John Bennett Perry Biography

John Perry formed a music band with his brother Tony Perry and used to perform in local functions, pubs, and shows. They became fairly popular in the neighborhood for their music. In the mid-1960s, Perry started his professional modeling career and appeared in commercials for many top brands. He portrayed a ‘clean-shaven’ sailor in one of Old Spice’s commercials for men’s’ grooming products. This image of his became iconic and so popular among both men and women that the company decided to make this ‘clean-shaven sailor’ commercial their primary marketing image. He appeared in this ‘avatar’ in the late 1960s and 1970s in different commercials for Old Spice.

Perry made his acting debut in 1972 in a television movie titled ‘Bobby Jo and the Good Time Band’ as ‘Jeff’. He appeared in a recurring role, ‘Sergeant Chick Torpi’, in the anthology television series ‘Police Story’. He was the host of the talk show ‘Everyday’ for two episodes which earned him a nomination at the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host or Hostess in a Talk, Service or Variety Series. In 1976, Perry made his debut on the silver screen. He portrayed the character of ‘Martin McCormick’ in the American thriller film ‘Lipstick’. In the next few years, he made appearances in many popular films in supporting roles. Some of his popular films are ‘The Legend of the Lone Ranger’ as ‘Ranger Captain Dan Reid’, ‘Only When I Laugh’ as ‘Vincent Heller’, and ‘Farewell to the King’ as ‘General MacArthur’.

In the late 1970s, he appeared in a regular role, ‘Deputy Theodore Roosevelt 'Trap' Applegate III’, in the drama series ‘240-Robert’. He got another regular role in the series ‘Paper Dolls’ as ‘Michael Caswell’. Between 1985 and 1986, Perry portrayed the character of ‘Sheriff Floyd Gilmore’ in the CBS primetime soap opera ‘Falcon Crest’. In 1996, in the sci-fi action film ‘Independence Day’, based on alien invasion, Perry appeared as a secret service man. John Perry appeared alongside his real-life son Matthew Perry in his popular television show ‘FRIENDS’ in one episode, ‘The One with Rachel's New Dress,’ as a guest character. His other popular works on television include ‘Family Law’, ‘It's Like, You Know...’, ‘Providence’, ‘7th Heaven’, ‘Veronica Mars’, and ‘The Closer’.

John Bennett Perry was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, on January 4, 1941, to Maria Schaefer-Bennett and Alton L. Perry. Perry grew up with his brother Tony, with whom he shared a strong bond. He attended St. Lawrence University in St. Lawrence County, New York, and became a part of its Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.

He married Suzanne Langford and had a son, the future actor Matthew Perry. Before Matthew’s first birthday, the couple ended their marriage in a divorce. He then married Debbie Perry and had a daughter named Mia Perry with her.