Cheaters

Background:

“(Screenwriting is) a lonely, miserable profession. But the pay can be okay and you get to spend a lot of time in Hawaii.” John Stockwell

Actor-turn-director, Emmy Award nominated screenwriter and producer John Stockwell, who began his career in the soap opera “Guiding Light,” first created an impact with his performances in such movies as “So Fine” (1981), his feature debut, “Losin' It” (1983), John Carpenter's hit “Christine” (1983), “My Science Project” (1985) and “Top Gun” (1986).

A year after the release of “Top Gun,” Stockwell made his directorial debut with the ill-received “Under Cover” (1987), which he also co-scripted with Scott Fields. Previously, the two had provided the writing material for the 1986 thriller “Dangerously Close” (1986), where Stockwell also starred as Randy McDevitt. Following a string of film performances, including a cameo role in “Nixon” (1995), Stockwell enjoyed success as the writer of the HBO film “Breast Men” (1997) and the TV film “Cheaters” (also HBO, 2000), which he directed. Since the success, Stockwell has focused more on directing and writing. His more recent directing credits include “Crazy/Beautiful” (2001), “Blue Crush” (2002), “Into the Blue” (2005) and “Turistas” (2006). He also wrote the screenplay for “Rock Star” (2001). His new movie, “Roadkill,” is due to be released in 2010.

As for his private life, Stockwell is the husband of Helene Henderson and has three children with her. He has a home in Malibu and a dog named Kaiser von Stockwell. The Texas native is a passionate reader and devoted wind surfer.

Galveston

Childhood and Family:

John Stockwell Samuels IV was born on March 25, 1961, in Galveston, Texas, to an attorney named John Stockwell Samuels. He lived in Galveston until the age of 12, when his family moved to New York because of his father's job. He was educated at St. Paul's School in New York and Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he received a BA in visual and environmental studies. He also attended acting workshops and The National Theatre in London.

John is married to Helene Henderson, who owns Lavender Farms Catering. John and his wife have three children.

Blue Crush

Career:

John Stockwell received his first taste of performing in a production of “The Sound of Music” in Galveston, Texas. In New York City, he took on a number of theatrical roles while in high school. Stockwell's first professional job arrived when he was a student at Harvard when he joined the cast of the CBS daytime drama “Guiding Light,” during which time Stockwell commutated between Cambridge and New York City. He made his feature acting debut while in college with a small part in “So Fine” (1981), a comedy written and directed by Andrew Bergman.

Stockwell resurfaced two years later with a supporting role opposite Tom Cruise and Jackie Earle Haley in the teen sex comedy “Losin' It” (1983). The same year, he made the leap to his first major role in the box office horror film “Christine.” Directed by John Carpenter, the movie was adapted from the Stephen King novel. Still in 1983, he also appeared with Don Murray and Helen Hunt in the CBS TV movie “Quarterback Princess.”

Stockwell next acted in “Radioactive Dreams” (1985) and the comedy “My Science Project” (1985). He rejoined Cruise for Tony Scott's “Top Gun” (1986), in which he delivered a strong portrayal of a pilot named Cougar. He also starred in the Cannon Films produced suspense thriller “Dangerously Close” (1986), which he co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Fields and Marty Ross, and portrayed Billy Hazard in the TV miniseries “North and South” (1985), alongside Patrick Swayze and James Read.

Stockwell was reunited with Fields for “Under Cover” (1987), which marked Stockwell's directorial debut. Later that same year, he stepped back in front of the camera for a costarring turn opposite Judd Nelson in the NBC miniseries “Billionaire Boys Club” (1987). In 1991, he appeared in the B-rated flick “Miliardi,” which starred Billy Zane, and shared the screen with John Stamos in the direct-to-video drama “Born to Ride.” He returned to the small screen as Peter Rubin on NBC's mystery film “Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart” (1994). Stockwell also spent time pursuing music when he was in a New York based rock group called The Brood, where he served as a lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist.

1995 saw Stockwell support Bruce Payne in “Aurora: Operation Intercept” and headline the independent drama “I Shot a Man in Vegas,” as Grant. He also made a cameo appearance in the Oliver Stone directed biographical movie “Nixon,” which starred Anthony Hopkins as the former U.S. president Richard Nixon. He then appeared in the movies “Stag” and HBO's “Breast Men,” a well-received black comedy which he wrote.

After “Breast Men,” Stockwell wrote and directed the HBO film “Cheaters” (2000). Telling the story of eleven students who conspire with their teacher to cheat on an academic competition, “Cheaters” was nominated for a 2000 Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Movie. He next directed Kirsten Dunst and Jay Hernandez in the film “Crazy/Beautiful” (2001), wrote the screenplay for Stephen Herek's “Rock Star” (2001), and directed the surfboard film “Blue Crush” (2002), which starred Kate Bosworth as a surfer.

Continuing with his behind the camera work, Stockwell next teamed up with screenwriter Matt Johnson and actors Paul Walker and Jessica Alba for the surprisingly good action film “Into the Blue” (2005) and directed the short lived TV series “Rocky Point” (also 2005). He then helmed the horror film “Turistas” (2006), in which he briefly appeared in front of the camera, and episodes of the popular TV series “The L Words” (2007).

Stockwell will direct Paz Vega and Christopher McDonald in the upcoming action comedy “Roadkill,” which will be released in 2010. He also currently has several movies in the developmental stages.

Awards:
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