John Vernon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Vernon
Vernon in Dirty Harry, 1971
Born	Adolphus Raymondus Vernon Agopsowicz (1932-02-24)February 24, 1932 Zehner, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died	February 1, 2005(2005-02-01) (aged 72) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Banff School of Fine Arts Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts
Years active	1956–2005
Spouse(s)	Nancy West ​ (divorced)​
Children	3, including Kate and Nan

John Vernon was a talented actor from Canada. He was born on February 24, 1932, and passed away on February 1, 2005. John Vernon became famous in Hollywood after starting his acting career in Canada. He was well-known for playing important roles like Dean Wormer in the movie Animal House, the Mayor in Dirty Harry, and Fletcher in The Outlaw Josey Wales.

John Vernon's Life Story

Early Life and Education

John Vernon was born in a place called Zehner, Saskatchewan, in Canada. His birth name was Adolphus Raymondus Vernon Agopsowicz. He was one of two sons. His parents, Adolf and Eleonore, had families who came to Canada from a region called Bukovina in the late 1800s. John Vernon had a mix of Armenian, German, and Polish family roots.

He grew up in the Catholic faith. From 1935 to 1953, he went to St. Joseph's School and Campion College in Regina, Saskatchewan. This is where he first started acting, guided by his teachers. Later, he studied acting at the Banff School of Fine Arts and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England. After his studies, he became a stage actor for CBC Television in Canada. In 1974, he even performed with The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in England.

John Vernon had three children. His daughters, Kate Vernon and Nan Vernon, also became an actress and a musician. His son, Chris Vernon, became an actor too.

John Vernon's Acting Career

Starting Out in Acting

John Vernon's first role in a movie was in 1956. He was the voice of "Big Brother" in the film 1984. After that, he returned to Canada and gained more experience. He appeared in TV shows like The Adventures of Tugboat Annie and The Last of the Mohicans.

In 1964, he made his first appearance on Broadway, which is a famous theater district in New York City. He decided to move to the United States to grow his acting career even more.

Famous Movie and TV Roles

In 1967, John Vernon acted alongside Lee Marvin in the movie Point Blank. In 1969, he played a Cuban revolutionary named Rico Parra in Alfred Hitchcock's spy movie Topaz. He also appeared in TV shows like The High Chaparral and Hawaii Five-O.

He was a guest star on Mission: Impossible four times. Each time, he played a different main villain. In 1971, he played the frustrated mayor of San Francisco in the first Dirty Harry movie. He often played characters who were in charge or had a lot of power.

In 1976, he acted with Clint Eastwood again in The Outlaw Josey Wales, playing the character Fletcher. In 1977, he was in an Italian film called A Special Day with famous actors Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni.

Playing the Villain

John Vernon was very good at playing bad guys or characters who caused trouble. In 1973, he played a mob boss named Maynard Boyle in Charley Varrick. In 1975, he was a gangster named Ben Larkin in the movie Brannigan, starring John Wayne.

One of his most famous roles was Dean Vernon Wormer in the 1978 comedy Animal House. He played the strict dean of Faber College. He also played Mr. Prindle in Herbie Goes Bananas (1980) and Dr. Stone in Airplane II: The Sequel (1982). Kids might remember him as Sherman Krader in Ernest Goes to Camp (1987).

He appeared in several action movies in the 1980s. He also made guest appearances on popular TV shows like The A-Team, Knight Rider, and The Fall Guy. In 1988, he played Sergeant Curt Mooney in the movie Killer Klowns from Outer Space.

Voice Acting Fun

John Vernon also used his voice for many animated characters. He was the voice of Tony Stark/Iron Man and Sub-Mariner in The Marvel Super Heroes. He voiced Rupert Thorne in Batman: The Animated Series and General Ross in The Incredible Hulk series. He also voiced Shao Kahn in Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm.

Later Life and Passing

John Vernon passed away on February 1, 2005, in Westwood, Los Angeles. He was 72 years old. His death was due to problems after heart surgery.

Selected Filmography

Animation Voice Roles