Actor John Vernon of "Animal House" Dies - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJL · 02-05-2005, 11:16 AM

LOS ANGELES (AP) — John Vernon, a stage-trained character actor who played cunning villains in film and TV and made his comedy mark as Dean Wormer in National Lampoon's Animal House, has died. He was 72.

Vernon died at home in his sleep Tuesday following complications from Jan. 16 heart surgery, his daughter Kate Vernon said Thursday.

The Canadian-born actor found satisfaction in his varied career, his daughter said.

"He loved the comedy that he was able to do, but his training was in drama and he really enjoyed the dramatic roles," she said.

Movie fans may know him best for his role in Animal House as Dean Wormer, who is bent on expelling the hard-partying Delta fraternity house. The movie, starring John Belushi and Tim Matheson, is one of the most popular comedies ever made.

Born in 1932 in Montreal, Vernon studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He did repertory work in England and was heard off-screen as the voice of Big Brother in the 1956 film 1984.

He returned to Canada to appear on stage and on television, including the starring role in the 1960s drama Wojeck, in which he played a coroner.

"John was superb. He really knew how to use the camera, and vocally he was just born to have a mike nearby," Ted Follows, his co-star in Wojeck, told The Canadian Press.

After appearing on Broadway in Royal Hunt of the Sun he became a steady player in U.S. films, making his debut in director John Boorman's Point Blank (1967) as a turncoat tossed to his death by Lee Marvin.

Vernon went on to work with other celebrated filmmakers including Alfred Hitchcock (Topaz, 1969); Don Siegel (Dirty Harry, 1971), and Clint Eastwood (The Outlaw Josey Wales, 1976).

His deep, menacing voice was custom-made for the many bad guys he played.

He reprised his role in National Lampoon's Animal House in the TV spinoff Delta House (1979). Other comedy roles followed, including the part of Mr. Big in the film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka in 1988.

Vernon appeared in a DVD edition of Animal House as part of a satiric update on the characters. Wormer was portrayed as a curmudgeonly old man in a wheelchair.

bossradio93 · 02-05-2005, 11:55 AM

The thread already exists here:Actor John Vernon, who played Dean Vernon Wormer in 'Animal House', dies.

TJL · 02-05-2005, 01:00 PM

Oops

02-05-2005, 11:16 AM	#1
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Actor John Vernon of "Animal House" Dies LOS ANGELES (AP) — John Vernon, a stage-trained character actor who played cunning villains in film and TV and made his comedy mark as Dean Wormer in National Lampoon's Animal House, has died. He was 72. Vernon died at home in his sleep Tuesday following complications from Jan. 16 heart surgery, his daughter Kate Vernon said Thursday. The Canadian-born actor found satisfaction in his varied career, his daughter said. "He loved the comedy that he was able to do, but his training was in drama and he really enjoyed the dramatic roles," she said. Movie fans may know him best for his role in Animal House as Dean Wormer, who is bent on expelling the hard-partying Delta fraternity house. The movie, starring John Belushi and Tim Matheson, is one of the most popular comedies ever made. Born in 1932 in Montreal, Vernon studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He did repertory work in England and was heard off-screen as the voice of Big Brother in the 1956 film 1984. He returned to Canada to appear on stage and on television, including the starring role in the 1960s drama Wojeck, in which he played a coroner. "John was superb. He really knew how to use the camera, and vocally he was just born to have a mike nearby," Ted Follows, his co-star in Wojeck, told The Canadian Press. After appearing on Broadway in Royal Hunt of the Sun he became a steady player in U.S. films, making his debut in director John Boorman's Point Blank (1967) as a turncoat tossed to his death by Lee Marvin. Vernon went on to work with other celebrated filmmakers including Alfred Hitchcock (Topaz, 1969); Don Siegel (Dirty Harry, 1971), and Clint Eastwood (The Outlaw Josey Wales, 1976). His deep, menacing voice was custom-made for the many bad guys he played. He reprised his role in National Lampoon's Animal House in the TV spinoff Delta House (1979). Other comedy roles followed, including the part of Mr. Big in the film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka in 1988. Vernon appeared in a DVD edition of Animal House as part of a satiric update on the characters. Wormer was portrayed as a curmudgeonly old man in a wheelchair.
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02-05-2005, 11:55 AM	#2
bossradio93 Game Show Fanatic! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2004 Location: Bellflower, California Posts: 2,392	The thread already exists here:Actor John Vernon, who played Dean Vernon Wormer in 'Animal House', dies.
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02-05-2005, 01:00 PM	#3
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Oops