Jonathan 'JoJo' Eusebio

Jonathan Raymond Eusebio: The Artisan of Action

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‍Jonathan Raymond Eusebio, affectionately known as "Jojo", is a prolific figure in the Hollywood industry. His expertise spans various roles, from stunt coordinator, fight choreographer, and stunt performer to second unit director. Born on September 15, 1973, Eusebio's passion for martial arts began at the tender age of eight, progressing through taekwondo, judo, wrestling, and kickboxing. His formative years were further marked by an infatuation with Hong Kong action cinema, cultivating a fondness for iconic figures such as John Woo and Jackie Chan.

Eusebio's academic journey took him to the University of California, Irvine, where he majored in Biological Sciences. Post-graduation, he balanced a career in a laboratory while never straying far from his love for martial arts. At 18, Eusebio enrolled at the Inosanto Academy in Marina Del Rey, California, which marked the inception of his professional relationship with future filmmakers and 87eleven Action Design founders, Chad Stahelski and David Leitch.

His first break in stunt performing came with the 1997 low-budget action flick, True Vengeance. However, his star was truly on the rise when he worked on the 2002 movie Kung Pow: Enter the Fist. That same year, Eusebio helped create the unique fighting style for the character Jason Bourne in The Bourne Identity, a style grounded in Filipino Kali and knife fighting. This association continued throughout the Bourne franchise, where he trained Matt Damon and functioned as a fight coordinator.

An original member of the 87eleven Action Design, Eusebio's influence has been instrumental in the growth of the Hollywood stunt collective. His work on the groundbreaking film 300 in 2006, and as the co-fight choreographer for Ninja Assassin in 2009, showcased the expanding creative control of 87eleven in dictating the direction of the action sequences.

Eusebio's impressive portfolio extends to Marvel films where he crafted a unique fighting style for the character Black Widow in Iron Man 2, merging 'lucha libre', kali, Muay Thai, and aikido. This role paved the way for him to work on various Marvel films, including The Avengers, Doctor Strange, and the acclaimed Black Panther.

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His work on the John Wick franchise further testifies to his creative prowess. Paying homage to Asian action cinema, the John Wick franchise features a blend of jiu jitsu and judo, necessitating extensive training for lead actor, Keanu Reeves. The franchise continues to push the envelope in terms of innovative fighting styles and stunt work.

His role in the industry expanded further from 2017 when he began working as a second unit director on many 87eleven productions, including Deadpool 2, Birds of Prey, and Kate. In 2022, he took up the role of second unit director and stunt coordinator on the Star Wars series, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and in 2021, on the fourth Matrix film, The Matrix Resurrections.

Eusebio's accomplishments in the industry have been lauded, winning Best Stunt Coordination for John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum by the Online Film & Television Association in 2020, the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture for Black Panther, and the same award in 2008 for The Bourne Ultimatum. His work on 300 and John Wick also fetched him World Stunt Awards in the category of Best Fight.

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Eusebio's contribution to Hollywood is monumental, having left his unique imprint on action cinema. His work is not just a display of skill, but a medium for passing on the heritage of Filipino martial arts. Eusebio's talent, dedication, and creativity continue to raise the bar in the industry, promising a bright future for action choreography in Hollywood. As he once stated in a conversation with Kung Fu Movie Guide in 2022, "I didn’t open a school… so every time I do a movie, that’s my way of passing on the Filipino martial arts." This statement encapsulates Eusebio's commitment to preserving and celebrating his martial arts heritage.