Jon Bon Jovi

World Famous People

Jon Bon Jovi

A sexy rock star with chiseled features, a killer smile, bright blue eyes, smooth skin and (sometimes flowing) chestnut hair, Jon Bon Jovi has clocked more than a dozen years fronting his band rock'n'roll band Bon Jovi, but more recently has been concentrating on his burgeoning acting career. He is still in some ways the kid from Sayreville, NJ who dreamed of stardom, married to his high school sweetheart and surrounded by people he has known his entire life. Interested in music from his early teens, Bon Jovi fronted several bands before winning a local contest and forming the group now known for such hits as "Bad Medicine" and "Living on a Prayer". The group has taken periodic breaks from one another to allow the members to pursue solo work. During one of these breaks, Bon Jovi contributed songs to the soundtrack for "Young Guns II" (1990), including the Oscar-nominated "Blaze of Glory". He also got his first taste of movie-making by appearing in a cameo appearance as a gunfighter killed within minutes of the beginning of the film. Reteaming with his band mates, the group released two albums (1994's "Crossroads" sold over 12 million copies and the ballad "Always" was a Top Ten hit for 32 weeks) and toured extensively. A second sabbatical followed in 1995.

After years fielding offers and speculation about his acting interests, Bon Jovi (who began to study acting in 1990) made his feature acting debut in "Moonlight and Valentino" (1995) as the house painter who turns the heads of Whoopi Goldberg, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kathleen Turner and, in particular, Elizabeth Perkins. Proving he was more than just a rock star cashing in on his looks and fame, he delivered a solid supporting performance. Director John Duigan tapped him for the complicated role of "The Leading Man" (1996), a seductively mercenary actor who is willing to do anything to further his career. He followed with a turn as an alcoholic bartender who falls for Annabella Sciorra in "Little City" (1997) and garnered praise for his work as the handyman boyfriend of waitress Lauren Holly in Edward Burns' "No Looking Back" (1998). In 1997, Bon Jovi released a solo album "Destination Anywhere" and filmed a 48-minute short companion film (which could be cut into separate music videos) co-starring Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg.

* Also Credited As:
John Francis Bongiovi
* Born:
March 2, 1962 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, USA
* Job Titles:
Actor, Singer, Songwriter

Family

* Brother: Anthony Bongiovi.
* Brother: Matthew Bongiovi.
* Daughter: Stephanie Rose Bon Jovi. born on May 31, 1993
* Father: John Bongiovi.
* Mother: Carol Bongiovi.
* Son: Jacob Hurley Bon Jovi. born on May 7, 2002
* Son: Jesse James Louis Bon Jovi. born on February 19, 1995
* Son: Romeo Jon Bon Jovi. born March 29, 2004

Significant Others

* Companion: Diane Lane. briefly dated in the 1980s; rumored inspiration for the song You Give Love a Bad Name
* Companion: Diane Lane. no longer together

Education

* Sayreville War Memorial High School, Sayrevillle, New Jersey

Milestones

* 1975 At age 13, formed first band Raze
* 1978 With David Bryan, formed band Atlantic City Expressway
* 1983 Formed group Bon Jovi
* 1984 Bon Jovi released its first self-titled album
* 1985 Second album 7800 Fahrenheit released
* 1986 Breakthrough album, Slippery When Wet
* 1987 Bon Jovi (the Band) provided the song Raise Your Hands for the soundtrack to Mel Brooks Spaceballs
* 1988 Band released album New Jersey
* 1990 Began studying acting with Harold Guskin
* 1990 Composed songs for Young Guns II ; earned Oscar nomination for Blaze of Glory ; also played cameo role in film
* 1990 The band Bon Jovi announced a sabbatical
* 1992 Reunited with band mates; released album Keep the Faith
* 1995 Band took a second sabbatical
* 1995 Feature acting debut in Moonlight and Valentino
* 1996 First leading role, The Leading Man (released in the USA in 1998)
* 1997 Had featured role in the independent film Little City
* 1997 Made 48-minute short film Destination Anywhere to accompany release of solo album
* 1998 Co-starred in Homegrown and Edward Burns No Looking Back
* 2000 Featured in the ensemble cast of the WWII submarine drama U-571
* 2000 Played the alcoholic father of Haley Joel Osment in Pay It Forward
* 2000 Starred opposite Bai Ling in Row Your Boat ; screened at the Santa Barbara Film Festival
* 2002 Had supporting role in John Carpenter Presents Vampires: Los Muertos
* 2002 Joined the cast of Fox s Ally McBeal
* Fronted bands The Rest and Jon Bongiovi and the Wild Ones
* Made first recording at age 19 through his cousin Tony Bongiovi; recorded a song for the Star Wars Christmas Album, Christmas With the Stars , with music by John Williams
* Raised in Sayreville, New Jersey
* Set to star in the indie comedy National Lampoon s The Trouble With Frank, about a guy who funds an all-girls hockey team with credit cards and then finds himself in trouble with the law (lensed 2005)