John Quinlan

Career Quinlan began weight training as a teenager to become stronger for sports. Shortly after graduating from Springfield College in 1997, he competed in bodybuilding, and fitness.

In 1998, Quinlan competed in the North American Bodybuilding Association (NABF). In October he placed first in the Junior Class and fourth in the Men's Open Light Heavyweight division at the NABF Tri-State Pro-Am. He won the Junior Class and earned a third-place finish in the Men's Open Light Heavyweight Division two weeks later at the NABF USA Junior Nationals.

In February 1999, Quinlan entered the Killer Kowalski professional wrestling school in Malden, Massachusetts. under the stage names John Bagwell, Joseph Bagwell, and Alex Bagwell. On November 26, 1999, in his first professional wrestling match for the World Wrestling Alliance, and on one occasion modeled for the "Energy Bomb" sports drink. Quinlan often felt he was exploited by promoters who forced him to use the Alex Bagwell professional wrestling gimmick (kayfabe cousin of professional wrestler Buff Bagwell) and John Quinlan. with knee-high engineer boots, but was transitioned to a masked wrestler as a "face". He began training with Edward Leslie in the summer of 2001. He left the business as the result of accumulated sports related injuries he had sustained.

Fitness and modeling competitions Quinlan competed as a muscle model at the 2010 FAME World Championships "WNSO Muscle & FAME Model" and BodyProud Wellness Convention held at Bally's Las Vegas. He was sponsored by LMR Sports and Max Muscle Sports Nutrition of Saugus, Massachusetts for this event in cooperation with owner Michael Fauci, professional bodybuilder Craig Torres and Jim Castrucci. He modeled Ed Hardy and MMA Muay Thai brand apparel by Raja Boxing and Kombat Gear during this event. He was coached by Musclemania New England Bodybuilding Judge and BBPics Photography owner John Mitchell.

In June 2011, he competed as a sports model at the Musclemania Model Universe Championships as part of Musclemania's Universe Weekend in Miami. He modeled Tulio brand swimwear and clubwear by Sean John. His themewear consisted of black and gold Gladiator style Muay Thai trunks by Siamtops with Twins Special 12 oz. boxing gloves. He was one of the most tattooed models in the competition. Quinlan suffered a torn groin and grade three hamstring tear one month prior to this event.

In May 2012, Quinlan competed in two NPC Men's Physique contests. The first was the Jay Cutler Classic

In July 2012, he competed in three NPC National contests. The Team Universe Men's Physique National Championships in Teaneck, New Jersey, was followed by the MuscleTech NPC Masters Men's Physique National Championships at the Station Square Sheraton Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His last contest was the NPC USA National Physique Championships held at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He was sponsored by Max Muscle of Saugus, Massachusetts, for this event. This was his seventh NPC contest of the year.

In April 2013, Quinlan competed at the NPC Vermont Bodybuilding Championships in the Men's Physique Division. He placed 1st in both the Men's Open and Men's Master's classes and went on to win the Overall Men's Physique Championship.

Modeling career

Quinlan was used in 2000 as an art model by Brian Dow, an illustrator of children's books, book covers, advertising and editorial illustration for a self-promotion piece inspired by Harry Potter and author J.K. Rowling. Dow used Quinlan's physique in a digital painting and colored pencil illustration as the body of an evil troll. The image was also used on the cover of the paperback book "The War of Trolls" (Scream Shop Series #8) by Tracey West, illustrated by Dow. Quinlan modeled for Dow as a genie in a similar illustration later that year. Quinlan arm wrestled Chad Eaton, defensive tackle in the National Football League for the New England Patriots, in 2000 while working at the Boston nightclub The Rack as a bouncer. for an outdoor professional wrestling themed photo shoot. supplement and fitness articles, and magazines. In 2010, Quinlan was represented by Coach Models International Model Agency of New York.

In February 2011, Quinlan was named January fashion model of the month by HUF Magazine and he was interviewed by host Claudia Reid of Muscle Talk Radio 101 in New York.

