John Mahon (actor)
{{Short description|American film, stage, and television actor (1938–2020)}}
{{Infobox person
|name = John Mahon
|birth_name = John Patrick Mahon{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/john-patrick-mahon-dead-dies-l-a-confidential-zodiac-1234610104/#!|title='L.A. Confidential' and 'Zodiac' Actor John Patrick Mahon Dies at 82|first=Klaritza|last=Rico|work=Variety|date=May 18, 2020|access-date=December 17, 2021}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|1938|02|03}}
|birth_place = Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|2020|05|03|1938|02|02}}
|death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
|education = University of Scranton (BA)
|children = 2
|years_active = 1973–2009
}}
John Patrick Mahon (February 3, 1938{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/john-mahon-dead-character-actor-who-overcame-polio-was-82-1295199/|title=John Mahon, Character Actor Who Overcame Polio, Dies at 82|first=Mike|last=Barnes|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 19, 2020|access-date=December 17, 2021}} – May 3, 2020) was an American film, stage and television actor. He was perhaps best known for playing Captain Gillette in the 2007 film Zodiac.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/05/john-mahon-dead-actor-the-exorcist-l-a-confidential-actor-82-1202939312/|title=John Mahon Dies: 'The Exorcist', 'L.A. Confidential' Actor Was 82|first=Greg|last=Evans|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 20, 2020|access-date=December 17, 2021}}
Early life and education
Mahon was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the son of an attorney.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/535192085/|title=Mahon in Role|work=The Times-Tribune|location=Scranton, Pennsylvania|date=February 21, 1995|access-date=December 18, 2021|page=7|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Closed access}} Mahon had acted while at high school, and at university he met playwright Jason Miller, who encouraged him to audition for stage plays at Marywood College. Shortly after, Mahon joined the University Players.{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=From Paralysis to Hollywood: John Mahon '60 |url=https://www.scranton.edu/alumni/journal/issues/2015/fall/alumni-profiles/paralysis-to-hollywood.shtml |access-date=December 18, 2021 |work=Scranton Journal}}
Mahon studied classical languages and English literature at the University of Scranton. In 1950 he contracted polio, which paralyzed him for a time and left him without the full use of his left arm.
Acting career
After graduating from college, Mahon moved to New York City, where he worked as the supervisor of two paper mills. After two years, he decided to try acting as a profession, appearing in off-Broadway productions while working as a taxi driver and waiter. In 1971, Mahon was nominated for a New York Drama Critics Award in the category Best Actor, for his performance in the play Nobody Hears a Broken Drum. He continued to appear on stage through the 1970s, also directing plays.
Mahon guest-starred in television programs including Frasier, Cagney & Lacey, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (7 episodes), Just Shoot Me!, Jake and the Fatman, Steambath, Knots Landing, Generations, The X-Files, Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Diagnosis: Murder, Hunter and The Rockford Files. In 1973 Mahon appeared in a small role in the film The Exorcist. Other film appearances included The People Under the Stairs, One False Move, Bad Influence, L.A. Confidential, The Couch Trip, Armageddon, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and Zodiac. In 1995, Mahon played the role of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the film The American President.
In 2014, Mahon wrote a memoir titled A Life of Make Believe: From Paralysis to Hollywood.
