Born in Leith, Edinburgh in 1948, Johnny Melville graduated in social science from Edinburgh University after studying lots of girls. Since then he has performed and directed comedy and dramatic projects in all five continents for over the last 45 years in more than 40 countries. 

Since 1973 he has performed for - amongst others -  The Queen of Denmark, Olympic athletes, Russian spies, German riot-police, African bushmen, American soldiers, Mexican Indians, Paris debutantes, surgeons, film-stars, Scandinavian politicians, rock festival crowds, peace-activists, buddhist leaders, prisoners, pensioners and thousands of kids.  

Known as the l'enfant terrible sthe Fools movement of the 70s and 80s he is one of the living legends of the modern clown, having performed 6 different one man shows

He has also starred in many international feature films, directed a ton of shorts, winning various awards at film festivals for Best Actor for 'NO MAN'S LAND at Brooklyn Film Festival 2001, for 'THE TRENCH' at Marbella & St. Petersburg Film Festivals 2015 and for Best Director for his script 'BACKTRACKER' at Girona Film Festival 2011. In 2021 He appeared as a Jesuit killer in the HBO production of Alex de la Iglesia's ´30 COINS´. In 2023 he performed as Boris Kaczinski in 'FALSESTUFF' in the Teatro Valle Inclán, Madrid. This production won The 'MAX AWARD' as the Best Spanish Theatre Production in 2024.