He is an official ambassador of Diego Barberi brand apparel in the United States and a spokesmodel for Toot brand apparel in Japan and Asia. by President Leslie M. Weston and CEO Terrance L. Shaw and appeared in Faith & Fitness Magazine with his son Troy. In October 2011, he signed as an associate to help promote BodHD, Inc., a nutrition company based in Vista, California.

In April 2012, Quinlan was named official image model of the year for No Limits Brand Underwear by Suzanne Carner.

In August 2012, Quinlan was used as the likeness for the character of Master Buck in the erotic romance story Master's Email by Tonya Kinzer. He has appeared on the cover of two fiction books, Captive Fantasy and Fierce in Fur.

In February 2013, Quinlan was the cover model for the book, Jessica's Obsession. In April 2013, Quinlan was named an Official Image Model of Alpha Male Underwear by Darrell MacDonald and Thanos Giagtzis and was the cover model for the book, "Groupie". In June 2013, Quinlan was signed by designer Claudia McKinney as an official Phatpuppy cover model. He was also nominated for Playgirl's Hunk of The Month. Quinlan has modeled products and brands of apparel for Perry Ellis, Energy Bomb Sports Drink, Truly Huge, JUSTUS Clothing Co., Joe Snyder, XWear, Teamm8, Male Basics, Muchachomalo (Netherlands), Croota, Tribe (Australia), Sweat Collection, DMK, 4Skins, Modus Vivendi by Christos Bibitsos (Greece), Xzytes, Toot (Tokyo, Japan), Ergowear (Santiago, Chile), Diego Barberi (Switzerland), Audace, Dietz, Way Funky Co., Men's Fit, Man by Peter Morrissey, Unapproved Clothing Co., Tiger Underwear, Boqari, BIG BOYS, Stunt Gear Inc., HOM, The Todd Sanfield Collection, Nutrabolics, No Limits Underwear, Athletic Xtreme Supplement Company, Swole Gym Gear, Ken Fron Jewelry and Tulalip Casino.

In 2014, Quinlan was a featured model in Duemila Magazine of Italy in January and November.

In June 2016, Quinlan was selected as the cover model for the Blushing Books Publications 'Hero To Obey' military book box set.

Actor He can be seen in the New England Sports Network documentary Ringmasters: Pro Wrestling in New England (2000) produced by Jim Carroll and in the MSNBC Investigates documentary Body of Work (2001), filmed while he was training at Killer Kowalski's Professional Wrestling School. In December 2001, Quinlan and Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake appeared in a TV commercial for World Gym of Lynnfield, Massachusetts.

Quinlan portrayed a mobster with a good heart in a video short included in Poughkeepsie Enhanced Collector's Edition released in Fall 2013.

In December 2015, Quinlan was signed on as an actor to play the role of United States Army Captain Jake Nixon for the 2019 movie production, A Sense of Purpose: Fighting For Our Lives by producer and director Jillian Bullock. Filming began in Philadelphia during September 2016.

In September 2017, Quinlan was the featured actor in the A Sense of Purpose: Fighting For Our Lives movie music video Calm Down by Antonia Marquee.

In December 2017, Quinlan was featured on a television interview for the show, Philly On The Rise.

In April 2018, Quinlan portrayed a mixed martial arts boxer in a television commercial for Tulalip Resort Casino.

On July 2, 2018, A Sense of Purpose: Fighting For Our Lives movie music video Fight of Your Life by Yashar was released. Quinlan portrayed the character of United States Army Captain Jake Nixon in the music video.

In September 2018, Quinlan received a Best Actor Award for his role as United States Army Captain Jake Nixon in the film A Sense of Purpose: Fighting For Our Lives at the Validate Yourself Film Festival in Brooklyn, NY.

On April 25, 2019, A Sense of Purpose: Fighting For Our Lives premiered at the Start Cinema & Cafe in Brooklyn, NY. Colonel Annette Tucker Osborne, President of The National Association of Black Military Women, Brooklyn Chapter awarded Quinlan the Challenge coin for his role in the film. During an interview with Conversations Radio Network President Cyrus Webb at the event, Quinlan credited Sylvester Stallone as his biggest inspiration as an actor.

In May 2019, during a Philly On The Rise television interview, host Michael Pleasant discussed the meaning behind Quinlan's nickname Stoneface which he earned the over the years from all the people who say he never smiles.

