Having lived in England and South Africa (Cape Town) John arrived in New Zealand with his family at the age of 9. "They totally opposed apartheid, so we left." He started his career in Auckland at 19 performing live on Auckland's nightclub circuit. Within a few months he was appearing in local variety television shows and gaining a solid local following. Within two years he appeared in his first major stage show and shortly after began combining his club and television work with repertory theatre. He gained both popular and critical acclaim playing "Charlie Brown" in "You're a good man Charlie Brown".

Filmography

• Vegas — Lester Burton
• 2015The Monster of Mangatiti — Malcolm
• The Brokenwood Mysteries — Chairman
• 2009District 9 — Les Feldman - MIL Engineer
• 2005King Kong — Herb
• 2004Maiden Voyage — Captain Ed Tessler
• 2003Whale Rider — Obstetrician
• 2003You Wish! — Coach
• 2002Atomic Twister — Neville
• 2001The Other Side of Heaven — President Stone
• Jack of All Trades
• 2000Ready to Run — Supervisor Pete
• 1996The Frighteners — Deputy
• Hercules: The Legendary Journeys — Spencius, Sheriff, Domesticles, Broteas
• Xena: Warrior Princess — Lord Clairon
• 1994Hercules and the Lost Kingdom — Inn Owner
• Power Rangers — Santa, Fresno Bob, Santa Claus
• The Tommyknockers — Mr. Arberg
• The Ray Bradbury Theater
• Godplex — TV director extraordinaire

Appearances as themselves (2)

• 2006The Eighth Blunder of the World — Self
• 2004The Present — Self