Who is Theo Germaine and what happened to him? All about the Netflix star who went missing

Theo Germaine, a 32-year-old American actor renowned for their role as James Sullivan on Netflix's The Politician, was reported missing on January 6, 2025. Their partner, William Rusan, raised concerns via an Instagram post, noting that Germaine was disoriented and without a charged phone, possibly due to a traumatic brain injury.

Within hours, Germaine was found badly concussed, cold, and out of sorts but otherwise unharmed. Rusan expressed immense relief and gratitude towards the community for their support during the ordeal.

Germaine, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, has also appeared in the 2022 slasher film They/Them alongside Kevin Bacon. Their recent disappearance and subsequent recovery have garnered significant attention, highlighting the importance of community vigilance and support.

---

What happened to the Netflix star Theo Germaine?

Theo Germaine, an American actor known for their role in Netflix’s The Politician, sparked alarm on January 6, 2025, after being reported missing. Concerns were raised when Germaine’s partner, William Rusan, their partner, initially raised the alarm via Theo’s Instagram, sharing a heartfelt post that described the situation as an emergency. The post reads:

‘Everyone, this is Theo’s partner @williamrusan – Theo has been missing since late afternoon Saturday with symptoms of a traumatic brain injury. They are disoriented and their phone is not charged,’

The post continues to read:

‘This is what they look like currently, a little muscled up compared to what you’re used to with a light starter mustache.’

According to Rusan, Theo left their home disoriented and without a charged phone. It was later revealed that Germaine had been dealing with the effects of a traumatic brain injury, which likely contributed to their state of confusion. The actor’s sudden disappearance prompted an outpouring of support from fans and the entertainment community, with many sharing posts and information to aid in locating them.

Their partner later expressed immense gratitude to the public for their help and vigilance in bringing Theo home by posting a photo on Instagram.

This incident has drawn attention to the challenges of public figures navigating personal health crises and also shone a spotlight on the difficulties surrounding brain injuries and the importance of support systems.

---

Everything to know about Theo Germaine

Theo Germaine is a talented American actor, originally from Illinois, they gained early experience acting in plays at the Steppenwolf and Goodman theaters in Chicago. Germaine’s big break came in 2019 when they were cast in Netflix’s The Politician, followed by a role in Showtime’s Work in Progress.

Their career continued to flourish with a standout performance alongside Kevin Bacon in the 2022 slasher film They/Them, which explored the chilling realities of an LGBTQ+ conversion therapy camp. In 2024, Germaine starred in Desire Lines, a hybrid fiction-documentary about transmasculine sexuality, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Identifying as transgender and non-binary, Germaine uses they/them and he/him pronouns and medically transitioned as a teenager.

Passionate about representation, Germaine often speaks openly about their journey, sharing personal experiences with gender dysphoria and their dedication to bringing authentic LGBTQ+ stories to light.

---

Watch The Politician streaming on Netflix.