Jonathan James Simmons, born November 28, 1986, in Montgomery, Alabama, to Cindy and Ben Simmons, grew up in Dallas, Texas. His journey in the film industry began in Los Angeles with the production of "My Ambition". When the casting notices were released, a misprint stated that the production was seeking a lead female to play Julie Walters, prompting Jonathan to contact the production office, hoping to secure a role for a male. To his surprise, he was asked to audition for the lead, and the producers cast him on the spot, never bothering to correct the casting notice, which ultimately led to him securing his first manager.
Jonathan's big break came when he landed a role in his second feature film audition, Evan Almighty (2007),playing Dylan Baxter alongside Steve Carell and Lauren Graham. Since then, he has secured major roles in numerous Hollywood films, including Hotel for Dogs (2009),Jennifer's Body (2009),21 Jump Street (2012),The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012),and The To Do List (2013).