- He was accepted to 'The American Academy of Dramatic Arts' but declined after being informed he would not be able to audition or take on any work as an actor while attending the Academy.
- When he was 15 he became very ill with "Mono" (Infectious Mononucleosis), the so called "kissing disease". He was hospitalized for several weeks and lost over 20 lbs.
- Has no feeling on the right side of his face as a result of a car accident he had with his mother at a young age.
- His late uncle, William Thourlby, was one of the original 'Marlboro Man' and was featured on the cover of Life Magazine in 1955, as an image maker. He was also clothing consultant to two Presidents of the United States, Coca Cola, Price Waterhouse, and Piper Aircraft. He is the author of the Best Selling books, 'You Are What You Wear' and 'Passport To Power'.
- His mother, Mary and his father, Jon divorced in 1986. He has a sister, Lisa.
- He is an avid scuba diver who loves to night dive and "bug" hunt. The term "bug" refers to catching lobsters by hand.
- As a youngster in Michigan, JB was introduced to sled dog racing and owned his own Alaskan husky, Eska. He competed in the sport and won a couple of races. He also loved to ice fish. The summers found him in the thumb of Michigan spending time with his grandmother, Nana. He spent most of his time swimming, boating, and fishing on beautiful Lake Huron.
- During his high school years, he was involved in sports and work. He mowed lawns, worked as a prep cook, shoveled snow, as well as being a clothing model for local organizations.
- Co-Founder of the (ASC) Arizona Shakespeare Company.
- Began his training at the NSPA (Northwest Studio for the Performing Arts).
- Is an accomplished stage actor who studied under the direction of the late Peter Overson.
- Business major in college.
- Like many U.S. Presidents and celebrities, JB threw the first pitch at the Chicago White Sox game, on June 8th, 2012, a promotional event for DreamWorks Animation How To Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular.
- Attended Sacred Heart Academy in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.
- Ran the high and low hurdles in track, high jump, the 880 relay and was on the Jr. High wrestling team.
- Was an accomplished athlete with eight years of organized football, which he lettered in high school, was team captain, six years of basketball, and two years track and field.
- Is a long time Detroit Lions fan. In fact he spent a day with former NFL running back, Billy Sims during a Special Olympics event at Central Michigan University.
- His mother survived from a Brain Aneurysm in 1984 and is a Cancer survivor from 2008. He has stated that his "Mum" is his hero.
- Stretching over 1250 miles, the distance from Boston to Miami, and visible from space, he dove the Great Barrier Reef (2012), which is one of the seven wonders of the world.
- Not related to actress Lesley Ann Warren or American song writer Diane Warren or U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, or Founder of harmony, Dr. Neil Clark Warren, nor Earl Warren, the late former Governor of California, later Chief Justice of the U.S. and was appointed to chair what became known as the Warren Commission. Which was the investigation of the of the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy.
- While touring with Walking With Dinosaurs, he was fortunate to have entertained several celebrities including Jeffrey Katzenberg, Beyoncé, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Harrison Ford, Calista Flockhart, Whoopi Goldberg, Shaquille O'Neal, comedian Aziz Ansari, and former NFL player, Jason Sehorn.
- Had the pleasure of meeting president Gerald Ford in 1986.
- In 2012 he had the pleasure of meeting Chesley Sullenberger, "Sully" on the news/talk show Fox and Friends (1998). Captain Sully executed an emergency water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River. All of the 155 passengers and crew aboard the aircraft survived. In 2016 actor, producer, director Clint Eastwood directed Tom Hanks in the biographical movie Sully (2016).
- Shares his Birthday with Jack Ruby who killed Lee Harvey Oswald, Eileen Ford co-founder of Ford Models, Gloria Steinem Journalist & Feminist Founder, Henry II, King of England, Caroline Bonaparte, Queen of Naples & sister of Napoleon, Howard Cosell Sports Journalist, Big Sean & Juvenile Rappers, Elton John, Sarah Jessica Parker, Aretha Franklin, Danica Patrick Indy Race Car Driver, Marcia Cross, Brenda Strong, Edgar Ramirez, Sheryl Swoopes former WNBA player and Ryan Lewis of the hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.
- Born at 3:34am (EST).
- Hired renowned dialect coach Jessica Drake for his work on How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular, based from the Oscar nominated film, How to Train Your Dragon (2010), by DreamWorks Animation.
- His character Sig from How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular, based from the Oscar nominated film, How to Train Your Dragon (2010) by DreamWorks Animation was created with some mythical back story. Sig or Sigurd, was from the Old Norse Mythology. Sigurd was the hero of the Norse legend the Volsungasaga, which tells how his foster-father Regin sent him to recover a hoard of gold guarded by the dragon Fafnir. After slaying the dragon Sigurd tasted some of its blood, enabling him to understand the language of birds. Strangely enough, prior to How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular, he played a paleontologist Walking with Dinosaurs, based from the six time Emmy award TV show from Discovery Walking with Dinosaurs (1999) performing a factual ninety minute monologue of the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. As we know today, factually, birds evolved from dinosaurs.
- He has a black chow chow named Maui.
- Did several TV promo's at the famous WGN studio in Chicago where he played 'Sig' the Dragon trainer for How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular. The show was based from the Oscar nominated film, How to Train Your Dragon (2010) by 'DreamWorks Animation'. The Bozo Show (1982) and Donahue (1967), were first taped. Bob Bell who played the latter Bozo (1960) the clown, was also from Michigan.
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