John Philbin
Encyclopedia
John Philbin is an American surfer who has appeared in television and film.
John first began acting in high school
, around the same time he began surfing. Choosing acting over wrestling
, John joined a drama team that went on to win awards throughout his high school career. Upon leaving high school, John went to UC Santa Barbara and surfed on their surf team. When he transferred to USC
he thought his surfing days were over and that acting would have to be his primary passion, since he was going to be living in a big city. John went on a trip in 1980 to Bali
where he surfed for a month in what he refers to as 'paradise'.
John went on to appear in films such as Stephen King
's, Children of the Corn
and Grandview, U.S.A.
. That same year, he also appeared in an episode of Steven Spielberg
's Amazing Stories
alongside actor Kevin Costner
. It was later on that he once again took up surfing when he landed the role of Turtle in the film, North Shore
, which gave him the chance to act and surf with some of his childhood heroes.
While filming North Shore, Gerry Lopez told John that he could surf and act. This inspired John to keep surfing and acting after the film ended and later landed him the role of Nathanial in the film Point Break
, opposite Patrick Swayze
, Keanu Reeves
and Gary Busey
.
John has also been in the films Tombstone
opposite Kurt Russell
and Val Kilmer
, Return of the Living Dead
, and Dillinger as well as others and has guest-starred on various television series, including Law & Order
.
Philbin trained Kate Bosworth
to surf for the film Blue Crush
.
John Philbin currently resides in Pacific Palisades, California, where he teaches surfing and continues to appear in films and on television. John has his own instructional video he has released and has also produced a surfing documentary
for Quiksilver
titled Chasing The Dream, about the Huntington Beach High surf team and their trip to Australia
to try and become the next big thing in surfing. The film is narrated by Gary Busey
.
John first began acting in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, around the same time he began surfing. Choosing acting over wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
, John joined a drama team that went on to win awards throughout his high school career. Upon leaving high school, John went to UC Santa Barbara and surfed on their surf team. When he transferred to USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
he thought his surfing days were over and that acting would have to be his primary passion, since he was going to be living in a big city. John went on a trip in 1980 to Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
where he surfed for a month in what he refers to as 'paradise'.
John went on to appear in films such as Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
's, Children of the Corn
Children of the Corn (1984 film)
Children of the Corn is a 1984 horror film based upon the 1977 short story of the same name by Stephen King. Directed by Fritz Kiersch, the film stars Peter Horton and Linda Hamilton...
and Grandview, U.S.A.
Grandview, U.S.A.
Grandview, U.S.A. is a 1984 American comedy-drama film directed by Randal Kleiser. It stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Carole Cook, Ramon Bieri, John Cusack, Joan Cusack, M. Emmet Walsh, Michael Winslow, Troy Donahue, and Steve Dahl. The original music...
. That same year, he also appeared in an episode of Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
's Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories was an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction...
alongside actor Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner
Kevin Michael Costner is an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and businessman. He has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards, won two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Costner's roles include Lt. John J...
. It was later on that he once again took up surfing when he landed the role of Turtle in the film, North Shore
North Shore (film)
North Shore is a 1987 film about Rick Kane , a young fictional surfer from a wave tank in Arizona, who heads to surf the season on the North Shore of Oahu and see if he has the skills to cut it as a pro surfer...
, which gave him the chance to act and surf with some of his childhood heroes.
While filming North Shore, Gerry Lopez told John that he could surf and act. This inspired John to keep surfing and acting after the film ended and later landed him the role of Nathanial in the film Point Break
Point Break
Point Break is a 1991 action film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and starring Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Lori Petty and Gary Busey. The title refers to the surfing term point break, where a wave breaks as it hits a point of land jutting out from the coastline.The film was a box office success upon...
, opposite Patrick Swayze
Patrick Swayze
Patrick Wayne Swayze was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best known for his tough-guy roles, as romantic leading men in the hit films Dirty Dancing and Ghost, and as Orry Main in the North and South television miniseries. He was named by People magazine as its "Sexiest...
, Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor. Reeves is perhaps best known for his roles in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Speed, Point Break and the science fiction-action trilogy The Matrix...
and Gary Busey
Gary Busey
William Gary Busey , best known as Gary Busey, is an American film and stage actor and artist. He has appeared in a large variety of films, as well as making regular appearances on Gunsmoke, Walker, Texas Ranger, Law & Order, and Entourage...
.
John has also been in the films Tombstone
Tombstone (film)
Tombstone is a 1993 American action film set in the Old West directed by George P. Cosmatos, along with uncredited directorial efforts by actor Kurt Russell and writer Kevin Jarre. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by Jarre....
opposite Kurt Russell
Kurt Russell
Kurt Vogel Russell is an American television and film actor. His first acting roles were as a child in television series, including a lead role in the Western series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters...
and Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer became popular in the mid-1980s after a string of appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret! , then the cult classic Real Genius , as well as blockbuster action films, including a supporting role in Top Gun and a...
, Return of the Living Dead
Return of the Living Dead
The Return of the Living Dead is a 1985 American zombie film that was followed by several sequels. The film was written and directed by Dan O'Bannon and starred Clu Gulager, James Karen and Don Calfa....
, and Dillinger as well as others and has guest-starred on various television series, including Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
.
Philbin trained Kate Bosworth
Kate Bosworth
Catherine Ann "Kate" Bosworth is an American actress. Bosworth starred in the television series Young Americans, in which she played Bella Banks. She became known with a leading role in 2002's Blue Crush. The following year, Bosworth played the teenage girlfriend of porn star John Holmes in...
to surf for the film Blue Crush
Blue Crush
Blue Crush is a 2002 surfer film directed by John Stockwell and based on the Outside magazine article "Life's Swell" by Susan Orlean. Starring Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez, Sanoe Lake, and Mika Boorem, it tells the story of three friends who have one passion: living the ultimate dream of...
.
John Philbin currently resides in Pacific Palisades, California, where he teaches surfing and continues to appear in films and on television. John has his own instructional video he has released and has also produced a surfing documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
for Quiksilver
Quiksilver
Quiksilver, Inc. , is an American company based in Huntington Beach, California, one of the world's largest manufacturers of surfwear and other boardsport-related equipment...
titled Chasing The Dream, about the Huntington Beach High surf team and their trip to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to try and become the next big thing in surfing. The film is narrated by Gary Busey
Gary Busey
William Gary Busey , best known as Gary Busey, is an American film and stage actor and artist. He has appeared in a large variety of films, as well as making regular appearances on Gunsmoke, Walker, Texas Ranger, Law & Order, and Entourage...
.