Marine Mammal Welfare Advocate & Former Senior Killer Whale Trainer; Author of "Beneath the Surface"; Featured in "Blackfish"

New York, NY, USA
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John Hargrove Biography

John Hargrove is a former senior killer whale trainer for SeaWorld and a prominent advocate in the global movement to end orca captivity. Over two decades, Hargrove worked with 20 different whales across two continents at SeaWorld of California, SeaWorld of Texas, and MarineLand in the south of France, where he served as a supervisor. His career involved working closely with orcas such as Takara, Kasatka, Corky, and Orkid.

As Hargrove gained experience, he developed ethical concerns regarding the welfare of orcas in captivity. He ultimately resigned from his senior trainer position to speak publicly about the realities of orca captivity. Hargrove appeared in the documentary "Blackfish" and authored the memoir "Beneath the Surface," co-written with Howard G. Chua-Eoan and published by Palgrave Macmillan. The book, which details his experiences with orcas at SeaWorld and in the wild, reached No. 18 on The New York Times nonfiction hardcover best-seller list. "Beneath the Surface" has been described by Kirkus Reviews as "a shocking, aggressively written marine park exposé."

Hargrove has supported legislative efforts such as the Orca Welfare and Safety Act in California and New York's "Blackfish Bill," providing testimony before state assemblies and advocating for animal welfare and marine mammal protection. He has spoken at universities and served as an expert witness for OSHA in the Miami Seaquarium case.

Internationally, Hargrove has collaborated with organizations including the Born Free Foundation and World Cetacean Alliance, presenting at Whalefest in Brighton, United Kingdom. He is recognized for his insights into marine mammal care, animal welfare, corporate ethics, and the responsibilities of humans toward the natural world.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/13/2026.

John Hargrove Videos

'Blackfish' Star John Hargrove on SeaWorld's Cult-Like Behavior ...

'Blackfish' Star John Hargrove on SeaWorld's Cult-Like Behavior ...

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John Hargrove - Part 2 - YouTube

John Hargrove - Part 2 - YouTube

John Hargrove, former trainer at SeaWorld, speaking at a screening of Blackfish.

John Hargrove @ WhaleFest 14/03/15 - YouTube

John Hargrove @ WhaleFest 14/03/15 - YouTube

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  • What topics does John Hargrove speak about?

    John Hargrove is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Animals & Wildlife, Author, Conservation
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John Hargrove is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book John Hargrove for your event is available upon request. John Hargrove generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ric O'Barry, Dyan deNapoli, Forrest Galante, Rowan Jacobsen and Rick McIntyre. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling John Hargrove for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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