John Scott-Richardson is an American Obie award winning actor in film, theater, and TV.
As a visionary committed to making the world around me better. Nature grounds me — the ocean, woods, and desert — and truth guides how I move through life, relationships, and creative work. I carry deep pride in my culture and the teachings that shaped me. I feel most alive walking on the earth, creating with my hands, restoring old spaces or machines, and watching young people express themselves with passion and creativity.
John holds a BA in Psychology and Art.
He began his career by writing and directing youth advocacy plays.
Connection is at the center of my life. I love hosting, making people feel at home, and finding the deeper thread that links us. Theatre and acting feel essential to humanity, teaching us relationship, responsibility, reciprocity, and respect. Looking ahead, I want to work in feature films and television, build my production company, and run a nonprofit youth theatre program that empowers the next generation of creators.
John has trained at the following:
- North Raleigh Community Theater
- Safe Harbors NYC
- Amerinda Inc. NY
His Film and TV credits include:
- Comedy Central Awards (Featured Principal)
- Banshee (Co-Star)
- Vice Principals (Co-Star)
- Decoded (Principal)
- The American West (Co-Star)
- Jamestown (Co-Star)
- The Reunion NY (Co-Star)
- The Heart Stays (Co-Star)
- The Politician (Co-Star)
- Lumbeeland (Co-Star)
- HUMAN (Co-Star)
His theatrical work includes:
His theatrical work includes:- Powwow Highway (Philbert)
- New Circle Theater (Broadway)
- Dvorak in America (Big Moon)
- Don’t Feed the Indians (Pork Chop)
- Mangled Beams (Joe Linden)
- Ajijaak On Turtle Island (Musician)
- The Pendleton Blanket (Amerinda)
- Between Two Knees (Older Isaiah) (Obie Award 2024)
John’s directorial debut came from directing Soledad written by Dr. Carolyn Dunn.
John is a public speaker, cultural presenter who has presented at NC Department of Public Instruction, United Nations Equator Awards, NY Children’s Museum, Raritan Community College, Lotus Music and Dance, Whitney Museum, Park Avenue Armory, Seton Hall University and Cambio Climatico in Chile. John recently emceed the Shubert Foundation H.S. musical theater festival 2025.
He is instrumental in developing curriculum and programs for museums, corporations and educational organizations. John is enthusiastic about youth and hopes to inspire the next generation of storytellers.
John, a member of the Haliwa-Saponi tribe. Maternal lineage is Nansemond/Tutelo Saponi and parental lineage is Meherrin/Tuscarora. John Scott-Richardson is an accomplished Native traditional singer, drummer, dancer, public speaker, and emcee. He was taught eastern woodland traditions, songs, art and dances by his elders. As a traditional Native artist, John is a cultural advisor with the North Carolina Museum of History, as a producer of music, powwows and stage performances.
John has served as Program Director for the North Carolina statewide youth advocacy program American Indian Commercial Tobacco Prevention. Featured at North Carolina Museum and North Carolina Arts Council in several historical features for American Indians in the Southern Region.