Biography
John Benfield (born Jonathan Edmund Fulford Turner) was a British character actor. He trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art from 1976 to 1978 and adopted his stage name after another actor called John Turner was already working.
Benfield appeared in numerous films and television productions from 1981 onwards. He is known for his role as Detective Superintendent (later Chief Superintendent) Michael Kernan in the first three series of Prime Suspect (1991–1995) and as Chief PO Barker in the film In the Name of the Father (1993). Other credits include 101 Dalmatians (1996), Beautiful Thing (1996), Cassandra's Dream (2007) and Speed Racer (2008).
He died of sarcoma on 16 June 2020, aged 68.
