American film actor, born August 25, 1949 in Old Bethpage, New York, USA.
Father of Jennifer Youngs and Lachlan Youngs.
Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1979" in John Willis Screen World, Vol. 31.
Spent 6 years (1988-1994) in South Africa, working with Nelson Mandela for the anti-Apartheid movement.
Older brother of actor Jim Youngs and Gail Youngs.
Had a son, Lachlan Youngs , and a daughter, Jennifer Youngs , from his first marriage to Susan Youngs.
Younger sister, Gail Youngs , was once married to actor Robert Duvall from 1982-1986.
Was an assistant production manager for certain sequences of Spike Lee s film Malcolm X that was shot in South Africa where John was living at the time working with Nelson Mandela on the anti-apartheid movement. John had appeared in Lees Do the Right Thing a few years back, and later would show up in Lees Summer of Sam .
Won the Drama Circle Award for his stage portrayal of Billy Bibbitt in "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest" in the early 1970s.
In his early years he organized the Manhattans Childrens Theatre Group which performed in public housing areas.
As of 2014, has appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: The Deer Hunter , The Godfather: Part III and The Thin Red Line . Of those, only The Deer Hunter is a winner in the category.
Lost his best friend in the May 4th Shootings at Kent State University.
Born on the same day as Gene Simmons of KISS.
