John Wells (actor)

John Wells (born November 17, 1936 in Ashford , Kent as John Campbell Wells , † January 11, 1998 in London ) was a British actor , screenwriter , satirist and writer . His film career included more than 50 appearances in international feature films and television series. Among them roles in Casino Royale , James Bond 007 - On a Deadly Mission , Greystoke - The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes , Revolution and Princess Caraboo .

life and career

John Wells was born in Ashford, Kent, England in 1936, the son of a minister. He received his education at Eastbourne College and at St. Edmund Hall in Oxford . He first worked as a headmaster at Eton College, later also as an independent teacher. Wells also worked as a cabaret artist and satirist in Oxford. Occasional trips to British television were so successful in the mid-1960s that he gave up teaching languages ​​and instead opted for a career as an actor and screenwriter in show business.

He made his television debut as a screenwriter in 1962. His debut as an actor followed in 1964 in the series Not So Much a Program, More a Way of Life . He made his cinema debut in 1967 as Q's assistant in the lavish and star-spiked James Bond episode Casino Royale . In the following decades he played mostly minor and major supporting roles in cinema and TV films.

Wells starred in the 1967 Peter Sellers comedy Bobo Is the Great, directed by Robert Parrish . In 1968 he played the role of the Honorable Gavin Hopton in the Joseph McGrath- directed comedy Don't trust anyone over 30 , which Wells himself wrote the script. In 1972 he wrote the screenplay for the crime comedy Rentadick by director Jim Clark with James Booth in the lead role, after having played a small role in the 1970 Clark comedy Porridge makes sexy . In the 1980s, minor supporting roles followed in well-known cinema productions such as James Bond 007 - In a fatal mission , A daredevil Heavenly Dog , Greystoke - The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes or Hugh Hudson's freedom fight epic Revolution . In 1994 he played the role of Reverend Hunt in Phoebe Cates' comedy Princess Caraboo , for which he also wrote the screenplay.

His numerous television appearances in his thirty-year television career from 1964 to 1997 included: Not So Much a Program, More a Way of Life , Q5 , Leeds , BBC2 Playhouse , Rumpole of the Bailey , The Kenny Everett Television Show , Yes, Prime Minister , Rude Health or Absolutely Fabulous . His last appearance was in 1997 in the television series Chalk .

In addition to his career as an actor and screenwriter, he was also active as a writer. His last book House of Lords became a bestseller a year before his death in 1998. The book is a historical and humorous study of the British nobility system.

Wells succumbed to complications from cancer on January 11, 1998 in London at the age of 61. His daughter is the actress and screenwriter Dolly Wells.

Filmography (selection)

as an actor

movie theater

• 1967: Casino Royale
• 1967: Bobo is the greatest (The Bobo)
• 1968: Don't Trust Anyone Over 30 (30 Is a Dangerous Age, Cynthia)
• 1970: Porridge makes you sexy (Every Home Should Have One)
• 1972: Rentadick
• 1981: James Bond 007 - For Your Eyes Only
• 1983: Bullshot
• 1984: Greystoke : The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes
• 1985: revolution
• 1988: Consuming Passions
• 1994: Princess Caraboo (Princess Caraboo)

watch TV

• 1964–1965: Not So Much a Program, More a Way of Life (TV series, 3 episodes)
• 1966: The Late Show (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1969: Q5 (TV series, 3 episodes)
• 1971: Private Eye TV (TV movie)
• 1972–1973: Milligan in ... (TV series, 2 episodes)
• 1972–1974: Leeds (TV series, 5 episodes)
• 1973: The Cobblers of Umbridge (TV movie)
• 1973: Comedy Playhouse (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1973: Country Matters (TV miniseries)
• 1973: Thirty Minutes Worth (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1974: The End of the Pier Show (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1976: BBC2 Playhouse (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1978: In the Looking Glass (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1978: The Light Princess (TV movie)
• 1979: Rumpole of the Bailey (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1979: King, Queen, Ace, Spy (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) (TV miniseries)
• 1980: Moving Pictures (TV movie)
• 1980: The Mystery of the Disappearing Schoolgirls (TV movie)
• 1982: Anyone for Denis? (TV movie)
• 1982–1985: The Kenny Everett Television Show (TV series, 4 episodes)
• 1984: Guilty or Innocent (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1985: Love's Labor's Lost (TV movie)
• 1985: The Irish RM (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1985: Kenny Everett's Christmas Carol (TV movie)
• 1985: Dutch Girls (TV movie)
• 1986: Yes, Prime Minister (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1986: Cinderella: The Shoe Must Go On (TV movie)
• 1987: Filthy Rich & Catflap (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1987: Casanova (TV movie)
• 1987: Charlie Chalk. (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1987–1988: Rude Health (TV series, 8 episodes)
• 1988: The Giftie (TV movie)
• 1988: Tickle on the Tum (TV series, 2 episodes)
• 1988: John Wells and the Three Wise Men (TV movie)
• 1989: About Face (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1990: Dunrulin (TV movie)
• 1991: Lovejoy (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1991: Bottom (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1993: Screen Two (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1994: Under the Hammer (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1994: Absolutely Fabulous (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1996: Gulliver 's Travels (two-part television film)
• 1996: Kavanagh QC (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1997: Chalk (TV series, 5 episodes)

Short films

• 1965: The Flying Alberts
• 1976: Let's Sleep on It

as a screenwriter

movie theater

• 1968: Don't Trust Anyone Over 30 (30 Is a Dangerous Age, Cynthia)
• 1972: Rentadick
• 1994: Princess Caraboo (Princess Caraboo)

watch TV

• 1962: That Was the Week That Was (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1966: The Late Show (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1969: Mrs. Wilson's Diary (TV movie)
• 1970: Charley's Grants (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1972–1974: Leeds (TV series, 5 episodes)
• 1976: The Crezz (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1978: In the Looking Glass (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1982: Anyone for Denis? (TV movie)
• 1988: Tickle on the Tum (TV series, 2 episodes)
• 1988: John Wells and the Three Wise Men (TV movie)
• 1989: About Face (TV series, 1 episode)
• 1990: Dunrulin (TV movie)

Short films

• 1976: Let's Sleep on It

Web links

• John Wells in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• Filmography by John Wells in: The New York Times

Individual evidence

1. ↑ John Wells. In: Everett Aaker: George Raft: The Films. , McFarland, 2013, p. 175
2. ^ Obituary for John Wells in: The Independent