---
name: "John Benfield"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/john-benfield"
fi1m_id: "john-benfield"
imdb_id: "nm0071007"
tmdb_id: 42642
wikidata_id: "Q15485378"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "11 September 1951"
died: "16 June 2020"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-07T14:12:00.602029+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# John Benfield

## Identity

John Benfield

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/john-benfield
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** john-benfield
- **IMDb ID:** nm0071007
- **TMDB ID:** 42642
- **Wikidata ID:** Q15485378
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Benfield, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15485378, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0071007/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/42642

Actor. Born 11 September 1951 in Wanstead, London, United Kingdom. Died 16 June 2020.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 11 September 1951, Wanstead, London, United Kingdom
- **Died:** 16 June 2020
- **Active:** 1986–2004
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 68 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Comedy 2, Crime 1, Family 1, Mystery 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $388m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Benfield, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15485378, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0071007/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/42642

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Prime Suspect*](https://film.one/tv/prime-suspect.md) (88)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

John Benfield (born Jonathan Edmund Fulford Turner) was a British character actor. He trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art from 1976 to 1978 and adopted his stage name after another actor called John Turner was already working.

Benfield appeared in numerous films and television productions from 1981 onwards. He is known for his role as Detective Superintendent (later Chief Superintendent) Michael Kernan in the first three series of *Prime Suspect* (1991–1995) and as Chief PO Barker in the film *In the Name of the Father* (1993). Other credits include *101 Dalmatians* (1996), *Beautiful Thing* (1996), *Cassandra's Dream* (2007) and *Speed Racer* (2008).

He died of sarcoma on 16 June 2020, aged 68.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, theguardian.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *101 Dalmatians* (1996), Fi1m 54, as Doorman — [page](https://film.one/film/101-dalmatians.md)
- *Beautiful Thing* (1996), Fi1m 80, as Rodney Barr — [page](https://film.one/film/beautiful-thing.md)
- *In the Name of the Father* (1993), Fi1m 83, as Chief PO Barker — [page](https://film.one/film/in-the-name-of-the-father.md)
- *Prime Suspect* (1991), Fi1m 88, as Michael Kernan — [page](https://film.one/tv/prime-suspect.md)

## Complete filmography (65)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Coldest Game* (2019), Actor
- *Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle* (2018), as Wolf Elder (voice)
- *Cold Skin* (2017), as Captain Axel
- *The Best Offer* (2013), as Barman
- *The Marchioness Disaster* (2008), as Peter Butcher
- *Speed Racer* (2008), as Cruncher Block
- *Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family* (2008), as Cruncher Block
- *Double Time* (2007), series, as Kenny
- *Cassandra's Dream* (2007), as Father
- *Flood* (2007), as Frank
- *Bonkers* (2007), series, as Terry Cavanagh
- *The Worst Week of My Life* (2004), series, as Ron Steel
- *New Tricks* (2004), series, as Doug Palmer
- *Gifted* (2003), as Harry Boothroyd
- *The Third Wave* (2003), as Stevens
- *The Many Lives of Albert Walker* (2002), as DCI Dawlish
- *Charlotte Gray* (2001), as Loque
- *Endgame* (2001), as Dunston
- *All Forgotten* (2001), as Nirmansky
- *24 Hours in London* (2000), as Chief Inspector Duggan
- *Justice in Wonderland* (2000), as Bromfield
- *Hippies* (1999), series, as Dad
- *You're Dead...* (1999), as Insp. Badger
- *Sunburn* (1999), series, as Reg Storey
- *Maisie Raine* (1998), series, as Gordon Daker
- *Cousin Bette* (1998), as Dr. Bianchon
- *Owd Bob* (1998), Actor
- *The Garden of Redemption* (1997), as Mayor of Vaiano
- *Sharpe's Revenge* (1997), as General Jean-Baptiste Calvet
- *101 Dalmatians* (1996), as Doorman — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/101-dalmatians.md)
- *Beautiful Thing* (1996), as Rodney Barr — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/beautiful-thing.md)
- *Carrying Dad* (1995), as Len
- *Calling the Shots* (1994), series, as Charlie
- *In the Name of the Father* (1993), as Chief PO Barker — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/in-the-name-of-the-father.md)
- *The Secret Agent* (1992), as Michaelis
- *Born Kicking* (1992), as Mr Reddy
- *Murder Most Horrid* (1991), series, as Barry Todd
- *Prime Suspect* (1991), series, as Michael Kernan, DCS Michael Kernan — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/prime-suspect.md)
- *'Itch* (1991), as Gordon Turnbull
- *Hidden Agenda* (1990), as Maxwell
- *Treasure Island* (1990), as Black Dog
- *The Paradise Club* (1989), series, as Det. Supt. Chivers
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Inspector Minty
- *Eurocops* (1988), series, as George Jackson
- *Buster* (1988), as Jimmy
- *No Further Cause for Concern* (1988), as Alec
- *Floodtide* (1987), series, as Detective Inspector Brook
- *Casualty* (1986), series, as Albert Rossiter, George Weaver — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/casualty.md)
- *The Monocled Mutineer* (1986), series, Actor
- *ScreenPlay* (1986), series, as Alec
- *Whoops Apocalypse* (1986), as Secret Service Agent
- *Bulman* (1985), series, as DI Holmes
- *Titus Andronicus* (1985), as Messenger / 1st Goth / Caius
- *Number One* (1985), as Contestant
- *Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil* (1985), as Griesch
- *Breakout* (1984), as Minder
- *The Sign of Four* (1983), as McMurdo
- *Henry VI Part 3* (1983), as Earl of Northumberland / Huntsman
- *Henry VI Part 2* (1983), as First Murderer / Ship's Master
- *Henry VI Part 1* (1983), as Basset / French Sergeant
- *The Beggar's Opera* (1983), as Jailer
- *The Day of the Triffids* (1981), series, as Ted
- *The Union* (1981), as 2nd Man
- *The Winter's Tale* (1981), as Gaoler
- *Minder* (1979), series, as Painter — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/minder.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/john-benfield