While Jon-Michael Ecker is best known for playing Lieutenant Greg Grainger, in season 9 of NBC's Chicago Fire, he has consistently proven to be a very talented actor in all the various other shows and films that he has starred in. Son of Brazilian American actor Guy Ecker, who is best known for his role as Detective Luis Perez in the NBC series Las Vegas, Jon-Michael has found his own successful career as an actor in both Mexican and American productions.
Ecker began his career in the early 2010s, starring in a number of Mexican telenovelas like Niña de mi corazón and Popland!, but his first American role was a small appearance in the police procedural Major Crimes as Jake in season 4, episode 12, "Blackout". Since then, Ecker has been featured in a number of high-profile projects ranging from quirky comedies to quiet character dramas to critically acclaimed crime shows, all of which do an excellent job highlighting his strengths and abilities as an actor.
10 NCIS: New Orleans (2014-2021)
- Stream on Paramount+
A spinoff of the popular police procedural NCIS (which is going into its 21st season), NCIS: New Orleans follows a team of special agents who work for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and investigate a series of grisly crimes and murders that permeate throughout the city of New Orleans. In season 3, episode 7, "Outlaws", Ecker stars as Ramon Morel, an arms dealer and hitman who is sent to New Orleans by a powerful New York Italian Mafia family called the Auiferos. While only appearing in one episode, Ecker showcases his masterful ability to play evil, charismatic villains, making this one of his best roles.
9 Cantinflas (2014)
- Stream on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video
Cantinflas is a Mexican comedy biopic that tells the story of the titular Mexican comedian and actor who is best known for starring in the film Around the World in 80 Days, a role which earned him a Golden Globe nomination and win for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. In the film, Ecker plays a minor yet memorable role as Marlon Brando, and while his role is essentially a glorified cameo, it does showcase Ecker's ability to excel in a quirky, zany comedy like Cantinflas.
8 Criminal Minds (2005-Present)
- Stream on Hulu and Paramount+
Criminal Minds is an incredibly popular and long-running police procedural in which a group of FBI behavioral scientists use behavioral analysis to locate and capture criminals. The sixteenth season was rebranded as Criminal Minds: Evolution with a second season of Evolution renewed. In Criminal Minds season 12, episode 10, "Seek and Destroy", Ecker plays a serial killer and gang leader named Zeke Daniels whom the FBI needs to track down and arrest before he harms any more people. This episode highlights Ecker's acting ability as he is able to balance both the brutal serial killer and the charismatic gang leader personalities of his character.
7 Gingerbread Miracle (2021)
- Available on Peacock
A 2021 Hallmark Channel Christmas movie, Gingerbread Miracle follows a man named Alex (Jon-Michael Ecker) who tries to sell his uncle's bakery with his high school friend (Merritt Patterson) but discovers that the gingerbread cookies that the bakery makes are actually magical and can grant wishes to anyone who eats them. Ecker excels in Gingerbread Miracle because not only does a film like this stand out from the usual dramas and crime shows he appears in, but he also is able to showcase a more light-hearted side of his acting abilities that is rarely seen anywhere else.
6 The Watchful Eye (2023)
- Available on Fubo
The Watchful Eye tells the story of a woman named Elena Santos (Mariel Molino) who is hired as a nanny and moves into a giant Manhattan apartment owned by the wealthy Ward family. Elena later realizes though that the apartment is not what it seems as it is filled with dark secrets, one of which may involve her boyfriend Scott Macedo (Ecker), a detective who got Elena the job in the first place. It is unclear whether Scott is with or against Elena, and Ecker sells the intriguing ambiguity.
5 Gossip Girl: Acapulco (2013)
- Unavailable to stream
A Mexican adaptation of The CW's Gossip Girl, Jon Ecker plays Nico de la Vega, this series' version of Nate Archibald. The grandson of the former governor, this charismatic rich kid is the longtime boyfriend of Barbara Fuenmayor, Gossip Girl: Acapulco's Blair Waldorf. However, it is later revealed in the show that Nico still holds secret feelings towards his childhood friend Sofía López-Haro, this show's version of Serena van der Woodsen, that he has not disclosed to Barbara. Throughout the series, there is constant tension among these three kids, and Ecker does a great job adding to the conflict with his strong performance.
4 Chicago Fire – Greg Grainger (2012-Present)
- Available on Peacock and fuboTV
The first installment in the about public services in the One Chicago franchise (the others being Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med), Chicago Fire explores a group of firefighters and how their professions affect both their professional and personal lives. In Chicago Fire season 9, a new character named Lieutenant Greg Grainger is introduced, who is temporarily assigned to Firehouse 51 with the rest of the main cast. Greg instantly became a fan-favorite as Ecker was very believable as a hardworking firefighter, but despite this newfound popularity, he did not return after season 9 and most likely won't appear in the upcoming Chicago Fire season 12.
3 Firefly Lane – Max Brody (2021-2023)
- Available on Netflix
Firefly Lane explores the friendship between two women named Kate (Sarah Chalke) and Tully (Katherine Heigl) and how it grew and changed from when they first met at 14 to the present day when they are in their 40s. Ecker plays a character named Max Brody, an EMT who has a one-night stand with Tully, though the two eventually fall in love with each other. Tully and Max get married, but unfortunately, their marriage does not last and they eventually divorce. Ecker is able to show off his more emotionally heartfelt acting chops in Firefly Lane as the character is unlike anything else he's played.
2 Narcos – The Lion (2014-2017)
- Available on Netflix
A critically acclaimed Netflix series, Narcos explores the dangerous world of Colombian drug cartels with seasons 1-2 focusing on Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura) and season 3 focusing on the entire Medellín Cartel. Ecker appears in the first two seasons as The Lion, a drug runner who became the first person to bring cocaine to Miami, Florida, and had close relationships with Pablo Escobar and his cousin Gustavo Gaviria. Despite only appearing in four episodes, Ecker's role as the evil and ruthless Lion is easily one of his best performances.
1 Queen of the South – Raymundo "Güero" Dávila (2016-2019)
- Available on Netflix
Queen of the South follows an impoverished Mexican woman named Teresa Mendoza (Alice Braga) who quickly becomes wealthy by building an enormous drug empire. Jon-Michael Ecker plays Raymundo "Güero" Dávila, a drug runner for the Vargas cartel and Teresa's first boyfriend who introduces her to the criminal underworld. This is Ecker's best performance as he not only is exceptionally convincing as a ruthless drug dealer, but he also manages to channel the character's likable traits like his protectiveness of Teresa and his selfishness to save his own skin as he later becomes an informant to the DEA.
