---
name: "John Forsythe"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/john-forsythe"
fi1m_id: "john-forsythe"
imdb_id: "nm0001234"
tmdb_id: 24367
wikidata_id: "Q315217"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "29 January 1918"
died: "1 April 2010"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-10-04T22:46:55.472335+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 Forsythe

## Identity

John Forsythe

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/john-forsythe
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** john-forsythe
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001234
- **TMDB ID:** 24367
- **Wikidata ID:** Q315217
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Forsythe, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315217, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001234/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/24367

Actor. Born 29 January 1918 in Penns Grove, New Jersey, USA. Died 1 April 2010.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 29 January 1918, Penns Grove, New Jersey, USA
- **Died:** 1 April 2010
- **Active:** 1988–2000
- **Also known as:** Джон Форсайт, Jacob Lincoln Freund, John Lincoln Freund
- **Frequently works with:** [Bill Murray](https://film.one/person/bill-murray.md)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Forsythe, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315217, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001234/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/24367

## Fi1m on John Forsythe

> John Forsythe made authority sound reassuring, even when the man exercising it deserved suspicion. We rate his calm, polished presence most when a role gives us reason to question the good manners.

John Forsythe's voice suggests a man accustomed to being heard without having to raise it. Casting him as Lew Hayward, the ghostly mentor in *Scrooged* (1988), puts that reassuring familiarity to mischievous use. We enjoyed the ghosts' bite more than the attempted warmth, because the harsher comedy suits a film whose chief pleasure is Bill Murray's bad temper.

Television had made that voice sufficient in itself. As the unseen Charlie Townsend in *Charlie's Angels* (1976–1981), Forsythe could establish authority without appearing on screen. His earlier prominence as Bentley Gregg in *Bachelor Father* (1957–1962) gave way to the grander surroundings of Blake Carrington in *Dynasty* (1981–1989). He appeared in every episode of the latter, a dependable centre for a programme that made extensive use of his polished bearing.

His film work offered opportunities to unsettle that comfortable impression. Alfred Hitchcock cast him as Sam Marlowe in *The Trouble with Harry* (1955) and worked with him again on *Topaz* (1969). Richard Brooks used him as investigator Alvin Dewey in *In Cold Blood* (1967), while *...And Justice for All* (1979) placed him opposite Al Pacino as the corrupt Judge Henry T. Fleming. That departure from amiability helped lead to his casting in *Dynasty*, where authority became his defining business.

The reservation is that familiarity can do too much of the acting. A well-dressed man with Forsythe's reassuring voice arrives with his importance already established, and we sometimes want more than the assurance that he belongs behind the desk. His casting as Fleming makes particular sense because it gives us a reason to distrust precisely those qualities. Respectability needs some pressure applied to it.

*Scrooged* supplies a less solemn setting for that idea, though Richard Donner's uneven comedy is no reason to overstate Forsythe's contribution. His supporting appearance as Hayward belongs to a film we find decent rather than essential, and Murray supplies most of its pleasure. Try it for an encounter with Forsythe outside his familiar television roles, but allow for Donner's difficulty in making Christmas kindness as entertaining as cruelty.

## Biography

John Forsythe was an American actor who worked in theatre, film and television. Born Jacob Lincoln Freund on 29 January 1918 in Penns Grove, New Jersey, he began his career on stage and appeared in early films including *The Trouble with Harry* (1955).

He achieved his greatest success on television, starring as Bentley Gregg in the sitcom *Bachelor Father* (1957–1962), providing the voice of the unseen Charles Townsend in *Charlie's Angels* (1976–1981) and its later films, and playing Blake Carrington in the soap opera *Dynasty* (1981–1989). He also hosted the documentary series *World of Survival* (1971–1977).

Forsythe's other notable film roles include appearances in *In Cold Blood* (1967), *Topaz* (1969), *...And Justice for All* (1979) and *Scrooged* (1988). He died on 1 April 2010.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Scrooged* (1988), Fi1m 66, as Lew Hayward — [page](https://film.one/film/scrooged.md)

