John Barron (actor)

John Barron (24 December 1920 – 3 July 2004) was an English actor. Although Barron was a familiar face on British television from the 1950s, he is best remembered for his role in the BBC comedy The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976–79) playing C J, Perrin's overbearing boss.

For other people named John Barron, see John Barron (disambiguation).

John Barron
Born(1920-12-24)24 December 1920
Marylebone, London, England
Died3 July 2004(2004-07-03) (aged 83)
Watford, Hertfordshire, England
OccupationActor

Biography

Born in Marylebone, London, Barron was interested in acting from an early age. For his 18th birthday, his godfather paid his entry fee to RADA.[1] After serving as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, he returned to stage acting. In the 1950s, he moved into a directorial role, during which time he came to know Leonard Rossiter.

From the mid-1950s, he became more involved in television, and then film. His movies including The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961), Jigsaw (1962), Incense for the Damned (1970), Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973), Clash of Loyalties (1983), To Catch a King (1984) and Thirteen at Dinner (1985).[2] During his career, he also appeared in such popular TV series as Crown Court, The Avengers, Emergency – Ward 10, All Gas and Gaiters, Undermind, The Saint, Department S, Doomwatch, Timeslip, Potter, To the Manor Born, Whoops Apocalypse and Yes Minister. Although he had long-running roles in popular dramas like the police series Softly, Softly (where he played the assistant chief constable between 1967 and 1969), his best known role was in the situation comedy The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, which began in 1976, and starred Leonard Rossiter as the title character.[1] Barron's character, CJ (Charles Jefferson), was Perrin's overbearing boss with the catchphrase "I didn't get where I am today by...".[1][3] He also appeared in the 1986 Christmas Special of Duty Free.

Barron was president of the actors' union Equity from 1978 to 1982 and vice-president in 1977 and again from 1984 to 1989.[4] His one hobby was enjoying fine wine, which he also inspired his friend Rossiter to take up. An active supporter of the Conservative Party, he presented a Party Political Broadcast on their behalf in the 1980s and features supporting his party's policies on the BBC's Newsnight programme.

He was married three times: first to the actress Joan Sterndale-Bennett which soon ended in divorce; then to Joan Peart, who died in 1989 after 40 years of marriage; and finally to Helen Christie, who died in 1995. He had two stepdaughters, one each from the second and third marriages.[5] Barron remained active in the profession until his death at the age of 83.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1948 Acacia Avenue Michael Carraway TV film
Children to Bless You Ronnie Trent TV film
1949 Mountain Air Hamish Laurie TV film
1960 Sink the Bismarck! Officer P.R.O. Uncredited
1961 The Day the Earth Caught Fire First Sub-Editor Uncredited
The Court Martial of Major Keller M.O. Aubrey
1962 Jigsaw Ray Tenby
A Chance to Shine Henry TV film
1971 Incense for the Damned Diplomat
1973 Hitler: The Last Ten Days Dr. Stumpfegger
1974 The Turn of the Screw Mr. Fredricks TV film
1980 The Taming of the Shrew Vincentio TV film
1981 Othello Duke of Venice TV film
1982 The Funny Side of Christmas C.J. TV film
1983 Al-Mas' Ala Al-Kubra General Haldane
1984 To Catch a King Selby TV film
1985 Thirteen at Dinner Lord Edgware TV film

