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John Fortson

  • Actor
  • Writer
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Writer/Director/Actor John Fortson directing RATED the feature film (release 2025)
Watch John Fortson Theatrical Reel
Play demo reel2:16
John Fortson Theatrical Reel
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John Fortson is an award winning writer, director and actor born on November 6th near Jacksonville, Florida, USA. John's film directorial debut Rated (2016) which he wrote and stars in alongside Christie Lynn Smith and Abby Ryder Fortson garnered a remarkable 60 Official Selections Worldwide, won 21 Awards, with 14 Prizes for Best Short Film including; The Savannah Film Festival, DC Shorts, Sonoma International Film Fest and Big Island Film Festival. He also earned 2 nominations for Best Director. His film festival plays included the likes of; Palm Springs International Shortfest, Rhode Island International Film Fest, Heartland Film Festival, Woodstock Film Festival, and Short Shorts Japan to name a few. He has finished writing the script for the feature film version. John Fortson's versatile film work includes roles in both dramas and comedies. He starred in the emotional new series, Urban Nightmares (2017) as a distraught man taking action to get his wife and son back from the dead after a tragic accident. He starred opposite Kathleen Rose Perkins in Agapé (2014) as a man not of this world intensely fighting for the love of his life. In Spacechild (2011) , John grew a beard & lost weight portraying an astronaut regretting his solo 20 year mission. For Motel Blues (2015), John learned guitar playing a younger Springsteen on edge as his career becomes legendary. In Happy and You Know It (2013) , he plays the patient husband to his overwhelmed pregnant wife. John earned a Best Actor Nomination for his Cary Grant-esque role in the film, Definite Maybe (2002). He played James Spader in My Big Fat Independent Movie (2005) , the good brother in Lather. Rinse. Repeat. (2002) opposite film steady Marshall Bell and Golden Globe Nominee Troy Garity, was seen as a meth addict on death's door saved by Maura Tierney in ER (1994) , and opposite Jessica Biel in 7th Heaven (1996) and in the relationship drama Magnetic Poles (2006), a Sundance Festival Selection. John wrote, produced and starred in 2 acclaimed one person shows including Loveswell which played to LA audiences for more than 3 years. He has been invited to write and perform for Transparent (2014) Creator Joey Soloway show, SitNSpin, for LA's MOCA Museum and for the LA Comedy Festival. Married to Actress Christie Lynn Smith, they welcomed their daughter, Actress Abby Ryder Fortson , into the world in 2008. In 2012, he and Christie welcomed their son, Joshua Fortson . John loves to surf and travel as well support many charitable causes.
BornNovember 6, 19??
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornNovember 6, 19??
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 17 wins & 4 nominations total

    Photos104

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    + 97
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    Known for

    Rated
    Rated
    • Brian Mitchell
      Christie Lynn Smith and John Fortson in Rated (2016)
      Rated
      8.6
      Short
      • Brian Mitchell
      • 2016
      Urban Nightmares (2017)
      Urban Nightmares
      7.2
      TV Mini Series
      • John Kyle
      A poster spoof of "Amelie" from "My Big Fat Independent Movie."
      My Big Fat Independent Movie
      3.2
      • Spader
      • 2005

      Credits

      Edit
      IMDbPro

      Actor



      • Rated
        • Brian Mitchell
        • Post-production
      • George
        • Brad
        • Post-production
        • Short



      • Griffith Park
        TV Series
        • Joe Kessler (2018)
        • 2018
      • Urban Nightmares (2017)
        Urban Nightmares
        7.2
        TV Mini Series
        • John Kyle
        • 2017
      • Christie Lynn Smith and John Fortson in Rated (2016)
        Rated
        8.6
        Short
        • Brian Mitchell
        • 2016
      • Aghápe (2015)
        Aghápe
        Short
        • Man
        • 2015
      • Morris Chestnut, Sanaa Lathan, and Michael Ealy in The Perfect Guy (2015)
        The Perfect Guy
        5.6
        • Bartender #2 (as John Forston)
        • 2015
      • Days of Our Lives (1965)
        Days of Our Lives
        5.3
        TV Series
        • Man
        • 2014
      • Happy and You Know It
        Short
        • Kevin
        • 2013
      • Jesus Is Back (and He Is Not Happy) (2013)
        Jesus Is Back (and He Is Not Happy)
        Short
        • Jesus
        • 2013
      • The Mansfield Memoirs (2011)
        The Mansfield Memoirs
        Short
        • Collins
        • 2011
      • Spacechild (2011)
        Spacechild
        Short
        • Dante Hewson
        • 2011
      • The Appointment
        Short
        • Geoff
        • 2008
      • Derby Day (2007)
        Derby Day
        5.9
        Short
        • Gary McKenzie
        • 2007
      • Marjie Gum in Magnetic Poles (2006)
        Magnetic Poles
        8.2
        Short
        • Simon
        • 2006
      • Something Old, Something British
        Short
        • The Groom
        • 2005
      • A poster spoof of "Amelie" from "My Big Fat Independent Movie."
        My Big Fat Independent Movie
        3.2
        • Spader
        • 2005

      Writer



      • Rated
        • Writer
        • Post-production



      • Christie Lynn Smith and John Fortson in Rated (2016)
        Rated
        8.6
        Short
        • story
        • story by
        • co-writer ...
        • 2016

      Producer



      • Rated
        • producer
        • Post-production
      • George
        • executive producer, producer
        • Post-production
        • Short



      • Christie Lynn Smith and John Fortson in Rated (2016)
        Rated
        8.6
        Short
        • executive producer
        • producer
        • 2016

      • In-development projects at IMDbPro

      Verified affiliations

      Learn more at IMDbPro
      SAG-AFTRA

      Videos2

      John Fortson Theatrical Reel
      Demo Reel 2:16
      John Fortson Theatrical Reel
      Magnetic Poles
      Full Movie 28:55
      Magnetic Poles
      Magnetic Poles
      Full Movie 28:55
      Magnetic Poles

      Personal details

      Edit
      • Official site
        • Official Site
      • Alternative name
        • John Forston
      • Born
        • November 6, 19??
        • Palatka, Florida, USA
      • Spouse
        • Christie Lynn SmithJune 27, 1998 - present (1 child)
      • Children
        • Abby Ryder Fortson
      • Other works
        Music video with Jenna Elfman for Anthrax's "Black Lodge" Directed by Mark Pellington

      Self-verified on IMDbPro

      • Gender / Gender identity
        • Male

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        Married to actress Christie Lynn Smith.

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