Acting
Community Rating
5.7
TMDB estimate
Born
June 22, 1931
Died
February 11, 2026 (age 94)
Born in
Liverpool, England, UK
John Swindells, a Liverpool native and former student of Quarry Bank Grammar School and Liverpool College of Art, established his international career in the arts. Settled in Victoria, B.C., since 1973, he's known for leading roles across UK stages, Toronto, Canadian theatres, and even in New York and US regional theatres. His work spans television, including 65 episodes of “Z.Cars” as Sgt Ted Bowman (BBC, 1970-1973) and a role as Inspector Ted Bowman in CBC’s “Side Street” (1977-1980). He portrayed J.E.H. McDonald in CBC’s “The Passionate Canadians,” which focused on the "Group of Seven" artists. He made a guest appearance in “B.L. Stryker” (US). Swindells notably played First Technician in Stanley Kubrick's landmark film “2001: A Space Odyssey”. His biography is included in “Who’s Who in the Theatre, Contemporary Stage, Film, and Television” (1983).

The Donor
as Armand Perris
1995
Butterbox Babies
as Judge Doull
1995

The Women of Windsor
as Police Instructor
1992

Friends, Lovers, & Lunatics
as Ned
1989

Passion and Paradise
as Col. R.A. Erskine Lindop
1989

Age of Innocence
as Griffen
1977

Assault
as Desk Sergeant
1971

Shadows of Fear
as Postman
1970

2001: A Space Odyssey
as TMA-1 Site Technician #1 (uncredited)
1968