B: February 24, 1932 in Zehner, Saskatchewan
D: February 2, 2005 in Los Angeles, California
John Vernon started out in life as Adolphus Raimundus Vernon Agopsowicz. His background in theatre led to a lengthy and prolific career as a character actor who often played villains, morally-bankrupt government officials and uncommonly heartless authority figures. His acting career began under the direction of Rev. Arthur Nelson, S.J., at Campion College after attending St. Joseph’s School. He also studied under Mary Ellen Burgess at the Regina Little Theatre. He studied at the Banff School of Fine Arts, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London, England, and with the Hornchurch Repertory Company near London. He returned to Canada and appeared at the Stratford Festival and in Toronto in theatre, radio and television. He left the Broadway production of Royal Hunt of the Sun in 1966 when he was cast to play the title role of Wojeck, his most popular television series. He made his US film debut in John Boorman’s classic Point Blank, as a trusted friend who betrays Lee Marvin. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Regina in 1976. Also see: Kate Vernon |
Features & TV Movies: Nobody Waved Good-bye (1964) Dirty Harry (1971) The Kinky Coaches and the Pom Pom Pussycats (1980) Mob Story (1990) Stageghost (2000)
TV Series – Cast: Delta House (1979) The Blue and the Gray (mini-series, 1982) Batman: The Animated Series (voice 1992) |
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