Jon Michael Hill

Jon Michael Hill is an acclaimed actor known for his work across stage, television, and film. Born in Waukegan, Illinois, Hill initially pursued interests in football and music before discovering a passion for acting. He honed his craft through a summer drama program at Northwestern University and went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he performed in productions such as "King Lear," "Six Degrees of Separation," and "Ain’t Misbehavin’."

Hill’s stage career took off when he joined the renowned Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble in Chicago, becoming one of its youngest members. He gained early recognition with a Joseph Jefferson Award nomination for "The Tempest" and made a powerful Broadway debut in "Superior Donuts" in 2009, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play the following year. His stage work continued with standout performances in plays like "Pass Over" -- filmed by Spike Lee -- and more recent projects such as "Purpose" -- for which he received a Best Leading Actor Tony nomination in 2025 -- and "Leroy and Lucy."

On television, Hill is best known for his role as Detective Marcus Bell on CBS’s "Elementary," appearing in all seven seasons from 2012 to 2019 and directing an episode in the final season. He also played rookie Detective Damon Washington in ABC’s "Detroit 1-8-7" and has appeared in various other film and TV projects.