Sessions, John 1953-

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Sessions, John 1953-

PERSONAL

Original name, John Gibb Marshall; born January 11, 1953, in Largs, Scotland. Education: University of Wales, M.A., English literature; did Ph.D. research at McMaster University; studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Addresses:

Agent—Markham and Froggatt, Ltd., 4 Windmill St., London W1P 1HF, England.

Career:

Actor. Appeared in the short trailer "The Comedy Trail: A Shaggy Dog Story," BBC, 1999.

Member:

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (associate member).

Awards, Honors:

Film Discovery Jury Award, best actor, U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, 2004, for Stella Street.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

The Sender (also known as Il messaggero della morte, Nadawca, Nattens saang, and Teuflische Signale), Paramount, 1982.

John Smith, The Bounty (also known as Bounty—kapina laivalla, Die Bounty, I antarsia tou Bounty, Il Bounty, Lazadas a Bountyn, Le Bounty, Motin a bordo, and Revolta de pe Bounty), Orion, 1984.

Flight, Sky Bandits (also known as Gunbus), Galaxy International Releasing, 1986.

Man in pub, Castaway, Cannon, 1986.

Mr. Sweetzer, Whoops Apocalypse (also known as As golpadas da politica, Die Bombe fliegt, La loca guerra de la Gran Bretana, Se on menoa nyt, Se on ydinsota nyt, Una signora chiamata presidente, Whoops—Apocalipse Ja!, and Zu splaet—Die Bombe fliegt), ITC Entertainment Group, 1986, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1988.

MacMorris, Henry V (also known as Enrico V, Enrique V, Henric al V-lea, Henrich V., Henrik V, Henrique V, Kuningas Henrik V, and V. Henrik), Samuel Goldwyn, 1989.

Dino, The Pope Must Die (also known as The Pope Must Diet), Miramax, 1991.

Voices of Scotty and other characters, Freddie the Frog (animated; also known as Freddie as F.R.O.7, Agent Freddie—I hans majeststaets hemliga tjaenst, Freddie agent O.7., Freddie, der Superfrosch, Fredi sammakko, and Froen Freddy), Miramax, 1992.

Prince regent, Princess Caraboo (also known as La princesa Caraboo, La principessa degli intrighi, Princesse Caraboo, Prinsessa Caraboo, and Prinzessin Caraboo), TriStar, 1994.

Voices of William S. Burroughs and Ken Kesey, Drug-Taking and the Arts (documentary), 1994.

Terry Du Bois and Queen Gertrude, In the Bleak Midwinter (also known as A Midwinter's Tale), Sony Pictures Classics, 1995.

Schoolmaster, The Adventures of Pinocchio (also known as Carlo Collodi's "Pinocchio," Pinocchio, As aventuras de Pinocchio, Die Legende von Pinocchio, Las aventuras de Pinocho, Les aventures de Pinocchio, Oi peripeteies tou Pinocchio, Ostrzek, Pinocchion seikkailut, Pinocchios aeventyr, Pinocho, la leyenda, Pinokyo, and Przygody Pinokia), New Line Cinema, 1996.

Humphrey Gould, The Scarlet Tunic, Scarlet Films, 1998.

Musical director, Cousin Bette, Fox Searchlight Pictures, 1998.

Philostrate, A Midsummer Night's Dream (also known as William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Sogno di una notte di mezza estate), Fox Searchlight Pictures, 1999.

Voice of Chudley, Faeries (animated; also known as Entfuhrung ins Elfenreich), 1999.

Voice of Passepartout, Around the World in 80 Days (animated; also known as La vuelta al mundo en 80 dias), 1999.

Paul Jarrico, One of the Hollywood Ten (documentary; also known as Punto de mira and Punto di vista), Alibi Films International, 2000.

Director, High Heels and Low Lives (also known as Blackmail, Kiristaejaet piikkikoroissa, Ladrones de lujo, Mulheres e chantagens, Perigo de saltos altos, Rouge a levres (& arme a feu), Rouge a levres et arme a feu, Toc inalt si minte brici, and Verbrechen verfuhrt), Buena Vista, 2001.

Harry Watkins and Lincoln, Gangs of New York (also known as Gang of New York, Gangs de Nova Iorque, Gangues de Nova York, Knufiot New York, Les gangs de New York, New Yorgi jougud, and Pandillas de Nueva York), Miramax, 2002.

Mr. Reynard, Lighthouse Hill, Flamingo Films, 2004.

Peasemarsh, Five Children and It (also known as 5 Children & It and Cinq enfants et moi), Capitol Films, 2004.

Salerio, The Merchant of Venice (also known as William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" and Il mercante di Venezia), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Sony Pictures Classics, 2004.

Various characters, Stella Street, Columbia/TriStar, 2004.

Voice of Kelpie, The Loch Ness Kelpie (animated short film), Scottish Screen, 2004.

Felix Miles Sty, Rag Tale, Becker Films International, 2005.

