Jon R. Portrey

Jon R. Portrey was born in Council Bluffs Iowa. In the Heart of the Country. Living in a kind of country like setting, he learned about hard work, and fairness. That was never explored by people around him. He really believed in being a good person, and doing what was right, and in many ways what you do best is what is right for you. He was a kind of reclusive child, always pushing his eyes towards something visually stimulating, and even thought provoking. He was a big fan of movies, being exposed to them at an early age, he began to mimic the quotes, and the found himself falling asleep with movies just so he could hear them as he slept. As the years moved, he began to hear more and more people wanting him to do this voice or that voice. He always looked at voices as nothing more then a hobby, something he loved to do. Nothing really prepared him for the new frame of mind he would encounter as he started to really believe he could be an actor. Coming from a big family your always kind of made to be the entertainer if you have a talent to you. But even then Jon, really didn't fully believe he was a right fit for what was already out there. He was to entranced into the personalities he saw on the screen to think he had his own. It was only until he switched schools that he started to see things in himself. Going into Improv. contests and winning with a group behind you; two years in a row. Even then he still didn't think that was where he could be. It was only until Senior Year, when he was encouraged to go into a talent contest. After which he had a Standing Ovation from his peers, as the voices he was doing really sold him to them. But, even with all that he still didn't think it was where he could be. It was on the same night as the contests, he was walking towards the dressing room. When he heard it, that one statement that would guide his thoughts. "You should be a Thespian". After that it was almost solidify in his mind that, that is where he should be, and do with his life. He stayed near home for college, finding a community college in the area that had acting courses. He worked hard to learn the methods of acting, and the presentation of styles. But, nearing the end of his stay there, he really began to look towards another avenue he never thought of doing. Writing, Jon started to write full concepts, with a begins, a middle, and a end. He wrote one idea after another, taking a year to solidify them. With that exploring going on, so to did he start to explore nativity. Which lasted for most of his 20's. Being reclusive, you don't really understand social behavior, and like most talented people...They really do learn the hard way. After a good amount of dodging poisonous personalities, Jon finally started to move onto his acting career in 2012. Premiering with 3 short films in a local film festival. After that Jon moved to L.A. in early OCT of 2013 where he learned a lot of lessons about his craft, and the people in it today. He has since moved back home, where he plans to strengthen his footing before he leaps head first into another ambitious lesson. You will find Jon Portrey now a days, working, working, and working to move his ideals into the forefront.