# John Beasley (actor)

John Beasley (June 26, 1943 – May 30, 2023) was an American actor. He is best known for his roles in the films Rudy (1993), The Apostle (1997), The Sum of All Fears (2002), Walking Tall (2004), The Purge: Anarchy (2014), Sinister 2 (2015), and his role as Irv Harper in the TV series Everwood (2002–2006). In 2002, Beasley founded the "John Beasley Theater & Workshop" in Omaha, Nebraska, to promote live theater, especially works written by or featuring African Americans.

## Life and career

Beasley was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 26, 1943. He did not begin his acting career until his mid-40s. Prior to that he was a railroad man with the Union Pacific Railroad. He established the John Beasley Theater and Workshop in South Omaha, and he would remain working there for nearly a dozen years.
Beasley played General Lasseter in The Sum of All Fears and Reverend C. Charles Blackwell in The Apostle. In 1992, he played Jesse and Terry Hall's father in The Mighty Ducks. He starred in the 2004 remake of Walking Tall.
Beasley made numerous guest roles on television and has appeared in several television films. His most prominent role in a television series was as Irv Harper in the WB series Everwood. He also appeared in the TV Land sitcom The Soul Man, which aired its fifth and final season in 2016. Beasley also claimed that even if he had not made it to Broadway, he still would have had a successful career.

## Personal life and death

Beasley married Judy Beasley, and would remain her husband for nearly sixty years, until his death. They had two sons and six grandchildren. His grandson Malik is a professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons.
Beasley died at a hospital in Omaha on May 30, 2023, at the age of 79.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1991 | V.I. Warshawski | Ernie |
| 1992 | The Mighty Ducks | Mr. Hall |
| 1993 | Rudy | Coach Warren |
| 1993 | Untamed Heart | Cook |
| 1994 | Little Big League | Roberts |
| 1997 | The Apostle | Brother C. Charles Blackwell |
| 1999 | The General's Daughter | Col. Slesinger |
| 1999 | Crazy in Alabama | Nehemiah Jackson |
| 2000 | The Operator | Rev. James |
| 2000 | Lost Souls | Mike Smythe |
| 2000 | The Gift | Albert Hawkins |
| 2002 | The Sum of All Fears | Gen. Lasseter |
| 2004 | Walking Tall | Chris Vaughn Sr. |
| 2014 | The Purge: Anarchy | Papa Rico Sanchez |
| 2015 | I'll See You in My Dreams | Mike |
| 2015 | Sinister 2 | Father Rodriguez |
| 2019 | The Turkey Bowl | Judge Tibbins |
| 2020 | Cowboys | Ben the Friendly Ranger |
| 2020 | Spell | Earl |
| 2022 | Firestarter | Irv Manders |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | Brewster Place | Mr. Willie | Episodes: "Open for Business", "Spring Fever", "Whatever Happened to Patience Jones", "Bernice Sands Comes Home" |
| 1993 | Laurel Avenue | Mr. Coleman | TV miniseries |
| 1997 | To Sir, with Love II | Ogden | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1998 | Early Edition | Capt. Leon Haines | Episodes: "A Minor Miracle", "The Quality of Mercy" |
| 1999 | Millennium | James Edward Hollis | Episodes: "Darwin's Eye", "Via Dolorosa", "Goodbye to All That" |
| 1999 | A.T.F. | Sec. Robert Edward | TV film |
| 2000 | Freedom Song | Jonah Summer | TV film |
| 2000 | Disappearing Acts | Mr. Banks | TV film |
| 2000, 2003 | Judging Amy | Judge Henry Bromell | Episodes: "Dog Days", "Shock and Awe", "Kilt Trip" |
| 2000–2001 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Charles Moore | Episodes: "Crate 'n' Burial", "Evaluation Day" |
| 2002–2006 | Everwood | Irv Harper | Main role |
| 2006 | The Lost Room | Gus | Episode: "The Comb and the Box" |
| 2007 | NCIS | Daryl Hardy | Episode: "Suspicion" |
| 2007 | Boston Legal | Det. Walter McKay | Episode: "The Chicken and the Leg" |
| 2009 | Chasing a Dream | Peter Boscow | TV film |
| 2010 | CSI: Miami | Henry Dawson | Episode: "Backfire" |
| 2011 | Harry's Law | Judge Ronald Winston | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2011 | Detroit 1-8-7 | Joe King | Episode: "Beaten/Cover Letter" |
| 2011 | Treme | Don Encalade | Episodes: "Carnival Time", "Can I Change My Mind?", What Is New Orleans?", "Do Watcha Wanna" |
| 2012–2016 | The Soul Man | Barton Ballentine | Main role (season 1), recurring (seasons 2–5) |
| 2017 | The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks | Cliff | TV film |
| 2017 | Shots Fired | Mr. Dabney | Recurring role |
| 2018 | The Resident | Mortimer Rosenthal | Episode: "Comrades in Arms" |
| 2019 | Limetown | The Reverend | Episodes: "Rake", "Napoleon" |
| 2019 | The Mandalorian | Bartender | Episode: "Chapter One" |
| 2021 | Your Honor | Elijah Davies | Episode: "Part Ten" |