Valentin Mironov and Yuri Modin, The Good Shepherd (also known as Den innersta kretsen, Der Gute Hirte, Dobar pastir, El buen pastor, Hea karjane, Kirli sirlar, O kathodigitis, and Raisons d'etat), Universal, 2006.

Finbar "Finn" Darrow, Art in Las Vegas, Scion Films/Pembridge Pictures/Prospero Pictures, 2007.

Joe, Intervention (also known as Funny Farm), Scion Films/Pembridge Pictures/Prospero Pictures, 2007.

Dylan, Rafford Films, 2008.

Television Appearances; Series:

Various characters, Laugh??? I Nearly Paid My Licence Fee, BBC, beginning 1984.

Various voices, Spitting Image (also known as Spitting Back), Central Television, 1984-94 and 1996.

Himself, Whose Line Is It Anyway? (also known as Whose Line and WLiiA), Channel 4 (England), 1988-91, and appeared in archive footage in various compilations.

Various characters, John Sessions, beginning 1989.

Various characters, John Sessions' "Tall Tales," BBC, 1991.

James Boswell, Screenplay: Boswell & Johnson's Tour of the Western Isles (also known as Boswell & Johnson's Tour of the Western Isles), [Great Britain], beginning 1993.

Tippit, Nice Day at the Office, BBC, 1994.

Various characters, John Sessions' "Likely Stories," BBC, 1994.

Various characters, Stella Street, BBC-2, beginning 1997.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Young Scot, Tender Is the Night, Showtime, 1985.

Lionel Zipser, Porterhouse Blue, Channel 4 (England), 1987.

Larry Knight, Menace Unseen (also known as Naekymaetoen uhka), Independent Television (England), 1988.

McMurdo, Jute City, BBC, 1991.

Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (also known as Henry Fielding's "The History of Tom Jones," Henry Fielding's "Tom Jones," and Historia de Tom Jones enjeitado), BBC, 1997, Arts and Entertainment, 1998.

Hercules Fortescue, In the Red (also known as Dans le rouge and Murhatunnari), BBC, 1998.

Dr. Prunesquallor, Gormenghast, BBC-2 and BBC America, 2000.

Mr. Hansell, The Lost Prince (also known as El principe and Kadonnut prinssi), BBC, 2003, broadcast on Masterpiece Theatre (also known as ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre and Mobil Masterpiece Theatre), PBS, 2005.

Professor Barry Lennox, Low Winter Sun, Channel 4 and BBC America, 2006.

Mr. Sowerberry, Oliver Twist, BBC, 2007.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Croser, A Day in the Summer, Yorkshire Television, 1989.

John, Sweet Revenge (also known as Une femme parfaite), TNT, 1990.

John Locke, Citizen Locke, 1994.

Daniel, My Night with Reg, BBC, 1996.

Redman, The Treasure Seekers, 1996.

Jerry Barnes, The Man, 1999.

Dennis Sciama, Hawking, BBC, 2004.

Ridley, The English Harem, Independent Television (England), 2005.

Professor Bell, Reichenbach Falls (also known as The Acid Test), BBC, 2007.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Voice, Spitting Image: Down and Out in the White House, NBC, 1986.

The Madness Museum, 1986.

Voice, Spitting Image: The Ronnie and Nancy Show, NBC, 1987.

Himself, A Night of Comic Relief 2, BBC, 1989.

Frosch, Die Fledermaus (opera), BBC, 1990.

Voices of Laurens and Acco Bouvaix, David Macaulay: Roman City (live action and animated; also known as City), PBS, 1994.

Himself, Live from Lighthouse, 1998.

The owl, Queen's Park Story (short), BBC, 1998.

George Henry Lewes, George Eliot: A Scandalous Life, BBC, 2002.

Voice of Shadrack Moore, Mill Times (live action and animated), PBS, 2002.

Spencer, The Key, BBC, 2003.

Rival editor, The Legend of the Tamworth Two, BBC, 2004.

Presenter, The Proms, BBC, 2006.

Himself, Stephen Fry: 50 Not Out, BBC Four, 2007.

Various characters, Comic Relief 2007: The Big One, 2007.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

Voice, Spitting Image: The 1987 Movie Awards, NBC, 1987.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Dean, "Cassie," Happy Families, BBC, 1985.

The Lenny Henry Show, BBC, 1985.

Barney Spitz, "Box 13," Boon, Independent Television (England), 1986.

Rodney, "Who's Ya Uncle Shelley?," Girls on Top, Independent Television, 1986.

Radio voices, "Four and Twenty Blackbirds," Poirot (also known as Agatha Christie's "Poirot" and Hercule Poirot), Independent Television, 1989, broadcast on Mystery!, PBS, c. 1990.

Voice of snooker competition entrant, "Dramatic Fever," One Foot in the Grave, BBC, 1990.

Himself, Saturday Night Clive (also known as Clive James), Channel 4 (England), 1990, 1994.

Lord Penistone, "Let Them Sniff Cake," The New Statesman, Independent Television, 1991.

Himself, Wogan (also known as The Wogan Years), BBC, 1991.

