Jonathan Stokes was born in Manhattan. He majored in Philosophy at the Claremont Colleges. After school he went on to study and perform improvisational comedy at the UCB, Improv Olympic, and Second City Theaters. Jonathan Stokes wrote and directed the feature film "The Last Hurrah," a coming-of-age comedy that was filmed in one continuous 90 minute shot.

Jonathan wrote his first screenplay, "Alienators," in the 6th grade. It was directed by fellow 6th grader Seth Grahame-Smith .