ACTOR
John Forsythe
Known for Charlie's Angels · The Love Boat · Dynasty
John Forsythe (born Jacob Lincoln Freund; January 29, 1918 – April 1, 2010) was an American stage, television and film actor. Forsythe starred in three television series, spanning four decades and three genres: as single playboy father Bentley Gregg in the 1950s sitcom Bachelor Father (1957–1962); as the unseen millionaire Charles 'Charlie' Townsend on the 1970s crime drama Charlie's Angels (1976–1981), and as patriarch Blake…
Snapshot 2026-10-15
- Born
- Jan 29, 1918
- Died
- Apr 1, 2010
- Birthplace
- Penns Grove, New Jersey, USA
- Known For
- Acting
Biography
John Forsythe (born Jacob Lincoln Freund; January 29, 1918 – April 1, 2010) was an American stage, television and film actor. Forsythe starred in three television series, spanning four decades and three genres: as single playboy father Bentley Gregg in the 1950s sitcom Bachelor Father (1957–1962); as the unseen millionaire Charles 'Charlie' Townsend on the 1970s crime drama Charlie's Angels (1976–1981), and as patriarch Blake Carrington on the 1980s soap opera Dynasty (1981–1989). He hosted World of Survival (1971–1977).
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Known For
TV
Charlie's AngelsCharles Townsend (voice) · 1976
★ 6.7
★ 6.7
TV
The Love BoatBurt Gardner · 1977
★ 6.2
★ 6.2
TV
DynastyBlake Carrington · 1981
★ 6.5
★ 6.5
TV
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 1962
★ 7.6
★ 7.6
TV
The Alfred Hitchcock HourMichael Barnes · 1962
★ 7.9
★ 7.9
TV
Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee · 1944
★ 7.0
★ 7.0
TV
The Merv Griffin ShowSelf · 1962
★ 6.8
★ 6.8
TV
The Mike Douglas ShowSelf - Co-Host · 1961
★ 5.8
★ 5.8
Filmography
Movies
Destination TokyoSparks
1943
Northern PursuitCorporal (uncredited)
1943
The Things People WantDon
1948
Arson, Inc.Race Track Aannouncer (voice, uncredited)
1949
American HarvestSelf - Narrator (voice)
1951
10,000 Horses SingingMarv Payne
1952
The Captive CityJames "Jim" C. Austin
1952
Escape from Fort BravoCaptain Marsh
1953
It Happens Every ThursdayBob MacAvoy
1953
The Glass WebDon Newell
1953P
PremonitionKim Stranger
1955
The Trouble with HarrySam Marlowe
1955
Everything But the TruthErnie Miller
1956
The Ambassador's DaughterSgt. Danny Sullivan
1956
DubrovskyWladia
1959
What Makes Sammy Run?Al Manheim
1959
Kitten with a WhipDavid Stratton
1964
See How They RunMartin Young
1964
Madame XClay Anderson
1966
A Bell for AdanoMaj. Victor P. Joppolo
1967
In Cold BloodAlvin Dewey
1967
Shadow on the LandGen. Wendell Bruce
1968
The Happy EndingFred Wilson
1969
TopazMichael Nordstrom
1969
Murder Once RemovedDr. Ron Wellesley
1971
Lisa, Bright and DarkWilliam Schilling
1973
The LettersPaul Anderson
1973
Cry PanicDavid Ryder
1974
Terror on the 40th FloorDan Overland
1974
The HealersDr. Robert Kier
1974
The Deadly TowerLt. Elwood Forbes
1975
Amelia EarhartG.P. Putnam
1976
Charlie's AngelsCharles Townsend (voice) (uncredited)
1976
Goodbye & AmenThe American Ambassador
1977
Never Con a KillerE.J. Valerian
1977
Tail Gunner JoePaul Cunningham
1977
Cruise Into TerrorRev. Charles Mather
1978
The UsersReade Jamieson
1978
With This RingGen. Albert Harris
1978
...And Justice for AllJudge Henry T. Fleming
1979
The Muppets Go HollywoodSelf (uncredited)
1979
A Time for MiraclesPostulator
1980
SizzleMike Callahan
1981
Mysterious TwoHe
1982
Night of 100 StarsSelf
1982
George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show BusinessSelf - Host
1983
Disneyland's 30th Anniversary CelebrationSelf
1985
Night of 100 Stars IISelf
1985
Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday SpecialSelf
1986
On FireJoe Leary, Sr.
