Johnny Vegas(VII)
- Actor
- Location Coordinator
- Art Department
John Richard Babiarz II (also known as Johnny Vegas) is an American Actor. He was born in Saginaw, MI to John (a photographer and singer) and Patti (an office manager and pianist), and raised in nearby Bay City. As soon as he was old enough to recognize his own name, he became "Johnny" to avoid confusion anytime someone in the house would call for "John".
Music filled Johnny’s household from an early age. Patti’s casual piano and John’s bellowing of Sinatra covers instilled a love of music that Johnny carries to this day. Johnny’s first "performances" were at family gatherings - followed by his school and church choirs. Although untrained, Johnny eventually discovered barbershop quartet singing, which helped hone his singing. With his Detroit-based chorus - The Motor City Metro Chapter - Johnny performed and competed throughout MI and competed in 2 international competitions in the early 1990’s.
While at a college party in the late 1980’s, Johnny was describing his family’s regular western vacations, which often included a Vegas leg. (It was during one of these trips that John took the family to see Sinatra in concert at Caesar's Palace!) As the discussion went on, one of his friends randomly suggested’ "We should call you "Johnny Vegas"". The name was born!
In August of 1977, Johnny became fascinated with his birthday twin - Elvis. This fascination would eventually evolve into "Johnny Vegas as Elvis" - an Elvis Tribute performance the Johnny continues to this day.
After a tumultuous career with a local law enforcement agency, Johnny and new wife Renee migrated west to Patti’s former seasonal teenage home - Tucson. Upon drifting into a newly-opened local western movie set during their 1st Christmas open-house, Johnny struck up a random conversation with one of the period-dressed cowboys on set. Luckily, it was the right cowboy - the lead. After giving Johnny a quick look over, the lead cowboy observed, "Well, you’ve got the look. Feel free to come back and work here with us." Johnny thought, "You don’t have to ask me twice!", and returned the following weekend for his first day of employment.
After several years working for Mescal Movie Set, Johnny now serves as one of their Productions Coordinators as well as their Safety/Security Lead. Johnny continues to pursue acting opportunities as well as any available singing opportunities. Many movie set tours conclude with a western ballad sung by Mescal’s own "Resident Singing Cowboy
Music filled Johnny’s household from an early age. Patti’s casual piano and John’s bellowing of Sinatra covers instilled a love of music that Johnny carries to this day. Johnny’s first "performances" were at family gatherings - followed by his school and church choirs. Although untrained, Johnny eventually discovered barbershop quartet singing, which helped hone his singing. With his Detroit-based chorus - The Motor City Metro Chapter - Johnny performed and competed throughout MI and competed in 2 international competitions in the early 1990’s.
While at a college party in the late 1980’s, Johnny was describing his family’s regular western vacations, which often included a Vegas leg. (It was during one of these trips that John took the family to see Sinatra in concert at Caesar's Palace!) As the discussion went on, one of his friends randomly suggested’ "We should call you "Johnny Vegas"". The name was born!
In August of 1977, Johnny became fascinated with his birthday twin - Elvis. This fascination would eventually evolve into "Johnny Vegas as Elvis" - an Elvis Tribute performance the Johnny continues to this day.
After a tumultuous career with a local law enforcement agency, Johnny and new wife Renee migrated west to Patti’s former seasonal teenage home - Tucson. Upon drifting into a newly-opened local western movie set during their 1st Christmas open-house, Johnny struck up a random conversation with one of the period-dressed cowboys on set. Luckily, it was the right cowboy - the lead. After giving Johnny a quick look over, the lead cowboy observed, "Well, you’ve got the look. Feel free to come back and work here with us." Johnny thought, "You don’t have to ask me twice!", and returned the following weekend for his first day of employment.
After several years working for Mescal Movie Set, Johnny now serves as one of their Productions Coordinators as well as their Safety/Security Lead. Johnny continues to pursue acting opportunities as well as any available singing opportunities. Many movie set tours conclude with a western ballad sung by Mescal’s own "Resident Singing Cowboy
