Ian Thomas Hardin

Ian Thomas Hardin was born and raised in Alton, IL. Ian was raised in a strong Mormon home where laughter was part of the daily routine. His earliest memories are telling jokes. Ian started performing at an early age at both church and school, including a role in his third-grade production of Julius Caesar. By the time he was in high school he was writing stand-up for his father (who performed with a comedy group called "Gutbusters.") After serving a two-year mission for the LDS church in Provo, Utah, which Ian described as "like being in the Army and being assigned to the Pentagon," Ian attended Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho). At Ricks he was a member of "The Whigs" comedy troupe. Ian transferred to Brigham Young University where he hosted an on-campus vox populi weekly program called "Soapbox." He also co-wrote and analyzed the 1998 Utah Colleges Exit Poll, appearing on KBYU as the expert for the 1998 South Carolina Senate race. Ian returned home to Illinois to attend Southern Illinois University School of Law, where he continued to host events-including the law school's talent show. In the fall of 2009 Ian appeared in "How The Other Half Loves," his first play since high school, at Alton Little Theater. He next appeared as Mabel Swindle in "Radio Gals," a role that garnered him a 2009 Arts For Life Best Performance Award. In the fall of 2010 Ian began appearing in short film projects for students at nearby Webster University. In addition to this Ian joined the cast of Jest Murder Mystery (jestmurdermystery.com), a St. Louis-based interactive dinner-theater troupe. Also in the fall of 2010 a third-hand casting notice for extras needed for a full-length feature film being shot in his home town of Alton (and the St. Louis area)found its way to Ian and the next thing he knew he was working with the cast and crew of "Love Stalker: An UN-romantic Comedy." In 2011 Ian began writing his own short films. "Vinny's Resignation," shot in March/April 2011, is a collaboration with Jest Productions and was released on YouTube.