John Michael Herndon

John Michael Herndon, 67, of Hollywood, Calif., closed the curtains on Wednesday, August 3, 2022. 27 year ACTOR, John Michael Herndon, a JC '73 graduate. He was born February 24, 1955, in Jefferson City, grew up in Linn, Mo., until family moved to Jefferson City in 1960. He was the son of Ronald "Fritz" and Marguerite Herndon, who preceded him in death. First known as Michael, he graduated Jefferson City High School Class of 1973. JM took acting classes in high school and college, landing him in the chorus of Lincoln University Production of "Hello Dolly" which also toured Ireland several weeks. He had a beautiful voice and sang for many weddings. JM attended Lincoln University for two years then transferred to Missouri State University, where he received his Master of Art degree in Theater (Film/Acting). He wrote a book called, "A HISTORY of the SMSU Ozarks Spring Interpretation Festival and its Evolution into the Ozarks performance Festival". Taking the easy route was never his style. John Michael had a dream of being an ACTOR, perhaps even a calling. In the spring of 1988, JM hitched his wagon to his star and rode off to Hollywood, Calif. He then used John Michael Herndon for his professional name and went by John Michael to friends. Through his hard work he received his Screen Actors Guild card in 1995 and was an actor for 27 years. In the early years his wit and love of laughter had him on stage doing standup comedy but acting would always call his name. Before he committed himself to acting full-time, John Michael was the film coordinator for the California Plaza in Los Angeles. In September of '99, the Power Rangers were taping a fiery explosion scene at the Plaza, managed the whole event with panache. While he talked about this event and others with pride, his love of acting ultimately drove him to quit this important position to pursue a creative life. He believed in having dreams worth chasing and then throwing everything he had at them. It was sometimes a financial struggle for JM, Hollywood can be a harsh road for anyone, but his stories were endlessly entertaining and he landed some plum character parts working with big names and earning respect for his craft. His first role in a network television production was an episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," where he played a vampire who tried to kill Buffy after her mother's death. In 2013 Herndon excelled in a two-part episode of "Criminal Minds" as a father suffering from schizophrenia and made an impression on Joe Mantegna. 2016 brought another television role where he played a homeless person on the long-running soap opera, "The Young and the Restless." In the feature film world, John Michael was pleased to work with Eddie Murphy in 2019's hilarious and inspiring "Dolemite Is My Name." He then earned a role playing a scheming Roman senator in "300: Rise of an Empire", the sequel to Zack Snyder's "300." In between the more commercially notable projects, John Michael appeared in an almost endless stream of short films and was a favorite among directors in the American Film Institute's film program for bringing versatility, an unbeatable work ethic, and endless creativity to everything he touched. JM stayed involved in live theatre as an actor from the lead role on down, but he would also contribute with costuming and especially set building, or just about anything else somebody needed help with. While pursuing acting, he also taught the craft over the years and mentored many others. He was a remarkable and endlessly competent man in many areas of life. Throughout the years, John Michael still found time to come back to Missouri and help his family in times of illness or distress. He would travel back and forth for various opportunities but always came through for those who loved him in either state. His last trip to Missouri would unite him with his family one last time as they took care of him in his final months with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). John Michael loved socializing, visiting family, and visiting adopted families through the years. He was generous, exceptionally witty, and always entertaining. JM kept lifelong friendships with so very, very many people. One of JM's friends, Matt Norman, wrote to us saying, "He loved to be able to bring people together. "Family" dinners were big to him. He used to throw these big birthday parties at his apartment. He would go all out with food and drink and made sure he hosted." Another friend, photographer Jeff Drongowski, added "There was nothing like a John Michael party. You walked in a stranger and left with two new best friends and a job interview. He had a way of bringing out the very best in people and introducing you to people you never knew you always needed. Honestly, he changed the lives of anyone who crossed paths with him and we were all lucky to know him. An absolute creative powerhouse and a wonderful human being." John Michael had two sisters: Kathleen Senzee, Homosassa, Fla., and Teresa (Terry) Batye, Wardsville, Mo.;, and one nephew, Christopher Senzee, who preceded him in curtain call; Ronda Gross, Jefferson City and Noel Arnold of Owensville, Mo. survive. He did call his four older sisters his five mothers. John Michael leaves behind four nieces and seven nephews: John Wade of Indianapolis, Ind.; Russell Boyt and Jason Boyt of Columbia, Mo.; Meredith Naughton of Ft. Collins, Colo.; Michelle Hedges, Jay DeLong and Chuck Senzee of St. Louis Mo.; Tony DeLong of Holts Summit, Mo.; Patricia Dalton of Clearwater, Fla.; Lisa Mankin and James Senzee of Jefferson City Mo. John Michael Herndon's Final Curtain Call will be Saturday, August 13, 2002, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2701 West Main, Jefferson City, Mo., located above West Point Senior Center, parking in back of building. If you have any pictures with John Michael, please bring to show. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund is being set up for the Film/Acting Department at SMSU. Send check to John Michael Scholarship Fund Film/Acting SMSU, c/o John Michael Scholarship, 305 Memorial Dr., Owensville MO 65066 or the Motion Picture and Television Fund at https:mptf.com (for west Coast actors). Condolences to: Millardfamilychapels.com