Isaiah John
Isaiah John | |
|---|---|
 John at the premiere of The Drop: A Snowfall Saga in 2026 | |
| Born | 1995 (age 30–31) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Known for | Snowfall The Drop: A Snowfall Saga |
Isaiah John (born 1995) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Leon Simmons in the FX crime drama Snowfall (2017–2023), a role he reprised as a lead in its spin-off The Drop: A Snowfall Saga (2026–present). He also appeared in the Netflix film All Day and a Night (2020).[1][2]
Early life
[edit]John was born in 1995 and raised in Atlanta, Georgia.[1][3] He has said that as children, he and his sister performed for their parents every weekend, but were too shy to perform in front of anyone else.[4] Before his breakthrough, he worked as a janitor, a job he said he kept because its flexible hours allowed him to attend auditions.[5]
Career
[edit]Early roles
[edit]John made his screen debut in the 2013 film Standing Up.[1] He went on to appear in small roles in the MTV series Finding Carter, the film Insurgent (2015), the Bounce TV series Saints & Sinners, and Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016). He and his sister Racquel played fraternal twins in the television film Downsized (2017).[1]
Snowfall
[edit]John was cast as Leon Simmons, the best friend of Damson Idris's character Franklin Saint, in Snowfall, a drama about the crack epidemic in 1980s Los Angeles co-created by John Singleton.[1][3] He was 20 years old and still working as a janitor when he booked the role, and later said he quit that job over the phone while he was in California.[3][4] According to John, the scene he filmed on his first day on set was written into the pilot after his chemistry read with Idris, and he has described Singleton as a mentor who helped shape the character.[6] Snowfall aired for six seasons on FX from 2017 to 2023, with John as a series regular throughout its run.[1][2]
Film
[edit]In 2020, John co-starred with Ashton Sanders and Jeffrey Wright in the Netflix drama All Day and a Night, written and directed by Joe Robert Cole.[7] He played TQ, the close friend of Sanders' character, who records the aspiring rapper's music.[8][9]
The Drop: A Snowfall Saga
[edit]A Snowfall spin-off was first reported to be in development in 2023. In March 2025, FX ordered a pilot, with John and Gail Bean reprising their roles as Leon Simmons and Wanda Bell.[2] The network ordered the project to series in November 2025, and FX Entertainment president Nick Grad singled out John's performance in the announcement.[10] Titled The Drop: A Snowfall Saga, the series premiered on FX and Hulu on September 8, 2026.[11]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Standing Up | Summer camp kid | |
| 2015 | Insurgent | Amity citizen | |
| 2016 | Barbershop: The Next Cut | Gang member | |
| 2020 | All Day and a Night | TQ |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Finding Carter | Partygoer | |
| 2016 | Saints & Sinners | Teen | |
| 2017 | Downsized | – | Television film |
| 2017–2023 | Snowfall | Leon Simmons | Main role |
| 2026–present | The Drop: A Snowfall Saga | Leon Simmons | Main role |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Isaiah John". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Otterson, Joe (March 17, 2025). "'Snowfall' Spinoff Starring Gail Bean, Isaiah John Gets FX Pilot Order (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Golianopoulos, Thomas (November 7, 2025). "The 40 Best Performances in John Singleton Movies, Ranked". Complex. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- 1 2 Kramer, Bryna (August 22, 2017). "Exclusive Interview with Snowfall's Isaiah John". Talk Nerdy With Us. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Snowfall actor Isaiah John was a janitor before landing the role of Leon". Audacy. March 23, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Isaiah John Breaks Down 'Snowfall,' British vs. African-American Actors & More". The Box Houston. March 17, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Casting Announced for Joe Robert Cole's "All Day and a Night"". Netflix. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ "All Day and a Night – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ Moore, Roger (May 2, 2020). "Netflixable? "All Day and a Night" just seems that long". Movie Nation. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ Cordero, Rosy (November 3, 2025). "'Snowfall' Spinoff Starring Gail Bean & Isaiah John Picked Up To Series By FX". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ Maxwell, Erin (August 17, 2026). "'The Drop: A Snowfall Saga': Premiere Date, Trailer, Cast, Plot, Episodes, and More". TV Insider. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
External links
[edit]- Isaiah John at IMDb