Jon Michael Hill is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Detective Marcus Bell in the CBS series Elementary (2012–2019) and Detective Damon Washington in the ABC series Detroit 1-8-7 (2010–2011). He is also known for his work on Broadway, and has received two Tony Award nominations. He is an ensemble member at Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
Life and career Hill played football and the saxophone during his high school years before focusing on pursuing an acting career, attending a summer drama program at Northwestern University. graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in studio acting. While at the university, he appeared in stage productions of King Lear, Six Degrees of Separation and Ain't Misbehavin'.
Hill played the role of Puck in the 2007 Shakespeare in the Park production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. by Stefanie Lee - TV.com In 2009, Hill was nominated for the Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play for The Tempest at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois. In 2010, Hill was nominated for a Tony Award as Best Featured Actor in a Play in Superior Donuts opposite Michael McKean.Exclusive: Superior Donuts Tony Nominee Jon Michael Hill Awaiting News of TV Pilot By Kenneth Jones May 6, 2010 - Playbill.com In the same year, he began his role as Detective Damon Washington in the ABC police drama Detroit 1-8-7.
Hill's other television credits include Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Person of Interest, and Eastbound & Down. He then went on to star in the CBS series Elementary, wherein he played the role of Detective Marcus Bell. In 2018, he made his directorial debut with the Elementary episode "The Worms Crawl In, the Worms Crawl Out".
In 2025, Hill received his second Tony Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in the play Purpose. The play also won the Tony Award for Best Play.
He has been an ensemble member at Steppenwolf Theatre Company since 2007.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2007 The Last Stain Brodsky Short film 2011 Falling Overnight Troy 2015 Standing8 Abdul Short film2016 No Pay, Nudity New Kid In the Radiant City Richard Gonzalez 2018 Pass Over Moses Widows Reverend Wheeler 2020 Sanctuary Reggie Short film
Television Year Title Role Notes 2010–2011 Detroit 1-8-7 Detective Damon Washington Main cast; 18 episodes 2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Tre Davis Episode: "Spiraling Down"2012 Eastbound & Down Darnell 6 episodes Person of Interest Curtis Episode: "Wolf and Cub" 2012–2019 Elementary Detective Marcus Bell 153 episodes; also director of "The Worms Crawl In, the Worms Crawl Out" 2020 The Good Fight Jumaane Jenkins Episode: "The Gang Is Satirized and Doesn't Like It" 2022 The Accidental Wolf Episode: "Abyss" 2022–2023 61st Street Pastor Richards 9 episodes 2024 A Man in Full Conrad Hensley Main cast 2026 Maximum Pleasure GuaranteedDetective BaxterMain cast
Stage YearTitleRoleVenueRef.2006The UnmentionablesEtienneRegional, Steppenwolf Theatre Company2007A Midsummer Night's DreamPuckOff-Broadway, Delacorte Theatre2008Superior DonutsFranco WicksRegional, Steppenwolf Theatre CompanyKafka on the ShorePerformer2009The TempestArielSuperior DonutsFranco WicksBroadway, Music Box Theatre2011The Hot l BaltimoreBill LewisRegional, Steppenwolf Theatre Company2013Head of PassesCrier2016ConstellationsRoland2017Pass OverMoses2018Off-Broadway, Lincoln Center Theatre2019True WestAustinRegional, Steppenwolf Theatre Company2021Pass OverMosesBroadway, August Wilson Theatre2022True WestAustinInternational, Galway International Arts Festival2023The Refuge PlaysWalking ManOff-Broadway, New York Theatre Workshop2024PurposeNazareth "Naz" JasperRegional, Steppenwolf Theatre CompanyLeroy and LucyLeroy2025PurposeNazareth "Naz" JasperBroadway, Helen Hayes Theatre2026WindfallNurse, CoriRegional, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2010Tony AwardBest Featured Actor in a PlaySuperior DonutsOuter Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Featured Actor in a PlayTheatre World Award2019Lucille Lortel AwardOutstanding Actor in a PlayPass Over2025Tony AwardsBest Actor in a PlayPurposeOuter Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play
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