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{{Short description|British actor (1917–2002)}}
{{for|John Justin from the Thunderwings|John Justin and the Thunderwings}}
{{for|John Justin from the Thunderwings|John Justin and the Thunderwings}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = John Justin
| name = John Justin
| image = John Justin 1940.jpg
| image = John Justin 1940.jpg
| caption = Justin in 1940
| image size = 180px
| caption = pictured in 1940
| birth_name = John Justinian de Ledesma
⚫
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1917|11|24|df=yes}}
| birth_name = John Justinian de Ledesma
⚫
| birth_place = [[Knightsbridge]], [[London]], England
⚫
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1917|11|24|df=yes}}
⚫
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2002|11|29|1917|11|24|df=yes}}
⚫
| birth_place = [[London]], England
⚫
| death_place = [[Petersfield]], [[Hampshire]], England
⚫
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2002|11|29|1917|11|24|df=yes}}
| known_for =
⚫
| death_place = [[Petersfield]], Hampshire, England
| known_for =
| occupation = Actor
| spouse = {{plainlist|
| occupation = Actor
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Pola Nirenska]] <br>|1935|1949|end=divorced}}<br/>{{marriage|[[Barbara Murray]] <br>|1952|1964|end=divorced}}<br/>{{marriage|Alison McMurdo <br>|1979}}
* {{marriage|[[Pola Nirenska]]|1946|1949|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|[[Barbara Murray]]|1952|1964|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Alison McMurdo |1979}}
}}
| children = 3
| children = 3
| yearsactive = 1937–1983
| yearsactive = 1937–1983
}}
}}


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==Early life==
==Early life==
'''John Justinian de Ledesma''' was born in [[Knightsbridge]], London, England, the son of a well-off [[Argentina|Argentine]] rancher.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1415296/John-Justin.html |title=John Justin |date=6 December 2002 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref> Though he grew up on his father's ranch, he was educated at [[Bryanston School]] in [[Bryanston]], [[Dorset]].<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/obituaries/story/0,3604,854706,00.html |title=John Justin obituary |work=[[The Guardian]] (guardian.co.uk) |date=6 December 2002 |accessdate=2008-05-01 | location=London | first=Eric | last=Shorter}}</ref> He developed an interest in flying and became a qualified pilot at the age of 12, though he was not allowed to fly solo at the time because of his age.
'''John Justinian de Ledesma''' was born in [[Knightsbridge]], London, England, the son of a well-off [[Argentina|Argentine]] rancher.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1415296/John-Justin.html |title=John Justin |date=6 December 2002 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref> Though he grew up on his father's [[estancia]], he was educated at [[Bryanston School]] in [[Bryanston]], [[Dorset]].<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/obituaries/story/0,3604,854706,00.html |title=John Justin obituary |work=[[The Guardian]] (guardian.co.uk) |date=6 December 2002 |accessdate=2008-05-01 | location=London | first=Eric | last=Shorter}}</ref> He developed an interest in flying and became a qualified pilot at the age of 12, though he was not allowed to fly solo at the time because of his age.


==Acting career==
==Acting career==
He became interested in acting at a young age. By the age of 16 he had joined the [[Plymouth]] Repertory. In 1937 he briefly trained with the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]], but did not like it and soon joined the repertory company of [[John Gielgud]].<ref name="Guardian"/> Among the plays he appeared in was ''[[Dear Octopus]]''.<ref name="Telegraph"/>
He became interested in acting at a young age. By the age of 16, he had joined the [[Plymouth]] Repertory. In 1937, he briefly trained with the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]], but did not like it and soon joined the repertory company of [[John Gielgud]].<ref name="Guardian"/> Among the plays he appeared in was ''[[Dear Octopus]]''.<ref name="Telegraph"/>


===''The Thief of Bagdad''===
===''The Thief of Bagdad''===
In 1938 he auditioned for and won the role for which he is perhaps best remembered, Ahmad in the 1940 version of ''[[The Thief of Bagdad (1940 film)|The Thief of Bagdad]]'', opposite [[Sabu Dastagir|Sabu]]. To do so he had to sign a seven-year contract with [[Alexander Korda]].
In 1938, he auditioned for and was cast the role for which he is perhaps best remembered, Ahmad in the 1940 version of ''[[The Thief of Bagdad (1940 film)|The Thief of Bagdad]]'', opposite [[Sabu Dastagir|Sabu]]. To do so, he had to sign a seven-year contract with [[Alexander Korda]].


