John Robert Borkowski was born in South Bend, Indiana, to Betty Anne Glad, a former lead pediatric nurse, and Robert George Borkowski, the owner of Borkowski Advertising. His father was of full Polish descent, while his mother's family was entirely of Swedish origin. Tragedy struck when John was just seven years old, as his mother passed away, leaving him to be raised by his older siblings, primarily his oldest sister, Kathryn. Two weeks before his 10th birthday, his father, Robert, also passed away, leaving John to navigate the challenges of growing up without both parents.
Despite these difficulties, John found solace in the world of theater. In junior high, he saved up enough money to purchase a season ticket to the newly opened South Bend Century Center theater, where he would often get lost in the spectacle of the performances. This early passion for acting continued to grow, and John went on to take his first acting class at Ball State University during his college years. After completing his education, John spent five years as the General Manager of Atlanta International Raceway, now known as Atlanta Motor Speedway.
However, it was a chance casting director workshop in Tampa, Florida, with Marc Hirschfeld that ultimately led John to make the bold decision to leave his life in Atlanta behind and drive to Los Angeles to pursue his acting dreams. The workshop proved to be a turning point, as John secured work within the first six months of his arrival in LA, earning him his SAG card in the process. It was during this time that John met his future wife on the lot at CBS Radford, with whom he would go on to have three daughters.
In addition to his work in front of the camera, John has also spent time behind the lens, directing and producing various projects. Throughout his career, John has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt and persevere, using his experiences to shape his unique perspective and approach to the entertainment industry.
