English actor (1928–2005)
John Bennett
Born John David Bennett
(1928-05-08 ) 8 May 1928Died 11 April 2005(2005-04-11) (aged 76) Alma mater Royal Central School of Speech and Drama Occupation Actor Years active 1958–2005 Spouses
Patricia Hastings
(
m. 1953–1979)
Children 3
John David Bennett (8 May 1928 – 11 April 2005) was an English actor .[1]
Early life
Born in Beckenham , Kent , to Alfred Bennett and Bessie Bennett (née Rudnidsky), he was educated at Bradfield College in Berkshire , then trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama , followed by a wide repertory theatre experience including Bromley , Bristol Old Vic , Dundee , the Edinburgh Festival and Watford before going to London's West End. He was Jewish.[2]
Career
Often cast as a villain, he had many roles on television including Market in Honey Lane Porridge Survivors The Avengers Strange Report Bergerac The Professionals The Saint [3] Doctor Who Invasion of the Dinosaurs The Talons of Weng-Chiang [4] [5] The Forsyte Saga God's Architect ; Blake's 7 I, Claudius Rome Rosemary & Thyme Saracen Special Branch Softly, Softly Mulberry Tales of the Unexpected Anna Karenina [6] Jonathan Creek [7]
His film roles included The House That Dripped Blood The House in Nightmare Park The Fifth Element Charlotte Gray Minority Report [1] [8] Victim [9]
His theatre roles included Yasha in The Cherry Orchard Henry IV, Part 1 John Gielgud , Exton in Richard II Coriolanus Almeida Theatre ), Marley's Ghost in A Christmas Carol Royal Shakespeare Company ) and Uncle in Inner Voices (Royal National Theatre ), as well as working extensively at the Royal Exchange, Manchester .[10] West End musicals including On Your Toes Palace ), Marilyn! Adelphi ), The Sound of Music Apollo Victoria ), The King and I London Palladium ), The Baker's Wife Phoenix ) and was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical for his performance as Louis Epstein in Jolson The Musical Victoria Palace and Royal Alexandra Theatre , Toronto).[11] Gates of Gold by Frank McGuinness with William Gaunt at the Finborough Theatre , London, in December 2004.[12]
In radio, he had been a member of the BBC Drama Repertory Company, and his broadcast parts included roles in programmes that ranged from Shakespeare to Paul Temple .[13] [14]
Bennett was an enthusiastic amateur flier and an accomplished glider pilot. For many years he was a member of the RAF G.S.A (Gliding and Soaring Association) Centre at RAF Bicester in the 1970s. He flew alongside Warrant Officer Andy Gough (then Chief Flying Instructor) and was a part owner of a number of high performance gliders.[15]
