He was born Paul Flynn in 1934 (date unknown) in San Bernadino, California, USA (Thanks to Tom Betts for finding this information).
He graduated from San Bernadino High School in 1951 and was employed at Norton Air Force Base from 1952-57. His acting career is rather curious and inconsistent. He has at least 7 known or rumoured appearances in American films and TV shows between 1959-62.
He next shows up in Italy in 1962, where he stays for a few years appearing in a handful of peplums. From newspaper articles we know that he went there to appear in a film titled Iron Men which was never made, but wound up staying after landing a role in Cleopatra.
In 1966 he is back in the US, before returning to Italy for 2 further roles in 1969 and 1972. In 1973 he shows up in Shaft in Africa, a US production shot in Spain and on location in Africa, then he was back in the US for one final TV appearance in 1976. He then disappeared off the radar until news appeared of his death on February 22nd 2021.
I have found a few undocumented roles for Jon, so it could be possible there will be more to be found, both in Italian and American films. Since more than 50% of his known roles are in Italian productions (and certainly his largest roles), then I have opted to include him with our Italian actors rather than international.
- The Jack Benny Program (TV series) S.11, ep. 4: "Hong Kong Suit" .... Bootblack (credited)
1962 - Hatari! .... Joseph (uncredited)
- Maciste, il gladiatore più forte del mondo .... Wambo (credited)
1963 - Cleopatra .... Servant at the banquet (uncredited)
1964 - Ercole contro i figli del sole .... Native chief (uncredited)
- Il leone di Tebe .... Slave in Ramses' palace (uncredited)
- Maciste nelle miniere di Re Salomone .... Native chief taken prisoner (uncredited)
- Sansone e il tesoro degli Incas .... School helper (uncredited)
- Tarzak contro gli uomini leopardo .... Kamur (credited)
1966 - Daktari (TV series) S.1, ep. 5: "Trail of the Cheetah" .... Bus driver (credited)
1969 - Indovina chi viene a merenda? .... Captain Sidney (credited)
1972 - Afyon oppio .... Hotel porter (uncredited)
1973 - Shaft in Africa .... Shimba (credited)
1976 - Police Story (TV series) S.4, ep. 11: "The Jar: Part 2" .... Marine Sergeant (credited)
- This Man Dawson (1959 TV series) S.1, ep.10: "Fight Game". IMDb
- The Apartment (1960) From newspaper article. I searched the film with no luck identifying Jon, but there are quite a few black actors present in the background in the office scenes, so it is quite possible that he is somewhere amongst them.
- The Fisher Family (1960 TV series) Ep.: "Smashup". IMDb
- The Young Savages (1961) From newspaper article. Again I searched the film with no luck identifying Jon, but again there are quite a few black actors present in background roles, so it is quite possible that he is somewhere amongst them.
- Playhouse 90 (TV series) Unknown episode from late 50's or early 60's. From newspaper articles
- Billie (1965) IMDb as Dancer. This is an American musical set on a pre-integration 60's college campus, where any black actors would have stood out a mile. Jon is nowhere to be seen as a dancer or anything else.