Skip to content 
“John Wick 3“star is facing an unexpected dejavu moment after years of relying on acting as their only source of income.
Asia Kate Dillon recently revealed that acting opportunities have dwindled, prompting them to seek part-time customer service work. The news marks a dramatic shift for Dillon, who once balanced restaurant and customer service jobs with acting auditions before making a living from performing alone.
“John Wick 3” star Asia Kate Dillon eventually gained wider recognition as Judge in the film while also appearing in “Orange Is the New Black” and “Billions”. These projects helped establish their name in Hollywood, making their final career chapter an unexpected development after years of working towards success on screen.
The ‘John Wick 3’ villain says acting work has dried up
After 11 years of working exclusively in theater, film and television, “John Wick 3” star Dillon is looking to return to the service industry. In an Instagram post, the actor explained why they are looking for part-time work again, writing:
“Now, like many, many acting colleagues of mine — especially those of us who are trans/non-binary/gender non-conforming — acting work has pretty much died down, and I need service work once more.”
The actor first worked in food service in 2000, when they got a part-time job at the Ithaca Bakery at the age of 15. They talked about picking up freshly baked bagels, filling the beverage fridges, setting up the coffee station, cleaning and greeting customers, and then decided, “I loved it.
They continued to work in customer service teams, along with acting, until late 2015, when they finally made a full living as an actor. Now, the actor says they are ready to return to work they have always enjoyed.
“I love customer service. I love creating welcoming environments where people can relax and connect. I love food and drink,” they wrote, describing themselves as “passionate and curious, and a great team.”
Although they expect learning new point-of-sale systems to be a challenge, they said, “I’m a quick study,” and confirmed that they are available for part-time night and weekend shifts.
Fans gather around Asia Kate Dillon after her job application
Dillon’s application for a part-time service job prompted an outpouring of support from fans on Instagram who were shocked to learn that acting opportunities had become so scarce.
One commenter who admired their acting career wrote, “As a huge fan of your acting work, this shocks me. Not because food service work isn’t high-value work but because an actor of your caliber is out of work is just shocking to me.”
Another person suggested a possible path back into hospitality, writing, “Cooking reps might be a good way to get back in to see what hospitality agencies are hiring and who are offering benefits. Good luck, big hugs.”
Other responses provided encouragement and highlighted the importance of the actor’s visibility. “Love you, Asia! I hope you get a job soon,” wrote one follower, while another suggested they talk to major tech companies about major speaking opportunities.
A neutral fan also shared the importance of the actor’s screen presence, writing, “Wherever life takes you in these difficult times, I hope you know that your screen time has reached your trans colleagues. Thank you for being visible.”
The comments, along with practical work advice, showed that the actor received sincere recognition for the representation and connection their work provided.
how come The ‘John Wick 3’ star continues the role in the franchise
While fans gathered around the actor’s recent job application, their trip to Hollywood is a reminder of how determined they were to build a career on screen. The “John Wick 3” star was so eager to join the action franchise that they auditioned for a part before reading the script.
In an interview with Business Insider in 2019, the actor explained that their interest began in 2015, when their mother sent them an email about the first film “John Wick” starring Keanu Reeves. Both were fans, and after watching the first two films, the actor knew that they wanted to appear in the third installment.
After wrapping the third season of “Billions,” Dillon told someone they were hoping to get into the movie, saying, “I think ‘John Wick 3’ is filming in town this summer and that’s a movie I should be in. The filmmakers approached them later to play the Judge, and Dillon accepted the role before they even read the script.”
Asia Kate Dillon helped bring Non-Binary Representation to the franchise
After landing the role of Judge, Dillon also helped shape how the character would be portrayed on screen. The actor revealed that the role was originally written by his or her producers. However, they saw an opportunity to bring non-binary representation into the action franchise.
In a conversation with director Chad Stahelski, Dillon suggested that the character should also be non-binary, explaining, “I’m a non-binary actor; there’s no reason this character has to be a non-trans person; let’s make them non-binary.”
As PinkNews reported, the proposal helped establish the Judge as a non-binary character in the film. Dillon has also said they want more roles that move beyond traditional gender divisions. They said they were committed to making acting sexier, saying, “If it takes 20 years, I’ve personally failed.”
Their experience growing up without a language or representation for their gender identity made that goal especially meaningful, and their role in “Billions” helped them understand their identity better.
The legacy of ‘John Wick 3’ lives on through real world experience
JOHN WICK EXPERIENCE opened at AREA15 in March 2025, where fans can experience the fictional world of the franchise through themed environments, live actors, interactive missions, and challenges.
As The Blast reported, Lionsgate, franchise director Chad Stahelski, and Egan Productions developed the nearly 12,000-square-foot attraction.
Visitors move through cinematic rooms inspired by the Las Vegas landscape, meet characters from the “Inverness” universe, and complete challenges designed to make them feel part of the story.
The attraction gives fans another way to experience the world of “John Wick,” bringing its cinematic settings and characters into an interactive environment outside of the movies.
