Jonathan Gregory Brandis was born on April 13, 1976 in the small town of Danbury, Connecticut to parents Greg and Mary Brandis. Jon, an only child, was named for a "cool" guy his father knew while he worked as a bus driver.

   Jon's career in acting and show business would begin at the age of two, when his mother Mary took him to New York City where he got his first job on a Buster Brown Shoes poster. From this moment on, Jon worked as a model in print ads as well as commercials. This work paid off and Jon received a part on the soap One Life to Live at the age of six. Jon and his family packed up and moved to Los Angeles when he was 9 years-old so that he could further pursue his acting career in film and television. Shortly after the move, he won a part on the series Poor Little Rich Girl, which starred Charlie's Angels beauty Farrah Fawcett.

Jon continued to get small parts until 1990, when he won a role in the television adaptation of Stephen King's IT. Jon played the part of "Stuttering Billy" Denbrough. He co-starred with the late John Ritter, as well as Seth Green of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame. Later that year, Jon also was featured in the sequel to the Neverending Story, in which he played the part of Bastian. In addition to roles in television series, he also had several guest-starring roles on many series such as Blossom and Full House. Jon, in addition to working, attended public school as well.

   Jon's big break in films came when he landed a part in Ladybugs, starring opposite Rodney Dangerfield. The film called for Jon to play a character who had to wear girl's clothing at the behest of Dangerfield's charachter. The film didn't do very well at he box office, but it did put Jonathan Brandis in the spotlight. In 1992, Jon starred along side action hero Chuck Norris as well as Beau Bridges in Sidekicks. This film was a more commercial success as opposed to his earlier film.

 In addition to working as an actor, Jon was also serious about his work in school. He decided to slow down on his work and double his course load. Jonathan Gregory Brandis graduated in 1992, a year earlier. He was honored and was placed in the Who's Who Among American High School Students.

    Around 1993, Jon starred in his best known part, on the television series Sea Quest DSV, starring with Roy Schieder of Jaws fame. He played the part of Lucas Wolenczak for two seasons of the series. Jon became very famous as a result, and was propelled to teen idol status. His popularity was world-wide and Jon appeared in more U.S. fan magazines than any actor during that time.

    During his work on Sea Quest DSV, Jon also was cast in the television/family movie The Good King as Prince Wenceslas. He also lent his voice to the character of the evil wizard Mozenrath on the Walt Disney series Aladdin.

During the next several years, Jon appeared in several movies including Fall into Darkness, Outside Providence, and A Fate Totally Worse than Death. In 2002, Jon appeared in Hart's War, which starred Bruce Willis. He also received a starring role in the independent film The Year the Trembled in 2002.

    In 2003, Jon starred as Will Karnegian in the pilot for the television series 111 Gramercy Park. Sadly, on November 12, 2003, Jon passed away in Los Angeles. He was 27 years-old.