John Vernon
ActingAbout John Vernon
John Keith Vernon (February 24, 1932 – February 1, 2005) was a Canadian actor. He made a career in Hollywood after achieving initial television stardom in Canada. He was best known for playing Dean Wormer in Animal House, the Mayor in Dirty Harry and Fletcher in The Outlaw Josey Wales.
John Vernon Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of John Vernon reflects a strong mix of popular and critically appreciated roles. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of John Vernon's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 66% of John Vernon's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Fires of Envy, which stands out as a key performance.
Best John Vernon Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from John Vernon's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie John Vernon has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Los Angeles Plays Itself | Mal Reese in Point Blank (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman | Rupert Thorne (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | Where Are They Now?: A Delta Alumni Update | Vernon Wormer | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Welcome to America | Det. Golding | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | The Tulsa Lynching of 1921: A Hidden Story | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | Stageghost | Slim | Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | Hell Hath No Fury: The Making of The Outlaw Josey Wales | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | The Yearbook: An Animal House Reunion | Self - Dean Wormer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1997 | Wojeck: Out of the Fire | Dr Steve Wojeck | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Family of Cops | Frank Rampola | Average | Similar → |
| 1991 | Rewrite for Murder | Claude Dempsey | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Afghanistan: The Last War Bus | Ken Ross | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | I'm Gonna Git You Sucka | Mr. Big | Average | Similar → |
| 1988 | Deadly Stranger | Mr. Mitchell | Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Killer Klowns from Outer Space | Curtis Mooney | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | Fuzzbucket | Principal | Average | Similar → |
| 1984 | Savage Streets | Principal Underwood | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | Little Red Riding Hood | Father | Average | Similar → |
| 1982 | Airplane II: The Sequel | Dr. Stone | Average | Similar → |
| 1981 | The Kinky Coaches and the Pom Pom Pussycats | Coach "Bulldog" Malone | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | Heavy Metal | Prosecutor (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | Fantastica | Jim McPherson | Average | Similar → |
| 1978 | Animal House | Dean Vernon Wormer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night | Dr. Orrin Helgerson | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | The Uncanny | Pomeroy (segment "Hollywood 1936") | Average | Similar → |
| 1977 | A Special Day | Emanuele Taberi | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | The Outlaw Josey Wales | Fletcher | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | The Swiss Family Robinson | Charles Forsythe | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Brannigan | Ben Larkin | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | The Impostor | Sheriff Turner | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | W | Arnie Felson | Average | Similar → |
| 1974 | The Black Windmill | McKee | Average | Similar → |
| 1974 | The Questor Tapes | Geoffrey Darro | Average | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Six Million Dollar Man: The Solid Gold Kidnapping | Julian Peck | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | Charley Varrick | Maynard Boyle | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | Hunter | David Hunter / Praetorius | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Fear Is the Key | Vyland | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | Journey | Boulder Allin | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Dirty Harry | The Mayor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Escape | Doctor Charles Walding | Average | Similar → |
| 1969 | Topaz | Rico Parra | Average | Similar → |
| 1969 | Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here | Hacker | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | Point Blank | Mal Reese | Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Rock | Self (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | Nobody Waved Goodbye | Lot Supervisor | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Long Rifle and the Tomahawk | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | Alexander Galt: The Stubborn Idealist | Alexander Galt | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Tourist Go Home | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | Fires of Envy | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | 1984 | Big Brother (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
John Vernon - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of John Vernon?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring John Vernon is "Fires of Envy" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has John Vernon acted in?
John Vernon has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by John Vernon?
Other notable films include "Wojeck: Out of the Fire", "Hunter", and "Welcome to America".