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John F. Wilkie, AKA "Johnbro," was born in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, one of 3 children to Pam and Ron Wilkie. He is also the grandson of local Detroit 'Big Band era' radio stars, Harry "Ski" Meyer and "Little Skippy Little." Since birth, John was exposed to professional performers and musicians. He was raised by a stepfather, who was a design engineer for Ford Motor Company, moving the family from a Detroit neighborhood to the suburb of Taylor, during the riots of 1967.
John's first professional job in entertainment came in 1974, as the drummer in his grandfather's combo - playing 1940's era show tunes. He then graduated to playing in rock bands, performing at community center 'teen dances' and later entered into 'Drum and Bugle corps' competitions, on a national level. He also was an athlete in high school, lettering in Football and Track.
In his senior year of High school, John's drama class instructor convinced him to audition for a co-lead in the annual 'School play.' He discovered that he had somewhat of a knack for acting, and loved working with an ensemble. His first live stage acting performance was portraying 'Matthew Harrison Brady' in stage version of the classic movie, "Inherit the Wind." ( Spring, 1978 )
After graduating from high school, John immediately enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, mostly as a way to get away from rural Michigan. He excelled at 'flight line maintenance,' repairing jet engines on the F-15 Eagle fighter jets. (1978-1982) After separating from the service, he went back home to Michigan, only to discover that jobs were scarce and low-paying, as the country was in the midst of a deep financial recession. After undergoing a devastating divorce, John packed all of his things into his car. He had no idea where he was going, but knew that he had to leave.
John first drove south, not stopping until he hit Houston, Tx. He connected with his older brother and soon was playing guitar with country musicians in 'Kicker bars.' He has another long story about a night at 'Gilley's' in Pasadena. ( OMG! ) After a year of that kind of stuff, he just hopped in his car and started driving west, again - having no idea where he would end up.
Truncating a very long story, John landed in Las Vegas, only to have his car towed. Ultimately, he hitch-hiked to the west coast, first landing in Huntington Beach, California. Now homeless and broke, John took on temp jobs, earning just enough money to buy a bus ticket that dropped him off at Hollywood & Vine. ( The full story can be read in his auto-biographical novel, "The Hollywood Trap, Standing at Marilynn's Tile." copyright 2018 )
One afternoon, while living on the beach by the Santa Monica Pier, John got on a bus that dropped him off in front of 'The Roosevelt Hotel' in Hollywood, California. It is located directly across the street from Grauman's Chinese Theater. Unsolicited, John walked inside and arranged an audition with the entertainment director, Skip E. Lowe, manager of 'The Cinegrill.' John secured himself a spot in their weekend variety shows, broadcast on local cable television. Soon, he was offered a 'bit-part' in Valerie Bertinelli's made for television movie, 'the Seduction of Gena.' ( summer, 1984 )
John spent the next 7 years, bouncing between the Hollywood underground, working with various bands on the Sunset Strip, and doing non-union 'extra' parts for the studios. His first 'big break' came - after recording the original "John Bro's" EP comedy tape, with Mike Niles of the legendary band 'Spirit,' and Neil Haywood, lead guitarist for the 'Lindsey Buckingham band.'
When they finished recording the project, Mike Niles called up his long-time friend, Barry Hansen (AKA - the legendary "Dr. Demento," -- radio personality / 70's hippie-disc jockey) -- and John went to meet him at a gig at 'The Ice House' in Pasadena, California. During an intermission, "John Bro" spoke with Mr. Hansen and put a cassette tape into his hands. 'Dr. Demento' then wished John well, and told him to give his regards to Mike Niles.
According to John, one week later, while he was listening to the radio late at night, one of his songs started playing. At first, John thought that he had accidentally turned on a cassette player. He had heard the 'John Bro's' tape so many times, that he just wanted to turn it off. So he went over to the player and pushed the 'stop' button -- but it continued to play. It was at that moment that he realized it was not the cassette player, but his music was 'on-the-air' -- playing coast-to-coast. He got multiple air plays after that - ending up being included in a compilation collection. As a result, John met some industry people and was invited to join 'Cinex' ( non-union side of 'Central Casting.' )
That got him an audition for 'Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman,' were he became one of the regular 'Townspeople' at the Old Paramount Ranch, in Agoura Hills, California. He names 'Dr. Quinn's wedding' as his most memorable experience on that show. During this time period, John was featured as "John Bro," in the Paramount Studios FOX Network show, "SIGHTINGS," in an episode named after his book of reported paranormal experiences, entitled; "Solar Obliteration." That episode was re-run on a worldwide basis, over 1,500 times.
