Pat John
First Nations actor from Canada (1953–2022)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pat John (March 1953 – 13 July 2022) was a First Nations actor from Canada. He played for 19 years in The Beachcombers, the second-longest running series in Canadian television history.[1]
Pat John | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 1953 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Died | 13 July 2022 (age 69) Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1971–1990; 2002 |
John, a member of the shíshálh Nation, was one of the first Indigenous people to appear on television in a non-caricature role.[2] He played Jesse Jim, business partner with Bruno Gerussi in "The Persephone" log-salvaging business on the CBC series. The show became an international hit.
John joined the series in 1972, staying until it ended in 1990.[3] His only other film credit was in the 2002 made-for-TV movie The New Beachcombers where he appeared alongside Marianne Jones who played his wife Laurel in the original series.[4]
He was a student at St. Augustine's Indian Residential School in Sechelt, British Columbia, part of the Canadian Indian residential school system, which involved forced removal and widespread abuse.[5] When he left, he got work at a local sawmill.[3] When The Beachcombers ended, he started clam and shellfish harvesting.[3]
Pat John died at a relative's house in Sechelt on July 13, 2022, aged 69.[3]
