Jonathan Morgan Heit: Watch out Hollywood here comes the next big thing!

Jonathan Morgan Heit in Bedtime Stories

To talk to actor Jonathan Morgan Heit it's easy to forget you're talking to a nine year old boy.  During a recent interview with Examiner.com Jonathan talked about his career aspirations, his Hollywood co-star wish list, and his desire to help the less fortunate. But he also threw in few quick giggles and shared some of his soccer expertise, reminding me this talented young actor is still only a fourth grader...but a clearly talented one at that! There's little doubt Jonathan is Hollywood's next big thing.

With new projects popping up what seems like every day Jonathan Morgan Heit is a busy young man. The star of Bedtime Stories has a part in the star-studded Valentine's Day, a leading role in a new animated Disney TV series Jakes Team Pirates, lends his voice for the upcoming Build-a-Bear Workshop holiday feature Holly and Hal Moose: An Uplifting Christmas Adventure, made a recent guest appearance on the sitcom How I Met Your Mother, appears in the upcoming movie Dinner for Schmucks and is currently filming The Search for Santa Paws in Vancouver.  In typical 9-year-old fashion he reminds me his career has already come a very long way explaining he doesn't do much commercial work anymore, "Unless," he says, "It's a really good commercial." 

Jonathan with Valentine's Day director Garry Marshall

Along with acting, Jonathan sings, does voice over work for animated films, and is a young director. 

"I’m going to New York Film Academy.  I’m making a silent film." When I ask why a silent film when it seems this youngester has so much, he explains his inspiration.  "My mom works at what used to be the Charlie Chaplin studio."

The tween directing program is something Jonathan is clearly enjoying, "I want to be an actor and a director." No doubt his time on the set of Valentine's Day had a little something to do with that, "Garry Marshall was really nice. I hope to be like him, cause he's still out there at that age," the fourth grader said (with a little giggle) of the legendary 75 year old director.

Even with all the casting calls, the auditions, and directing Jonathan still manages to be a normal kid. "I have a tutor (when he's on set), but I go to usual school." The fourth grader says his classmates know he's an actor but he points out, "I tell them not to treat me differently." Despite his early success as an actor, Jonathan takes school very seriously.  Math and science are his favorite subjects and he tells me, "When I'm 20, I want to go to college. Maybe Yale or Princeton."  As for what he does for fun, "Usually soccer is one of my favorites, but tennis is my main favorite...I'm pretty good for starting just recently." He also stays grounded by volunteering at a homeless shelter. "I do volunteer work. Like at Los Angeles Mission. They’re open everyday, but I go on Christmas and Thanksgiving and Easter. Usually I'm someone who passes out food." He's also a supporter of Autisum Speaks, the SAG Bookpals Program, Kids with a Cause, First Book, the Ronald McDonald House Charities and Nextaid.  The young actor has also recently become a youth ambassador for the Lollipop Theater Network. The non-profit makes sure sick children confined to hospitals get to see the year's biggest blockbusters by taking the entire movie experience to them.  Jonanthan's volunteer work is no surprise when you consider one of the youngster's Hollywood idols. "I like to look up to Paul Newman. He’s an actor and he also does so many charities. You know Paul Newman Dressing?" he asks me, "All that goes to charity."

Jonathan with actor Kirk Douglas

And while, sadly, Jonathan will never get to meet his idol, he tells me there are some actors he hopes to work with someday. "I met Kirk Douglas once ... he was nice when I met him. He’s been around [a long time] and done a lot of cool movies." He thinks for a second and then adds, "Johnny Depp. Yeah!"  With Jonathan's talent, there's little doubt you could be seeing him star next to Kirk Douglas or Johnny Depp or the like one day.  At just nine years old he's already met and worked with some of Hollywood's hottest A-listers everyone from Steve Carell to Jennifer Gardner in Valentine's Day. (Check out Jonathan's personal photo album in the slideshow below.)

To wrap up our interview, Jonathan leaves me with one final thought and some advice for aspiring young actors: "I really love what I'm doing. If anyone is involved in acting, I suggest starting small, being natural and working your way up to a big thing."

Related Articles:

• Behind the scenes of Build-a-Bear Workshop's Holly and Hal Moose with Jonathan Morgan Heit
• Star-studded 'Valentine's Day' cast filled out with celebrity kids

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