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1953 BBC Sunday Night Theatre Cecil Harvey Episode: "The Lake"
1957 Sword of Freedom Merchant Episode: "Angelica's Past"
The Vise Tony Preem Episode: "Corpse with a Sword"
1958 Dr. Marsden Episode: "Death in a Flask"
Theatre Night Geoffrey Harrison Episode: "Any Other Business"
ITV Television Playhouse Anthony Storey Episode: "The Heat of the Evening"
Armchair Theatre Henry Walpole Episode: "I Can Destroy the Sun"
1959 The Wright People Geoffrey Fairchild Series regular
Glencannon John Castle Recurring role
1959–1964 Emergency Ward 10 Harold de la Roux Series regular
1960 Hotel Imperial Episode: "The Cinderella in 104"
On Trial Travers Humphreys Episode: "Sir Roger Casement"
No Hiding Place Inspector Ferris Episode: "Raising Old Harry"
Saturday Playhouse Charles Episode: "Family Occasion"
BBC Sunday-Night Play Gerrard Episode: "The Wind and the Sun"
ITV Play of the Week Lieutenant Colonel Reeve Episode: "Carrington V.C."
1961 Dr. Horsham Episode: "Harriet"
BBC Sunday-Night Play Patrick McNally Episode: "Off Centre"
Our Mister Ambler Episode: "The Blow Lamp"
Plateau of Fear Dr. Miguel Aranda Recurring role
Deadline Midnight Globe's Counsel Episode: "Libel Story"
1962 Ghost Squad Lazenger Episode: "The Grand Duchess"
1963 Tales of Mystery Colonel Masters Episode: "The Doll"
Brian Rix Presents... Dr. Rodd Episode: "Caught Napping"
Dial RIX Sir William Pardon Episode: "What a Chassis"
Laughter from the Whitehall Freddie Neville Episode: "High Temperature"
1964 Sergeant Cork Monsieur Billot Episode: "The Case of the Great Pearl Robbery"
Story Parade Bartlett Episode: "The Flaw in the Crystal"
Joan of Arc Archbishop Mini-series
1965 Armchair Mystery Theatre Inspector France Episode: "Time and Mr Madingley"
Undermind Sir Geoffrey Tillinger 2 episodes
Cluff Mr. Liddler Episode: "The Dictator"
199 Park Lane Sir George Strudwick Recurring role
Out of the Unknown Sir John Episode: "The Midas Plague"
1966 The Man in the Mirror Edmund Beatty Recurring role
The Avengers Henge Episode: "A Sense of History"
Armchair Theatre Government Official Episode: "The Battersea Miracle"
Pardon the Expression Lord Penge Episode: "The Dinner Party"
Comedy Playhouse The Dean, The Very Reverend Lionel Pugh-Critchley Episode: "The Bishop Rides Again"
Three Rousing Tinkles Consultant Episode: "The Best I Can Do for You by Way of a Gate-leg Table Is a Hundred-weight of Coal"
The Troubleshooters Price Episode: "Someone's Head Has to Roll"
The Woman in White Sir Percival Glyde Recurring role
The Power Game Sir. Trevor Hoylake 2 episodes
1966–1969 Softly, Softly Assistant Chief Constable Austin Gilbert Series regular
1966–1971 All Gas and Gaiters The Dean, The Very Reverend Lionel Pugh-Critchley Series regular
1967 Girl in a Black Bikini Francis Heager Recurring role
The Beverly Hillbillies Chauffeur Recurring role
1968 The Saint Neal Lammerton Episode: "The Scales of Justice"
1969 Jackanory Bert Episode: "No One Must Know"
Department S Byrom Blain Episode: "The Bones of Byrom Blain"
Hadleigh Minister Episode: "M.Y.O.B."
1970 Ace of Wands Bartlett Bonnington Episode: "The Smile"
1970–1971 Timeslip Morgan C. Devereaux Recurring role
1970–1972 Doomwatch The Minister Series regular
1971 The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder Earl of Colebrooke Episode: "Find the Lady"
1972 Spyder's Web Admiral Manders Episode: "Red Admiral"
Pathfinders James Harley Episode: "Sitting Ducks"
1973 The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Sir Revel Revell, Q.C. Episode: "The Missing Q.C.s"
Ooh La La! Soldignac Episode: "Paying the Piper"
Romany Jones Mr. Ruskin Episode: "Look After the Pennies"
Harriet's Back in Town Peter Ward Recurring role
The Protectors Insurance Executive Episode: "Baubles, Bangles and Beads"
Thirty Minutes Worth 1 episode
1973–1982 Crown Court Justice Mitchenor Series regular
1976 The Fosters Mr. Hudd Episode: "Situations Vacant"
Victorian Scandals Colonel Truelove Episode: "A Pitcher of Snakes"
1976–1979 The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin C.J. Series regular
1977 The Sunday Drama Doctor Episode: "The Late Wife"
1977–1978 The Foundation Sir Clive Farmer Series regular
1978 Wodehouse Playhouse Reverend Stanley Brandon Episode: "Mulliner's Buck-U-Uppo"
1979 Spooner's Patch The Golf Club President Episode: "Par for the Course"
The Glums Surgeon 1 episode
Jackanory Playhouse Wizard of Crumm Episode: "The Wizard of Crumm and the Ice Princess"
1979–1980 Shelley Cyril Recurring role
1979–1983 Potter The Vicar Series regular
1980 The Gentle Touch Victor Beresford Episode: "Loyalties"
1981 To the Manor Born Lumsden 2 episodes
Cowboys Surgeon Episode: "Operation Douche"
1981–1986 Yes Minister Sir Ian Whitchurch, Permanent Secretary to the Environment 2 episodes
1982 Whoops Apocalypse The Deacon Series regular
1984 Kelly Monteith Series regular
1984–1986 No Place Like Home Mr. Wilberforce 2 episodes
1985 Alice in Wonderland The Caterpillar Mini-series
Terry and June Judge Episode: "Terry in Court"
Me and My Girl Mr. Brocklebank Episode: "Forty Years On"
1986 Duty Free Sir Geoffrey Stoneleigh-Jackson Episode: "A Duty Free Christmas"
1988 Don't Wait Up Sir Geoffrey Lawson 1 episode
1990 Brush Strokes Salamander General 1 episode
1992 In Sickness and in Health Sir Reginald Woodley 1 episode
1994 The Hypnotic World of Paul McKenna 1 episode
Paris Degout's Father Episode: "La solitude"
1996 The Legacy of Reginald Perrin C.J. Series regular

References
  1. staff (7 July 2004). "John Barron". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 November 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  2. "John Barron". Archived from the original on 6 May 2018.
  3. "Obituary: John Barron". 7 July 2004.
  4. McGarry, Ian (Autumn 2004). "John Barron". Equity. Archived from the original on 26 December 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2017.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. Newley, Patrick (9 July 2004). "John Barron". The Stage. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
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