Jonathan was born and raised in Corner Brook, a pulp and paper town on the west coast of Newfoundland. He is one of three sons to parents Barbara Ledwell and Wayne Watton, who were both teachers. His father introduced him to film at an early age, often screening 16 mm prints from the National Film Board of Canada in the living room for his brothers and kids in the neighborhood. Soon after, his mother enrolled him in a local theatre program and it was those early experiences on stage that would lead him towards a career as an actor.

Upon graduating from Memorial University's Fine Arts Theatre Program, he was cast by celebrated theatre director Michael Langham in his first professional stage appearance as a founding member of the Atlantic Theatre Festival.

Jonathan's wide-ranging screen career now spans 20 years. His latest television work includes seasons on CBC's Murdoch Mysteries, HBO Canada's Good God and guest appearances on Reign, Private Eyes, Lost Girl, and Taken. In 2019, he will be playing Commander Mathew Calhoun, a recurring character in the third season of Hulu's critically acclaimed The Handmaid's Tale.

His latest films include The XX (Sundance), Closet Monster (TIFF), David Cronenberg's Maps to the Stars (Cannes) opposite Julianne Moore, and the upcoming Spinster opposite Chelsea Peretti.

His accomplished theatre career includes seasons with Canada's preeminent acting ensembles The Shaw Festival and Soulpepper Theatre Company. In 2018 he returned to the stage in the lead role of the critically acclaimed theatrical production of North by Northwest for both the UK and North American premieres.

A recent alumni of Norman Jewison's prestigious Canadian Film Centre Film Director's program, Jonathan's emerging career as a filmmaker has seen his award-winning short films screen at festivals around the world. He is currently finishing his latest film and has a new TV series in development with Frantic Films.