John Forrest (actor)

{{Short description|Actor, artist and stage magician (1931–2012)}} {{Infobox person | image = | alt = | caption = | other_names = {{Plainlist|* John Forrest Cairns * John Klox}} | birth_name = John Forsht | birth_date = {{Birth date|1931|3|14}} | birth_place = Bridgeport, Connecticut | death_date = {{Death date and age|2012|3|28|1931|3|14}} | death_place = London, England | citizenship = | education = {{Plainlist|* Imperial Service College * Highgate School}} | occupation = {{Flatlist|* Actor * Artist * Magician}} | years_active = 1946–1990s | spouse = | mother = | father = }}

'''John Forrest''' (14 May 1931 – 28 March 2012) was an American-born British actor, artist and stage magician probably best remembered today for playing the young Herbert Pocket in the film ''Great Expectations'' (1946), directed by David Lean.<ref name=Independent>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-forrest-actor-painter-and-magician-who-worked-with-david-lean-and-lord-olivier-7786238.html John Forrest: Actor, painter and magician who worked with David Lean and Lord Olivier], ''The Independent'', 24 May 2012</ref><ref name=Guardian>Fawley, Charlotte. [https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2012/may/06/john-forrest-obituary John Forrest obituary], ''The Guardian'', 6 May 2012</ref>

==Early life and education== He was born as John Forsht in Bridgeport in Connecticut in 1931 to an American lawyer father and British artist mother. On the breakup of the marriage<ref name=Guardian/> when Forrest was aged five, his mother took him and his sister to England where, in 1939 at the start of World War II the family moved to Taplow on the River Thames; here his mother took in lodgers. Among these was the magician Herbert Spencer, a relative of the celebrated artist Stanley Spencer. Herbert Spencer taught the ten year-old Forrest card tricks. An alcoholic, Spencer fell into the Thames and drowned.<ref name=Independent/>

During the War Forrest attended the Imperial Service College in Windsor where a contemporary was the future-racing driver Stirling Moss. He encouraged Forrest to put on his own magic shows. After the War Forrest moved with his mother and sister to a flat in Kensington in London, where he was to live until his death in 2012. Here he attended from April 1945 Highgate School, as John Forrest Cairns (his mother's surname),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tucker |first1=Rodney C. [Ed.] |title=Highgate School Register |date=1950 |page=440 |edition=5th}}</ref> during which period his mother, herself an artist, encouraged him to take up painting.<ref name=Independent/>

==Career== ===Actor=== In 1946 Forrest was cast as the young Herbert Pocket in David Lean's film ''Great Expectations''. He later recalled, "Suddenly I had responsibility – the sun came out," and his acting career began. Although the part was small he was noticed by the critics, and the fight between the two youths Pip and Pocket was described in the ''Best of British'' film guide as "the funniest scrap ever seen on the screen."<ref name=Independent/> He followed this success with small roles in ''Bonnie Prince Charlie'' (1948) opposite David Niven; in ''The Guinea Pig'' opposite Richard Attenborough (1948); and opposite Jean Simmons in ''Adam and Evelyne'' (1949).<ref name=Guardian/> He played Leslis Wynn in ''The Franchise Affair'' (1951) and was Appleby in ''Gift Horse'' (1952).

In 1949 Laurence Olivier cast him as the Young Collector opposite Vivien Leigh in a production of ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' at the Aldwych Theatre.<ref name=Guardian/> In 1951 he played Flashman in the film ''Tom Brown's Schooldays'', with ''Variety'' applauding "a standout performance by John Forrest as the sneering, bullying Flashman".<ref name="variety">{{cite web |author=Variety Staff |date=1 January 1951 |title=Review: 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' |url=https://variety.com/1950/film/reviews/tom-brown-s-schooldays-1200416821/ |publisher=}}</ref> By now, Forrest was balancing his acting career with that of a professional magician, making his début at Fulham Town Hall in 1955. Later, he was to become a member of the Inner Magic Circle.<ref name=Independent/>

In the late 1950s Forrest began a career as a radio actor, often working for the BBC Third Programme's producer Raymond Raikes and during the 1970s he was a member of the Radio Drama Company. In 1952 he played on stage opposite Barbara Jefford in Pinero's ''Trelawny of the "Wells"'' at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith; while in 1955 he appeared in the West End production of ''The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker'' opposite Nigel Patrick. In 1961 he played "Grassy" Green, an undercover German agent in a POW camp, in the British comedy film ''Very Important Person'' opposite James Robertson Justice. His television roles included Forbes Thompson in an episode of ''Dr. Finlay's Casebook'' (1964), and he appeared in ''Thunder in the West'' (1957), ''Little Women'' (1958), ''Emergency Ward 10'' (1959), ''Armchair Theatre'' (1959), and as Beadle in the 1970 ''Omnibus'' episode "A Requiem for Modigliani".<ref name=Guardian/> He played Captain Blifil in the film ''The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones'' (1976).<ref name=Independent/>

