John Levene John Levene ( born John Anthony Woods on 24 December 1941 ) played Sergeant John Benton of UNIT on " Doctor Who " , beginning with " The Invasion " and concluding with " The Android Invasion " . He was born in Salisbury , Wiltshire , England . Levene was working in a men ' s clothing store on Regent Street in London when he met , who encouraged him to sign up as an extra for . However , Levene found himself unable to take part in the film as he was not a member of Equity , but despite this setback he became interested in acting . On joining Equity , he adopted the John Levene as there was already a John Woods registered with the union . His first acting role was in the television series . Other television roles included episodes of ( 1970 ) , " UFO " ( 1970 ) , " The Adventurer " ( 1972 ) and the film " Go For A Take " ( 1972 ) . He also played a police constable in the horror film " Psychomania " ( 1971 ) . He made an uncredited appearance as a Cyberman in the 1967 " Doctor Who " serial " The Moonbase " ( DWM 322 ) and as a Yeti in " The Web of Fear " before making his debut as then - Corporal Benton in the " Doctor Who " serial " The Invasion " in 1968 . Levene had initially signed up to play a Cyberman in " The Invasion " , but landed the role of Benton after the actor originally chosen for the part - who shall remain nameless - was fired by director Douglas Camfield for continually turning up late for filming , causing the schedules to be changed . " The Web of Fear " was , incidentally , the serial that introduced Benton ' s commanding officer , Brigadier Lethbridge - Stewart . Lethbridge - Stewart and UNIT were featured heavily in early 1970s " Doctor Who " and the promoted Sergeant Benton also became a regular . Levene also played a parallel universe version of Benton in " Inferno " . The character of Benton was later promoted to Warrant Officer in " Robot " , thus entitling him to be addressed as " Mister " , but he is usually referred to as " Sergeant " by fans . In 1977 , following his final appearance on " Doctor Who " , he gave up acting as a career to set up his own audiovisual company , Genesis Communications . He has directed well over forty - five audio visuals and live events for clients including the , British Airways , , and . He briefly returned to the role of Benton in the 1987 Reeltime Pictures video production " Wartime " . He also appeared as himself in the " Doctor Who " documentaries " Chronotrip " ( 2001 ) and " Myth Runner " , and also along with former co - stars Jon Pertwee , Nicholas Courtney , and Richard Franklin for the Reeltime documentary " Return to Devil ' s End " , about the making of the classic story , " The Dæmons " . Levene has also worked as an entertainer on cruise liners and has emigrated to the USA , where he has returned to acting under the name John Anthony Blake ( " Blake " being his mother ' s maiden name ) , having successfully managed to obtain the vital Green Card enabling him to work there . He is married and is the father of two adult children from his previous marriage . His latest acting work was on an independent movie called " Cannibalistic " . He has also acted on an episode of " Big Bad Beetleborgs " , industrial videos , and has done some voice - over work for Disney and The Queen Mary Hotel , among others .