John Franklin Stevens

John is honoured to be a member of the Association of Acting Coaches and Educators. A group of respected professionals who are actively working to make creative spaces safer for actors of all ages and levels of experience. The AACE vetting committee and the steering committee is comprised of ACTRA, CAEA, The CDC, The EIC, TAMAC, Got Your Back, Acting in Good Company, and Keep Actors Safe.

He has had the opportunity to work extensively in the U.K., the United States and Canada. Thanks to his holistic approach to working with actors, his clients are flourishing in their respective markets.

John's unique perspective combines a healthy dose of business coaching and artistic guidance.

"So often really great artists come to me, but they have no idea how the industry operates. So, I give them the tools and knowledge to make their artistic side profitable. On the other end of the spectrum, I have great business minds come to me to develop their artistic abilities to match their level of marketing savvy. You must master both sides for your career to have traction and longevity"

John F. Stevens


John is one of the most sought-after coaches for audition coaching, self-tapes and working with young actors who are attending showcase events all over the world. He often writes original materials for actors of all ages catering to each actor's own individual abilities.

In addition to operating his own full service acting studio, Act With Purpose. Inc. , he is also a founding board member of the Act-On Ability Foundation. The grass-roots foundation provides free acting classes to actors with disabilities, and educates industry leaders about ableism in the Television and Film Industry as a whole.

John first started performing professionally at the age of 7 in various circus venues as a clown and variety entertainer. He learned everything from riding unicycles, walking the tight rope, acrobatics and later the trapeze. John was introduced to circus life by his late grandfather who was an artist with the Ringling Bros., Barnum and Bailey Circus.

As a child performer, he was spotted all across the Pacific Northwest, until he joined his first National Tour at the age of 17. John was named one of the top 40 most influential people in the arts under the age of 40 while he was still a junior in High School. With an impressive resume at the age of 18, John moved to New York City and attended Marymount Manhattan College on a Merit Scholarship, double majoring in Dance and Theatre.

John was a featured performer on Carnival Cruise Lines where he was in the nightly variety shows and was able to travel the world.

John returned to New York City at the peak of his dance career, choreographing 3 Off Broadway Shows, and was commissioned by the United Nations to choreograph a new musical being brought over from Turkey. His musical theatre career highlights include Stephen Sondheim's, Follies starring Maxine Andrews (Of the Andrews Sisters), Denise Darcel, Judy Kaye, Karen Morrow, and Edie Adams. He also toured with John Schuck and JoAnne Worley in the hit musical, Annie, and Camelot for the 5th Avenue Theatre. On the east coast, he was featured in Cathy Rigby Is Peter Pan, and he starred as Peter in the newly revised script of Babes in Arms. John starred opposite Broadway Star and TV personality, Cheyenne Jackson in the West Coast Premiere of Babes In Arms.

Since then John has produced, directed, choreographed and collaborated with Ashanti, Wyclef Jean, and numerous other talents for everything from product launches to publicity stunts.

John's clients can be seen in Resident Evil, Y The Last Man, Kate on Netflix, Workin' Mom's, Degrassi, Becoming Alex, Level 16, Astronaut, See with Jason Mamoa, Titans, School of Rock the series, Jupiter's Legacy, Tully, Hit The Road, with Jason Alexander, Hell on Wheels, Wynona Earp... to name a few.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: John Franklin Stevens
Since then John has produced, directed, choreographed and collaborated with Ashanti, Wycleff Jean, and many others for everything from product launches to publicity stunts. He recently 
moved back from West Palm Beach to Toronto, and is master level acting coach working on TV and film sets. He has helped successfully place over 700 young performers with agencies and managers around the world over the past 2 decades. He is the Co-Founder of TalentInc. (Canada) Ltd.
“Working with young performer’s is not my job, it’s my passion.”
– John F. Stevens