John Bennett
Biography
John Bennett was a male actor born on May 8, 1928, in Beckenham, Kent, England, UK. He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and had a wide repertory theatre experience. Bennett appeared in numerous television shows, including Market in Honey Lane, Porridge, Survivors, The Avengers, Strange Report, Bergerac, The Professionals, and The Saint. He also appeared in several films, such as The Fifth Element and The Pianist. Bennett had an extensive stage career and was often cast as a villain. He was an accomplished glider pilot and an enthusiastic amateur flier. John Bennett passed away on April 11, 2005, at the age of 76.
Career overview
John Bennett's acting career spanned a wide range of mediums, including television and film. He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and gained experience in repertory theatre, performing at various venues such as Bromley, Bristol Old Vic, Dundee, and Watford. Bennett's theatre experience ultimately led him to the London's West End.
Bennett's television career was marked by a variety of roles, including appearances in shows such as Market in Honey Lane, Porridge, Survivors, The Avengers, Strange Report, Bergerac, The Professionals, and The Saint. He often played villainous characters, showcasing his range as an actor. His extensive stage career further solidified his position as a skilled performer.
In addition to his work on stage and screen, Bennett appeared in several films, including The Fifth Element and The Pianist. Throughout his career, he accumulated a total of 121 known credits, demonstrating his versatility and dedication to the craft of acting.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
131 titles- The Ties That Bind Us (2008) as Chang Lee (archive footage)
- Rome (2005) as Elderly Priest
- New Tricks (2004)
- Seven Wonders of the Industrial World (2003) as John Donovan
- Chaos and Cadavers (2003) as Mr Resurrection
- The Pianist (2002) as Dr. Ehrlich
- Minority Report (2002) as Adulation #4
- Not 360 (2002) as Actor
- Waking the Dead (2001) as Professor George Rosenthal
- Charlotte Gray (2001)
- The Infinite Worlds of H.G. Wells (2001) as Mr Jagger
- Armadillo (2001) as Father
- Breathtaking (2000) as Mr. Henshaw
- Bridge of Dragons (1999) as The Registrar
- The Fifth Element (1997) as Priest
- Jonathan Creek (1997) as Frank Geiger
- Steel (1997) Stunts
- Alien Nation: Millennium (1996) as Officer Laskau
- Priest (1995) as Father Redstone
- Kangaroo Man (1995) as Doctor
- Cadfael (1994) as Lazarus the Leper
- Heartbeat (1992) as Terence Young
- Split Second (1992) as Dr Schulman
- Mulberry (1992) as The Stranger
- Murder Most Horrid (1991) as DCI Graham Barlow
- Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady (1991) as Sigmund Freud
- Merlin of the Crystal Cave (1991) as Maugan
- The War That Never Ends (1991) as Corcyran Representative
- Antonia and Jane (1990) as Uncle Irwin Carlinsky
- Needle (1990) as Chief Constable
- Saracen (1989) as Nugent
- The Modern World: Ten Great Writers (1988) as Chaplain / Father
- The Tenth Man (1988) as Jules
- Franz Kafka's 'The Trial' (1988) as Chaplain / Father
- Jake and the Fatman (1987)
- Miss Marple: Sleeping Murder (1987) as Richard Erskine
- Tai-Pan (1986) as Orlov
- Artists and Models (1986) as Etex
- The Bill (1984)
- Hunter (1984) as Uniform Officer
- Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984) as Mr. Rath
- The Plague Dogs (1982) as Don (voice)
- Bergerac (1981) as Aaron Rosenbaum
- Eye of the Needle (1981) as Kleinmann
- The Mirror Crack'd (1980) as Barnsby ("Murder at Midnight")
- Pews (1980) as Liftchick
- The Dybbuk (1980) as Messenger
- Tales of the Unexpected (1979) as Royden
- The House on Garibaldi Street (1979) as Aaron Lazar
- Blake's 7 (1978) as Coser
- Return of the Saint (1978) as Colonel Ramon Perrez
- Watership Down (1978) as Captain Holly (voice)
- The Greek Tycoon (1978) as Servant
- Return Fare (1978) as Dr Robbins
- The Professionals (1977) as Inspector Truitt
- BBC2 Play of the Week (1977) as Dr. Robbins
- 1990 (1977)
- Anna Karenina (1977)
- Doctor Who: The Talons of Weng-Chiang (1977) as Li H'sen Chang
- I, Claudius (1976) as Xenophon
- The Message (1976) as Salool
- The Shadow-Line (1976)
- The Face of Darkness (1976) as Inquisitor & Psychiatrist
