Ernesto Cloma Briones Jr.,[1] known as Jon Jon Briones (born August 7, 1965),[2] is a Filipino-American actor best known for his work in musical theatre. He played the Engineer in the original casts in the West End revival of Miss Saigon in 2014, for which he was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical, and reprised the part on Broadway in 2017.
Jon Jon Briones | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ernesto Cloma Briones Jr. August 7, 1965 Quezon City, Philippines |
| Citizenship |
|
| Occupation | Actor |
| Spouse |
Megan Johnson (m. 1996) |
| Children |
|
Career
editWhile an engineering student in the Philippines, Briones became involved with the original 1989 London production of Miss Saigon. Briones had a friend who was a producer in the Philippines, who asked Briones to help "facilitate an audition" for the Cameron Mackintosh team who were holding auditions in the Philippines for Miss Saigon. In addition to helping with the organization of the auditions, Briones himself auditioned for and then became a member of the ensemble.[3]
He has been involved with various touring productions of Miss Saigon, as a swing and covering other roles, finally playing the Engineer. In 2014 he joined the original cast of the Miss Saigon West End revival, playing the Engineer.[4] He was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for playing this role and won the Whatsonstage.com Award for Best Actor in a Musical.[5][6] He remained in the role until the production closed on February 27, 2016.[7]
In 2017, Briones transferred with the production to Broadway at the Broadway Theatre. Previews started on March 1, 2017, with an official opening on March 23.[8]
On April 30, 2019, Briones received the Visionary Award from East West Players during their annual awards dinner and silent auction.[9] The award is given to celebrate individuals that are able to raise the visibility of Asian Pacific Americans through their work.[10] During his acceptance speech, Briones said that his "vision is that we change hearts and minds in Hollywood and in the theatre community so they see that we have a voice and a story – beautiful stories – to tell, and we are the ones who can and should tell it."[11]
In 2018, he appeared in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story as Modesto Cunanan, father of Gianni Versace's murderer, Andrew Cunanan, and in American Horror Story: Apocalypse as Ariel Augustus.
In 2020, Briones appeared in the Netflix drama series Ratched,[12] portraying Dr. Richard Hanover.[13]
In 2022, Briones appeared in the second season of Star Trek: Picard. His daughter, Isa Briones, is a main cast member on the series.
In March 2024, Briones joined the cast of Hadestown on Broadway, portraying Hermes. He starred opposite his daughter, who made her Broadway debut as Eurydice.[14]
Personal life
editIn 1996, Briones married Megan Johnson. They have two children: Isa Briones (b. 1999) and Teo Briones (b. 2005).[15] His wife and children are also actors.[16]
He was born in Quezon City, Philippines and became a United States citizen in 2010.[17]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Potluck | Short film | |
| 2008 | Proud American | Dawn's Father | |
| An Immigrant Girl's Journey | Paulo Alcedo | Short film | |
| Brown Soup Thing | Uncle Jon Jon | ||
| 2010 | Breathe | Rhadamanths | Short film |
| 2012 | Jolly B. Fierce | Edward Biagan | Short film |
| Nico's Sampaguita | Raul | Short film | |
| Just an American | Father of Dawn Trang | ||
| 2014 | Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage | Asian Genie | |
| Blood Ransom | Father Mena | ||
| 2016 | Miss Saigon: 25th Anniversary | The Engineer | |
| 2018 | Model Home | Mr. Fan | |
| 2022 | Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration | Maurice | TV film special |
| 2023 | The Last Voyage of the Demeter | Joseph | |
| TBA | Patron Saints of Nothing | Tito Maning |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–2004 | Las Vegas | Cosme Caliyag | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | Moonlight | Party Goer | Episode: "Out of the Past" |
| 2008 | Sons of Anarchy | Asian Elvis | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2009 | Monk | First Mercenary | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Magician" |
| 2010 | Miami Medical | Technician | Episode: "Diver Down" |
| Law & Order: LA | Brant Ross | Episode: "Hollywood" | |
| 2011 | Southland | Rama | Episode: "Graduation Day" |
| 2013 | The Mentalist | Mr. Lam | Episode: "My Blue Heaven" |
| 2014 | Bones | Adrian Lingao | Episode: "Big in the Philippines" |
| 2017 | Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders | Lama Vajra | Episode: "Abominable" |
| 2018 | The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story | Modesto Cunanan | 2 episodes |
| Designated Survivor | Prime Minister Khallou | Episode: "Bad Reception" | |
| American Horror Story: Apocalypse | Ariel Augustus | 3 episodes | |
| 2019 | Better Things | Himself | Episode: "The Unknown" |
