John Bennett Perry

Overview

John Bennett Perry has enjoyed a diverse and successful career that spans over the last few decades. Born in 1941 in Williamstown, Massachusetts, he started a band with his brother Tony and enjoyed local success. His acting roots were firmly planted in New York, where he appeared on Broadway. Dividing his time on both coasts, he appeared in numerous commercials, and became recognizable as the "Old Spice" sailor in the 1970s. He went on to appear in a long list of dramatic and comedic features using both his sarcastic wit and emotional depth to gain fans of moviegoers and critics everywhere.

In 1988, he won a Western Heritage Award for his work on Independence (1987). He had a recurring role as Sheriff Floyd Gilmore on the primetime soap Falcon Crest (1981) and appeared as Frank Arnett in the TV series Air America (1998). He and his real-life son, Matthew Perry, have played father and son on TV in Scrubs (2001) and on the big screen in Fools Rush In (1997). He enjoys touring with his folk/country/comedy band "The Ojai Boys". He lives in Ojai , California, with his wife Debbie, two dogs, a couple of horses and about five chickens.
- IMDb mini biography by: RM Sieger

Father of Matthew Perry and Mia Perry
Best known as the sailor in the "Old Spice" commercials
Played Matthew Perry's father in Fools Rush In (1997), and later in Scrubs (2001); he was scheduled to do so again in the The Beginning of Wisdom (2008). He and Matthew have also appeared on the same shows at separate times: first, John played Joshua's (Tate Donovan) father on Friends (1994) for one episode, but did not appear in any scenes with Matthew. Later, John played a congressman on The West Wing (1999) a few years before Matthew's recurring role as Joe Quincy.
Member of The Ojai Valley Boys country group.
He is of English, Irish, German, and Swiss-German descent.

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