John Dunsworth
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John Francis Dunsworth (April 12, 1946 – October 16, 2017) was a Canadian actor and filmmaker. He was best known for playing trailer park supervisor Jim Lahey, the
antagonist An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the main enemy or rival of the protagonist and is often depicted as a villain.Trailer Park Boys ''Trailer Park Boys'' is a Canadian mockumentary television sitcom created by Mike Clattenburg that began airing in 2001 as a continuation of his 1999 film bearing the same name. The show follows the misadventures of a group of trailer park resi ...
'' (2001–2018). His other roles included the mysterious reporter Dave Teagues on the supernatural drama series '' Haven'' (2010–2015) and Officer McNabb in the
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film '' Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion'' (2003). He also had extensive experience in regional theater.


Early life

John Francis Dunsworth was born in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, on April 12, 1946, the son of Frances and Frank Dunsworth. He had one older sibling and eight younger siblings. He studied theatre at the
University of Guelph The University of Guelph (abbreviated U of G) is a comprehensive Public university, public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College (1874), the MacDonald I ...
, but dropped out in his fourth year when the university forced him to take a philosophy course against his wishes. Returning to his hometown, he drove a taxi for three years and worked on the CNR trains from Halifax and
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.


Career

Dunsworth began acting in numerous
CBC CBC may refer to: Media * Cadena Baja California or Grupo Cadena, a radio and television broadcaster in Mexico * Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada's radio and television public broadcaster ** CBC Television ** CBC Radio One ** CBC Music ** ...
radio dramas after dropping out of university, and had starring roles in many stage productions at the Neptune Theatre in Halifax. In 1970, he leased an abandoned building on Halifax's waterfront and converted it into a playhouse called the Pier One Theatre; it became the city's first and most successful alternative theater. In the late 1980s,
Dalhousie University Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia, Canada, with three campuses in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Halifax, a fourth in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, Bible Hill, and a second medical school campus ...
hired him to produce the university's welcome show for new students at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, in which he also occasionally had an unseen voice-over role. In 1987, he founded the casting agency Filmworks Casting and garnered a reputation as Halifax's most successful casting director. In 1988, he starred in the documentary ''John Dunsworth: The Candidate'', which followed his journey as an underdog political candidate for the
New Democratic Party The New Democratic Party (NDP; , ) is a federal political party in Canada. Widely described as social democratic,The party is widely described as social democratic: * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Editors of ''Encyclopædia Britann ...
in the Halifax Bedford Basin electoral ward during the 1988 Nova Scotia general election. He came third in the election, receiving 19.3% of the vote (2,746 votes). Dunsworth met director Mike Clattenburg in the mid-1990s when he auditioned for a small role in Clattenburg's short film ''One Last Shot''. His role gradually transformed into a leading part that earned him the award for Best Performance at the Atlantic Film Festival. From there, he further developed the character into what would eventually become the villainous trailer park supervisor Jim Lahey in Clattenburg's comedy series ''
Trailer Park Boys ''Trailer Park Boys'' is a Canadian mockumentary television sitcom created by Mike Clattenburg that began airing in 2001 as a continuation of his 1999 film bearing the same name. The show follows the misadventures of a group of trailer park resi ...
'' (2001–2018). While filming a scene in a school during the production of the film ''
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'' (1997), in which he had a small role, Dunsworth is said to have discovered 10-year-old actor and future ''Trailer Park Boys'' cast member
Elliot Page Elliot Page (formerly Ellen Page; born February 21, 1987) is a Canadian actor, producer, and activist. He is known for his leading roles across Canadian and American film and television, and for his outspoken work as an activist for LGBTQ righ ...
; he managed to get Page a large part in the film, which became Page's first screen credit. He appeared alongside fellow ''Trailer Park Boys'' co-stars John Paul Tremblay and
Robb Wells Robert Christopher "Robb" Wells (born March 20) is a Canadians, Canadian actor, comedian, and screenwriter best known for portraying Ricky LaFleur, Ricky in ''Trailer Park Boys''. Early life Wells was graduated from Saint Mary's University (Hal ...
in the film '' Virginia's Run'' (2002). He also starred in '' Haven'' (2010–2015), the television adaptation of the
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novel ''
The Colorado Kid ''The Colorado Kid'' is a mystery fiction, mystery Mystery novel, novel by American writer Stephen King, published by the Hard Case Crime imprint in 2005. The book was initially issued in one paperback-only edition by the specialty crime and m ...
''. He reunited with many of his ''Trailer Park Boys'' castmates in the new series '' The Drunk and On Drugs Happy Fun Time Hour'' (2010)."The Boys are back and on drugs"
''
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'', July 12, 2010.