| All Rise | Daniel Mendoza | Episode: "How to Succeed in Law Without Really Re-Trying" | |
| 2020 | Ratched | Dr. Richard Hanover | Main role |
| 2021 | Trese | Hank | Voice role[18] |
| 2022 | Star Trek: Picard | Confederation Magistrate | Episodes: "Penance" and "Assimilation" |
| Transformers: EarthSpark | Alex Malto | Voice role[19] | |
| 2023 | Class of '09 | Gabriel | Main cast[20] |
Theatre credits
edit| Year | Production | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-1992 | Miss Saigon | Ensemble | Theatre Royal Drury Lane, West End |
| 1992 | Into the Woods | Rapunzel’s Prince | Repertory Philippines |
| 1993 | Little Shop of Horrors | Seymour Krelborn | |
| Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | The Narrator | ||
| Les Misérables | Enjolras | ||
| 1994 | The Wiz | The Lion | |
| Miss Saigon | Swing | German Tour | |
| 1995 | The Engineer | ||
| 1997 | Children of Eden | Adult Storyteller | Paper Mill Playhouse |
| 1998-1999 | Miss Saigon | The Engineer (Alternate) | Theatre Royal Drury Lane, West End |
| 2000 | Cultural Center of the Philippines | ||
| 2001 | The Engineer | Asia Tour | |
| 2002–2004 | North American Tour | ||
| 2004–2006 | U.K. National Tour | ||
| 2012 | A Little Night Music | Fredrik Egerman | Union Center for the Arts |
| 2014–2016 | Miss Saigon | The Engineer | Prince Edward Theatre, West End |
| 2016 | La Cage aux Folles | Georges | Union Center for the Arts |
| 2017–2018 | Miss Saigon | The Engineer | Broadway Theatre, Broadway |
| 2018 | Sweet Charity | Herman | Freud Playhouse |
| 2023 | Waterfall: A New Musical[21] | Than Chao Khun | Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre |
| 2024 | Hadestown | Hermes | Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway |
References
edit- ^ Blank, Matthew (October 21, 2014). "CUE & A: London's Miss Saigon Star Jon Jon Briones on Sammy Davis Jr., "Field of Dreams" and Two Decades as The Engineer". Playbill.
- ^ "Briones Broadway" Playbill, retrieved September 24, 2017
- ^ Gordon, David. "From Engineering Student to "The Engineer": Jon Jon Briones' Journey With 'Miss Saigon' " theatermania.com, March 19, 2017
- ^ "Alistair Brammer, Tamsin Carroll, Hugh Maynard & More Join West End's Miss Saigon; Full Cast Announced!". November 22, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
- ^ "Olivier awards 2015: complete list of nominations". March 9, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
- ^ "Miss Saigon dominates WhatsOnStage awards". BBC. February 15, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
- ^ "Final flight for Miss Saigon". cameronmackintosh.com. July 14, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (September 29, 2016). "Additional Casting Announced for Miss Saigon Broadway Revival". Playbill. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
- ^ Wood, Ximón (April 10, 2018). "TV & Stage Stars Suzy Nakamura and Jon Jon Briones will join Lily Mariye and Wendy Chang/Dwight Stuart Youth Fund as Honorees at East West Players' 52nd Visionary Awards Dinner & Silent Auction on Monday, April 30, 2018 at Hilton Universal City". East West Players. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
- ^ Wood, Ximón (June 23, 2014). "Golden Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner and Silent Auction". East West Players. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
- ^ TFCBalitangAmerica (May 2, 2018), Showbiz Tonight: Jon Jon Briones receives Visionary Award by East West Players, retrieved July 22, 2019
- ^ Petski, Denise (January 14, 2019). "'Ratched': Sharon Stone, Cynthia Nixon Among 10 Cast In Ryan Murphy's Netflix Series". Deadline. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Ratched star Jon Jon Briones on his wild role: 'Oh my God, I have to do a lobotomy on my son'". EW. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
- ^ Jon Jon Briones and Daughter Isa Briones to Join Cast of Broadway's Hadestown
- ^ "Jon Jon Briones". IMDb. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ Grigware, Don. "BWW Interview: Isa Briones Opens Up About Next To Normal". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ Wolf, Matt. "West End Star Jon Jon Briones on His 25-Year Journey in 'Miss Saigon', From Ensemble Member to Engineer" broadway.com, May 7, 2014
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (May 21, 2021). "New Trailer & Cast Revealed for 'Trese,' Premiering June 11". Animation Magazine. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ Petski, Denise (July 22, 2022). "'Transformers: EarthSpark': Paramount+ Series Sets Voice Cast, Teaser Trailer — Comic-Con". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy; Petski, Denise (November 10, 2021). "'Class of '09': Raúl Castillo, Jake McDorman, Sepideh Moafi, Brian J. Smith Among 7 Cast In FX Limited Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ Josh Dela Cruz, Danielle Hope, and Jon Jon Briones Will Star in Waterfall in Thailand, Broadway World, Retrieved 13 September 2023
