John Howard Davies (born London 9 March, 1939) is a British film actor, television director and producer.
Davies was the son of the cricketer and scriptwriter Jack Davies. His credits as a child actor include the title role in David Lean's Oliver Twist, The Rocking Horse Winner, Tom Brown's Schooldays' and William Tell.
He is now best known for his adult career as a director and producer of several highly successful British sitcoms. Davies was the original producer and director of Monty Python's Flying Circus, Fawlty Towers (series 1), The Goodies, The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, To the Manor Born, No Job for a Lady and Mr. Bean. He also directed several episodes of The Vicar of Dibley.
He was the BBC Head of Comedy (1977-1982), managing director of EMI Television Productions and Thames Television's Head of Comedy during which time he was the man responsible for sacking the famed British comedian, Benny Hill.
John was bought out to Melbourne, Australia in 1961, by impresario Garnett H. Carroll. He was to play the Juvenile Lead in the stage show (The Sound of Musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sound_of_Music)but instead became Stage Director. This was to be invaluable experience for his later career. He met and later married his first wife, the vivacious soprano Leonie Taylor, one of the postulants in the show, whom he brought back to his stylish Wimbledon retreat.
Juvenile actor in British films; later TV director (e.g. "Monty Python's Flying Circus").
