John Dunsworth, the actor who played the iconic character of Jim Lahey on the Canadian comedy series Trailer Park Boys, died of cancer on October 16, 2017, at the age of 71. His daughter Sarah Dunsworth, who also starred in the show, confirmed his death in a statement posted on his official Twitter account. She said that her father “left this world peacefully after a short and unexpected illness” and that he was an “amazing husband, father and grandfather”
John Dunsworth’s Career and Legacy
John Dunsworth was born in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, on April 12, 1946, and was the second of 10 children. He studied acting at the University of Guelph, but dropped out in his fourth year. He went on to act in numerous CBC radio dramas and stage productions at the Neptune Theatre in Halifax. In 1970, he leased an abandoned building on Halifax’s waterfront and converted it into a playhouse, which became the city’s first alternative theatre production house. He also founded Filmworks Casting, where he worked as a casting director
Dunsworth met director Mike Clattenburg in the mid-1990s when he auditioned for a part in a short film titled One Last Shot. His role as a drunk pet store owner evolved into the character of Jim Lahey, the antagonistic trailer park supervisor who had a tumultuous relationship with his shirtless boyfriend Randy and the residents of Sunnyvale Trailer Park. Dunsworth’s portrayal of Lahey was widely praised for its comedic timing and physicality, and he became one of the most beloved characters on the show
Trailer Park Boys premiered on Canadian TV in 2001 and lasted for seven seasons. It gained popularity in the United States after it was released on Netflix in 2008. The show was revived in 2014 by the actors who played Ricky, Julian and Bubbles, who bought the rights to the show and partnered with Netflix. Dunsworth continued to play Lahey in the new seasons and specials, as well as in the spin-off series Trailer Park Boys: Out of the Park and Trailer Park Boys: The Animated Series
Dunsworth also appeared in other films and TV shows, such as Virginia’s Run, Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion, Haven, Forgive Me, and Treevenge. He won several awards for his acting, including a Gemini Award, a Canadian Comedy Award, and an ACTRA Award. He was also an activist and a supporter of various causes, such as environmentalism, social justice, and arts funding
Dunsworth’s death was mourned by his fans, friends, and colleagues, who remembered him as a talented, generous, and kind-hearted person. His co-stars from Trailer Park Boys paid tribute to him on social media and in interviews, saying that he was a mentor, a friend, and a legend. His daughter Sarah said that he was “the most amazing man ever” and that he “taught me everything about acting, respecting others, and being kind”
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