===Second World War===
===Second World War===
The [[Second World War]] broke out during the film's production. After completing the picture, Justin joined the [[Royal Air Force]], serving as a test pilot and flying instructor.<ref name="Guardian" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=2:36567~T1 |title=John Justin Biography |publisher=[[Allmovie]] |author=Bruce Eder |accessdate=2008-05-01}}</ref> He was injured in a crash.<ref name="Telegraph"/>
The [[Second World War]] broke out during the film's production. After completing the picture, Justin joined the [[Royal Air Force]], serving as a test pilot and flying instructor.<ref name="Guardian" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=2:36567~T1 |title=John Justin Biography |publisher=[[Allmovie]] |author=Bruce Eder |accessdate=2008-05-01}}</ref> He was injured in a crash.<ref name="Telegraph"/>


He was given leave to work on two films, ''[[The Gentle Sex]]'' (1943) with [[Leslie Howard (actor)|Leslie Howard]], and ''[[Journey Together]]'' (1944), an RAF feature film with a cast led by [[Richard Attenborough]], [[Jack Watling]], [[David Tomlinson]] and [[Edward G. Robinson]]. Silent film star [[Bessie Love]] also appeared in the cast.
He was given leave to work on two films, ''[[The Gentle Sex]]'' (1943) with [[Leslie Howard (actor)|Leslie Howard]], and ''[[Journey Together]]'' (1944), an RAF feature film with a cast led by [[Richard Attenborough]], [[Jack Watling]], [[David Tomlinson]], and [[Edward G. Robinson]]. [[Bessie Love]], whose career began in the silent era, also appeared in the cast.


===Post-war===
===Post-war===
With the war's end, Justin returned to acting. In 1948 he did a stint at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon, appearing in ''King John'', ''The Merchant of Venice'', ''The Winter's Tale'', ''Othello'', ''Hamlet'', and ''Troilus and Cressida''. He also made the film ''[[Call of the Blood]]'' (1948).
With the war's end, Justin returned to acting. In 1948, he did a stint at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon, appearing in ''King John'', ''The Merchant of Venice'', ''The Winter's Tale'', ''Othello'', ''Hamlet'', and ''Troilus and Cressida''. He also made the film ''[[Call of the Blood (1948 film)|Call of the Blood]]'' (1948).


In 1949 he appeared on stage in ''Peter Pan'' and was in ''Antigone'' on the BBC. Justin was in ''Return To Tyassi'' (1950) on the West End and appeared in ''[[The Angel with the Trumpet (1950 film)|The Angel with the Trumpet]]'' (1950).
In 1949, he appeared on stage in ''Peter Pan'' and was in ''Antigone'' on the BBC. Justin was in ''[[Return to Tyassi]]'' (1950) on the West End and appeared in ''[[The Angel with the Trumpet (1950 film)|The Angel with the Trumpet]]'' (1950).


Justin appeared in the film ''[[The Sound Barrier]]'' (1952) and played the lead in ''[[Hot Ice (1952 film)|Hot Ice]]'' (1952). After appearing in ''Uncle Vanya'' (1952) on stage, he focused on film work.
Justin appeared in the film ''[[The Sound Barrier]]'' (1952) and played the lead in ''[[Hot Ice (1952 film)|Hot Ice]]'' (1952). After appearing in ''Uncle Vanya'' (1952) on stage, he focused on film work.


He was in ''[[The Village (1953 film)|The Village]]'' (1953), a Swiss film; ''[[Melba (film)|Melba]]'' (1953), a biopic; ''[[King of the Khyber Rifles (film)|King of the Khyber Rifles]]'' (1954), a Hollywood film with [[Tyrone Power]] for [[20th Century Fox]]; ''[[Seagulls Over Sorrento]]'' (1954) with [[Gene Kelly]]; ''[[The Teckman Mystery]]'' (1954) with [[Margaret Leighton]]; ''[[The Man Who Loved Redheads]]'' (1955) with [[Moira Shearer]].
He was in ''[[The Village (1953 film)|The Village]]'' (1953), a Swiss film; ''[[Melba (film)|Melba]]'' (1953), a biopic; ''[[King of the Khyber Rifles (film)|King of the Khyber Rifles]]'' (1954), a Hollywood film with [[Tyrone Power]] for [[20th Century Fox]]; ''[[Seagulls Over Sorrento]]'' (1954) with [[Gene Kelly]]. Then he had two leading roles, in ''[[The Teckman Mystery]]'' (1954) with [[Margaret Leighton]] and ''[[The Man Who Loved Redheads]]'' (1955) with [[Moira Shearer]].


