John Sessions(1953-2020)
- Actor
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Actor and comedian known for his various roles on film, TV and stage.
He was born in Largs, Scotland, in 1953. He has an older brother and a
twin sister. His debut film was
The Sender (1982), a horror feature in
which he played a patient. His next film was
The Bounty (1984) with
Mel Gibson and
Anthony Hopkins. He has also appeared in
Henry V (1989) and
A Midwinter's Tale (1995),
both directed by Kenneth Branagh, his
friend and frequent collaborator. The two met at RADA in 1979. He
continues to appear in
Stella Street (1997) in which
he plays a variety of middle-aged actors, alongside
Phil Cornwell. One of his most memorable
performances to date is the role of Dr. Prunesquallor in
Gormenghast (2000), the BBC's
lavish production of Mervyn Peake's novels
"Titus Groan" and "Gormenghast." Onstage, he has appeared in many
productions and performed numerous one-man shows. His ability to
improvise landed him a spot as the first regular contestant on
Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1988).
It was here that he showcased his great literary knowledge. He appeared
on the BBC Radio 4 show "Dead Man Talking," as various "dead"
characters, including
J. Robert Oppenheimer and
Michelangelo.