Upon a family visit to Universal Studios in 1991, Jonathan and brother Richard decided they wanted to become actors. So soon after, Richard moved to L.A. where he was later joined by Jonathan and their mother. About leaving Washington Jonathan says:  
"It happens so fast that you don't really know what you're thinking. I came down here [to Los Angeles] for two weeks and did a couple of auditions and then went home and back to school and saw my normal friends and everything. And then about the end of the fifth grade, I left for good. It's weird, because it's a big change. It's totally different here. It's more fast-paced. Up there, it's kind of relaxed and stuff. You can just hang out and go play."   

After many rumours and speculations, Jonathan left General Hospital in 1999 to concentrate on a more serious film acting career. Although the character of Lucky Spencer supposedly died and was not to be recast, the popularity of the role demanded the casting of Jacob Young. It should be a challenge to follow Jonathan's footsteps considering his many awards for playing the role. 

It was not a long time after that, when Jonathan made the TV Movie The Legend of the Ruby Silver. It can be said that this was a turning point in his career, as he played a dramatic, serious role, near to perfection, making you really intersted in the life of Matt Rainie, the character played by Jonathan. The movie was aired on January 13, 1996 on ABC.  

Jonathan then had an appearance in April '98 on the ABC TGIF sit-com Boy Meets World where he played Ricky Ferris a sensitive artist who falls in love with Topenga.  

His most ambitious project to date was The Deep End of the Ocean, a feature length movie adaptation of a best-selling book, produced by Via Rosa, Michelle Pfeiffer's company. He plays Vincent Cappadora alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, Treat Williams and Whoopi Goldberg, and the movie was released on October 8, 1998.  Altought the reception to the movie was lukewarm at best, he received wide critical praise for his work, which many consider the high point of the film.

For some time, rumours abounded that Jonathan was the sure-fire casting choice for the much coveted role of Anakin Skywalker, the lead character for the highly anticipated Star Wars: Episode 2. Jonathan was even voted by many to be the best choice. However, the role went to Hayden Christensen, who appeared alongside Jonathan in the made for TV movie Trapped in a Purple Haze.

 In 1999, Jonathan appeared as the lead in the aforementioned Trapped in a Purple Haze a tale about a young man's descent into a life of heroin addiction, alongside Jobeth Williams, Colm Feore (32 Short Films about Glenn Gould)and Carly Pope (WB's Popular). The movie aired on ABC TV and is now available on video with the same title.

Soon after completing this movie, Jonathan appeared on an ingenious independent film entitled True Rights. Despite having picked up Best Directing and Best Feature at the Brooklyn Film Festival, the film has been unable to get a distributor and is yet to be exhibited outside the festival circuit. The film was directed by debuting filmmaker Meg Thayer and includes Richard Jackson in the cast, marking another colaboration between the two brothers.

When good friend and fellow actor William Rotunno approached the Jackson brothers for help in putting together a few scenes for his demo reel, they thought they would give him the package deal and wrote, produced and directed a short film for him to star in. This film is Crystal Clear a 16 minute short film dealing with the hardships of a young man's alcohol addiction. This marks Jonathan debut as a director and the effor was rewarded by a Best Narrative Short Drama award at the Brooklyn Film Festival. Jonathan also acts alongside fellow GH emigré Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos ).

For 2000 Jonathan participated in the Artisan (an "artsy" distributor from Canada, made famous for picking up The Blair Witch Project for $1 million) production of a Wayne Powers film, entitled Skeletons in the Closet. The film was shot in Jackson, New Hampshire and features Jonathan once again as Treat Williams' (Deep End of the Ocean) son. The cast also includes Linda Hamilton (of the Terminator series) and is about a father who suspects his son of being a murderer. The film is awaiting release.

Jonathan thinks it's cool to get autographs and other memorabilia of the people he admires. "A lot of times what I do is get pictures with them" he says "I like that  better because you can look at it forever." 
This includes both actors and sport stars, as Jonathan also likes collecting both football and baseball stuff.  

Wendy Riche -- Executive producer of General Hospital-- said this about Jonathan:  
"Jonathan's extraordinary talent takes you beyond your perception of age into the soul of a wise man." 

Disclaimer: This page is not in any way, sponsored,  
approved or in any way connected to Jonathan Jackson. Please send your fan mail directly to him, as I have no contact, electronic or otherwise with Jonathan.