# Johnny Messner (actor)
**Johnny Messner** (born 1970 in [Syracuse, New York](https://www.edgepedia.org/syracuse-new-york)) is an American actor and producer known for action and thriller films, including a lead role in *[Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid](https://www.edgepedia.org/anacondas-the-hunt-for-the-blood-orchid)* (2004) and supporting parts in *Tears of the Sun* (2003), *Hostage* (2005), and *Running Scared* (2006).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0582257/) Since the late 2000s he has worked largely in television movies and direct-to-video action features, and has also taken producer credits on films such as the *Detective Knight* series.[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/johnny-messner/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1970, Syracuse, New York, USA[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0582257/) |
| First lead role | Bill Johnson in *Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid* (2004)[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/johnny-messner/) |
| Notable supporting roles | Kelly Lake in *Tears of the Sun* (2003), Mr. Jones in *Hostage* (2005), Tommy "Tombs" Perello in *Running Scared* (2006)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0582257/) |
| Training | Atlantic Theater Company in New York; coached for seven years by Lesley Kahn[3](https://archive.is/iOG6J) |
| Later career | Self-starring action vehicles for the TV-movie and direct-to-video markets, plus producer credits from about 2020 onward[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/johnny-messner/) |
| Critical reception | Metacritic career average of 36 over 29 movies, from a high of 60 (*Spartan*) to a low of 9 (*Cosmic Sin*)[4](https://www.metacritic.com/person/johnny-messner/) |
| Spouse | Kathryn Morris[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/johnny-messner/) |
## Early life and training
Messner was born in Syracuse, New York, where his father served in the U.S. Air Force. He studied communications at [San Diego State University](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-diego-state-university), and before acting worked as a bartender and as a personal assistant to the film producer [Andrew Stevens](https://www.edgepedia.org/andrew-stevens).[5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/messner-johnny-1970-johnny-mesner)
He moved to New York to act and trained at the [Atlantic Theater Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/atlantic-theater-company), the company associated with [David Mamet](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-mamet) and [William H. Macy](https://www.edgepedia.org/william-h-macy), which he called his training ground. He later credited the acting coach Lesley Kahn, with whom he worked for seven years, with shaping him as an actor.[3](https://archive.is/iOG6J)
## Screen career
**Television beginnings.** Messner debuted on soap operas and then landed supporting and recurring roles across genres, including the romantic comedy *The Sweetest Thing* (2002) and the jungle-rescue film *Tears of the Sun* (2003).[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/johnny-messner/) His television guest work has included *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation*, *Angel*, *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, *Friends*, *The O.C.*, *Cold Case*, *CSI: Miami*, *Burn Notice*, *Jane the Virgin*, and, more recently, *Criminal Minds: Evolution*.[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/johnny-messner/)
**Lead role and genre work.** His first lead role came as the hero [Bill Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/bill-johnson) in the creature feature *Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid* (2004), the sequel to the 1997 film *Anaconda*, which opened in theaters while he was promoting it in interviews.[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/johnny-messner/) • [3](https://archive.is/iOG6J) In the same year he appeared in *Spartan* (as Grace) and *[The Whole Ten Yards](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-whole-ten-yards)* (as Zevo).[4](https://www.metacritic.com/person/johnny-messner/) He played Mr. Jones in *Hostage* (2005) opposite [Bruce Willis](https://www.edgepedia.org/bruce-willis), and Tommy "Tombs" Perello in the pulp thriller *Running Scared* (2006), a performance described as a memorable turn as an unhinged mob goon.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0582257/) • [2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/johnny-messner/)
**Direct-to-video era.** From the late 2000s Messner released a number of self-starring action vehicles, including the prison brawler *Ring of Death* (2008), to the TV-movie and direct-to-video markets. He has also shown a capacity for comedy in films such as *Remarkable Power* and *Bottoms Up*.[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/johnny-messner/) In the 2020s he combined acting with producing, serving as producer or executive producer on films including *Breach* (2020), *Deadlock* (2021), *Gasoline Alley*, *Paradise City*, and the *Detective Knight* films (2022), while continuing to act in titles such as *[Cosmic Sin](https://www.edgepedia.org/cosmic-sin)* (2021), *American Siege* (2021), *Black Heat* (2024), and *Call Her King* (2023).[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/johnny-messner/) • [6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/johnny_messner) Upcoming credits listed on IMDb include *Winter: Battleground* (2026).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0582257/)
## Reception
Messner's films have drawn mostly mixed to negative aggregate scores. Metacritic lists 29 movies with a career average of 36, with *Spartan* (60) the highest Metascore and *Cosmic Sin* (9) the lowest.[4](https://www.metacritic.com/person/johnny-messner/) On Rotten Tomatoes his highest-rated credit is *Detective Knight: Redemption* (2022) at 67 percent and his lowest is *Cosmic Sin* (2021) at 3 percent.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/johnny_messner) Profile writers have described him as a portrayer of dangerous masculinity in the mold of older macho action stars, typically bearing what one profile calls the uniform beard stubble of the classic anti-hero.[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/johnny-messner/)
In a 2004 roundtable interview around the release of *Anacondas*, Messner described himself as checking online audience feedback, and spoke of his admiration for Bruce Willis, a co-star in *Tears of the Sun* and *[Hostage](https://www.edgepedia.org/hostage-2005-film)*, citing Willis's range from *Moonlighting* to *Die Hard* as a model.[3](https://archive.is/iOG6J)
## References
1. [Johnny Messner, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0582257/)
2. [Johnny Messner, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/johnny-messner/)
3. [Interview: Johnny Messner, IGN (2004)](https://archive.is/iOG6J)
4. [Johnny Messner, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/johnny-messner/)
5. [Messner, Johnny 1970-, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/messner-johnny-1970-johnny-mesner)
6. [Johnny Messner, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/johnny_messner)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Mc to Mi*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license