John Brandon (actor)

Brandon was born in Rego Park, New York, the son of John Thomas and Sarah Brandon. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War,^[1] which after his discharge, he emigrated to the United Kingdom. He began his screen career in 1960, appearing in the BBC anthology television series BBC Sunday-Night Play. In the same year, he appeared in ITV Television Playhouse. In 1966, he appeared in his first credited film Arrivederci, Baby!, playing a radio engineer.^[2]

Brandon guest-starred in numerous television programs including Gunsmoke, Archie Bunker's Place, Three's Company, Fantasy Island, Diff'rent Strokes, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Man in a Suitcase, Frasier, All in the Family, Hazel,^[3] Little House on the Prairie, Private Practice, Murder, She Wrote, Eight Is Enough, Doctor Who, Cagney & Lacey and The Greatest American Hero. He also appeared in films such as Scarface,^[4] The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, The Brink's Job, Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas, Racing with the Moon, The Broken Hearts Club and Battle Beneath the Earth.^[5]

In 1988, Brandon played corrupted police captain William Handler in the final season of the soap opera television series Dynasty. From 1990 to 1991, he played Ben Maclaine, the husband of Helen Maclaine (Tippi Hedren) in The Bold and the Beautiful.^[3][6] He also played Ken Mahoney in Days of Our Lives.^[7] He retired in 2007, last appearing in the medical drama television series Private Practice.^[2]

Brandon died on August 25, 2014, in Middle Village, New York, at the age of 85. He was buried at St. John Cemetery.^[1]