John Vernon

John Vernon was the stage name of Adolph Raymond Vernon Agopsowicz (February 24, 1932–February 1, 2005). He was a Canadian actor.

Related Topics:
Stage name - February 24 - 1932 - February 1, 2005 - Canadian - Actor

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Vernon typically played a stern, authoritarian kind of character. He was best known as the title character from Wojeck; as the deadly serious and stereotypical Dean Wormer in one of the most famous comedic movies, Animal House; as Harry Callahan's perpetually frustrated by-the-book boss in Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry movies; and for playing movie and television villains.

Related Topics:
Wojeck - Animal House - Clint Eastwood

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Vernon was born in Zehner, Saskatchewan, and baptised in Sacred Heart Roman Catholic parish in nearby Arat, Saskatchewan, with the names Adolphus Raimundus Vernon. Some sources list his birthplace as the nearby city of Regina. He was one of two sons of Adolf Agopsowicz, a grocer, and his wife Eleonore Krückel (also spelled as Eleanor Kriekle or Kriekel). Both parents' families immigrated to the Edenwold district in the late 19th century from the Austrian crownland and duchy of Bukovina. He was of mixed Polish Armenian, Bohemian German, and Polish origins.

Related Topics:
Zehner - Saskatchewan - Regina - Austria - Bukovina

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Vernon was educated at the Banff School of Fine Arts and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before becoming a live stage actor on the early CBC. The role later earned him many Hollywood roles including voice acting, his first major role was in Point Blank. After more than 100 films, his later career included mostly voice work for video games.

Related Topics:
Banff School of Fine Arts - Royal Academy of Dramatic Art - London - CBC - Hollywood - Voice acting - Point Blank - Video game

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With his wife Nancy West, John Vernon was the father of actress Kate Vernon and singer Nan Vernon.

Related Topics:
Kate Vernon - Nan Vernon

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He died at home in Los Angeles, California at the age of 72.

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