John Vernon

Biography: He acted onstage with amateur Canadian troupes, leading to a scholarship to attend London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. In England he appeared with various repertory companies, and also provided the voice of Big Brother for the film 1984 (1956). He returned to Canada and worked on TV, then debuted onscreen in 1964. His screen career was slow until he appeared on Broadway in Royal Hunt of the Sun, after which he had a busy career in Hollywood; he has often been cast as crafty villains.