Ernesto Cloma Briones Jr. (born August 7, 1965),"Briones Broadway" Playbill, retrieved September 24, 2017 known as Jon Jon Briones, is a Filipino and American actor best known for his work in musical theatre. He played the Engineer in the original casts in the West End revival of Miss Saigon in 2014, for which he was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical, and reprised the part on Broadway in 2017.
Career While an engineering student in the Philippines, Briones became involved with the original 1989 London production of Miss Saigon. Briones had a friend who was a producer in the Philippines, who asked Briones to help "facilitate an audition" for the Cameron Mackintosh team who were holding auditions in the Philippines for Miss Saigon. In addition to helping with the organization of the auditions, Briones himself auditioned for and then became a member of the ensemble.Gordon, David. "From Engineering Student to "The Engineer": Jon Jon Briones' Journey With 'Miss Saigon' " theatermania.com, March 19, 2017
He has been involved with various touring productions of Miss Saigon, as a swing and covering other roles, finally playing the Engineer. In 2014 he joined the original cast of the Miss Saigon West End revival, playing the Engineer. He was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for playing this role and won the Whatsonstage.com Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He remained in the role until the production closed on February 27, 2016. In 2017, Briones transferred with the production to Broadway at the Broadway Theatre. Previews started on March 1, 2017, with an official opening on March 23.
On April 30, 2019, Briones received the Visionary Award from East West Players during their annual awards dinner and silent auction. The award is given to celebrate individuals that are able to raise the visibility of Asian Pacific Americans through their work. During his acceptance speech, Briones said that his "vision is that we change hearts and minds in Hollywood and in the theatre community so they see that we have a voice and a story – beautiful stories – to tell, and we are the ones who can and should tell it."
In 2018, he appeared in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story as Modesto Cunanan, father of Gianni Versace's murderer, Andrew Cunanan, and in American Horror Story: Apocalypse as Ariel Augustus. In 2020, Briones appeared in the Netflix drama series Ratched, portraying Dr. Richard Hanover. In 2022, Briones appeared in the second season of Star Trek: Picard. His daughter, Isa Briones, is a main cast member on the series.
In 2023, Jon Jon Briones played the role of Joseph in the movie 'The Last Voyage of the Demeter.' This drama/horror film tells the story of the crew of the merchant ship Demeter, who sail towards London to deliver a cargo of 50 unmarked wooden crates, only to discover that they are not alone. The presence of Dracula haunts them throughout the entire ship. In March 2024, Briones joined the cast of Hadestown on Broadway, portraying Hermes. He starred opposite his daughter, who made her Broadway debut as Eurydice.Jon Jon Briones and Daughter Isa Briones to Join Cast of Broadway's Hadestown
Personal life Briones was born in Quezon City, Philippines and became a United States citizen in 2010.Wolf, Matt. "West End Star Jon Jon Briones on His 25-Year Journey in Miss Saigon, from Ensemble Member to Engineer" broadway.com, May 7, 2014 In 1996, he married Megan Johnson. They have two children: Isa (b. 1999) and Teo (b. 2005). His wife and both children are also actors.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2007 Potluck Short film2008 Proud American Dawn's Father An Immigrant Girl's Journey Paulo Alcedo Short film Brown Soup Thing Uncle Jon Jon 2010 Breathe Rhadamanths Short film2012 Jolly B. Fierce Edward Biagan Short film Nico's Sampaguita Raul Short film Just an American Father of Dawn Trang2014 Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage Asian Genie Blood Ransom Father Mena 2016 Miss Saigon: 25th Anniversary The Engineer 2018 Model Home Mr. Fan 2022 Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration Maurice TV film special 2023 The Last Voyage of the Demeter Joseph TBA Patron Saints of Nothing Tito Maning
Television Year Title Role Notes 2003–2004 Las Vegas Cosme Caliyag 2 episodes 2007 Moonlight Party Goer Episode: "Out of the Past" 2008 Sons of Anarchy Asian Elvis Episode: "Pilot" 2009 Monk First Mercenary Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Magician"2010 Miami Medical Technician Episode: "Diver Down" Law & Order: LA Brant Ross Episode: "Hollywood" 2011 Southland Rama Episode: "Graduation Day" 2013 The Mentalist Mr. Lam Episode: "My Blue Heaven" 2014 Bones Adrian Lingao Episode: "Big in the Philippines" 2017 Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders Lama Vajra Episode: "Abominable"2018 The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Modesto Cunanan 2 episodes Designated Survivor Prime Minister Khallou Episode: "Bad Reception" American Horror Story: Apocalypse Ariel Augustus 3 episodes2019 Better Things Himself Episode: "The Unknown" All Rise Daniel Mendoza Episode: "How to Succeed in Law Without Really Re-Trying" 2020 Ratched Dr. Richard Hanover Main role2021 The Rookie Aldo Salonga Episode: "Revelations" Trese Hank Voice role2022 Star Trek: Picard Confederation Magistrate Episodes: "Penance" and "Assimilation" Transformers: EarthSpark Alex Malto Voice role 2023 Class of '09 Gabriel Main cast 2026 The Beauty Dr. Dane Dilegre Guest role TBA Avatar: The Last Airbender Piandao
Theatre credits Year Production Role Venue 1989-1992 Miss Saigon Ensemble Theatre Royal Drury Lane, West End 1992 Into the Woods Rapunzel’s PrinceRepertory Philippines1993 Little Shop of Horrors Seymour Krelborn Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The Narrator Les Misérables Enjolras1994 The Wiz The LionMiss Saigon SwingGerman Tour 1995 The Engineer 1997 Children of Eden Adult Storyteller Paper Mill Playhouse 1998-1999Miss SaigonThe Engineer (Alternate) Theatre Royal Drury Lane, West End 2000 Cultural Center of the Philippines 2001The Engineer Asia Tour 2002–2004 North American Tour 2004–2006 U.K. Tour 2012 A Little Night Music Fredrik Egerman East West Players 2014–2016 Miss Saigon The Engineer Prince Edward Theatre, West End 2016 La Cage aux Folles Georges East West Players 2017–2018 Miss Saigon The Engineer Broadway Theatre, Broadway 2018 Sweet Charity Herman Freud Playhouse 2023 Waterfall: A New MusicalJosh Dela Cruz, Danielle Hope, and Jon Jon Briones Will Star in Waterfall in Thailand, Broadway World, Retrieved 13 September 2023 Than Chao Khun Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre 2024 Hadestown Hermes Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway Pacific Overtures Reciter, Shogun, Emperor East West Players
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