- Survivors (1975) as Jim
- Playhouse (1974) as Liftchick
- Fall of Eagles (1974) as Georges Clemenceau
- Porridge (1974) as Medical Officer
- Doctor Who: Invasion of the Dinosaurs (1974) as General Finch
- Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973) as Joseph Goebbels
- The House in Nightmare Park (1973) as Patel
- Anything Can Happen (1973) as Geoff Bridges
- Crown Court (1972)
- Crown Court (1972) as Dr. Martin Stanislaus
- The Edwardians (1972) as Frank Harris
- Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1972) as Wriothesley
- Brett (1971)
- The House That Dripped Blood (1971) as Detective Inspector Holloway (segment "Framework Story")
- Fathers and Sons (1971) as Pavel Kirsanov
- The Main Chance (1969) as Raul Ramira
- Strange Report (1969) as Jack White
- The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder (1969) as Lew Kohl
- The Syndicate (1968) as Dr. Singh
- The Forsyte Saga (1967) as Philip Bosinney
- Market in Honey Lane (1967) as Billy Bush
- Kaleidoscope (1966) as Poker Player
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966) as Pseudolus' mark
- BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Turkish General
- Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965) as Albert
- Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965) as Tadeusz
- Front Page Story (1965) as Ray Boscombe
- The Alphabet Murders (1965) as Waiter (uncredited)
- Theatre 625 (1964) as Inspector Voss
- Detective (1964)
- Esther Waters (1964) as William Latch
- Doctor Who (1963) as Li H'sen Chang
- Doctor Who (1963) as General Finch
- Crane (1963) as Smith
- Festival (1963) as Knight/Tempter
- Espionage (1963) as Sergeant
- Lorna Doone (1963)
- The Barber of Stamford Hill (1963)
- Z-Cars (1962)
- The Saint (1962) as Muller
- The Saint (1962) as Ardossi
- The Saint (1962) as Raschid
- The Saint (1962) as Count Alfredo
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962) as Arab Sheik (uncredited)
- Richard the Lionheart (1962) as Lombrico
- Richard the Lionheart (1962) as Kemal
- Crooks Anonymous (1962) as Thomas
- The Pirates of Blood River (1962) as Penal Colony Guard (uncredited)
- Postman's Knock (1962) as Pete
- The Avengers (1961) as Sykes
- The Avengers (1961) as Marson
- Sir Francis Drake (1961) as Tomas
- The Curse of the Werewolf (1961) as Policeman (uncredited)
- Victim (1961) as Undercover Detective (uncredited)
- A Call on Kuprin: Part 2 (1961) as Zagornetz
- A Call on Kuprin: Part 1 (1961) as Zagornetz
- Sunday-Night Play (1960) as Zagornetz
- Sunday-Night Play (1960) as Political Prisoner
- Sunday-Night Play (1960) as Steingel
- The Cheaters (1960) as Blake
- The Strange World of Gurney Slade (1960) as Napoleon Bonaparte
- The Challenge (1960) as Spider
- A Taste of Money (1960) as Waiter
- No Hiding Place (1959)
- Dixon of Dock Green (1955) as Victor Lane
- Dixon of Dock Green (1955) as Malcolm Roberts
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Jules
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is John Bennett best known for?
John Bennett is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008), The Pianist (2002), Minority Report (2002).
When and where was John Bennett born?
John Bennett was born on May 8, 1928 in Beckenham, Kent, England, UK. They passed away on April 11, 2005.
How many credits does John Bennett have?
John Bennett has accumulated over 131 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1951 to 2008.
What is John Bennett's background in cinema and television?
John Bennett was a male actor born on May 8, 1928, in Beckenham, Kent, England, UK. He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and had a wide repertory theatre experience. Bennett appeared in numerous television shows, including Market in Honey Lane, Porridge, Survivors, The Avengers, Strange Report, Bergerac...
John Bennett by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Jules — aged about 23
- The Forsyte Saga (1967) as Philip Bosinney — aged about 39
- The Pianist (2002) as Dr. Ehrlich — aged about 74
- The Main Chance (1969) as Raul Ramira — aged about 41
- The Strange World of Gurney Slade (1960) as Napoleon Bonaparte — aged about 32
- Rome (2005) as Elderly Priest — aged about 77
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