McGowan actually faked a British accent to get the audition because the producers weren't looking for American actors. By the time they realized he was from New York, he had already won them over.
A Few Other Places You’ve Seen Him:
- The 100: He played King Roan of the Ice Nation. He brought that same physical intensity here, playing a warrior king who was easily one of the best characters in the later seasons.
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: He took a villainous turn as Anton Ivanov, also known as The Superior.
- The Walking Dead: He had a brief but memorable stint as Justin, one of the Saviors who caused trouble for Rick and the gang.
- The Boys: Most recently, he popped up in the universe of The Boys and Gen V, continuing his streak of playing rugged, often dangerous characters.
Why Jody Silverman Still Matters to Fans
Jody was a breath of fresh air in a show filled with people who were constantly trying to screw each other over. Even though he was "weird," he was genuinely kind. He looked after Karen when she was at her worst, and he was arguably the best thing to happen to Sheila's agoraphobia for a while.
Zach McGowan’s performance is the reason the character wasn't just a punchline. He found the humanity in a guy who liked to play the ocarina while being completely exposed to the elements.
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If you’re looking to follow his current work, he’s still very active. He’s moved into producing and continues to take on roles that lean into his "action star" capabilities, like in The Scorpion King: Book of Souls or the thriller Sanctioning Evil.
If you're rewatching Shameless and want to see more of Zach McGowan's range, your best bet is to jump straight into Black Sails. It is the polar opposite of his time as Jody, but it shows just how much depth he has as an actor. You can also check out his voice-over work; that deep, raspy voice has been used in everything from Resident Evil 6 to various documentaries.
Check out his filmography on IMDb or follow his social media to see his latest projects in the indie film world, where he's been doing some of his most personal work lately.