John was born and raised in downtown Toronto to Italian parents who made the long journey to Canada to start a new life. He first caught the acting/filmmaking bug in Grade 8. It was then that Aiko Suzuki . John has received industry acclaim throughout his career, and has been honored with a Leo award for Best Lead Actor on Robson Arms and was nominated for a Gemini Award for Best Lead Actor for Intelligence. He also received a Gemini Nomination for his work on the critically acclaimed drama Davinci's Inquest. John took on the role as producer as well as a lead actor in the feature film, "Guido Superstar - In 2011 John was also a producer on the independent film "Hit 'n Strum", which had a successful theatrical release in Canada and went on to win awards. He also produced a new film version of "Hamlet". John also stars in "The Resurrection of Tony Gitone" directed by Jerry Ciccoritti which is to be theatrically released in March 2013. In the theatre world, John appeared on stage in the spring of 2012 in the play God Of Carnage at the Manitoba Theatre Centre and the Vancouver Playhouse. In 2012 John became Co-Artistic Director of Railtown Actors Studio and in 2013 he will be joining the cast as recurring characters in SyFy's hit Continuum and the critically acclaimed drama Blackstone on Showcase / APTN. In 2012 John became Co-Artistic Director of Railtown Actors Studio a premiere acting school. He has been a personal acting coach for over 20 years working with actors in both Canada and the US.
Loves to play Ice Hockey. Grew up a Toronto Maple Leaf fan.
Was on a record breaking 4x100 relay team in highschool with ex Track Olympian Atlee Mahorn.
He is a Life Time Member of the prestigious Actors Studio whose current Presidents are Al Pacino, Ellen Burstyn and Harvey Keitel.
Has been nominated for Gemini Awards (Canadian Emmy) for his work on "Davincis Inquest" and "Intelligence".
Brother of Frank Cassini.
John co-wrote, produced and starred in the award winning independent film Break A Leg starring Molly Parker, Jennifer Beals, Sandra Oh, Kevin Corrigan and Eric Roberts. Break A Leg went on to win over 10 Best Feature or Audience Awards at various US festivals including Best Actor for John at The Marco Island Film Festival.
Co- found the 3rd Street Theatre in Los Angeles, where he would perform in such plays as David Mamets Edmond, Sam Shepards, Geography of a Horse Dreamer, Harold Pinters, One For The Road and the LA Weekly Award winning original production of They Shoot Horses Dont They?.
Was raised speaking Italian.
(March 2008) Starring in the Pulitzer Prize winning play "Rabbit Hole" at the Arts Club Stanley in Vancouver BC.
(July 2003) In Vancouver B.C. shooting the film, Paycheck directed by John Woo.
(March 2012) Winnipeg MB: Starring in the Tony Award winning play as "Alan" in God Of Carnage at the Manitoba Theater Center.
John is Co Artistic Director of The Railtown Actors Studio. (June 2012 - Present).
Has been a personal acting coach and teacher for over twenty years.
In 2016 John was nominated for a Jessie Richardson Theatre Award for Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor for his role as Ralph D in the critically acclaimed Stephen Adley Guirgis play, The Motherf
Ker With The Hat.
Was cast as one of the Detectives in Fight Club and had to withdraw due to a shooting conflict with the TV series Brimstone. That would have made it his 3rd straight film with David Fincher having been in Seven and The Game.
