Johnny Alonso: A rebel with a heart

Johnny Alonso:  A rebel with a heart         (Photo Credit: Monika Miklos)

Maryland is known for more than just its world-famous crab cakes and Baltimore Ravens football team. 

Maryland is also known for being home of famous actors like Edward Norton (born in Columbia), David Hasselhoff (born in Baltimore), Linda Hamilton (born in Salisbury), and even John Wilkes Booth (born in Bel Air).  But I think he was more famous for something else! 

Other luminaries such as champion shooter and star of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, Annie Oakley was born in Cambridge, MD. 

After starring roles on "Dawson's Creek," "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer," and "One Tree Hill," Johnny Alonso can now be added to the list of famous actors from Maryland. 

Though born in Howard Beach in Queens, NY, Johnny moved to Ellicott City at a very young age where his father, a plastic surgeon, and mother, a pediatrician set up their practice.  With his mom being a pediatrician, there was no staying home and faking sick for little Johnny!  He had to go to school like the rest of us, attending private school at Trinity and then Loyola High School where he graduated in 1992.

Perhaps it was watching Edward Norton performing at Toby's Dinner Theatre that inspired Mr. Alonso to try his hand at acting, where after high school, he attended and graduated from N.Y.U.'s Actor's Studio, taking classes in scene study, monologues, movement and technique.  A talent scout from ABC had been trying to fill a role for two months when he saw Johnny at an improvisational technique class.  After an audition, he landed the role of Susan Lucci's nephew, Seth on the soap opera "All My Children."  Performing on 66 episodes, he worked with many actors, including Sarah Michelle Geller where they would later work together on "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer."

Johnny believes that actors who live and breathe acting all day without having a life of their own, forget how real people behave, subsequently giving fake, washed-out performances. 

"The best actors are the ones that have genuine interests that go way beyond our acting world. 'Actors' that say they 'live and breathe acting 24 hours 7 days a week' are usually the worst actors out there...and are completely full of s***."  -Johnny Alonso

Knowing this, he has plenty of daily activities that he enjoys like reading, listening to the waves, watching movies, writing music, photography, skateboarding and surfing.  Playing guitar is also a favorite pastime, where he is part of a Duran Duran tribute band.

Besides having a life outside of acting, being persistent is another characteristic that Mr. Alonso credits towards his success.  To obtain a role on "Dawson's Creek," Johnny auditioned an exhausting 72 times!  As the snide junior stock-broker, Jimmy Franco, he appeared in 8 episodes during the final season.  When asked what goes through his mind when he sees himself on TV he said that he is often so in the moment when the director yells "action" that when he sees himself on TV he says to himself "I don't remember doing any of this!"

Maryland producer, Frank Lama says that "Johnny Alonso has never forgotten about his local roots, always making himself available to act in Maryland-made films."  One such Maryland-made film, "Safehouse" recently made its Baltimore premiere at the Senator Theatre.

Johnny plays the role of ex FBI agent, Cooper O'Neil in the action-packed crime drama, "Safehouse". 
Originally cast as Teaberry, production disputes caused the role of Cooper O'Neil to be recast, even after the production started shooting.  Having already spent tens of thousands of dollars, the script was re-written, and Johnny Alonso was cast as the ex FBI agent and Clayton Myers as Teaberry. Had Johnnny stayed cast as Teaberry, Mr. Myers said they "wouldn't have been able to have the fun we did shooting the scene together."

In the following clip from the movie, Cooper visits Teaberry to see if he can dissect what is on a flash drive.  Originally, Teaberry's lover was supposed to be played by a beautiful, sexy female.  When the actress didn't show up on the set, and with no female in sight, a male crew member bravely took on the role!

Those who work with Johnny know that he is fun to be around, on and off the set.  Perhaps it's how he puts you at ease when he uses "paisan" as his greeting.  Actor Jonathan Ruckman who plays David Carlson likes how "Johnny makes it seem that it is all about you.  I feed off of his energy."

Current projects include a web series titled "Life After Lisa".  Taking place in 1980's Baltimore, Jessie Beaumont moves into Adele 301 and learns that the girl who lived in her room last died in a car accident the previous spring. Jessie finds herself surrounded by Lisa's friends and gets to know Lisa through stories.  Johnny plays the role of Stephen Shatner, a guitar teacher from Hampden.

From the same producers as "Safehouse," look for Johnny in the upcoming film "Coffin" about 6 hostages who wake up in a coffin-like state. 

Entrepreneur, Vince Sharps sums up Johnny by saying, "he is a man of integrity that values the art, putting his best into every role, every time."

With an Emmy Award in hand as best host for NASA 360, Johnny Alonso has an acting career that is out of this world!

Baltimore Examiner Performing Arts Reporter
MARK BEACHY
beachyreporter@yahoo.com