## Complete filmography (78)

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

- *Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle* (2003), as Charles 'Charlie' Townsend (voice)
- *Charlie's Angels* (2000), as Charlie (voice)
- *We Wish You a Merry Christmas* (1999), as Mr. Ryan (voice)
- *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor
- *Gargoyles* (1994), series, as Pat Doyle (voice)
- *Blue Skies* (1994), series, as Henry Baskin
- *The Powers That Be* (1992), series, as William Powers
- *Dynasty: The Reunion* (1991), series, as Blake Carrington
- *Opposites Attract* (1990), as Rex Roper
- *Scrooged* (1988), as Lew Hayward — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/scrooged.md)
- *On Fire* (1987), as Joe Leary, Sr. · Executive Producer
- *The Colbys* (1985), series, Actor
- *Mysterious Two* (1982), as He
- *Sizzle* (1981), as Mike Callahan
- *Dynasty* (1981), series, as Blake Carrington
- *A Time for Miracles* (1980), as Postulator
- *...And Justice for All* (1979), as Judge Henry T. Fleming
- *The Users* (1978), as Reade Jamieson
- *With This Ring* (1978), as Gen. Albert Harris
- *Cruise Into Terror* (1978), as Rev. Charles Mather
- *Goodbye & Amen* (1977), as The American Ambassador
- *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Burt Gardner
- *Never Con a Killer* (1977), as E.J. Valerian
- *Tail Gunner Joe* (1977), as Paul Cunningham
- *Amelia Earhart* (1976), as G.P. Putnam
- *Charlie's Angels* (1976), series, as Charles Townsend (voice)
- *Charlie's Angels* (1976), as Charles Townsend (voice) (uncredited)
- *The Deadly Tower* (1975), as Lt. Elwood Forbes
- *Medical Story* (1975), series, as Amos Winkler
- *Terror on the 40th Floor* (1974), as Dan Overland
- *The Healers* (1974), as Dr. Robert Kier
- *Cry Panic* (1974), as David Ryder
- *Lisa, Bright and Dark* (1973), as William Schilling
- *Police Story* (1973), series, Actor
- *The Letters* (1973), as Paul Anderson
- *Murder Once Removed* (1971), as Dr. Ron Wellesley
- *The Happy Ending* (1969), as Fred Wilson
- *Topaz* (1969), as Michael Nordstrom
- *To Rome with Love* (1969), series, as Michael Endicott
- *Shadow on the Land* (1968), as Gen. Wendell Bruce
- *In Cold Blood* (1967), as Alvin Dewey
- *A Bell for Adano* (1967), as Maj. Victor P. Joppolo
- *Madame X* (1966), as Clay Anderson
- *Run for Your Life* (1965), series, as Spencer Holt
- *The John Forsythe Show* (1965), series, as Major John Foster
- *Kitten with a Whip* (1964), as David Stratton
- *See How They Run* (1964), as Martin Young
- *Kraft Suspense Theatre* (1963), series, as Jerry Wilson / John Williams, Maj. William 'Bill' Livingston
- *The Alfred Hitchcock Hour* (1962), series, as Michael Barnes
- *Kraft Mystery Theatre* (1961), series, Actor
- *What Makes Sammy Run?* (1959), as Al Manheim
- *Dubrovsky* (1959), as Wladia
- *Bachelor Father* (1957), series, as Bentley Gregg
- *Everything But the Truth* (1956), as Ernie Miller
- *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as David Marr
- *The Ambassador's Daughter* (1956), as Sgt. Danny Sullivan
- *Playwrights '56* (1955), series, Actor
- *The Trouble with Harry* (1955), as Sam Marlowe
- *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Kim Stanger
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Joe Sullivan, Adam Barclay, Graham Johnson, Tommy Jordan, Frank Colby
- *Escape from Fort Bravo* (1953), as Captain Marsh
- *The Glass Web* (1953), as Don Newell
- *It Happens Every Thursday* (1953), as Bob MacAvoy
- *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Bentley Gregg · Producer
- *The Captive City* (1952), as James "Jim" C. Austin
- *10,000 Horses Singing* (1952), as Marv Payne
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Captain Fisby, William Schilling
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Hayden Chart, Peter Bronson, Dr. John Carter, Tony Preston
- *The Jack Benny Program* (1950), series, as John Forsythe
- *Robert Montgomery Presents* (1950), series, as Dr. Frederick Steele
- *Arson, Inc.* (1949), as Race Track Aannouncer (voice, uncredited)
- *Suspense* (1949), series, as David, Wiltshire
- *Studio One* (1948), series, as Maj. Peter Brook, Capt. Sam MacKenzie, James Rexham, Marv Payne, Judd, Pete Maynard
- *The Philco Television Playhouse* (1948), series, Actor
- *The Things People Want* (1948), as Don
- *Kraft Television Theatre* (1947), series, Actor
- *Destination Tokyo* (1943), as Sparks
- *Northern Pursuit* (1943), as Corporal (uncredited)

## Gallery

- ![John Forsythe](https://film.one/media/person/5553468/gallery-a45e5fc7cf18.jpg) John Forsythe — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/John_Forsythe_-_1957.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![1980 press photo of actor John Forsythe in the ABC-TV show Dynasty.](https://film.one/media/person/5553468/gallery-ef3247614c77.jpg) 1980 press photo of actor John Forsythe in the ABC-TV show Dynasty. — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/John_Forsythe_%22Dynasty%22_%281980_ABC_press_photo%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![John Forsythe and Kay Medford in "To Rome With Love". (1969)](https://film.one/media/person/5553468/gallery-324439241526.jpg) John Forsythe and Kay Medford in "To Rome With Love". (1969) — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/John_Forsythe_Kay_Medford_%22To_Rome_With_Love%22_%28CBS_1969_press_photo%29.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Publicity photo from Bachelor Father. Pictured are Rochester (Eddie Anderson) and Bentley Gregg (John Forsythe). In this episode, Bentley borrows Rochester from](https://film.one/media/person/5553468/gallery-e13140482d5e.jpg) Publicity photo from Bachelor Father. Pictured are Rochester (Eddie Anderson) and Bentley Gregg (John Forsythe). In this episode, Bentley borrows Rochester from — ABC Television

Uploaded by We hope at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Eddie_anderson_john_forsythe_1962.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![John Forsythe](https://film.one/media/person/5553468/gallery-ed8f39a5d124.jpg) John Forsythe — Image via TMDB
- ![John Forsythe](https://film.one/media/person/5553468/gallery-ad56ef877426.jpg) John Forsythe — Image via TMDB
- ![John Forsythe](https://film.one/media/person/5553468/gallery-ce01aa5e04d6.jpg) John Forsythe — Image via TMDB
- ![Photo of John Forsythe as Fisby and David Wayne as Sakini in the 1954 Broadway production of The Teahouse of the August Moon. They are shown rehearsing a segmen](https://film.one/media/person/5553468/gallery-7e1b04e2aba4.jpg) Photo of John Forsythe as Fisby and David Wayne as Sakini in the 1954 Broadway production of The Teahouse of the August Moon. They are shown rehearsing a segmen — Lou Tripodi, Kenyon & Eckhardt press department, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/John_Forsythe_David_Wayne_Teahouse_of_the_August_Moon_1954.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![John Forsythe](https://film.one/media/person/5553468/gallery-88036a5fb763.jpg) John Forsythe — Image via TMDB

---
© 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-forsythe