===Magician=== During the 1980s and 1990s Forrest turned more to his magic act, with which he toured the world. Moving to Paris he performed in cabaret venues there and in Monte Carlo as "John Klox". During his eight-minute act he would make clocks appear and disappear and seemingly float through the air.<ref name=Independent/> As John Klox he appeared on ''The Sooty Show'' (1968), ''The Good Old Days'' (1953) and ''International Cabaret'' (1964). Forrest also performed his act in Palm Springs, Hollywood and Los Angeles.<ref name=Guardian/>

==Death== John Forrest died in London in 2012 aged 81. His mother and sister had predeceased him.

==Filmography==  ===Film=== {{Inc-film|date=March 2026}}  {{Div col}} * 1946: ''Great Expectations'' – The Pale Young Gentleman, Herbert Pocket{{nbs|thin}}<ref name="BFIfge">{{cite web | title=''Great Expectations'' (1946): Cast | url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/459186/credits.html | access-date=25 March 2026 | website=Screenonline | publisher=British Film Institute}}</ref> * 1948: ''Bonnie Prince Charlie'' – Neil (uncredited){{nbs|thin}}<ref name=Guardian /> * 1948: ''The Guinea Pig'' – Fitch{{nbs|thin}}<ref name=Guardian/> * 1949: ''Adam and Evelyne'' – Tony{{nbs|thin}}<ref name="TCMfAnE">{{cite web | title=Adam and Evelyne - Adam and Evalyne: Cast | last1=Landazuri | first1=Margarita | date=October 7, 2008 | url=https://www.tcm.com/articles/212798/adam-and-evelyne-adam-and-evalyne | access-date=25 March 2026 | website=Turner Classic Movies}}</ref> * 1951: ''The Franchise Affair'' – Leslis Wynn{{nbs|thin}}<ref name=Guardian /> * 1951: ''Tom Brown's Schooldays'' – Flashman{{nbs|thin}}<ref name="AFIfTBS">{{cite web | title=''Tom Brown's Schooldays'' (1951): Cast | url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/54009-TOM-BROWNS-SCHOOLDAYS | access-date=25 March 2026 | website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films | publisher=American Film Institute}}</ref> * 1952: ''Gift Horse'' (aka ''Glory at Sea'') – Sub-Lieutenant Appleby, the Captain's Steward{{nbs|thin}}<ref name="RTfGS">{{cite web | title=''The Gift Horse'' (1952): Cast & Crew | url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gift_horse/cast-and-crew | access-date=25 March 2026 | website=Rotten Tomatoes | publisher=Fandango Media / NBCUniversal}}</ref> * 1961: ''Very Important Person'' (aka ''A Coming Out Party'') – "Grassy" Green{{nbs|thin}}<ref name=Guardian /> * 1976: ''The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones'' – Captain Blifil{{nbs|thin}}<ref name="AFIfBATJ">{{cite web | title=''The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones'' (1976): Cast | url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/56154-THE-BAWDY-ADVENTURES-OF-TOM-JONES | access-date=25 March 2026 | website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films | publisher=American Film Institute}}</ref> {{div col end}}

===Television=== {{Inc-tv|date=March 2026}}  {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ {{Screen reader-only|John Forrest television credits}} ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- | 1957 || ''Thunder in the West'' || Jonathan Carey || 6 episodes || <ref name=Guardian /> |- | 1958 || ''Good Wives'' || Fred Vaughn || 6 episodes || <ref name=Guardian /> |- | 1959 || ''Emergency Ward 10'' || Charles Wood || 6 episodes || <ref name=Guardian /> |- | 1959 || ''Armchair Theatre'' || Jeremy || 1 episode || <ref name=Guardian /> |- | 1964 || ''Dr. Finlay's Casebook'' || Forbes Thompson || 1 episode || <ref name=Guardian /> |- | 1970 || ''Omnibus'' || Beadle || Episode: "A Requiem for Modigliani" {{small|(S4.E9)}} || <ref name=Guardian /> |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=0286655}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Forrest, John}} Category:1931 births Category:2012 deaths Category:People from Bridgeport, Connecticut Category:Entertainers from London Category:People from Kensington Category:People educated at the Imperial Services College Category:People educated at Highgate School Category:Male actors from Connecticut Category:American magicians Category:British magicians Category:English magicians Category:20th-century English male actors Category:Male actors from London Category:English male film actors Category:English male stage actors Category:English male television actors