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Pat John

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Pat John
BornMarch 1953
Died13 July 2022 (age 69)
OccupationActor
Years active1971–1990; 2002

Pat John (March 1953 – 13 July 2022) was a First Nations actor from Canada. He played for 19 years in The Beachcombers, the second-longest running series in Canadian television history.[1]

John, a member of the shíshálh Nation, was one of the first Indigenous people to appear on television in a non-caricature role.[2] He played Jesse Jim, business partner with Bruno Gerussi in "The Persephone" log-salvaging business on the CBC series. The show became an international hit.

John joined the series in 1971, staying until it ended in 1990.[3] His only other film credit was in the 2002 made-for-TV movie The New Beachcombers where he appeared alongside Marianne Jones who played his wife Laurel in the original series.[4]

He was a student at St. Augustine's Indian Residential School in Sechelt, British Columbia, part of the Canadian Indian residential school system, which involved forced removal and widespread abuse.[5] When he left, he got work at a local sawmill.[3] When The Beachcombers ended, he started clam and shellfish harvesting.[3]

Pat John died at a relative's house in Sechelt on July 13, 2022, aged 69.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Benchetrit, Jenna (14 July 2022). "Pat John, actor who played Jesse on The Beachcombers, is dead at 69". CBC.
  2. ^ Lambert, Steve (14 July 2022). "Pat John, First Nations actor on long running TV show 'The Beachcombers,' dies at 69". Canadian Press.
  3. ^ a b c d Gurney, Michael. "Pat John, beloved as Beachcombers' Jesse Jim, dies at 69". Coast Reporter. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  4. ^ Mullen, Patrick (2 February 2021). "The Beachcombers". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  5. ^ "About". National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
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