Biography
John Hargrove is a former senior killer whale trainer who worked at SeaWorld facilities in Texas and California, and as supervisor of killer whale training at Marineland of Antibes in France. He grew up in Orange, Texas, and began his career as an apprentice trainer at SeaWorld San Antonio in 1993.
Hargrove appeared as himself in the 2013 documentary Blackfish, in which he discussed his experiences training orcas and his views on captivity. He is also the author of the 2015 memoir Beneath the Surface: Killer Whales, SeaWorld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish. Following the film, he has spoken publicly in support of legislation to end the keeping of killer whales in captivity.