1987On FireExecutive Producer
1987
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBCSelf
1988
ScroogedLew Hayward
1988
Opposites AttractRex Roper
1990
Universal Studios Hollywood: A Universe of CinemagicHimself
1992
Universal Studios Florida: Experience the Magic of MoviesSelf - Host
1994
Shirley Maclaine: Kicking Up Her HeelsSelf
1996
We Wish You a Merry ChristmasMr. Ryan (voice)
1999
Angels ForeverSelf (archive)
2000
Charlie's AngelsCharlie (voice)
2000
'The Trouble with Harry' Isn't OverSelf
2001
Did you leave us, Blake?Self
2002
Charlie's Angels: Full ThrottleCharles 'Charlie' Townsend (voice)
2003
James Dean: Forever YoungSelf (archive footage)
2005
Beatles StoriesSelf (archive footage)
2011
This Is Joan CollinsSelf (Archive Footage)
2022Television
Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee · 2 eps
1944Golden Globe AwardsSelf · 2 eps
1944
Kraft Television Theatre2 eps
1947
Studio One7 eps
1948Studio OneMaj. Peter Brook · 1 eps
1948Studio OneCapt. Sam MacKenzie · 1 eps
1948Studio OneMarv Payne · 1 eps
1948Studio OneJames Rexham · 1 eps
1948Studio OneJudd · 1 eps
1948Studio OnePete Maynard · 1 eps
1948
The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf · 5 eps
1948
The Philco Television Playhouse2 eps
1948
Lights Out3 eps
1949
SuspenseDavid · 1 eps
1949Suspense3 eps
1949SuspenseWiltshire · 1 eps
1949
The Emmy AwardsSelf · 3 eps
1949
Robert Montgomery PresentsDr. Frederick Steele · 1 eps
1950
The Bob Hope ShowSelf · 1 eps
1950
The Jack Benny ProgramJohn Forsythe · 1 eps
1950
Hallmark Hall of FameCaptain Fisby · 1 eps
1951Hallmark Hall of Fame1 eps
1951Hallmark Hall of FameWilliam Schilling · 1 eps
1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars1 eps
1951Schlitz Playhouse of StarsHayden Chart · 1 eps
1951Schlitz Playhouse of StarsPeter Bronson · 1 eps
1951Schlitz Playhouse of StarsDr. John Carter · 1 eps
1951Schlitz Playhouse of StarsTony Preston · 1 eps
1951
The Red Skelton ShowMillionaire's Son · 1 eps
1951
General Electric TheaterBentley Gregg · 1 eps
1953General Electric TheaterProducer
1953
Climax!Joe Sullivan · 1 eps
1954Climax!Adam Barclay · 1 eps
1954Climax!Graham Johnson · 1 eps
1954Climax!Tommy Jordan · 1 eps
1954Climax!Frank Colby · 1 eps
1954
Alfred Hitchcock PresentsKim Stanger · 1 eps
1955
Miss UniverseHost · 1 eps
1955P'
Playwrights '561 eps
1955
Dick Powell's Zane Grey TheatreDavid Marr · 1 eps
1956
Tony AwardsSelf - Presenter · 1 eps
1956
Bachelor FatherBentley Gregg · 157 eps
1957TL
The Lux ShowSelf · 1 eps
1957
The Bell Telephone HourSelf - Host · 1 eps
1959
Kraft Mystery Theatre1 eps
1961
The Mike Douglas ShowSelf - Co-Host · 5 eps
1961The Mike Douglas ShowSelf · 6 eps
1961
The Alfred Hitchcock HourMichael Barnes · 1 eps
1962
The Merv Griffin ShowSelf · 1 eps
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 3 eps
1962BH
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler TheatreCharlie King · 1 eps
1963
Kraft Suspense TheatreJerry Wilson / John Williams · 1 eps
1963Kraft Suspense TheatreMaj. William 'Bill' Livingston · 1 eps
1963
Run for Your LifeSpencer Holt · 1 eps
1965TJ
The John Forsythe ShowMajor John Foster · 29 eps
1965
ABC Stage 67Self · 1 eps
1966
To Rome with LoveMichael Endicott · 48 eps
1969
Police Story1 eps
1973
Medical StoryAmos Winkler · 1 eps
1975
People's Choice AwardsSelf - Host · 1 eps
1975
Charlie's AngelsCharles Townsend (voice) · 115 eps
1976
The Love BoatBurt Gardner · 2 eps
1977
DynastyBlake Carrington · 220 eps
1981CI
Christmas in WashingtonSelf · 1 eps
1982
WoganSelf · 1 eps
1982
The Colbys4 eps
1985
Dynasty: The ReunionBlake Carrington · 2 eps
1991
The Powers That BeWilliam Powers · 20 eps
1992
Denver Clan ohne MaskeSelf · 2 eps
1993BS
Blue SkiesHenry Baskin · 1 eps
1994
GargoylesPat Doyle (voice) · 1 eps
1994
E! True Hollywood Story1 eps
1996
Hollywood SquaresSelf - Panelist · 1 eps
1998Photos
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