Personal life
Mahon had two children. He died in May 2020 of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 82.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/john-mahon-death-the-exorcist-la-confidential-roles-age-movies-tv-shows-a9524581.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/john-mahon-death-the-exorcist-la-confidential-roles-age-movies-tv-shows-a9524581.html |archive-date=2022-06-13 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=John Mahon death: The Exorcist and LA Confidential actor dies aged 82|first=Clémence|last=Michallon|work=The Independent|date=May 20, 2020|access-date=December 17, 2021}}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1973
|Language Lab Director | |
| 1988
|Police Captain | |
| 1990
|Dr. Fielding | |
| 1991
|Police Sergeant | |
| 1992
|Chief Jenkins | |
| 1995
|Chairman of the Joint Chiefs | |
| 1997
|Police Chief | |
| 1998
|Karl | |
| 1999
|Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me |NATO Colonel | |
| 2007
|Riverside Captain | |
| 2009
|A Call to Arms |Major General Cosgrove | |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1976
|Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur |Television film |
| 1976
|SWAT Commander |Episode: "To Kill a Tank" |
| 1976
|Fireman |Episode: "Tender Soldier" |
| 1976–1977
|Various roles |3 episodes |
| 1977
|Det. Leo Luna |Episode: "The Blue Fog" |
| 1977
|Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years |Veteran | rowspan="2" |Television film |
| 1977
|Det. Shoup |
| 1977, 1978
|I. A. D. Man / Lawton |2 episodes |
| 1978
|Frimsin |Television film |
| 1983
|Man |Episode: "Breath of the Dragon" |
| 1984
|The Policeman |Episode: "Zippers" |
| 1984
|DPA Clerk |Episode: "Baby Broker" |
| 1984
|The Fan |Episode: "A Preacher and a Jock" |
| 1985
|Limo Driver |Episode: "Murder Offshore" |
| 1985
|Lt. Doyle |Episode: "Fox in Wonderland" |
| 1985
|Police Officer |Episode: "Cheers" |
| 1985
|Mr. Zewecki |Episode: "The Chicago Connection" |
| 1985
|Minister |Episode: "Love and/or Marriage" |
| 1985
|Technician |Episode: "Guess What's Coming to Dinner" |
| 1985
|Alfie Girdler |Episode: "Knight Racer" |
| 1985
|Vendor |Episode: "The Prodigal" |
| 1985, 1986
|Mario / Detective McConnell |2 episodes |
| 1986
|Betrayed by Innocence |Bailiff |Television film |
| 1986
|Desk Sgt. |Episode: "Sometimes You Gotta Sing the Blues" |
| 1986
|Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer |Sergeant Cramer |Episode: "Dead Pidgeon" |
| 1987
|Officer Bill Miller |Television film |
| 1987
|Chapell |Episode: "Aria da Capo" |
| 1988
|Shakedown on the Sunset Strip |Deputy Chief Evans |Television film |
| 1989
|I.A.D. Officer #2 |Episode: "Shoot to Kill" |
| 1989
|Captain Parker |2 episodes |
| 1989
|Arnold Anderson |Episode: "The Cretin of the Shallows" |
| 1989
|Billy Crystal: Midnight Train to Moscow |Cabinet Member |Television film |
| 1990
|Captain Holgar |Episode: "A Tale of Two Cities" |
| 1990
|Jameson |Episode: "You Took Advantage of Me" |
| 1990
|Detective Stassen |Episode: "The Price of Justice" |
| 1990
|Various roles |3 episodes |
| 1991
|Holly's Dad |Episode: "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" |
| 1992
|Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story |Inspector Hedges | rowspan="2" |Television film |
| 1992
|Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story |LMU Coach |
| 1992
|Bus Driver |Episode: "When the Stars Begin to Fall" |
| 1992
|Mr. Cleaves |2 episodes |
| 1993
|Amb. Hardcastle |Episode: "Death Before Dishonor" |
| 1993
|Dave |Episode: "Give 'Til It Hurts" |
| 1993
|Earth Corp Ship Commander | rowspan="3" |Television film |
| 1994
|Coach Dickler |
| 1994
|Red Hat Vet |
| 1997
|Det. Spitz |Episode: "Blue Highway" |
| 1998
|Gene Donovan |Episode: "Dead Man Sleeping" |
| 1998
|Eugene Clark |Episode: "A Stand-Up Guy" |
| 1998
|Uncle Walt Crane |Episode: "Beware of Greeks" |
| 1998
|Fire Chief |Episode: "Resurrection: Part 1" |
| 1998
|General Wegman |2 episodes |
| 1999
|Agent Milton |Episode: "The Devil Still Holds My Hand" |
| 1999
|Alan Drake |Episode: "Blackmail Photographer" |
| 1999, 2000
|Trevor Lockley |2 episodes |
| 2000
|Wally |Episode: "A Clown's Prayer" |
| 2000
|Bull |Paul Catteo |Episode: "What the Past Will Bring" |
| 2000
|JAG |Admiral Rockerly |Episode: "A Separate Peace: Part 2" |
| 2001
|Leo |Episode: "Touched by a Biker" |
| 2001
|Barry Constansas |Episode: "What Sharp Teeth You Have" |
| 2001
|Judge Ferguson |Television film |
| 2004
|Colonel |Episode: "The Plan" |
| 2005
|Mr. Bradford |Episode: "Prank Week" |
| 2005
|Adm. Gardner (Mirror) |Episode: "In a Mirror, Darkly" |
| 2006–2007
|Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip |George |7 episodes |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0537089}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahon, John}}
Category:People from Scranton, Pennsylvania
Category:Male actors from Pennsylvania
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male stage actors
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American theatre directors