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John Bennett Perry

Highest Rated: 63% Only When I Laugh (1981)

Lowest Rated: 18% Lipstick (1976)

Birthday: Jan 4, 1941

Birthplace: Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA

John Bennett Perry, father of "Friends" star Matthew Perry, is still best recognized as the suave sailor from the Old Spice fragrance commercials that ran during the 1970s and '80s. Embodying an extensive career of diverse TV work, feature films, theater, and music, however, Perry is much more than a corporate spokesmodel. Born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, in 1941, Perry got his start in New York, performing on and off Broadway. His success begat bicoastal opportunities, and he made his big-screen debut in 1976, appearing in a small role in the brutal revenge thriller "Lipstick." Perry's wide-ranging abilities as a character actor quickly made him one of the most prolific performers of the era. He landed memorable roles in dozens of television series, including gigs on the homesteader drama "Little House on the Prairie" and the mystery show "Murder, She Wrote." He was later honored for his work as a tireless sheriff in the 1987 TV movie "Independence," which received a Western Heritage award. Perry since popped up in major blockbusters like disaster maestro Roland Emmerich's "Independence Day," and the Brendon Fraiser family farce, "George of the Jungle." He has also appeared with his son Matthew several times (often playing his father) in movies like the 1997 romantic comedy "Fools Rush In" and the popular medical sitcom "Scrubs." Perry has also performed country music as part of The Ojai Valley Boys.

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Highest rated movies

63% 75% Only When I Laugh
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55% 42% George of the Jungle
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31% 64% Fools Rush In
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18% 35% Lipstick
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The Police Story
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The Other Lover
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240-Robert
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I Married Wyatt Earp
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41% The Legend of the Lone Ranger
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Eye of the Stalker: A Moment of Truth Movie
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Agenda John Linney (Character) - 2007
No Score Yet No Score Yet Crossing Paths Bob Miano (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet 42% Safety Patrol Mr. Norman Zapruder (Character) - 1998
55% 42% George of the Jungle Arthur Stanhope (Character) $105.3M 1997
31% 64% Fools Rush In Richard Whitman (Character) $29.3M 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet Eye of the Stalker: A Moment of Truth Movie Duncan Emerson (Character) - 1995
No Score Yet 58% Secrets Dan Adams (Character) - 1992
No Score Yet 78% The Last Fling Jason Elliot (Character) - 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet Independence Sheriff (Character) - 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Other Lover Peter Fielding (Character) - 1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet I Married Wyatt Earp John Behan (Character) - 1983
63% 75% Only When I Laugh Lou (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet 41% The Legend of the Lone Ranger Ranger Captain Dan Reid (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet 240-Robert Deputy Theodore Roosevelt "Trap" Applegate III (Character) - 1979
18% 35% Lipstick Martin McCormick (Character) - 1976
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Police Story Sgt. Chick Torpi (Character) - 1973

TV

Credit
No Score Yet 95% Cold Case Unknown (Guest Star) 2009
68% No Score Yet Dirty Sexy Money Hal Matheson (Guest Star) 2008
83% 84% The Closer Walter Langner (Guest Star) 2006
92% 80% Veronica Mars Unknown (Guest Star) 2005
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cuts Unknown (Guest Star) 2005
83% 86% Scrubs Harrison (Guest Star) 2004
33% No Score Yet Threat Matrix Unknown (Guest Star) 2003
No Score Yet No Score Yet 7th Heaven Unknown (Guest Star) 2003
No Score Yet No Score Yet Providence Unknown (Guest Star) 2002
81% 95% The West Wing Rep. Bill (Guest Star) 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet Family Law Unknown (Guest Star) 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet Diagnosis Murder Unknown (Guest Star) 2000
46% No Score Yet It's Like, You Know ... Unknown (Guest Star) 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Nash Bridges Unknown (Guest Star) 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Veronica's Closet Unknown (Guest Star) 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Army Show Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet JAG Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
78% 93% Friends Mr. Burgin (Guest Star) 1998
No Score Yet 89% Murder, She Wrote Judge Perry Sillman (Guest Star) 1987 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet Silk Stalkings Unknown (Character) 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet Coach Arthur Blackmore (Guest Star) 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet Falcon Crest Sheriff Gilmore (Character) 1981-1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hunter Steven Stag (Guest Star) 1988
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hotel Unknown (Guest Star) 1986
No Score Yet 95% Magnum, P.I. Stephen Parker (Guest Star) 1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet Paper Dolls Michael Caswell (Character) 1984
No Score Yet No Score Yet Little House on the Prairie Andrew Hobbs/Frank James (Guest Star) 1977 1983
No Score Yet No Score Yet Barbary Coast Unknown (Guest Star) 1975
No Score Yet 100% Kung Fu Unknown (Guest Star) 1975
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mannix Steve Walker (Guest Star) 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet Police Story Chick (Character) 1973-1974