Jadrien Steele

Jadrien Ford Steele (born November 22, 1974 in New York) is an American actor, author, and sometime film director. As an actor he is credited as Jadrien Steele. As an author he writes under the name J M Steele.

Biography

He graduated from Princeton University, and later obtained a master's degree in Cinematography at the University of Southern California. He is the son of two New Yorkers, Walanne Steele (a broker) and Jerry Steele (an academic). As an infant he was cast in the long-running television soap opera Ryan's Hope, as the child character Little John Ryan. He played this role from 1975 to 1985, when he was 11 years old. In that year the role was re-cast, with 22-year-old Ash Adams taking over the role. However, Steele was to secure a major part the following year, through being cast in the role of Jerry Fox in the 1986 film The Mosquito Coast, where he starred alongside Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, and River Phoenix. He married Sarah Elizabeth Bagley in 2009.

Authorship

Steele has written two books for young adult readers. He has also written several short plays. One of these, Silent Mercury, was made into a short film, which Steele himself directed, and premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. In 2008 he both directed and acted in his own production of another of his short dramas, Just Make Believe.

Acting credits

Cinema

• The Mosquito Coast (1986)
• Approaching Union Square (2006)
• Just Make Believe (2008)

Television

• Ryan's Hope
• The Hogan Family (1 episode, 1986)
• Crossbow (1 episode, 1987)
• The Secret Garden (1987)
• American Playhouse (1 episode, 1988)
• A Father's Homecoming (1988)

Directing

• Silent Mercury, (2001)
• Just Make Believe, (2008)
• Winter Fugue, (2010)

Published books

• The Taker
• The Market