Landon Ashworth
Landon Ashworth | |
|---|---|
 Ashworth in 2019 | |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 2006–present |
Landon Ashworth is an American actor, director, and pilot. He is a graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.[1]
Early life
Landon was diagnosed at a very early age with autism spectrum disorder, and in his adult life has been a vocal advocate for the autism community.[2]
Ashworth aspired to become an astronaut.[3] He graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelors of Science, and then became a test pilot for NOAA flying whale protection missions, then to build jet hours, as a pilot for United Airlines.[4] Ashworth studied filmmaking, then transitioned into astrophysics when the Mars mission was scrapped.[5] NASA put a hiring freeze[6] on all new hiring, rendering his education un-usable for becoming an astronaut.
Ashworth then moved to Los Angeles to attempt a career in the arts, starting in 2010, booking a role on Castle in 2011. He has appeared in over a dozen TV shows, and is a screenwriter[7][8] and director.
Career
Before entering the entertainment industry, Ashworth studied at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University and trained as a civilian test pilot, logging flight hours for NOAA and later United Airlines.[9] He also pursued astrophysics research earning him a PhD before shifting to film and television work when NASA’s constantly changing hiring requirements shifted away from his skill set.[10]
He began acting professionally in the late 2000s, making early appearances on CSI: Miami, Castle, and Awake. He went on to work regularly in television, with guest roles on NCIS: Los Angeles, Super Fun Night, Code Black, Days of Our Lives, NCIS, Space Force, MacGruber, and The Resident.[11]
Alongside acting, Ashworth established himself as a commercial director, particularly in the golf industry.[12]
He transitioned into narrative filmmaking with award-winning shorts. In 2020, Ashworth became the only writer to win Best Screenplay at both the Raindance Film Festival in London and the Atlanta Film Festival in the same year.[13]
Ashworth built a large digital audience by adapting unused commercial concepts into comedy sketches. His viral Texas Tot series and golf sketches helped him amass more than three million social media followers.[14]
In 2024, Ashworth made his feature film directorial debut with the fantasy drama Go On, which he also wrote and starred in. The film co-stars Vincent Kartheiser and Laura Slade Wiggins, and entered production in Montezuma, New Mexico, under the oversight of the New Mexico Film Office.[15][16]
Feature film directorial-debut
Ashworth wrote, directed, and stars in the 2024 fantasy drama Go On, marking his feature film directorial debut. The film was nominated for best picture at SoHo Film Festival, Albuquerque Film Festival, and won 2025 Best US Feature at the Catalina Film Festival. The film centers on two strangers stranded on a smoky, fire-scarred mountain, each grappling with their pasts as they confront grief, healing, and the unknown. Vincent Kartheiser (Mad Men) and Laura Slade Wiggins (Shameless) co-star alongside Ashworth. Production commenced in September 2024 in and around Montezuma, New Mexico. Ashworth has expressed that bringing such meaningful material to life in his first feature—and working with esteemed actors like Kartheiser and Wiggins—was an honor and fulfilled a longtime dream.[17][18][19]
Acting work
Filmography
Television series
- Castle (2011)
- CSI: Miami (2012)
- Awake (2012)
- NCIS: Los Angeles (2013)
- Super Fun Night (2013)
- Code Black (2015)
- My Haunted House (2016)
- Days of Our Lives (2016)
- NCIS (2018)
- The Conan O'Brien Show (2019)
- Space Force (2020)
- MacGruber (2021)
- The Resident (2023)
- Boots (2025)
Film and television movies
- Role Models (2008)
- Land of the Lost (2009)
- A Warm Wind
- The Republic of Two (2013)
- Claire (2013)
- Turn Around Jake (2014)
- Human Resources (2015)
- Silent Retreat (2016)
- Becoming Bond (2017)
- Baby Splitters (2019)
- She Watches From the Woods (2021)
- My Professor's Guide to Murder (2023)
Nominations and awards
| Big Star Entertainment Awards | Won for Best Screenplay | 2013 |
| Austin Comedy Film Festival | Nominated for Best Actor and Director | 2016 |
| Boston International Comedy and Movie Festival | Won for Best Actor and Best Director | 2016 |
| Comedy Ninja Film and Screenplay Festival | Nominated for Best Actor and Best Director | 2016 |
| LA Comedy Shorts | Won for Best Film and Best Actor | 2016 |
| LA Comedy Shorts | Nominated for Best Screenplay | 2016 |
| LA Shorts Fest | Nominated for Best Short Film | 2016 |
| Atlanta Comedy Film Festival | Won for Best Actor | 2019 |
| Raindance Film Festival | Won for Best Pilot | 2023 |
| Atlanta Film Festival | Won for Best Pilot Screenplay | 2023 |
| Catalina International Film Festival | Won for Best Picture | 2025 |
References
- ^ "Landon Ashworth, Test Pilot at Spacex".
- ^ https://www.autismspeaks.org/podcast/cockpits-cameras-landon-ashworth-autism-and-storytelling
- ^ "'Never be afraid to shake the snow globe of life'". 30 March 2018.
- ^ Mazzella, Diana (2018-03-30). "'Never be afraid to shake the snow globe of life'". Lift Magazine. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ "Mars missions cancelled? NASA budget could prompt deep cuts". Christian Science Monitor. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ Clara Moskowitz (2011-02-14). "President Obama Freezes NASA's Budget at 2010 Levels". Space.com. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
- ^ Raindance (2023-09-15). "Raindance Script Competition 2023 Winners". Raindance. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ Pryce, Kevon (2023-04-07). "2023 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition Winners". Atlanta Film Festival. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ Mazzella, Diana (2018-03-30). "'Never be afraid to shake the snow globe of life'". Lift Magazine. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ Atlanta Film Festival (2024-10-01). Landon Ashworth | ATLFF Alumni Spotlight. Retrieved 2025-11-26 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Landon Ashworth". IMDb. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
- ^ "Landon Ashworth". Landon Ashworth. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ "Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition Winners". Deadline. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
- ^ "Viral Comedy Creators Building TV Careers". Deadline. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
- ^ "'Mad Men's' Vincent Kartheiser, 'Shameless' Laura Slade Wiggins To Star In 'Go On' For Filmmaker Landon Ashworth". Deadline Hollywood. August 13, 2024. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
- ^ "New Mexico Film Office Announces Production of Go On". New Mexico Film Office. September 2024. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
- ^ "Vincent Kartheiser & Laura Slade Wiggins Join Fantasy …". IMDb news via Deadline. August 13, 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "Go On". New Mexico Film Office.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Vanessa Armstrong (August 13, 2024). "Go On Movie Snaps …". Reactor (quoting Deadline).
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