Johnny Sánchez was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to undocumented Latino parents. This early life experience likely had a profound impact on his perspective and worldview.
As a kid, Johnny caught the acting bug when he was cast in his elementary school's bilingual play, "FELIZ NAVIDAD". This experience not only honed his skills but also instilled in him a passion for storytelling.
Johnny's first professional film was "OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE", opposite Better Midler and Shelley Long, where he played the role of a Puerto Rican kid who robbed both women. This early role showcased his talent and versatility as an actor.
Johnny attended and graduated from Performing Arts High School (also known as LA GUARDIA H.S.) in New York City. He later moved to Los Angeles, California, where he continued to pursue his acting career, appearing in several films and TV productions.
Johnny eventually returned to New York City to train with acclaimed acting teacher William Esper. During this time, he reconnected with his NYC peers and joined the acclaimed LAByrinth Theater Company. He appeared on stage in several of LAByrinth's productions, including "DIVINE HORSEMEN", "10-13", "RACE, RELIGION AND POLITICS", and "TRAIL OF HER INNER THIGH", directed by John Gould-Rubin. Johnny was a member of LAByrinth Theater Company for twelve years, retiring from the company in 2005.
Johnny's experiences as a Latino actor in Hollywood led him to start writing and producing. His first producing credit was as Co-Producer on the feature film "FIND ME GUILTY", directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Vin Diesel and Peter Dinklage. The film received high critical acclaim.
On "Find Me Guilty", Johnny faced challenges as a producer, including being referred to as "spic" and being treated as a "Puerto Rican errand boy" by two producers. Despite these setbacks, Johnny's passion for producing was never deterred. Instead, it was fueled even more, and he continued to work on films and projects that resonated with him.
Johnny's subsequent producing credits include "EVEN MONEY", starring Academy Award Winners Kim Basinger and Forest Whitaker, and "MUSCLE", a short film that won multiple awards and played at over 30 film festivals worldwide.
As a writer, Johnny wrote the multi-award-winning short film "S.P.I.C.", which was inspired by true events from his youth. The film played at over 30 film festivals worldwide and won numerous awards, including Best of Fest and Best Female Filmmaker.
Johnny has also co-written and produced "A through M", a political short film, produced in conjunction with the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women. The film was directed by Heidi Miami Marshall and played at over 20 film festivals worldwide.
Throughout his career, Johnny has been driven by a passion for storytelling and a desire to unite people from different backgrounds and perspectives. He believes that filmmaking can be a powerful tool for entertainment, education, and social change.