Completely unrelated to that, John attended an audition for up-coming sci-fi show on the FOX network, titled 'SPACE: Above and Beyond.' Pre-emptied by 'Sunday Night Football,' that show was canceled after one season, but gained a phenomenal fan base, when the 'SCI-FI' channel bought the syndication rights. ( John would ultimately spend the next 5 years doing appearances at the 'SCI FI' conventions across southern California.) Because of 'SPACE: Above and Beyond,' John finally got his SAG card. As he tells it; "An over-night success, after 13 years!" He is one of those people that truly scraped their way up from the bottom.
Because of his stint on 'SPACE: Above and Beyond,' John was invited to join the exclusive 'Central Casting,' and soon became friends with Kristian Sorensen. John was then invited to join an exclusive group of ex-military weapons specialists, turned Hollywood SPFX weapons operators, called 'Alpha Company.' John was later hired on special-ability vouchers for the movies; "Armageddon," "Godzilla," and "The General's Daughter."
Through his affiliation with Paramount Studio producers and directors, John was given an audition, and subsequently hired for the network television show, "StarTrek: Voyager," where he played the murderous 'Hirogen Hunter,' also performing minor pyrotechnic stunts. He spent a couple of months, working with that production company. He did everything from prat falls to hand-modeling, to working as a 'stand in' for that series.
Later that year, John was hired to play a professional basketball player, turned murder witness, on Dick Van Dyke's 'Diagnosis: Murder.' After that, he portrayed a member of the New York Knicks, playing basketball with Patrick Ewing on Marlon Wayan's "Senseless." Then John was contracted to sing on an elevator, with Fred Savage, in the NBC network show, "Working." John also got in a tussle with John Leguizamo, in the comedy movie, "Pest."
In 1998, John moved down to San Diego, where he played music in seaside restaurants and bars, while driving a double-stretch limo around the local resorts in that town. During this period, he drove back to L.A., to appear in 'The General's Daughter,' - then later, he served on a team of choreographers, teaching a 400-man group of 'extras' to perform a mock 'Klu Klux Klan' ceremonial dance in the Coen's Brothers now classic film, "Oh Brother, Where are Thou?" That was another gig acquired through 'Alpha Company military casting' and Kristian Sorenson.
John was simultaneously doing paranormal radio show appearances, connected with his book, "the Solar Obliteration journals." He was also doing commercial voice-overs and performing in a couple of local San Diego stage productions. In 2002, for a short while, he had a gig as 'the Voice of the Riptide' for the local indoor football team, called the San Diego Wave.
In 2004, John moved back to his original home, just north of Ann Arbor, Michigan. He received some local press, doing 'Dinner theatre,' and played lead guitar in a contemporary worship band, for over a decade. He and his 'high school sweetheart' married and own a home in an exclusive neighborhood in Brighton, Michigan.
In 2012, he portrayed the bumbling deputy, in a comedy romp entitled; "Margarine Wars." He notes his favorite moments from doing that film as, "Working with Hollywood Legends, Terry Moore, Robert Loggia, Doris Roberts."
John started to name more people, but then realized that he would ultimately have to list the entire cast and production crew. ( David Rich, Ron G. Helen Muth, Michael Spellman ( Joe & Caire ), Dee Wallace, Grant Cramer, Steve Brewer, Danny Anlfeld, D.J. Economou, Ari Rufino, Rocky Rector, Bianca Keitel, Gaylee Rubin, Ron Cohen, etc. )
The cast flew out to Hollywood and had a Red Carpet premier at the ArcLIght Theater. After 30 years dabbling in the business, John was grateful that he finally got a photo taken by 'Getty Images.' The film became available on Amazon early in 2015.
In September of 2016, the Independent film production company 'Legend of the Hawk productions,' gave John the part of 'Detective Art Regal,' in the new film "Crystal." The film features Jason London of 'Dazed and Confused,' and is starring newcomer, Trinity Miller. The film premiered at Royal Oak, Michigan's 'E-magine Theatre' - and won several local independent film awards.
John looks forward to his next film, and is promoting his latest book; "The Hollywood Trap," also a screen adaptation of his book, "The Angel's Jest."
Will keep his friends and fans of the shows he has been in posted. You can find him on FB at 'Johnbro Wilkie'.
