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John Polson(I)

  • Producer
  • Director
  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
John Polson
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:14
The Dry (2020)
3 Videos
12 Photos
John Polson is an acclaimed actor, director, and producer who gained international recognition for directing films such as Siam Sunset (starring Linus Roache), which won awards at various global film festivals including the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Other notable films from Polson include Swimfan (with Jesse Bradford and Erica Christensen) and Hide and Seek (Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning), both of which debuted in the top spot in the US box office.

Starting his journey in the entertainment industry as an actor, Polson has earned numerous accolades and awards for roles in films such as The Sum of Us, The Boys, Idiot Box, and Mission: Impossible 2. Most recently he starred in the Australian film, The Dry, a critical and box office hit.

Polson has directed and / or executive produced over 150 hours of top-rated television including Elementary, The Mentalist, The Good Wife, The Walking Dead, The Wilds, Law & Order: Organized Crime, and Tell Me Your Secrets. He has carved a niche as a multi-hyphenate who specializes in collaborating with top writers as well as heavy-hitting talent.

In the early 1990s, Polson pioneered Tropfest in Sydney, Australia - an event now celebrated as the world's largest short film festival. This initiative evolved into a monumental platform for budding filmmakers, gaining endorsements from top figures in the global film community. With Polson at its creative helm, Tropfest has expanded globally with events and screenings in cities such as Berlin, London, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, New York, Las Vegas, Paris, Beijing, and Aspen, among others.

Polson is based in upstate New York but visits his homeland of Australia regularly.
BornSeptember 6, 1965
  • More at IMDbPro
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    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornSeptember 6, 1965
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 4 nominations total

    Photos12

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    Known for

    Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible II (2000)
    Mission: Impossible II
    6.1
    • Billy Baird
    • 2000
    Siam Sunset (1999)
    Siam Sunset
    6.4
    • Director
    • 1999
    Eric Bana in The Dry (2020)
    The Dry
    6.8
    • Scott Whitlam
    • 2020
    The Sum of Us (1994)
    The Sum of Us
    7.3
    • Greg
    • 1994

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Producer



    • The Last Anniversary (2025)
      The Last Anniversary
      7.3
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2025
    • Christopher Meloni in Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021)
      Law & Order: Organized Crime
      7.7
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2022–2023
    • Amy Brenneman and Lily Rabe in Tell Me Your Secrets (2021)
      Tell Me Your Secrets
      7.3
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2021
    • Rachel Griffiths, Mia Healey, Charles Alexander, Tanner Ray Rook, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Sophia Ali, Reign Edwards, Aidan Laprete, Nicholas Coombe, Reed Shannon, Jenna Clause, Sarah Pidgeon, Erana James, Shannon Berry, Alex Fitzalan, and Zack Calderon in The Wilds (2020)
      The Wilds
      7.3
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2020
    • Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu in Elementary (2012)
      Elementary
      7.9
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • co-executive producer
      • 2013–2017
    • In Liu of Watson (2013)
      In Liu of Watson
      7.3
      Video
      • co-executive producer
      • 2013
    • Holmes Sweet Holmes (2013)
      Holmes Sweet Holmes
      8.4
      Video
      • co-executive producer
      • 2013
    • Set Tour with Lucy Liu (2013)
      Set Tour with Lucy Liu
      7.4
      Video
      • co-executive producer
      • 2013
    • A Holmes of Their Own (2013)
      A Holmes of Their Own
      8.1
      Video
      • co-executive producer
      • 2013
    • Bear (2011)
      Bear
      7.3
      Short
      • producer
      • 2011
    • Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Anthony LaPaglia, Josh Hopkins, Enrique Murciano, Eric Close, Poppy Montgomery, and Roselyn Sanchez in Without a Trace (2002)
      Without a Trace
      7.0
      TV Series
      • producer
      • 2007–2008
    • September (2007)
      September
      6.4
      • producer
      • 2007
    • What's Going On, Frank?
      7.1
      Short
      • producer
      • 1995