Personal life

Dunsworth lived in his native
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...
with his wife, Elizabeth Bates, whom he married in 1974. They had a son named Geoff and three daughters named Zoë,
Sarah Sarah (born Sarai) is a biblical matriarch, prophet, and major figure in Abrahamic religions. While different Abrahamic faiths portray her differently, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all depict her character similarly, as that of a pious woma ...
, and Molly, the latter two of whom became actresses. In contrast to his ''Trailer Park Boys'' character, Dunsworth rarely drank alcohol and usually used iced tea as a stand-in for alcohol on the show. He admitted to suffering from a gambling problem in his early years. As a result of his recovery, he had been active in trying to remove video lottery terminals from bars in Nova Scotia. He was a boating enthusiast who frequently spent time on his yacht, ''Emerald Princess'', and enjoyed building granite sculptures and structures with stone and concrete; he documented the latter on his
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channel. He was an avid
bridge A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whi ...
player and was regarded as a master of the game. It is also generally believed that he continues to hold the Internet Scrabble record for having three consecutive seven-letter words. He once appeared on stage with
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, with frontman
Axl Rose W. Axl Rose ( ; born William Bruce Rose Jr., February 6, 1962) is an American singer and songwriter. He is the lead vocalist and lyricist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, and has been the band's sole constant member since its inception in ...
describing himself as a fan of ''Trailer Park Boys'' and Dunsworth's character in particular.


Death

On October 16, 2017, at the age of 71, Dunsworth died of an initially undisclosed illness in
Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and most populous municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the most populous municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of 2024, it is estimated that the population of the H ...
. In a statement, his daughter Sarah described the illness as "short and unexpected" and stated that Dunsworth was an "amazing husband, father, and grandfather". On May 26, 2021, a
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post by a fan page under the control of Dunsworth's surviving family and friends revealed complications from
thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a blood disorder that results in thrombi, blood clots forming in small blood vessels throughout the body. This results in a thrombocytopenia, low platelet count, hemolytic anemia, low red blood cells d ...
as his cause of death. He is buried at St. Anthony's & St. Augustine's Catholic Cemetery in Simms Settlement, Nova Scotia.


Election results

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New Democratic Party The New Democratic Party (NDP; , ) is a federal political party in Canada. Widely described as social democratic,The party is widely described as social democratic: * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Editors of ''Encyclopædia Britann ...
, John Dunsworth , align="right", 2,746 , align="right", 19.3% , align="right", , -


Filmography

Dunsworth had 70 credits to his name, some of which are listed below.Remembering John Dunsworth – NorthernStars
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Film


Television


Notes

* Dunsworth is credited in '' Dolores Claiborne'' as a part of the crew but did not appear in the film.


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dunsworth, John 1946 births 2017 deaths Canadian male film actors Canadian male television actors Canadian male voice actors Candidates in Nova Scotia provincial elections Male actors from Nova Scotia People from Bridgewater, Nova Scotia Nova Scotia New Democratic Party politicians Deaths from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura 20th-century Canadian male actors 21st-century Canadian male actors Canadian Screen Award winning actors