Fox called him back for ''[[Untamed (1955 film)|Untamed]]'' (1955) and [[Warwick Films]] used him in ''[[Safari (1956 film)|Safari]]'' (1956) with [[Victor Mature]]. Justin had a good role in Fox's ''[[Island in the Sun (film)|Island in the Sun]]'' (1957), romancing [[Dorothy Dandridge]].
Fox called him back for ''[[Untamed (1955 film)|Untamed]]'' (1955) and [[Warwick Films]] used him in ''[[Safari (1956 film)|Safari]]'' (1956) with [[Victor Mature]]. Justin had a good role in Fox's ''[[Island in the Sun (film)|Island in the Sun]]'' (1957), romancing [[Dorothy Dandridge]].


In 1957 he appeared on stage in ''Dinner with the Family''. In 1959 he joined the Old Vic, where his plays included ''The Double Dealer'', ''As You Like It'', and ''The Importance of Being Earnest''.
In 1957, he appeared on stage in ''Dinner with the Family''. In 1959 he joined the Old Vic, where his plays included ''The Double Dealer'', ''As You Like It'', and ''The Importance of Being Earnest''.


He made his Broadway debut in 1960 in the play ''Little Moon of Alban'' and was in ''[[The Spider's Web (1960 film)|The Spider's Web]]'' (1960). He was later in stage productions of ''Much Ado About Nothing'' (1963), ''Death of a Salesman'' (1965), and ''As You Like It'' (1965).
He made his Broadway debut in 1960 in the play ''Little Moon of Alban'' and was in ''[[The Spider's Web (1960 film)|The Spider's Web]]'' (1960). He was later in stage productions of ''Much Ado About Nothing'' (1963), ''Death of a Salesman'' (1965), and ''As You Like It'' (1965).
Line 57: Line 61:
Later films included [[Ken Russell]]'s ''[[Savage Messiah (1972 film)|Savage Messiah]]'' (1972), ''[[Lisztomania (film)|Lisztomania]]'' (1975) and ''[[Valentino (1977 film)|Valentino]]'' (1977).
Later films included [[Ken Russell]]'s ''[[Savage Messiah (1972 film)|Savage Messiah]]'' (1972), ''[[Lisztomania (film)|Lisztomania]]'' (1975) and ''[[Valentino (1977 film)|Valentino]]'' (1977).


In 1979, he played the ghoulish lover in the BBC's dramatisation of [[Sheridan Le Fanu|Le Fanu's]] ''[[Schalcken the Painter|Strange Incident in the Life of Schalcken the Painter]]'', one of its Christmas ghost stories.
In 1979, he played the ghoulish lover in the BBC's Christmas ghost story ''[[Schalcken the Painter]]'', based on the 1839 story ''Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter'' by [[Sheridan Le Fanu]].