Quinlan was a Massachusetts State Trooper in the season 1 finale episode of City on a Hill, Mayor Curley and the Last Hurrah on Showtime.

Quinlan was an associate producer and played the role of CIA agent Harrison McConnell in the short film, Touch With Your Eyes (2019) directed and produced by Jillian Bullock.

On February 18, 2020, Quinlan was selected to play the villain role of Marvel Rhino aka Aleksei Sytsevich for the TV/Web Series: Spider-Man And The Monsters of Manhattan

Quinlan was featured in the music video, Lookin’ Like My Wife by Brian Walker released in October 2022.

In November 2022, Quinlan was selected for the role as Detective Decker Monroe in Jillian Bullock's upcoming film, A Cup Full of Crazy. He is also an associate producer.

He appeared as a bouncer in the premiere episode of Boston Blue, “Faith and Family” on CBS.

Other media On April 6, 2010, Quinlan was interviewed by Steve Shaw of Muscle and Strength.com. He was the first audio podcast athlete interview conducted on the site. Cover model for Issue 108 of 2BExposed Magazine in 2011 Asia Chic 2011 GQ Profile calendar model Truly Huge apparel Inkubator Comics Quinlan was part of the PR team for the movie Hedda (Hedda Gabler), a 2012 film adaptation of the classic Henrik Ibsen stage play produced in the United Kingdom by British director Matthew John. On June 28, 2013, Quinlan appeared on Renegade Talk FM of Maui, Hawaii with Erotic Romance Author Leanna Harrow.

Fiction Quinlan is the inspiration for the character "Kennealy" in the science fiction short story Synaesthesia by AmyBeth Inverness. The story tells of human's early research and trials in time travel. is a chrononaut who makes non-corporeal jaunts through time. Since the process causes disorientation and disturbance in the chrononaut's sensory inputs, the fact that is a synaesthete is a great advantage. Quinlan's image, including his tattoos, is used to illustrate the story.

Quinlan was the inspiration for a short story published by Cassandra Carr titled "Birthday Boy". "Birthday Boy" was released December 7, 2012, through Ellora's Cave Publishing.

Quinlan was the cover model and inspiration for the character, Zane (A Dragon Shifter), in the Award Winning, Urban Fantasy/Norse Mythology Romance novel by Author Jennifer Sage titled, "The Last Valkyrie." The cover artist, Claudia McKinney with Phatpuppy Art Studios, did an impeccable job at capturing the features needed for "Zane" through Quinlan's physique, which was a perfect match. The full-length novel is book one in a trilogy and was released on February 14, 2016.

Personal life

Quinlan has been referred to as the most tattooed male romance cover model in the world. Quinlan has numerous tattoos, most with an Oriental and Celtic cross theme. The tattoos include two half-sleeve tattoos, seven Kanji characters that are used in the modern Japanese logographic writing system and four nautical stars. A tribal shamrock tattoo was acquired after he obtained permission from retired mixed martial arts fighter Frank Shamrock. On July 13, 2013, Quinlan was tattooed by American artist Matt Myrdal with his fifth nautical star. A few months later in December, he was tattooed again by Myrdal which included an additional 4 nautical stars among others. In May 2014, Quinlan had 3 additional nautical stars tattooed on the back of his neck. In July 2016, American tattoo artist Jon Saulnier tattooed a cross on Quinlan's lower left abdomen. He currently sports twenty eight individual tattoos.

Quinlan used to be a vegan. He suffers from extreme migraine headaches.

Quinlan is friends with fellow professional wrestler Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake

Quinlan's father, Shaun Quinlan, played for the Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey team during the 1964–1965 and 1965–1966 seasons wearing number 17. Quinlan's grandfather, William John Quinlan, played Irish football and was an amateur boxer trained by Johnny Buckley in the 1930s. Quinlan's second cousin, Kevin Quinlan, backed up tailback Marcel Shipp in 1998 and 1999 while playing football for the University of Massachusetts.

