In theatre, Mr. Hertzler was seen in 2001 playing opposite Academy Award winning
actress, Holly Hunter in a new Irish play, “By the Bog of Cats” for San Jose Repertory
Theatre. In the Spring of 2006, he starred in “INHERIT THE WIND” at the GEVA
Theatre, as Henry Drummond then repeated the performance with Cornell University the
following year. On Broadway, he appeared opposite Irene Pappas in the controversial production of the classic, THE BACCHAE, directed by Michael Coccyannis. He had the distinct honor of performing with the Oscar winning actor, Roddy MacDowall in the 1996 National Tour of DIAL M for MURDER. Other theatre credits include leading roles with the finest Regional Theatres in the U.S., including the title roles of RICHARD II and THE ADMIRABLE CRICHTON for ACT in San Francisco, appearances in leading roles at THE GUTHRIE, THE FOLGER THEATRE, THE KENNEDY CENTER, CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE, SAN JOSE REPERTORY THEATRE, ST. LOUIS REP., among many others.
As a stage director, Mr. Hertzler has staged works for THE GUTHRIE, ACT, OFF-BROADWAY, VITA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, THE NEW PLAYWRIGHTS THEATRE of WASHINGTON, The CAMDEN SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, and productions in the LA area including the much acclaimed American premier of Kenneth Ross’s award winning play, “BREAKER MORANT” as well as, a modern dress version of “CORIOLANUS” for A NOISE WITHIN. Other directing credits include a new play “PRACTICE” for the PERRY STREET THEATRE in NYC, “TWO GENTLEMEN FROM VERONA”, “HAMLET”, “OTHELLO”, “DON QUIXOTE”, “CYRANO de BERGERAC” among others for various Shakespeare theatres across the country.
Some of his best known work as a television actor is GENERAL MARTOK on STAR TREK:DEEP SPACE NINE. Other television credits include, Seinfeld, Roswell, Six Feet Under, Touched by an Angel, Charmed, Dr. Quinn, Diagnosis Murder, Quantum Leap, The Highlander, Fortune Hunter, Brisco County Jr., Lois and Clark, General Hospital and One Life to Live, Movin’- On, Partners in Crime, Ultraman, and over 50 episodes on the NEW ZORRO series, filmed in Madrid, Spain, as Alcalde Ignacio DeSoto. In the Fall of 1997, he was featured with Jennifer Beals and Christopher Walken in the film, PROPHECY 2, directed by GAME OF THRONES; producer, Greg Spence. A co-star on many MOW’s, J.G. can be seen sword-fighting his way through Anthony Zerbe in TREASURE ISLAND, and more recently appearing as RIDLEY SCOTT in the “PIRATES OF SILICON VALLEY”. He has appeared with Al Pacino in the Norman Jewison classic film, …AND JUSTICE
FOR ALL.
Having earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree, in Political Science at Bucknell University and a Master’s Degree in Theatre from Maryland University in the middle 1970’s, Mr. Hertzler went on to attend American University’s Washington School of Law and later, UCLA Graduate School in Screenwriting. Above all else, Mr. Hertzler is indebted to Dr. Harvey Powers at Bucknell U for inspiring him to a life in the performing arts!
Over the four years at Cornell University working as a visiting lecturer in the Department of Theatre, Film and Dance, Mr. Hertzler taught classes in Acting for the Camera and Intro to Acting and provided mentoring/coaching to advanced students. He also appeared as part of the AEA Resident Theatre Company at Cornell in main stage productions, including the title roles in “THE BOURGEOIS GENTLEMAN” and “THE PASSION OF DRACULA”, the melancholy Jacques in “AS YOU LIKE IT”, Miss Prism in “THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST”, Don Armado in “LOVES LABORS LOST”, Capulet in “ROMEO AND JULIET”.
During the 2009 season he wrote and directed a stage adaptation of Richard Wright’s
novel BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR for Cornell University, and directed/designed
an outdoor production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM for the ITHACA
SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, receiving triumphant critical and popular reviews,
expanding the ISC audience from an average of 150 in past seasons to audiences well
over 500 during the 2009 summer. In the Winter of 2010, Mr. Hertzler’s production of
“BILOXI BLUES” by Neil Simon played at Cornell’s Schwartz Performing Arts Center
to sold out houses and received popular and critical acclaim. During the National
election of November, 2012…Mr. Hertzler produced and directed a staged concert
rendition of the Tony Award Winning musical “1776” , which played again to sold out
houses for all five performances.
Founder and director of THE NEW MERCURY THEATRE of NY, Mr. Hertzler has
created live Radio stage versions of A CHRISTMAS CAROL and WAR of the
WORLDS, recently playing in the Finger Lakes region and airing on WVBR Radio. At
the Hangar Theatre, he performed in the Cornell-produced radio version of “IT’S A
WONDERFUL LIFE.” The New Mercury Theatre of NY is dedicated to reviving the
great works of American Radio’s Golden Age featuring the works of Orson Welles.
Mr. Hertzler has co-authored two novels for the Star Trek series, entitled
LEFT HAND OF DESTINY, published in 2003 by Simon and Schuster. His
screenplay titled PROMETHEUS PROJECT was optioned by Adelson Entertainment
in 2002. Other screenplays by Mr. Hertzler include MIKE FISK PI, a detective story
about investments commonly known as “death futures” HEARTLAND, the story of the
demise of a small town, and FREEKILL, based on a 1956 short story by William Tenn.
At present, Mr. Hertzler’s original screenplay, DANCING WITH SANCHO PANZA
has been optioned by UIG PRODUCTIONS in Los Angeles, and is expected to go into
production in the Fall of 2017.
In December of 2015, his production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL opened at the Morgan
Opera House in Aurora, NY. That production marked the fifth performance of his
original radio script of A CHRISTMAS CAROL based on the Dickens short story and
earlier stage versions from this and other centuries. Also in December 2015, Mr.
Hertzler narrated an audio book for Macmillan Publishing, entitled BARSK: THE
ELEPHANT GRAVEYARD, by Dr. Lawrence Schoen, available on Amazon audio
books. Besides performing as a voice over artist on the animated production, LOWER
DECKS, Mr. Hertzler has voiced several roles on video games and he is very proud to
have narrated the recent documentary about the courageous life and work of Black
Activist and Abolitionist Harriet Tubman.
For a more detailed and extensive listing of his voice over works, please check IMDb,
under J.G. Hertzler.
