John Murphy is a Vancouver-based writer, director, producer, and actor who's built his career across theatre stages in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. He's probably best known in local circles for his work in sketch comedy—he co-founded Gut-Wrench, a Vancouver sketch group that ran from 1998 to 2003, and later created and performed in the one-man show Maniac at the Nakai Comedy Arts Festival in 2007. That same year, he earned a Jessie Award nomination for best actor for his role in The Optimists.

Beyond sketch work, Murphy has focused on playwriting and directing. He adapted Ben Jonson's Volpone and directed the production himself. His original play True Story was set to premiere at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre in fall 2008. He's also a co-founder of (r)evolution theatre, which he runs alongside his creative partner Jonathan Ryder.