John Bennett

John David Bennett (8 May 1928 – 11 April 2005) was an English actor. Bennett acted across TV, film and theatre. He was considered a character actor, best known for his roles in Market in Honey Lane and The Forsyte Saga.

Early life Bennett was 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. He was married to actress Caroline Mortimer.

Career Often cast as a villain, Bennett had many roles on television including Market in Honey Lane, Porridge, Survivors, The Avengers, Strange Report, Bergerac, The Professionals and four episodes of The Saint. He guest-starred in two Doctor Who serials. He is also well remembered as Philip Bosinney in the BBC's adaptation of The Forsyte Saga (1967), but also appeared in over three hundred TV productions including God's Architect; Blake's 7; I, Claudius; Rome; Rosemary & Thyme; Saracen; Special Branch; Softly, Softly; Mulberry; Crown Court; Tales of the Unexpected and Anna Karenina. One of his last televised roles was in an episode of Jonathan Creek.

Bennett's film roles included The House That Dripped Blood (1970), The House in Nightmare Park (1973), The Fifth Element (1997), Charlotte Gray (2001) and Minority Report (2002). He also played an undercover detective in Victim, but the role was uncredited.

Bennett's theatre roles included Yasha in The Cherry Orchard and Henry Percy (Hotspur) in Henry IV, Part 1 both for John Gielgud, Exton in Richard II and Volscian Senator in 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. He starred in many 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). His last stage role was as Conrad in Gates of Gold by Frank McGuinness with William Gaunt at the Finborough Theatre, London, in December 2004.

In radio, Bennett 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.

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.

Selected filmography

Diplomatic Passport (1954) – André (uncredited) The Trials of Oscar Wilde (1960) – Marquis of Queensberry's Friend (uncredited) The Challenge (1960) – Spider A Taste of Money (1960) – Waiter The Curse of the Werewolf (1961) – Policeman (uncredited) Victim (1961) – Undercover Detective (uncredited) Postman's Knock (1962) – Pete The Barber of Stamford Hill (1962) - Mr Figg Crooks Anonymous (1962) – Thomas The Pirates of Blood River (1962) – Penal Colony Guard (uncredited) Lawrence of Arabia (1962) – Arab Sheik (uncredited) Kaleidoscope (1966) – Poker Player A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966) The Syndicate (1968) – Dr. Singh The House That Dripped Blood (1971) – Detective Inspector Holloway Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1972) – Wriothesley The House in Nightmare Park (1973) – Patel Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973) – Joseph Goebbels Porridge - the prison doctor The Message (1976) – Salool The Greek Tycoon (1978) – Servant Watership Down (1978) – Capt. Holly (voice) The Mirror Crack'd (1980) – Barnsby ('Murder at Midnight') Eye of the Needle (1981) – Kleinmann The Plague Dogs (1982) – Don (voice) Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984) – Mr. Rath Tai-Pan (1986) – Orlov Hell Comes to Frogtown (1988) – Frog Guard Prisoner of Honor (1991) – Magistrate Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady (1991) – Dr. Sigmund Freud Split Second (1992) – Dr. Schulman Cadfael: The Leper of St. Giles (1994) – Lazarus the Leper Priest (1994) – Father Redstone The Fifth Element (1997) – Priest Bridge of Dragons (1999) – The Registrar Beginner's Luck (2001) – Old luvvie Charlotte Gray (2001) – Gerard The Pianist (2002) – Dr. Ehrlich Minority Report (2002) – Adulation #4