Himself, Have I Got News for You (also known as HIGNFY, Have I Got 1992 for You, Have I Got Old News for You, and Have I Got the 90s for You, longer version known as Have I Got a Little Bit More News for You), BBC, 1992 (multiple episodes).

Himself, Aspel & Company, Independent Television, 1992, 1993.

Himself, The Full Wax, BBC, 1993.

Himself, Bore of the Year Awards, c. 1993.

Himself, "Kings of Comedy," Light Lunch, Channel 4, 1997.

Himself, "Richard Briers: A Good Life," Funny Turns, BBC, 2000.

Combe Fishacre, "O Happy Isle," Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) (also known as Randall & Hopkirk), BBC, 2001.

Professor Rutherford, "The Kingdom of Bones," Murder Rooms (also known as Murder Rooms: The Kingdom of Bones), BBC, 2001.

Himself, Later with Jools Holland (also known as A Little Later), BBC, 2001.

Brian Cantwell, QC (queen's counsel), "Political Expediency," Judge John Deed, BBC, 2002.

Charlie Penn, "Dialogues of the Dead," Dalziel and Pascoe, BBC, 2002.

John Corntel, "Well Schooled in Murder," The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, BBC, 2002, also broadcast on Mystery!, PBS.

Barrett Filby, "Painted in Blood," Midsomer Murders, Independent Television, BBC, and Arts and Entertainment, 2003.

Brian Cantwell, QC (queen's counsel), "Conspiracy," Judge John Deed, BBC, 2003.

Himself, "A Life in the Day," Grumpy Old Men, BBC, 2003.

Himself, QI (also known as Quite Interesting), BBC, episodes from 2003-2006.

Brian Cantwell, QC (queen's counsel), "Defence of the Realm," Judge John Deed, BBC, 2005.

John Kennedy, "Spinning America," Absolute Power, BBC, 2005.

Himself, The Culture Show, BBC, 2005.

Cardew Pye, "The Moving Finger," Marple (also known as Agatha Christie"Marple: The Moving Finger," Agatha Christie's "Marple," Agatha Christie's "Miss Marple," Marple: The Moving Finger, Miss Marple, Miss Marple, Series II: The Moving Finger, and Miss Marple—La plume empoisonnee), Independent Television, 2006, also broadcast on Arts and Entertainment and CBC.

Storyteller, "Muddle Earth," Jackanory, BBC, 2006.

Himself, Sunday AM, 2006.

Voice of himself, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, syndicated, 2006.

Dr. Finlay McKenzie, "Casualty," New Tricks, BBC, 2007.

Himself, "Bullets, Bombs and Bridges: The Story of the War Film," British Film Forever (documentary), BBC, 2007.

Himself, "Longing, Loving and Leg-Overs: The Story of British Romance," British Film Forever (documentary), BBC, 2007.

Donovan Credo, Hotel Babylon, BBC, 2007.

Radio Appearances:

Panelist, Whose Line Is It Anyway? (also known as Whose Line and WLiiA), BBC Radio 4, beginning c. 1987.

Voice of Manfred Strumer, Private Passions, BBC Radio 3, multiple episodes, including 1997.

Voices of various characters, Dead Man Talking, BBC Radio 4, beginning c. 2001.

Stage Appearances:

Appeared in Paint Said Fred, Royal Academy of Art. Also appeared in other productions, including Life of Napoleon and Traveling Tails.

Internet Appearances:

General Tannis, "Death Comes to Time" (miniseries), Doctor Who, BBCi Cult, c. 2001.

RECORDINGS

Videos:

Himself, A Profile of "Brief Encounter" (short), Carlton International Media, 2000.

(In archive footage) Himself, The Very Best of "Have I Got News for You," Video Collection International, 2002.

Himself, "Merchant of Venice": Shakespeare Through the Lens (short), Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 2005.

Audiobooks:

Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell, Muddle Earth, Macmillan Audio Books, 2004.

Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, Asterix and the Golden Sickle, Orion Books, 2005.

Goscinny and Uderzo, Asterix and the Goths, Orion Books, 2005.

Goscinny and Uderzo, Asterix the Gaul, Orion Books, 2005.

Goscinny and Uderzo, Asterix the Gladiator, Orion Books, 2005.

Goscinny and Uderzo, Asterix and the Big Fight, Orion Books, 2006.

Paul Torday, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Orion Books, 2007.

WRITINGS

Screenplays:

Stella Street, Columbia/TriStar, 2004.

Additional dialogue, Churchill: The Hollywood Years, Pathe, 2004.

Teleplays; Series:

(With others) Laugh??? I Nearly Paid My Licence Fee, BBC, beginning 1984.

(With others) Whose Line Is It Anyway? (also known as Whose Line and WliiA), Channel 4 (England), 1988-91, and material appeared as archive footage in various compilations.

John Sessions, beginning 1989.

John Sessions' "Tall Tales," BBC, 1991.

John Sessions' "Likely Stories," BBC, 1994.

(With others) Stella Street, BBC-2, beginning 1997.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

The Face, August, 1987, pp. 19-21.

Radio Times, May 14, 1994, pp. 24-26; February 17, 1996, p. 10.