John Patrick Mahon (February 3, 1938 – May 3, 2020) was an American film, stage and television actor. He was perhaps best known for playing Captain Gillette in the 2007 film Zodiac.
Early life and education Mahon was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the son of an attorney. Mahon had acted while at high school, and at university he met playwright Jason Miller, who encouraged him to audition for stage plays at Marywood College. Shortly after, Mahon joined the University Players.
Mahon studied classical languages and English literature at the University of Scranton. In 1950 he contracted polio, which paralyzed him for a time and left him without the full use of his left arm.
Acting career After graduating from college, Mahon moved to New York City, where he worked as the supervisor of two paper mills. After two years, he decided to try acting as a profession, appearing in off-Broadway productions while working as a taxi driver and waiter. In 1971, Mahon was nominated for a New York Drama Critics Award in the category Best Actor, for his performance in the play Nobody Hears a Broken Drum. He continued to appear on stage through the 1970s, also directing plays.
Mahon guest-starred in television programs including Frasier, Cagney & Lacey, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (7 episodes), Just Shoot Me!, Jake and the Fatman, Steambath, Knots Landing, Generations, The X-Files, Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Diagnosis: Murder, Hunter and The Rockford Files. In 1973 Mahon appeared in a small role in the film The Exorcist. Other film appearances included The People Under the Stairs, One False Move, Bad Influence, L.A. Confidential, The Couch Trip, Armageddon, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and Zodiac. In 1995, Mahon played the role of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the film The American President.
In 2014, Mahon wrote a memoir titled A Life of Make Believe: From Paralysis to Hollywood.
Personal life and death Mahon had two children. He died in May 2020 of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 82.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1973The ExorcistLanguage Lab Director1988The Couch TripPolice Captain1990Bad InfluenceDr. Fielding1991The People Under the StairsPolice Sergeant1992One False MoveChief Jenkins1995The American PresidentChairman of the Joint Chiefs1997L.A. ConfidentialPolice Chief1998ArmageddonKarl1999Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged MeNATO Colonel2007ZodiacRiverside Captain2009A Call to ArmsMajor General Cosgrove
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1976Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthurHoyt VandenbergTelevision film1976The Blue KnightSWAT CommanderEpisode: "To Kill a Tank"1976Police WomanFiremanEpisode: "Tender Soldier"1976–1977The Rockford FilesVarious roles3 episodes1977Police StoryDet. Leo LunaEpisode: "The Blue Fog"1977Eleanor and Franklin: The White House YearsVeteranTelevision film1977A Killing AffairDet. Shoup1977, 1978KojakI. A. D. Man / Lawton2 episodes1978Someone's Watching Me!FrimsinTelevision film1983ManimalManEpisode: "Breath of the Dragon"1984AutomanThe PolicemanEpisode: "Zippers"1984Cagney & LaceyDPA ClerkEpisode: "Baby Broker"1984SteambathThe FanEpisode: "A Preacher and a Jock"1985Cover UpLimo DriverEpisode: "Murder Offshore"1985Crazy Like a FoxLt. DoyleEpisode: "Fox in Wonderland"1985St. ElsewherePolice OfficerEpisode: "Cheers"1985T. J. HookerMr. ZeweckiEpisode: "The Chicago Connection"1985Simon & SimonMinisterEpisode: "Love and/or Marriage"1985Misfits of ScienceTechnicianEpisode: "Guess What's Coming to Dinner"1985Knight RiderAlfie GirdlerEpisode: "Knight Racer"1985MacGyverVendorEpisode: "The Prodigal"1985, 1986Hill Street BluesMario / Detective McConnell2 episodes1986Betrayed by InnocenceBailiffTelevision film1986StingrayDesk Sgt.Episode: "Sometimes You Gotta Sing the Blues"1986Mickey Spillane's Mike HammerSergeant CramerEpisode: "Dead Pidgeon"1987Six Against the RockOfficer Bill MillerTelevision film1987HoopermanChapellEpisode: "Aria da Capo"1988Shakedown on the Sunset StripDeputy Chief EvansTelevision film1989HunterI.A.D. Officer #2Episode: "Shoot to Kill"1989GenerationsCaptain Parker2 episodes1989BaywatchArnold AndersonEpisode: "The Cretin of the Shallows"1989Billy Crystal: Midnight Train to MoscowCabinet MemberTelevision film1990DallasCaptain HolgarEpisode: "A Tale of Two Cities"1990Jake and the FatmanJamesonEpisode: "You Took Advantage of Me"1990Equal JusticeDetective StassenEpisode: "The Price of Justice"1990Knots LandingVarious roles3 episodes1991Flesh 'n' BloodHolly's DadEpisode: "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing"1992Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry StoryInspector HedgesTelevision film1992Final Shot: The Hank Gathers StoryLMU Coach1992HomefrontBus DriverEpisode: "When the Stars Begin to Fall"1992SinatraMr. Cleaves2 episodes1993Space RangersAmb. HardcastleEpisode: "Death Before Dishonor"1993CuttersDaveEpisode: "Give 'Til It Hurts"1993LifepodEarth Corp Ship CommanderTelevision film1994Teresa's TattooCoach Dickler1994RoswellRed Hat Vet1997ProfilerDet. SpitzEpisode: "Blue Highway"1998Brooklyn SouthGene DonovanEpisode: "Dead Man Sleeping"1998The PretenderEugene ClarkEpisode: "A Stand-Up Guy"1998FrasierUncle Walt CraneEpisode: "Beware of Greeks"1998Diagnosis: MurderFire ChiefEpisode: "Resurrection: Part 1"1998The X-FilesGeneral Wegman2 episodes1999Strange WorldAgent MiltonEpisode: "The Devil Still Holds My Hand"1999Just Shoot Me!Alan DrakeEpisode: "Blackmail Photographer"1999, 2000AngelTrevor Lockley2 episodes2000Touched by an AngelWallyEpisode: "A Clown's Prayer"2000BullPaul CatteoEpisode: "What the Past Will Bring"2000JAGAdmiral RockerlyEpisode: "A Separate Peace: Part 2"2001That's LifeLeoEpisode: "Touched by a Biker"2001The DivisionBarry ConstansasEpisode: "What Sharp Teeth You Have"2001Just Ask My ChildrenJudge FergusonTelevision film2004Cold CaseColonelEpisode: "The Plan"2005Zoey 101Mr. BradfordEpisode: "Prank Week"2005Star Trek: EnterpriseAdm. Gardner (Mirror)Episode: "In a Mirror, Darkly"2006–2007Studio 60 on the Sunset StripGeorge7 episodes Video games +YearTitleRoleNotes1999Fleet CommandAdmiral Julius Bennet, USN CINCPACFLT
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