Born and raised in Ohio (an avid Buckeye fan), Jon made a detour through Chicago
on his way to Los Angeles in the early 1990’s. Over the past 27 years he can be
seen in over 60 TV shows and numerous feature films, shooting in Thailand, New
Zealand, Tel-Aviv, Buenos Aires, and all across the US. Jon just finished another
episode on season 4 of Doom Patrol (Warner Bros, DC Universe, HBO Max)
playing the actual DC comics character Darren Jones. He has recurred on the
series Tell Me A Story (CBS) and you can catch him in the Warner Brothers movie
Nancy Drew And The Hidden Staircase playing Nate, the antagonist to Nancy Drew
(Sophia Lillis). Along with numerous Lifetime and Hallmark movies, He just
finished an ensemble movie, Twisted Vines, with Vivica A. Fox and Michael Pare.
Jon is married to the lovely Michelle Briddell, a DJ on the popular LA radio station
94.7 The Wave.
FMM: Over the past 27 years you can be seen in over 60 TV shows and numerous feature films. Tell us about your most memorable projects
Well, projects can be memorable for a lot of reasons. Sometimes you’re shooting in an exotic location. I was fortunate to shoot a project from writer James Patterson on a show in Auckland New Zealand for a month which was an extraordinary experience. Sometimes you’re working with an actor or a director who you’ve loved for a long time and it’s a thrill to work with them. On Nancy Drew I got to work with the legendary Linda Lavin who played Alice on the show Alice. On Army Wives I was directed by Debbie Allen which was a treat. I got to play an actual DC comics character on Doom Patrol for multiple seasons which has also been a blast to work on. It can also just be the family that you make while you’re on a shoot for a month and the friends that come out of it, which happened on Twisted Vines.
FMM: What genres are you passionate about?
I guess I’ve always loved science fiction. I was 11-years-old when Star Wars came out and I used to build lightsabers out of flashlights and the plastic golf club liners that clubs fit into in a golf bag, which makes me a Star Wars geek, I guess. That genre has always been my favorite. Any of the early Steven Spielberg movies were big in my house growing-up.
FMM: How have you evolved as an actor?
I think you evolve as an actor just as you evolve as a person, through experience and life lessons. The older you get the more wisdom you acquire and the more perceptions can change. I come from a very conservative Midwest up-bringing and I didn’t have the most talent when I arrived in LA that’s for sure. The more projects I worked on the more comfortable I got, not only with being on camera but with gathering courage to take risks on challenging roles. I really think I’ve become a much more empathetic person and actor in the last 10 years, which I’m hoping translates into my work and makes me a better actor. I believe actors are constantly evolving and it never stops no matter how big you get.
FMM: What led you to your recent film project, Twisted Vines, with Vivica A. Fox and Michael Pare?
At first it was the story and the location they were shooting at, a beautiful winery in Temecula California. The character seemed like a fun character as well. After my first discussion with our director Jihane, I was impressed at how much experience she had behind the camera. She was wonderful to work with and knew exactly what she wanted, which for an actor is a blessing. Getting to work with Vivica A Fox and Michael Pere was just an added bonus!
FMM: Tell us about the film. What intrigued you about this role?
Without giving too much away, the film is a mystery whodunit with a lot of big and fun characters. Like I said before, the story was really interesting and the role I was playing was challenging because at first the character is one way and by the end you’ll see he changes quite a bit. I guess it was fun and challenging at the same time which makes it intriguing.
FMM: Do you have any Lifetime or Hallmark movies planned for the holidays?
Man, I love those Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movies! You can catch me on Christmas Reunion opposite Denise Richards which airs just about every Christmas, as well as A Nashville Christmas Carol with Kix Brooks from the country band Brooks and Dunn. Hopefully there’ll be more to come!
FMM: What does it take to make it in the entertainment business?
Tenacity and commitment. It can be a long and grinding road with lots and lots of rejection. You have to understand that your true job is auditioning, studying, marketing yourself etc. You really have to understand yourself and accept who you are and use it to the best of your abilities in the characters you play. And finally training and lots of it. There isn’t a day where I’m not either working on an audition, listening to YouTube videos on acting or with our favorite stars. or discussing what’s going on with my agents and managers.