    Director



    • Jason Beghe, Patrick John Flueger, Marina Squerciati, and LaRoyce Hawkins in Chicago P.D. (2014)
      Chicago P.D.
      8.1
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2021–2025
    • The Last Anniversary (2025)
      The Last Anniversary
      7.3
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2025
    • Christopher Meloni in Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021)
      Law & Order: Organized Crime
      7.7
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2021–2023
    • Jesse Lee Soffer, Christina Wolfe, Carter Redwood, Eva-Jane Willis, and Vinessa Vidotto in FBI: International (2021)
      FBI: International
      6.6
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2021
    • Jeremy Sisto, Alana De La Garza, Missy Peregrym, John Boyd, and Zeeko Zaki in FBI (2018)
      FBI
      7.1
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2021
    • FBI: Most Wanted (2020)
      FBI: Most Wanted
      6.9
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2021
    • Oliver Platt, Steven Weber, Marlyne Barrett, S. Epatha Merkerson, and Jessy Schram in Chicago Med (2015)
      Chicago Med
      7.6
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2019–2021
    • Amy Brenneman and Lily Rabe in Tell Me Your Secrets (2021)
      Tell Me Your Secrets
      7.3
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2021
    • Rachel Griffiths, Mia Healey, Charles Alexander, Tanner Ray Rook, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Sophia Ali, Reign Edwards, Aidan Laprete, Nicholas Coombe, Reed Shannon, Jenna Clause, Sarah Pidgeon, Erana James, Shannon Berry, Alex Fitzalan, and Zack Calderon in The Wilds (2020)
      The Wilds
      7.3
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2020
    • The Code (2019)
      The Code
      6.3
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2019
    • Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu in Elementary (2012)
      Elementary
      7.9
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2013–2018
    • Kim Dickens and Lennie James in Fear the Walking Dead (2015)
      Fear the Walking Dead
      6.8
      TV Series
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2018
    • Andrew Lincoln in The Walking Dead (2010)
      The Walking Dead
      8.1
      TV Series
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2017
    • Billy Burke, Kristen Connolly, Alyssa Diaz, Nonso Anozie, James Wolk, and Gracie Dzienny in Zoo (2015)
      Zoo
      6.7
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2015
    • Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynahan, Donnie Wahlberg, and Will Estes in Blue Bloods (2010)
      Blue Bloods
      7.7
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2011–2013

    Actor



    • The Last Anniversary (2025)
      The Last Anniversary
      7.3
      TV Series
      • Ronald
      • 2025
    • Eric Bana in The Dry (2020)
      The Dry
      6.8
      • Scott Whitlam
      • 2020
    • CR Mission: Impossible (2011)
      CR Mission: Impossible
      Video Game
      • Billy Baird
      • 2011
    • Mission: Impossible - Operation Surma (2003)
      Mission: Impossible - Operation Surma
      6.4
      Video Game
      • Billy Baird (voice)
      • 2003
    • Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible II (2000)
      Mission: Impossible II
      6.1
      • Billy Baird
      • 2000
    • The Boys (1998)
      The Boys
      6.9
      • Glenn Sprague
      • 1998
    • Kangaroo Palace (1997)
      Kangaroo Palace
      7.7
      TV Mini Series
      • Richard Turner
      • 1997
    • Big Sky (1997)
      Big Sky
      7.0
      TV Series
      • Jimbo's Competitor
      • 1997
    • Idiot Box (1996)
      Idiot Box
      6.4
      • Jonah
      • 1996
    • Stitched
      5.2
      Short
      • Johnny Peterson
      • 1995
    • Audacious
      5.2
      Short
      • Tom
      • 1995
    • Back of Beyond (1995)
      Back of Beyond
      4.8
      • Nick
      • 1995
    • Out
      Short
      • 1995
    • What's Going On, Frank?
      7.1
      Short
      • Frank
      • 1995
    • Michael Craig and Denise Roberts in G.P. (1989)
      G.P.
      7.3
      TV Series
      • Nick
      • Brendan
      • 1991–1995

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos3

    Tenderness
    Trailer 1:58
    Tenderness
    The Dry
    Trailer 2:14
    The Dry
    The Dry
    Trailer 2:14
    The Dry
    Sirens
    Trailer 0:31
    Sirens

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Born
      • September 6, 1965
      • Sydney, Australia
    • Spouse
      • Amanda HardingSeptember 26, 2004 - present
    • Publicity listings
      • 1 Interview
      • 2 Articles

    Self-verified on IMDbPro

    • Gender / Gender identity
      • Male
    • Pronouns
      • he/him

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Creator of the short movie festival Tropfest in Sydney in 1993. Today, John is the creative director of what is now called Sony Tropfest and has become the world's largest short film festival.

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