His love was for the stage.<ref name="Telegraph"/> He called his film career "a mistake".<ref name="Guardian"/>
His love was for the stage.<ref name="Telegraph"/> He called his film career "a mistake".<ref name="Guardian"/>
Line 70: Line 74:
*''[[Journey Together]]'' (1945) - Flying Instructor, Flying Grading School
*''[[Journey Together]]'' (1945) - Flying Instructor, Flying Grading School
*''No Alibi'' (1947, Short) - Pilot
*''No Alibi'' (1947, Short) - Pilot
*''Ridgeway's Late Joys'' (1947, TV Movie)
*''Ridgeway's Late Joys'' (1947, TV)
*''[[Call of the Blood]]'' (1949) - David Erskine
*''[[Call of the Blood (1948 film)|Call of the Blood]]'' (1949) - David Erskine
*''Antigone'' (1949, TV Movie) - Haemon
*''Antigone'' (1949, live TV drama) - Haemon
*''[[The Angel with the Trumpet (1950 film)|The Angel with the Trumpet]]'' (1950) - Paul Alt
*''[[The Angel with the Trumpet (1950 film)|The Angel with the Trumpet]]'' (1950) - Paul Alt
*''The World of Light'' (1950, TV Movie) - Bill Hamblin
*''The World of Light'' (1950, live TV drama) - Bill Hamblin
*''Rush Job'' (1951, TV Movie) - Tom Stevenson
*''Rush Job'' (1951, live TV drama) - Tom Stevenson
*''[[The Sound Barrier]]'' (1952) - Philip Peel
*''[[The Sound Barrier]]'' (1952) - Philip Peel
*''[[Hot Ice (1952 film)|Hot Ice]]'' (1952) - Jim Henderson
*''[[Hot Ice (1952 film)|Hot Ice]]'' (1952) - Jim Henderson
Line 81: Line 85:
*''[[Melba (film)|Melba]]'' (1953) - Eric Walton
*''[[Melba (film)|Melba]]'' (1953) - Eric Walton
*''[[King of the Khyber Rifles (film)|King of the Khyber Rifles]]'' (1953) - Lt. Geoffrey Heath
*''[[King of the Khyber Rifles (film)|King of the Khyber Rifles]]'' (1953) - Lt. Geoffrey Heath
*''Sacrifice to the Wind'' (1954, TV Movie) - Ulysses
*''Sacrifice to the Wind'' (1954, live TV drama) - Ulysses
*''[[Seagulls Over Sorrento]]'' (1954) - Lt. Roger Wharton
*''[[Seagulls Over Sorrento]]'' (1954) - Lt. Roger Wharton
*''[[The Teckman Mystery]]'' (1954) - Philip Chance
*''[[The Teckman Mystery]]'' (1954) - Philip Chance
*''[[The Man Who Loved Redheads]]'' (1955) - Mark St. Neots, Lord Binfield
*''[[The Man Who Loved Redheads]]'' (1955) - Mark St. Neots, Lord Binfield
*''[[Untamed (1955 film)|Untamed]]'' (1955) - Shawn Kildare
*''[[Untamed (1955 film)|Untamed]]'' (1955) - Shawn Kildare
*''Guilty?'' (1956) - Nap Rumbold
*''[[Guilty? (1956 film)|Guilty?]]'' (1956) - Nap Rumbold
*''[[Safari (1955 film)|Safari]]'' (1956) - Brian Sinden
*''[[Safari (1955 film)|Safari]]'' (1956) - Brian Sinden
*''[[Island in the Sun (film)|Island in the Sun]]'' (1957) - Denis Archer
*''[[Island in the Sun (film)|Island in the Sun]]'' (1957) - Denis Archer
Line 92: Line 96:
*''[[The Spider's Web (1960 film)|The Spider's Web]]'' (1960) - Henry Hailsham-Brown
*''[[The Spider's Web (1960 film)|The Spider's Web]]'' (1960) - Henry Hailsham-Brown
*''[[Les hommes veulent vivre]]'' (''Man Wants to Live'') (1961) - Carter
*''[[Les hommes veulent vivre]]'' (''Man Wants to Live'') (1961) - Carter
*''Candidate for Murder'' (1962) - Robert Vaughan
*''[[Candidate for Murder]]'' (1962) - Robert Vaughan
*''La Salamandre d'or'' (1962) - Vandoeuvre
*''La Salamandre d'or'' (1962) - Vandoeuvre
*''[[Savage Messiah (1972 film)|Savage Messiah]]'' (1972) - Lionel Shaw
*''[[Savage Messiah (1972 film)|Savage Messiah]]'' (1972) - Lionel Shaw
Line 103: Line 107:
*''Timon of Athens'' (1981, TV Movie) - Second Senator
*''Timon of Athens'' (1981, TV Movie) - Second Senator
*''[[Trenchcoat (film)|Trenchcoat]]'' (1983) - Marquis De Pena
*''[[Trenchcoat (film)|Trenchcoat]]'' (1983) - Marquis De Pena
*''Good at Art'' (1983, TV Movie) - Mr. Jones (final film tole)
*''Good at Art'' (1983, TV Movie) - Mr. Jones (final film role)
*''Sabu: The Elephant Boy'' (1993, documentary) - Himself
*''Sabu: The Elephant Boy'' (1993, documentary) - Himself
{{Div col end}}
{{Div col end}}
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{IMDb name|id=0433188}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0433188}}
*{{Amg name|36567}}
*{{FAG|11389905}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
⚫
[[Category:Actors educated at Bryanston School]]
[[Category:Actors from the City of Westminster]]
⚫
[[Category:Actors from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
[[Category:English people of Argentine descent]]
[[Category:British people of Argentine descent]]
[[Category:British people of Argentine descent]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
⚫
[[Category:People educated at Bryanston School]]
⚫
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
⚫
[[Category:Royal Air Force pilots of World War II]]
[[Category:English test pilots]]
[[Category:English test pilots]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]
[[Category:People from Knightsbridge]]
⚫
[[Category:Royal Air Force pilots of World War II]]

Latest revision as of 17:21, 22 December 2024

For John Justin from the Thunderwings, see John Justin and the Thunderwings.

