Skip to content
John Forsythe

John Forsythe

Acting·1918–2010·62 films

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).

Filmography

Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels (2000)Charlie (voice)
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)Charles 'Charlie' Townsend (voice)
Scrooged
Scrooged (1988)Lew Hayward
The Trouble with Harry
The Trouble with Harry (1955)Sam Marlowe
...And Justice for All
...And Justice for All (1979)Judge Henry T. Fleming
In Cold Blood
In Cold Blood (1967)Alvin Dewey
Topaz
Topaz (1969)Michael Nordstrom
Escape from Fort Bravo
Escape from Fort Bravo (1953)Captain Marsh
Destination Tokyo
Destination Tokyo (1943)Sparks
Madame X
Madame X (1966)Clay Anderson
The Deadly Tower
The Deadly Tower (1975)Lt. Elwood Forbes
Kitten with a Whip
Kitten with a Whip (1964)David Stratton
The Happy Ending
The Happy Ending (1969)Fred Wilson
The Captive City
The Captive City (1952)James "Jim" C. Austin
The Muppets Go Hollywood
The Muppets Go Hollywood (1979)Self
The Glass Web
The Glass Web (1953)Don Newell
Northern Pursuit
Northern Pursuit (1943)Corporal (uncredited)
Goodbye & Amen
Goodbye & Amen (1977)The American Ambassador
Murder Once Removed
Murder Once Removed (1971)Dr. Ron Wellesley
Arson, Inc.
Arson, Inc. (1949)Race Track Aannouncer (voice, uncredited)
Terror on the 40th Floor
Terror on the 40th Floor (1974)Dan Overland
The Ambassador's Daughter
The Ambassador's Daughter (1956)Sgt. Danny Sullivan
'The Trouble with Harry' Isn't Over
'The Trouble with Harry' Isn't Over (2001)Self
Cry Panic
Cry Panic (1974)David Ryder
It Happens Every Thursday
It Happens Every Thursday (1953)Bob MacAvoy
Cruise Into Terror
Cruise Into Terror (1978)Rev. Charles Mather
Mysterious Two
Mysterious Two (1982)He
Beatles Stories
Beatles Stories (2011)Self (archive footage)
Shirley Maclaine: Kicking Up Her Heels
Shirley Maclaine: Kicking Up Her Heels (1996)Self
The Letters
The Letters (1973)Paul Anderson
Dubrovsky
Dubrovsky (1959)Wladia
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
We Wish You a Merry Christmas (1999)Mr. Ryan (voice)
Night of 100 Stars II
Night of 100 Stars II (1985)Self
Night of 100 Stars
Night of 100 Stars (1982)Self
Tail Gunner Joe
Tail Gunner Joe (1977)Paul Cunningham
This Is Joan Collins
This Is Joan Collins (2022)Self (Archive Footage)
Disneyland's 30th Anniversary Celebration
Disneyland's 30th Anniversary Celebration (1985)Self
The Users
The Users (1978)Reade Jamieson
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC (1988)Self
See How They Run
See How They Run (1964)Martin Young
Shadow on the Land
Shadow on the Land (1968)Gen. Wendell Bruce
Everything But the Truth
Everything But the Truth (1956)Ernie Miller
Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special (1986)Self
George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business
George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business (1983)Self - Host
A Time for Miracles
A Time for Miracles (1980)Postulator
Did you leave us, Blake?
Did you leave us, Blake? (2002)Self
On Fire
On Fire (1987)Joe Leary, Sr.
Sizzle
Sizzle (1981)Mike Callahan
The Healers
The Healers (1974)Dr. Robert Kier
With This Ring
With This Ring (1978)Gen. Albert Harris
Opposites Attract
Opposites Attract (1990)Rex Roper
Lisa, Bright and Dark
Lisa, Bright and Dark (1973)William Schilling
Never Con a Killer
Never Con a Killer (1977)E.J. Valerian
American Harvest
American Harvest (1951)Self - Narrator (voice)
What Makes Sammy Run?
What Makes Sammy Run? (1959)Al Manheim
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart (1976)G.P. Putnam
Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels (1976)Charles Townsend (voice) (uncredited)
A Bell for Adano
A Bell for Adano (1967)Maj. Victor P. Joppolo
10,000 Horses Singing
10,000 Horses Singing (1952)Marv Payne
The Things People Want
The Things People Want (1948)Don
Universal Studios Florida: Experience the Magic of Movies
Universal Studios Florida: Experience the Magic of Movies (1994)Self - Host
Universal Studios Hollywood: A Universe of Cinemagic
Universal Studios Hollywood: A Universe of Cinemagic (1992)Himself