John Anthony Woods, professionally known as John Levene, made a bold decision at the tender age of 21 to leave his family home and embark on a journey to London. His life took a dramatic turn when he met the renowned actor Telly Savalas, who was filming "The Dirty Dozen" at the time, and was deeply inspired to pursue a career in acting.
Seeking opportunities, Levene joined an agency specializing in providing walk-on actors. However, he soon discovered that his given name was already being utilized by multiple members of the British actor's union, Equity, prompting him to opt for a name change.
Standing tall at an impressive 6 feet 2 inches, Levene's physical stature initially landed him a non-speaking role as a Cyberman in the 1968 episode "The Invasion: Episode One." However, director Douglas Camfield took notice of his presence and offered him the role of Corporal Benton, which had initially been cast with another actor, who was subsequently let go.
This marked the beginning of Levene's most iconic and enduring role, which he played with distinction until 1975, when his character was written out of the series. After a decade-long tenure as Corporal Benton, Levene made the surprising decision to retire from acting in 1977.
The 1980s saw Levene relocate to the United States, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his life.
