Johnny Messner (actor)


Johnny Messner is an American film and television actor best known for his portrayal of a muscular military man in the 2004 film Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid.

Biography

Messner was born on April 11, 1970, in Syracuse, New York. He is of German, Italian and Spanish descent. He lived in Europe for 13 years while his father served in the United States Air Force, mainly in Germany and England. During this time, he developed a love for sports while playing on teams at military bases. He has one brother and one sister. He briefly attended San Diego State University to major in sports broadcasting but eventually decided to drop out. Soon after that he went back to New York where he pursued an acting career. He has several tattoos; one depicts Italian actress Monica Bellucci, and another is of his father.
As an actor Messner is probably best known for his work in the films Tears of the Sun, The Whole Ten Yards and Hostage, and in the TV series Guiding Light, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Cold Case. In August 2004, American action adventure film Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, starring Messner as an ex-military man Bill Johnson, premiered in theaters. It was the actor's first leading role in a mainstream movie. Around that time Messner became notorious due to his controversial interviews for IGN and Lawrence Journal-World. He stated that "in Hollywood we've lost the real man", and that he's the only "alpha male" still working in the film industry, along with Bruce Willis. In those interviews Messner expressed harsh criticism for actors Orlando Bloom, Brad Pitt, Mickey Rourke, Russell Crowe and Vin Diesel, among others. In December 2004, the horror-themed website CampBlood named him the 2004's sexiest man in horror.
Known as an action hero, he starred in numerous genre films including Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, Tears of the Sun, Running Scared, Arena, Kill 'em All, The Good, the Bad, and the Dead, Silencer, and Beyond the Law. He portrayed the main protagonist, an ex-police officer Burke Wyatt, in the 2008 action film Ring of Death, created for Spike TV. A torture sequence, shot for the film, required Messner to be waterboarded.
Messner's ex-partner is Kathryn Morris, whom he met while shooting Cold Case. They have twin sons. Messner is currently married to Avril Grace.

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998Guiding LightRob Layne22 episodes
1999Rude AwakeningCute PodiatristEpisode: "One Birthday at a Time"
1999AngelKevinEpisode: "Lonely Heart"
2000CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationTed SallangerEpisode: "Cool Change"
2001DannyCashEpisode: "Forget About Your Boss"
2001Son of the BeachHandsome GuyEpisode: "Area 69"
2001FriendsKashEpisode: "The One With Rachel's Date"
2001Men, Women & DogsJimEpisode: "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie"
2003TarzanDetective Michael Foster3 episodes
2005The O.C.Lance Baldwin5 episodes
2005Miami InkHimself
2005–06Killer InstinctDetective Jack Hale13 episodes
2007Burn NoticeHarrickEpisode: "Loose Ends, Part 2"
2008Law & Order: Special Victims UnitCaptain Lowell HarrisEpisode "Undercover"
2008Knight RiderSeanEpisode: "Journey to the End of the Knight"
2009CSI: MiamiKen VogelEpisode: "Sink or Swim"
2010ChuckRafe GruberEpisode: "Chuck Versus the Fake Name"
2010Cold CaseFBI Agent Ryan Cavanaugh3 episodes
2010The GatesMark WoodburyEpisode: "Pilot"
2010Dark BlueDanny2 episodes
2010G.I. Joe: RenegadesFlint 11 episodes
2010A Soldier's Love Story Sgt. Vince CarreraHallmark Movie
2011CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationFrank CaffertyEpisode: "CSI Down"
2017Jane the VirginChuck Chesser10 episodes
2018Criminal MindsJeremy GrantEpisode: "Luke"
2020PrimitiveDr. MamedyarovEpisode: "Blind Sighted"
2020The Christmas High NoteMichaelLifetime Movie