Jon Wilkinson(III)
- Actor
Jonathan Wilkinson started acting during roll call for Bravo Barracks
at Naval Air Station Pensacola Florida. It was then he realized that
not only did sounding off roll call as various celebrities make him
feel better about cleaning a barracks from 5AM to 7PM, but also it was
his dream job to perform. Jonathan was born in Whittier, California, to
a mother who was a registered Nurse and a father who was a LA County
Sheriff. Not knowing what life had in store for him, Jonathan always
wanted to be either Indiana Jones or a baseball player when he grew up.
Things never work out the way we want them to as kids though, and after
the divorce of his parents, and soon after the death of his mother,
Jonathan began to feel the need to serve others. That calling came to
fruition after turning on the television on the morning of 9/11/01, and
seeing his first act of war. From then on, and with a supportive Father
and Step Mother he started researching the military as a career.
When Jonathan turned 16 he got hired on as a concession worker at his local theater. This was where his dreams of a life of acting first came into light. He would work selling popcorn, or tickets to crowds of people, and staying late to see free movies. It was his escape from another divorce occurring in his life, and his Sister, and Step Brother leaving for the Navy. After turning 17 though, and graduating Westminster High School he himself was off to a life at sea in the United States Navy. His dreams were dashed though after receiving shore duty orders at FRC NW in Whidbey Island, Washington. Jonathan dreamed of far distant lands, and sandy tropical beaches, but instead he swabbed the floors of his division, and packed ejection seat parachutes from sun rise until whenever his Petty Officers would let him leave, but not before sweeping and taking out the trash.
After two years of this, a change needed to be made in his life, and after reading about local auditions for the Whidbey Island Playhouse he knew just what to do. After shaking in his seat for nearly 30 minutes, Jonathan finally stood for his first audition as Pete Bogg in "Murder in the Magnolias". Throwing on his best southern accent, and reading the script 10 times the night before, he was applauded by the other hopeful candidates, and given the role. After his first role on stage, and first lead role at that, Jonathan was hooked, and began performing that the playhouse. He hosted Improv shows and loved giving a helping hand in the light booth whenever possible. This dedication transferred to leaving the Navy and his friends for California after given his Honorable Discharge after 4 years of service, and with GI Bill in hand started school at the Los Angeles Film School. During the time he spent there, he learned acting from behind the camera, and eventually took his turn acting in several thesis projects, and anything that came his way. Including acting for Director Charles T. Kanganis (3 Ninjas Kick Back, According to Jim) in his first on camera role in a Twilight Zone Remake as Rod Serling, and for one of his heroes Clint Eastwood as background in Jersey Boys.
When Jonathan turned 16 he got hired on as a concession worker at his local theater. This was where his dreams of a life of acting first came into light. He would work selling popcorn, or tickets to crowds of people, and staying late to see free movies. It was his escape from another divorce occurring in his life, and his Sister, and Step Brother leaving for the Navy. After turning 17 though, and graduating Westminster High School he himself was off to a life at sea in the United States Navy. His dreams were dashed though after receiving shore duty orders at FRC NW in Whidbey Island, Washington. Jonathan dreamed of far distant lands, and sandy tropical beaches, but instead he swabbed the floors of his division, and packed ejection seat parachutes from sun rise until whenever his Petty Officers would let him leave, but not before sweeping and taking out the trash.
After two years of this, a change needed to be made in his life, and after reading about local auditions for the Whidbey Island Playhouse he knew just what to do. After shaking in his seat for nearly 30 minutes, Jonathan finally stood for his first audition as Pete Bogg in "Murder in the Magnolias". Throwing on his best southern accent, and reading the script 10 times the night before, he was applauded by the other hopeful candidates, and given the role. After his first role on stage, and first lead role at that, Jonathan was hooked, and began performing that the playhouse. He hosted Improv shows and loved giving a helping hand in the light booth whenever possible. This dedication transferred to leaving the Navy and his friends for California after given his Honorable Discharge after 4 years of service, and with GI Bill in hand started school at the Los Angeles Film School. During the time he spent there, he learned acting from behind the camera, and eventually took his turn acting in several thesis projects, and anything that came his way. Including acting for Director Charles T. Kanganis (3 Ninjas Kick Back, According to Jim) in his first on camera role in a Twilight Zone Remake as Rod Serling, and for one of his heroes Clint Eastwood as background in Jersey Boys.