Jari Manninen was born on November 5th, 1985 in a small Finnish town called Viitasaari. Before his acting career, he attended Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences where he studied screen writing and directing. Manninen has also studied creative writing at Liminka School of Art as well as film acting at Voionmaa Institute. At Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences he got to know Joonas Makkonen who had founded an indie movie group called Jo-Jo the Dog Films. Manninen joined the group as an actor in their short movies. Jo-Jo the Dog Films' movies have become widely known after winning numerous awards in worldwide time limited film making challenges. In 2013 he was chosen as the best male actor in The 24 Hour Film Race, for his appearance in a short movie Hobo with Time Machine (2013). At the end of the same year, Manninen was granted also the best male actor's award in the 100 Hour Film Race for his role in a short movie Renewing Mikael (2014). At the same event, Renewing Mikael was awarded as the second best film as well as received the awards for best director, best actor ensemble, best make up and the best poster. Renewing Mikael shared the nomination for best music with another film. In 2014 Manninen acted in one of the main roles in a horror comedy Bunny the Killer Thing (2015). It was his feature film debut. Manninen has also been selected in one of the leading roles of Sami Pöyry film Punainen kohina (2021).

Filmography