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Born in Israel to South African parents, Jonathan moved to the Rainbow Nation at age 2, long before the country's flag embraced all its colors. He attended Northview High School and Johannesburg College of Education, initially preparing for a teaching career, but his passion for performing had already taken hold. As a teenager, he found success with The Jugless Jug Band and eagerly accepted a role in the original touring production of Joseph. His early musical credits include Grease and The Me Nobody Knows, and in later years, he featured in major productions such as March of the Falsettoes (earning a Vita nomination for Best Supporting Actor), Joburg Follies, Buddy, and toured South Africa and the Far East with Phantom of the Opera, which garnered him a Naledi nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Recent stage appearances include Equus, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Love Letters, The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge, Saturday Night Fever, Beauty and The Beast, The Buddy Holly Story, and The Pirates of Penzance as the Pirate King.
Between acting engagements, he regularly performed as a resident guitar entertainer at hotels, pubs, and restaurants, singing and playing for four hours a night, six nights a week.
Jonathan spent several years touring South Africa's cities and towns with school theatre during the day and legitimate theatre at night, starring in productions such as Don't Just Lie There Say Something, Canterbury Tales, My Fat Friend, and The Fool in Shakespeare.
His television career includes a leading role in The Best of Mates and supporting roles in shows such as Justice For All, Backstage, Generations, You Be The Judge, Isidingo, 7de Laan, 4-play/Sex Tips for Girls, Rhythm City, Madiba, and Bedford Wives.
Film credits include Little One, The Little Kings, Safari, The Emissary, District 9, A Million Colours, Table Manners, Blessers, and Winnie Mandela, where he starred opposite Jennifer Hudson.
During the heyday of Springbok Radio, he appeared in numerous dramas and wrote the popular series Squad Cars until the station's closure in 1985.
His voice is frequently featured in TV and radio commercials.
Jonathan's fledgling production company, Really Genuine Productions, has staged AR Gurney's Love Letters and Ian Fraser's Dogs of the Blue Gods, both directed by him at the National Festival of the Arts in Grahamstown.
He is a former Premier League cricket umpire and has advanced driving skills from the BMW Driver Training Academy at Kyalami. His other interests include photography, graphology, and horse-riding, though not simultaneously.
He hopes to become a racing driver one day.
