John Wood, a man of many talents and passions, was described by a vocational guidance officer in the 1960s as having "the mind of an artist, the body of a labourer". Born in Melbourne in 1946, John's early life was marked by a passion for acting, despite it not being a common profession for someone from a working-class family.
John's natural talent for acting was evident, but his failure to complete his secondary school Leaving Certificate due to his dedication to a school production of The Fish, a farce by Yves Gabrol, led to his enrollment in the Victorian Railways as a clerk.
However, John's love for acting soon took over, and he joined the Melbourne Youth Theatre, where he performed in productions such as Brecht's Caucasian Chalk Circle and Eh?, a comedy by Henry Livings. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Leslie, who would become a constant source of support and encouragement throughout his career.
John's big break came when he was accepted into NIDA, where he was granted a scholarship despite not having a Leaving Certificate. He worked hard to pay the bills, including working as a lighting technician at the Neutral Bay Music Hall, where he was awestruck by stars such as Benita Collings.
After graduating from NIDA in 1969, John landed his first stage role as Happy in Death of a Salesman at the Old Tote, which toured NSW. He went on to appear in numerous stage productions, including Jumpers, Last of the Knucklemen, and All My Sons.
John's breakthrough in television came in 1970 with a guest role on Channel Seven's half-hour series Barrier Reef. He continued to appear in TV shows and films throughout the 1970s, including Power Without Glory, Bellbird, Lawson's Mates, The Truckies, Catspaw, and End of Summer.
In the 1980s, John began to focus more on writing, completing 15 episodes of Cop Shop, 15 of Prisoner, and 15 of The Sullivans. He also began acting with Jim Sharman's 12-man Lighthouse Company, performing in productions such as Twelfth Night and Netherwood.
John's most notable role to date is that of Michael Rafferty in Rafferty's Rules, a hit drama that aired from 1987 to 1989. He won TV Week Logie Awards for Most Outstanding Actor for his portrayal of Rafferty in 1988 and 1989.
In the 1990s, John continued to work in television, starring in shows such as Blue Heelers, Paradise Beach, and The Sullivans. He also returned to the stage, appearing in productions such as Chess, The Musical, Love Letters, Away, and A Flea In Her Ear.
John has won numerous awards for his work, including the Green Room Award for Best Actor for his performance in Born Yesterday. He has also been recognized for his contributions to the arts, including being a board member of the Playbox Theatre Company and a spokesperson for Friendship Day, run by the Starlight Foundation.
John's wife, Leslie, is a councillor for the Shire of Yarra Ranges and is the Labor candidate for the seat of Monbulk in the next State Election. John and Leslie have two adult daughters, Meg and Lexie, and live on a country property about 40 minutes out of Melbourne.
