# John Mahon (actor)

John Patrick Mahon (February 3, 1938 – May 3, 2020) was an American film, stage and television actor. He was perhaps best known for playing Captain Gillette in the 2007 film Zodiac.

## Early life and education

Mahon was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the son of an attorney. Mahon had acted while at high school, and at university he met playwright Jason Miller, who encouraged him to audition for stage plays at Marywood College. Shortly after, Mahon joined the University Players.
Mahon studied classical languages and English literature at the University of Scranton. In 1950 he contracted polio, which paralyzed him for a time and left him without the full use of his left arm.

## Acting career

After graduating from college, Mahon moved to New York City, where he worked as the supervisor of two paper mills. After two years, he decided to try acting as a profession, appearing in off-Broadway productions while working as a taxi driver and waiter. In 1971, Mahon was nominated for a New York Drama Critics Award in the category Best Actor, for his performance in the play Nobody Hears a Broken Drum. He continued to appear on stage through the 1970s, also directing plays.
Mahon guest-starred in television programs including Frasier, Cagney & Lacey, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (7 episodes), Just Shoot Me!, Jake and the Fatman, Steambath, Knots Landing, Generations, The X-Files, Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Diagnosis: Murder, Hunter and The Rockford Files. In 1973 Mahon appeared in a small role in the film The Exorcist. Other film appearances included The People Under the Stairs, One False Move, Bad Influence, L.A. Confidential, The Couch Trip, Armageddon, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and Zodiac. In 1995, Mahon played the role of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the film The American President.
In 2014, Mahon wrote a memoir titled A Life of Make Believe: From Paralysis to Hollywood.

## Personal life

Mahon had two children. He died in May 2020 of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 82.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1973 | The Exorcist | Language Lab Director |
| 1988 | The Couch Trip | Police Captain |
| 1990 | Bad Influence | Dr. Fielding |
| 1991 | The People Under the Stairs | Police Sergeant |
| 1992 | One False Move | Chief Jenkins |
| 1995 | The American President | Chairman of the Joint Chiefs |
| 1997 | L.A. Confidential | Police Chief |
| 1998 | Armageddon | Karl |
| 1999 | Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me | NATO Colonel |
| 2007 | Zodiac | Riverside Captain |
| 2009 | A Call to Arms | Major General Cosgrove |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1976 | Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur | Hoyt Vandenberg | Television film |
| 1976 | The Blue Knight | SWAT Commander | Episode: "To Kill a Tank" |
| 1976 | Police Woman | Fireman | Episode: "Tender Soldier" |
| 1976–1977 | The Rockford Files | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1977 | Police Story | Det. Leo Luna | Episode: "The Blue Fog" |
| 1977 | Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years | Veteran | Television film |
| 1977 | A Killing Affair | Det. Shoup | Television film |
| 1977, 1978 | Kojak | I. A. D. Man / Lawton | 2 episodes |
| 1978 | Someone's Watching Me! | Frimsin | Television film |
| 1983 | Manimal | Man | Episode: "Breath of the Dragon" |
| 1984 | Automan | The Policeman | Episode: "Zippers" |
| 1984 | Cagney & Lacey | DPA Clerk | Episode: "Baby Broker" |
| 1984 | Steambath | The Fan | Episode: "A Preacher and a Jock" |
| 1985 | Cover Up | Limo Driver | Episode: "Murder Offshore" |
| 1985 | Crazy Like a Fox | Lt. Doyle | Episode: "Fox in Wonderland" |
| 1985 | St. Elsewhere | Police Officer | Episode: "Cheers" |
| 1985 | T. J. Hooker | Mr. Zewecki | Episode: "The Chicago Connection" |
| 1985 | Simon & Simon | Minister | Episode: "Love and/or Marriage" |
| 1985 | Misfits of Science | Technician | Episode: "Guess What's Coming to Dinner" |
| 1985 | Knight Rider | Alfie Girdler | Episode: "Knight Racer" |
| 1985 | MacGyver | Vendor | Episode: "The Prodigal" |
| 1985, 1986 | Hill Street Blues | Mario / Detective McConnell | 2 episodes |
| 1986 | Betrayed by Innocence | Bailiff | Television film |
| 1986 | Stingray | Desk Sgt. | Episode: "Sometimes You Gotta Sing the Blues" |
| 1986 | Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer | Sergeant Cramer | Episode: "Dead Pidgeon" |
| 1987 | Six Against the Rock | Officer Bill Miller | Television film |
| 1987 | Hooperman | Chapell | Episode: "Aria da Capo" |
| 1988 | Shakedown on the Sunset Strip | Deputy Chief Evans | Television film |
| 1989 | Hunter | I.A.D. Officer #2 | Episode: "Shoot to Kill" |
| 1989 | Generations | Captain Parker | 2 episodes |
| 1989 | Baywatch | Arnold Anderson | Episode: "The Cretin of the Shallows" |
| 1989 | Billy Crystal: Midnight Train to Moscow | Cabinet Member | Television film |
| 1990 | Dallas | Captain Holgar | Episode: "A Tale of Two Cities" |
| 1990 | Jake and the Fatman | Jameson | Episode: "You Took Advantage of Me" |
| 1990 | Equal Justice | Detective Stassen | Episode: "The Price of Justice" |
| 1990 | Knots Landing | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1991 | Flesh 'n' Blood | Holly's Dad | Episode: "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" |
| 1992 | Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story | Inspector Hedges | Television film |
| 1992 | Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story | LMU Coach | Television film |
| 1992 | Homefront | Bus Driver | Episode: "When the Stars Begin to Fall" |
| 1992 | Sinatra | Mr. Cleaves | 2 episodes |
| 1993 | Space Rangers | Amb. Hardcastle | Episode: "Death Before Dishonor" |
| 1993 | Cutters | Dave | Episode: "Give 'Til It Hurts" |
| 1993 | Lifepod | Earth Corp Ship Commander | Television film |
| 1994 | Teresa's Tattoo | Coach Dickler | Television film |
| 1994 | Roswell | Red Hat Vet | Television film |
| 1997 | Profiler | Det. Spitz | Episode: "Blue Highway" |
| 1998 | Brooklyn South | Gene Donovan | Episode: "Dead Man Sleeping" |
| 1998 | The Pretender | Eugene Clark | Episode: "A Stand-Up Guy" |
| 1998 | Frasier | Uncle Walt Crane | Episode: "Beware of Greeks" |
| 1998 | Diagnosis: Murder | Fire Chief | Episode: "Resurrection: Part 1" |
| 1998 | The X-Files | General Wegman | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Strange World | Agent Milton | Episode: "The Devil Still Holds My Hand" |
| 1999 | Just Shoot Me! | Alan Drake | Episode: "Blackmail Photographer" |
| 1999, 2000 | Angel | Trevor Lockley | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Touched by an Angel | Wally | Episode: "A Clown's Prayer" |
| 2000 | Bull | Paul Catteo | Episode: "What the Past Will Bring" |
| 2000 | JAG | Admiral Rockerly | Episode: "A Separate Peace: Part 2" |
| 2001 | That's Life | Leo | Episode: "Touched by a Biker" |
| 2001 | The Division | Barry Constansas | Episode: "What Sharp Teeth You Have" |
| 2001 | Just Ask My Children | Judge Ferguson | Television film |
| 2004 | Cold Case | Colonel | Episode: "The Plan" |
| 2005 | Zoey 101 | Mr. Bradford | Episode: "Prank Week" |
| 2005 | Star Trek: Enterprise | Adm. Gardner (Mirror) | Episode: "In a Mirror, Darkly" |
| 2006–2007 | Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip | George | 7 episodes |