J.M. was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but he has lived in Arizona since 1981. He is a former award winning television news anchor/reporter, who was honored for both his news documentaries and his investigative reporting.

When people ask J.M. why he left television news for a career impersonating Johnny Carson, he explains that his decision was determined by what can only be described as his uncanny resemblance to "The King of Late Night", both in sight and sound. J.M. says, "It was difficult getting my job done out in the 'field' when people were constantly requesting a monologue." And, he adds, when his news director at the CBS affiliate in Arizona suggested J.M. might do his news anchoring as "Johnny", he figured it was time to take the show on the road. Besides, he says, "Studio cameras don't laugh --- or applaud."

Since creating "Heeere's Johnny II" in 1984, J.M.'s been very busy and very successful. Working gigs from coast to coast, he's entertained audiences as small as 60 and as large as 10,000.

J.M. has also won numerous awards as "Johnny", including Ed McMahon's "Star Search" competition in Arizona. In 1997, J.M. won the Best Comedian "Reel Award" honoring the nation's Celebrity-Look-Alikes.