BIOGRAPHY
John Michael Jones, better known as John Bardon, was born on 25 August 1939 in Brentford, Middlesex. He passed away on 12 September 2014 in Romford, London.
Water Rats Connection
Bardon was a member of the prestigious Grand Order of Water Rats, a charitable British entertainment fraternity founded in 1889, known for its philanthropic contributions within the performing arts. He held the role of Prince Rat, assigned membership number 826.
Acting Career Highlights
- Stage
Bardon won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 1988 (for the 1987 season) for his performance in Kiss Me, Kate, shared with Emil Wolk. - Television
He became a staple on British screens as Jim Branning in EastEnders, a role he played from 1996 to 2011. The character first appeared in 1996, then returned permanently in 1999. Bardon later married Dot Cotton on the show, and his character remained a beloved part of the EastEnders family until his final episode in March 2011
His TV appearances also include memorable guest roles in: - Only Fools and Horses (1986)
- Dad’s Army (1975)
- Rumpole of the Bailey
- The Sweeney (1975), among others.
- Film
Bardon appeared in: - Clockwise (1986)
- Fierce Creatures (1997)
- East Is East (1999)
- Other Roles
In 1982, he portrayed Max Miller in Channel 4’s Here’s a Funny Thing.
- He was married to Enda Gates (often referred to simply as Enda) in June 2002.
- Before acting full-time, he worked as a shuttle driver at Heathrow Airport.
- Bardon suffered a stroke in 2007, then another in 2008. Though health setbacks affected his ability to work, he made a brief return to EastEnders before filming his final scenes and leaving the show in March 2011. Three years later, he passed away after a third stroke.
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