John "Stoneface" Quinlan became a born-again Christian at 50 years old, and his faith was strongly reinforced after the unexpected and tragic death of his 48-year-old younger brother, Brian, of a heart attack on May 17, 2025. This crushing loss led him to realize his need for God, his own vulnerability, and that life is fragile. 2011 Musclemania Model Universe Championships – Male Sports Model – 72nd 2012 NPC Jay Cutler Classic Men's Physique Championships – 4th* 2012 NPC Mid Atlantic Classic Men's Physique Championships – 9th 2012 NPC Bev Francis Atlantic States Men's Physique Championships – 11th 2012 NPC Rhode Island State Men's Physique Championships – 1st† 2012 NPC Team Universe Men's Physique National Championships – 16th 2012 NPC Masters Men's Physique National Championships – 11th 2012 NPC USA Men's Physique National Championships – 16th 2013 NPC Vermont Men's Physique Championships – 1st** 2013 NPC Vermont Men's Physique Master's Championships – 1st 2013 NPC Grand Prix of Brooklyn Men's Physique Master's Championships – 7th 2014 NPC Montanari Bros Powerhouse Classic Men's Physique Master's Championships – 3rd 2014 NPC Steve Stone Metropolitans Men's Physique Master's Championships – 4th 2014 NPC Vermont Men's Physique Master's Championships – 2nd*** 2014 NPC Jay Cutler Classic Men's Physique Championships – 9th 2014 NPC Jay Cutler Classic Men's Physique Master's Championships – 5th 2014 NPC Grand Prix of Brooklyn Men's Physique Championships – 9th 2014 NPC Grand Prix of Brooklyn Men's Physique Master's Championships – 5th 2014 NPC New England Men's Physique Master's Championships – 3rd 2015 IFBB Arnold Classic Amateur Men's Physique Championships – 25th 2015 NPC Montanari Bros Powerhouse Classic Men's Physique Championships – 8th 2015 NPC Montanari Bros Powerhouse Classic Men's Physique Master's Championships – 5th 2015 NPC Steve Stone Metropolitans Men's Physique Championships – 8th 2015 NPC Steve Stone Metropolitans Men's Physique Master's Championships – 15th 2015 NPC John Kemper Classic Men's Physique Championships – 10th 2015 NPC John Kemper Classic Men's Physique Master's Championships – 4th 2015 NPC Vermont Men's Physique Championships – 2nd 2015 NPC Vermont Men's Physique Master's Championships – 2nd††† 2015 NPC New York Capitol Men's Physique Championships – 6th 2015 NPC New York Capitol Men's Physique Master's Championships – 1st††† 2015 NPC Jay Cutler Classic Men's Physique Championships – 6th 2015 NPC Jay Cutler Classic Men's Physique Master's Championships – 5th 2015 NPC Bev Francis Atlantic States Men's Physique Championships – 16th 2015 NPC Bev Francis Atlantic States Men's Physique Master's Championships – 11th 2015 NPC Grand Prix of Connecticut Men's Physique Championships – 10th 2015 NPC Grand Prix of Connecticut Men's Physique Master's Championships – 3rd 2015 NPC Universe Men's Physique Championships – 16th 2015 NPC Universe Men's Physique Master's Over 35 Championships – 10th IIXtreme Heavyweight Champion (2000)

Filmography Film Denotes lead role Title Year Role Notes A Sense Of Purpose: Fighting For Our Lives 2019 Jake Nixon Army Captain

Television

Voice work Title Year Role Network / Platform Notes Scream 2024 Ghostface (voice) Bentley University Directed by Raul Morales Cestero

Short film Title Year Role Notes Touch With Your Eyes 2019 Harrison McConnell Knockout Girls 2020 John Q. Himself Quartette 2021 Security Guard K.O. 2024 Hitman Jamboy 2026 Guard

Other work Title Year Type Role World Gym Lynnfield 2001 Commercial Fitness model Return To Poughkeepsie 2013 Web Series E-book Beckett Taylor Tulalip Casino 2018 Commercial Fighter

Music videos Title Year Role Calm Down (Lullaby) 2017 Jake Nixon Fight Of Your Life 2018 Jake Nixon Red Flags 2023 Himself Lookin' Like My Wife 2022 Himself Before the Roof Caves In 2024 Henchman Imma Get Mine 2025 Reporter Pillars 2025 Funeral Attendee