John Justin
Justin in 1940
Born
John Justinian de Ledesma

(1917-11-24)24 November 1917
Knightsbridge, London, England
Died29 November 2002(2002-11-29) (aged 85)
Petersfield, Hampshire, England
OccupationActor
Years active1937–1983
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1946; div. 1949)​
​
​
(m. 1952; div. 1964)​
Alison McMurdo
​
(m. 1979)​
Children3

John Justin (24 November 1917 – 29 November 2002) was a British stage and film actor.[1]

Early life

[edit]

John Justinian de Ledesma was born in Knightsbridge, London, England, the son of a well-off Argentine rancher.[2] Though he grew up on his father's estancia, he was educated at Bryanston School in Bryanston, Dorset.[3] He developed an interest in flying and became a qualified pilot at the age of 12, though he was not allowed to fly solo at the time because of his age.

Acting career

[edit]

He became interested in acting at a young age. By the age of 16, he had joined the Plymouth Repertory. In 1937, he briefly trained with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, but did not like it and soon joined the repertory company of John Gielgud.[3] Among the plays he appeared in was Dear Octopus.[2]

The Thief of Bagdad

[edit]

In 1938, he auditioned for and was cast the role for which he is perhaps best remembered, Ahmad in the 1940 version of The Thief of Bagdad, opposite Sabu. To do so, he had to sign a seven-year contract with Alexander Korda.

Second World War

[edit]

The Second World War broke out during the film's production. After completing the picture, Justin joined the Royal Air Force, serving as a test pilot and flying instructor.[3][4] He was injured in a crash.[2]

He was given leave to work on two films, The Gentle Sex (1943) with Leslie Howard, and Journey Together (1944), an RAF feature film with a cast led by Richard Attenborough, Jack Watling, David Tomlinson, and Edward G. Robinson. Bessie Love, whose career began in the silent era, also appeared in the cast.

Post-war

[edit]

With the war's end, Justin returned to acting. In 1948, he did a stint at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon, appearing in King John, The Merchant of Venice, The Winter's Tale, Othello, Hamlet, and Troilus and Cressida. He also made the film Call of the Blood (1948).

In 1949, he appeared on stage in Peter Pan and was in Antigone on the BBC. Justin was in Return to Tyassi (1950) on the West End and appeared in The Angel with the Trumpet (1950).

Justin appeared in the film The Sound Barrier (1952) and played the lead in Hot Ice (1952). After appearing in Uncle Vanya (1952) on stage, he focused on film work.

He was in The Village (1953), a Swiss film; Melba (1953), a biopic; King of the Khyber Rifles (1954), a Hollywood film with Tyrone Power for 20th Century Fox; Seagulls Over Sorrento (1954) with Gene Kelly. Then he had two leading roles, in The Teckman Mystery (1954) with Margaret Leighton and The Man Who Loved Redheads (1955) with Moira Shearer.

Fox called him back for Untamed (1955) and Warwick Films used him in Safari (1956) with Victor Mature. Justin had a good role in Fox's Island in the Sun (1957), romancing Dorothy Dandridge.

In 1957, he appeared on stage in Dinner with the Family. In 1959 he joined the Old Vic, where his plays included The Double Dealer, As You Like It, and The Importance of Being Earnest.

He made his Broadway debut in 1960 in the play Little Moon of Alban and was in The Spider's Web (1960). He was later in stage productions of Much Ado About Nothing (1963), Death of a Salesman (1965), and As You Like It (1965).

Between 1963 and 1970 he made no film appearances. In 1968 he played Thorin Oakenshield in the BBC Radio adaptation of The Hobbit.[5]

Later career

[edit]

On stage he was in Lulu (1971), toured South Africa in Who Killed Santa Claus? (1971), was in Old Fruit (1974), A Man And His Wife (1974)

Later films included Ken Russell's Savage Messiah (1972), Lisztomania (1975) and Valentino (1977).

In 1979, he played the ghoulish lover in the BBC's Christmas ghost story Schalcken the Painter, based on the 1839 story Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter by Sheridan Le Fanu.

His love was for the stage.[2] He called his film career "a mistake".[3]

Personal life

[edit]

Justin was married three times, first to dancer and choreographer Pola Nirenska. His second marriage, to actress Barbara Murray, lasted from 1952 to 1964; they had three daughters. From 1970 to his death in 2002, he was married to Alison McMurdo.[2]

Complete filmography

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "John Justin". BFI. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e "John Justin". The Daily Telegraph. 6 December 2002.
  3. ^ a b c d Shorter, Eric (6 December 2002). "John Justin obituary". The Guardian (guardian.co.uk). London. Retrieved 1 May 2008.
  4. ^ Bruce Eder. "John Justin Biography". Allmovie. Retrieved 1 May 2008.
  5. ^ "The Hobbit Full Cast Radio Drama". Internet Archive. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
[edit]
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