John Levene is an English actor. His best-known role was that of Sergeant Benton, of UNIT in the science-fiction television series Doctor Who.
Background
John Woods was born at Salisbury in Wiltshire. He was working in a men's clothing store on Regent Street in London when Telly Savalas came to the store and encouraged him to sign up as an actor for The Dirty Dozen. Although he failed to secure a part in the film, since he was not a union member, he became interested in acting. Upon joining Equity, he adopted the professional nameJohn Levene to avoid confusion with another John Woods who was already registered with the union.
Film and television
Levene's first acting role was in the television series Adam Adamant Lives! Other TV roles included episodes of Callan and The Adventurer, and he also appeared in the films Zeppelin, Go for a Take, Dark Places, Psychomania and Permission to Kill.
''Doctor Who''
Levene made his first appearances in Doctor Who as an uncredited Cyberman in the 1967 serial The Moonbase and as a Yeti in The Web of Fear, before making his first appearance as then-Corporal Benton of UNIT in The Invasion. UNIT were featured heavily in early-1970s Doctor Who, and the promoted Sergeant Benton also became a regular, appearing in a total of 16 serials. Levene's last regular appearance was in the Fourth Doctor serial The Android Invasion.
After ''Doctor Who''
In 1977, following his final appearance on Doctor Who, Levene gave up acting as a career to set up his own audio-visual company, Genesis Communications. He has since directed more than 45 audio-visuals and live events for various clients including the Ford Motor Company, British Airways, KFC, Amway and Revlon. Levene has worked as an entertainer on cruise liners and has also lived in the United States, where he returned to acting under the name John Anthony Blake. Levene's most recent acting work was in an independent film titled Satan Hates You He has also appeared in an episode of Big Bad Beetleborgs and industrial videos. In 2019, Levene published his autobiography, entitled Run the Shadows, Walk the Sun.
Reprising Benton
In 1983 Levene turned down the opportunity to reprise the role of Benton for the 20th-anniversary Doctor Who special The Five Doctors. Five years later he did return to the role for the 1988 Reeltime Picturesvideo productionWartime. In 2008, Levene co-starred with Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred in Twice Upon a Timelord, a video production in which the Seventh Doctor and Ace attend Benton's wedding. In 2013, Levene reprised the character once again for the Big Finish Companion Chronicle Council of War.
Music
His music albumThe Ballads of Sergeant Benton was released in September 2012. The same year, he returned to the UK to promote himself and his album at a number of Doctor Who events.
Audio
In 2013 Levene appeared in the Big Finish Companion Chronicle Council of War. In 2015 he recorded vocals for an audio adaptation of the Doctor Who charity novel Time's Champion. He has also performed voice-over work for Disney and The Queen Mary Hotel, among other companies. In September 2017, he joined other Doctor Who stars, including showrunnerSteven Moffat, in recording audio contributions for the YouTube anniversary video of mutimedia artist Stuart Humphryes.
