Biography

JJ Pantano is a multi-talented actor, comedian, musician and presenter who first gained international attention at just seven years old after receiving the Golden Buzzer on Australia’s Got Talent for his fearless, roast-style stand-up. He quickly went viral, leading to an invitation to compete on NBC’s America’s Got Talent: The Champions, where he earned a standing ovation from the judges and audience and advanced to the semi-finals.

Now just 14, JJ has built a body of work well beyond his years. On AGT: The Champions, his sharp wit and commanding stage presence impressed judges including Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel, who likened him to a young Don Rickles and praised his rare confidence and "star glow." He was later invited back by producers to host his own talk show-style segment, interviewing the judges and host Terry Crews in a Between 2 Ferns format.

As an actor, JJ stars as young Luke Smallbone in Lionsgate’s Unsung Hero, which debuted at No. 2 at the U.S. box office and achieved a 99% Rotten Tomatoes audience score and A+ CinemaScore. He has also starred in the Australian feature films Nut Farm and Wog Boys Forever, the latter personally cast by creator Nick Giannopoulos. Soon you will be hearing him as the lead voice in an animated feature film.

JJ’s growing comedy reputation has seen him gain the support of some of comedy’s biggest names. In 2023, he was invited by Jeff Ross at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena for some impromptu roasting at The Dave Chapelle Concert, and returned the following year to the Netflix Is A Joke Roast Battle finals at the Hollywood Palladium, where he bought the house down when he roasted Ross.

In 2026, JJ made history as the youngest stand-up comedian at just 13 years of age to headline his own full-length solo comedy show at major international festivals, delivering 5 shows at Adelaide Fringe and a 14-show consecutive run at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Performing to sold-out audiences, he achieved a milestone never seen at that age.

JJ’s performances have amassed over 200 million views globally, and he has been featured across major media outlets including People, USA Today, Funny Or Die, and The Herald Sun, with television appearances spanning Sunrise, The Morning Show, Today, and more.

A dual Australian-Italian citizen with a U.S. O-1B visa for extraordinary ability, JJ is a true all-round entertainer; singer, actor, multi instrumentalist, writer and stand-up comedian. He is widely respected by industry professionals across Australia and the USA for his talent, professionalism, and work ethic in both the comedy and acting worlds.
- IMDb mini biography by: Phil Douglas

He is the grandson of Australia's most awarded Cabaret artist Tony Pantano.

JJ Pantano is the recipient of the 2024 International Film Festival Australia (IFFA) Award for Best Emerging Child Actor in a Feature Film for the film "Unsung Hero".