John Christopher Strong (born July 22, 1974) is an American actor, composer, and musician. He is best known for his roles in Black Hawk Down (as Medal of Honor recipient Randy Shughart) and The Fast and the Furious as Leon. Aside from acting, Strong is also the lead vocalist and founder of the band Operator, movie composer, movie writer, and movie producer.
Early life and education Johnny Strong was born in Los Angeles County, California. At the age of seven he began studying martial arts, taking up Judo in the San Fernando Valley. He went on to learn Kickboxing, Jeet Kune Do, Boxing, and eventually earned a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Chris Lisciandro. At 12, he began to play Guitar and taught himself to play Drums, and Piano.
Career Music He was signed to two major labels RCA and Atlantic Records. He has released nine albums: Bombthreat: Before She Blows and Fly and Lick My Neck Good Sleep with his former band, and Can You Hear Me Now?, La Luna Del Diablo Blanco, Soulcrusher, The War of Art, Close to Extinction, War Horse and White Light with Operator band.
Film Johnny Strong has had various roles in television, and landed a role in the Steven Seagal film, The Glimmer Man. He then worked on Sylvester Stallone film, Get Carter (2000), also The Fast and the Furious (2001), and Black Hawk Down (2001). Strong stars in Sinners & Saints film, marked his return to the screen, as Detective Sean Riley, a New Orleans-based police thriller featuring Sean Patrick Flanery and Tom Berenger, filmed in 2010 but released on DVD in 2012. One of the songs in the film, Let you go, is sung by Strong.
Personal life He was married on December 10, 1997, to Alexandra Holden, but they have since divorced.
Filmography
Film Year Film Role Notes 1996 Seduced by Madness: The Diane Borchardt Story Tim Actor The Glimmer Man Johnny Deverell Actor Time Well Spent Lloyd Clevenger Actor 1997 On the Edge of Innocence Squeamich Actor Don't Eat the Chili at the Detour Diner Gavin Actor 1998 Bury Me in Kern County Oldie Actor 2000 Get Carter Eddie Actor 2001 The Fast and the Furious Leon Actor Black Hawk Down Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart Actor 2010 Sinners and Saints Detective Sean Riley Actor and composer 2014 Elwood David "Davey Boy" Actor 2016 Daylight's End Thomas Rourke Actor, producer and composer 2018 Cold Brook Ronnie Actor 2020 Invincible Cameron "Cam" Devore Actor, writer and composer 2023 Warhorse One Master Chief Richard Mirko Actor, writer, composer, editor and Co-director
References
External links