John Stainton

{{for|the British lawyer and parliamentary draftsman|John Stainton (barrister)}}

{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}

{{notability|Biographies|date=November 2018}}

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| occupation = {{hlist|Film priducer|television producer|film director}}

| years_active = 1975–2011

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John Stainton (born 1953) is an Australian film and television producer and director. He was close friends with the late naturalist Steve Irwin. Stainton also created Irwin's popular nature documentary television series, The Crocodile Hunter, in which he also directed and executive produced every episode (save for a few specials), as well as the spin-offs, Croc Files and The Crocodile Hunter Diaries, and the feature-film, The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course.

Stainton was adamant in preventing the footage of Irwin's last moments, which depicts the moments after his fatal stingray attack, from being publicly released, stating that "it should be destroyed".{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/call-to-destroy-irwin-death-video-20060906-gdoc1q.html|title=Call to destroy Irwin death video|date=2006-09-06|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2018-11-08}} There were rumours that the footage had been leaked onto the internet, but all were revealed to be faked.

In the memorial service held on 20 September 2006 for Irwin, Stainton made an appearance to pay tribute to his friend.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_lobqdd0Uw |title=Steve Irwin Memorial Service |date=2007-09-25 |last=SkimSk8r1 |access-date=2024-08-20 |via=YouTube}}