John Benfield

Jonathan Edmund Fulford Turner (9 November 1951 – 16 June 2020), better known by his stage name John Benfield, was a British character actor.

Early life and education Benfield was born in Wanstead, Essex, the son of margarine sales representative Fred Turner and his wife Joan, née White. He was educated at Loughton school, then the town's further education college; after four years as an ambulance driver in London, he studied history at the University of Nottingham, during which time he discovered a passion for acting with the drama society. After training at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art from 1976 to 1978, with there already an actor called "John Turner", he assumed the stage name "John Benfield", the surname coming from his mother's side.

Career Benfield appeared in 75 television episodes or films starting in 1981 with small parts in BBC drama adaptations, such as The Winter's Tale and The Day of the Triffids.

Personal life Benfield lived in Oxfordshire with his wife, Lilian, née Lees. They had one son.

He died of sarcoma in June 2020 at the age of 68.

Filmography Film Breakout (1984) as Minder Whoops Apocalypse (1986) as Secret Service Agent Buster (1988) as Jimmy Hidden Agenda (1990) as Maxwell In the Name of the Father (1993) as Chief Prison Officer Barker Beautiful Thing (1996) as Rodney Barr 101 Dalmatians (1996) as Doorman Owd Bob (1998) as Blake Cousin Bette (1998) as Dr. Bianchon You're Dead (1999) as Badger 24 Hours in London (2000) as Insp. Duggan Lover's Prayer (2001) as Nirmansky Endgame (2001) as Dunston Den tredje vågen (2003) as Stevens Evilenko (2004) Flood (2007) as Frank Cassandra's Dream (2007) as Brian Blaine Speed Racer (2008) as Cruncher Block The Best Offer (2013) as Barman Cold Skin (2017) as Captain Axel Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2018) as Wolf Elder (voice) The Coldest Game (2019) as Dr. Peter (final film role)

TV Eurocops (1988–1990) as DC George Jackson Treasure Island (1990, TV movie) as Black Dog Prime Suspect (1991–1995) as Detective Superintendent (later Detective Chief Superintendent) Michael Kernan Maigret (1993) as Henri Lautier Sharpe's Revenge (1997) as General Calvet Hippies (1999) The Worst Week of My Life (2004) as Ron Steel

Other Doctor Who: Circular Time (Audio Drama)