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John Bennett

Actor

John Bennett

Born May 8, 1928 in Beckenham, Kent, England, UKDied April 11, 200552 films

John Bennett 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.

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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 also appeared in several films including The Fifth Element and The Pianist. He also had an extensive stage career.

Away from acting, Bennet was an enthusiastic amateur flier and an accomplished glider pilot. He died in 2005, aged 76.

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The best way into John Bennett's work
The Pianist posterFirst watchThe Pianist20028.4as Dr. EhrlichThe true story of pianist Władysław Szpilman's experiences in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. When the Jews of the city find themselves forced into a ghetto, Szpilman finds work playing…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Fifth Element poster7.6The Fifth Element1997Minority Report poster7.4Minority Report2002Lawrence of Arabia poster8.0Lawrence of Arabia1962Watership Down poster7.2Watership Down1978The Plague Dogs poster7.8The Plague Dogs1982The Message poster7.1The Message1976Victim poster7.5Victim1961Eye of the Needle poster6.7Eye of the Needle1981

Filmography

52 films as actor
  1. 2003Chaos and CadaversMr Resurrection
  2. 2002The PianistDr. Ehrlich
  3. 2002Minority ReportAdulation #4
  4. 2002Not 360Actor
  5. 2001Charlotte Gray
  6. 2000BreathtakingMr. Henshaw
  7. 1999Bridge of DragonsThe Registrar
  8. 1997The Fifth ElementPriest
  9. 1996Alien Nation: MillenniumOfficer Laskau
  10. 1995PriestFather Redstone
  11. 1995Kangaroo ManDoctor
  12. 1992Split SecondDr Schulman
  13. 1991Sherlock Holmes and the Leading LadySigmund Freud
  14. 1990NeedleChief Constable
  15. 1990Antonia and JaneUncle Irwin Carlinsky
  16. 1988The Tenth ManJules
  17. 1986Tai-PanOrlov
  18. 1984Give My Regards to Broad StreetMr. Rath
  19. 1982The Plague DogsDon (voice)
  20. 1981Eye of the NeedleKleinmann
  21. 1980The DybbukMessenger
  22. 1980The Mirror Crack'dBarnsby ("Murder at Midnight")
  23. 1980PewsLiftchick
  24. 1979The House on Garibaldi StreetAaron Lazar
  25. 1978Watership DownCaptain Holly (voice)
  26. 1978Return FareDr Robbins
  27. 1978The Greek TycoonServant
  28. 1977Doctor Who: The Talons of Weng-ChiangLi H'sen Chang
  29. 1976The Face of DarknessInquisitor & Psychiatrist
  30. 1976The Shadow-Line
  31. 1976The MessageSalool
  32. 1974Doctor Who: Invasion of the DinosaursGeneral Finch
  33. 1973Hitler: The Last Ten DaysJoseph Goebbels
  34. 1973The House in Nightmare ParkPatel
  35. 1973Anything Can HappenGeoff Bridges
  36. 1972Henry VIII and His Six WivesWriothesley
  37. 1971The House That Dripped BloodDetective Inspector Holloway (segment "Framework Story")
  38. 1968The SyndicateDr. Singh
  39. 1966A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ForumPseudolus' mark
  40. 1966KaleidoscopePoker Player
  41. 1965The Alphabet MurdersWaiter (uncredited)
  42. 1963The Barber of Stamford Hill
  43. 1962Lawrence of ArabiaArab Sheik (uncredited)
  44. 1962The Pirates of Blood RiverPenal Colony Guard (uncredited)
  45. 1962Crooks AnonymousThomas
  46. 1962Postman's KnockPete
  47. 1961VictimUndercover Detective (uncredited)
  48. 1961A Call on Kuprin: Part 2Zagornetz
  49. 1961A Call on Kuprin: Part 1Zagornetz
  50. 1961The Curse of the WerewolfPoliceman (uncredited)
  51. 1960The ChallengeSpider
  52. 1960A Taste of MoneyWaiter