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John Bach
John Bach
John Bach
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John Bach (born 5 June 1946) is a British-born New Zealand actor who has acted on stage, television and film over a period of more than four decades. Though born in the United Kingdom, he has spent most of his career living and working in New Zealand.

Key Information

International audiences are most likely to have seen Bach as the Gondorian Ranger Madril in the second and third movies of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy (2001–2003). His leading roles in New Zealand television include playing the titular Detective Inspector John Duggan in the Duggan telemovies and television series, one of the truckdriving brothers in series Roche, and time on long-running soap opera Close to Home. In 1992 he starred as Scottish inventor Alexander Graham Bell in the telemovie The Sound and the Silence. In 1999 he played the Earl of Sackville in an episode of the TV miniseries A Twist in the Tale.

Bach's Australian work includes science fiction series Farscape, playing Mike Power in based on a true story mini-series The Great Bookie Robbery (1986), and as Sir Ian Hamilton in the 2015 TV miniseries Gallipoli.

In 2010, Bach appeared in the science fiction series This Is Not My Life as the sinister Harry Sheridan, as magistrate Titus Calavius in Spartacus: Blood and Sand and in an episode of Legend of the Seeker.

He has also appeared in several New Zealand films, including Utu, Carry Me Back, Goodbye Pork Pie, The Last Tattoo, Pallet on the Floor, Old Scores (in which he had a central role), and Beyond Reasonable Doubt.

In 2014, he performed as body double for Saruman in place of Christopher Lee, who was unable to fly to New Zealand for principal photography on The Hobbit film series.

He appeared as the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the first season of the 2016 Netflix drama series, Roman Empire. In 2021, he began a recurring role as Don on the comedy series Under the Vines, created by Erin White and starring Rebecca Gibney and fellow Lord of the Rings alum Charles Edwards.

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1975 Richard Pearse Jack Pearse TV movie
1977 Wild Man Barman Feature film
1978 The Mad Dog Gang Meets Rotten Fred and Ratsguts Wilkie TV movie
1979 The Gathering Lou TV movie
1980 Goodbye Pork Pie Snout Feature film
Beyond Reasonable Doubt Feature film
The Mad Dog Gang Spooks Wilkie, Wink Wink and the Wobbler Wilkie TV movie
Sea Urchins Harvey TV movie
1981 Bad Blood Bert Chopp Feature film
1982 Battletruck "Bone" Feature film
Carry Me Back Winton
1983 Wild Horses Jack TV movie
Utu Belcher Feature film
The Lost Tribe Edward / Max Scarry Feature film
Prisoners Bodell Feature film
Nearly No Christmas King Penguin TV movie
1984 Heart of the Stag Shearer
Other Halves Jim Feature film
Iris Mike TV movie
Pallet on the Floor Jack Voot Feature film
1985 Lie of the Land Gorrie
1986 Dangerous Orphans Desk Sergeant Feature film
1988 Georgia Karlin Feature film
1990 Blood Oath Major Roberts Feature film
1991 The Sound and the Silence Alexander Graham Bell TV movie
Old Scores Lead role Feature film
1993 Crimebroker Frank MacPhee TV movie
Typhon's People Daniel Harrington TV miniseries/movie
1994 The Last Tattoo Austin Leech Feature film
The Feds: Obsession Rainer Bass TV movie
1995 The Feds: Suspect
The Feds: Deception
The Feds: Abductions
The Feds: Seduction
The Feds: Terror
The Feds: Vengeance
1996 The Feds: Betrayal
The Feds: Deadfall
2000 Clare Herbert Green TV movie
2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Gondorian Ranger Madril Feature film
2002 Der Liebe entgenen Mr. Chapman TV movie
2003 The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Gondorian Ranger Madril Feature film
2004 Ike: Countdown to D-Day Sir Trafford Leigh-Malloy TV movie
2005 Kidnapped Cluny
The Man who Couldn't Dance Dancing Man Short film
2007 The Tattooist Lazlo McFadden
2008 The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian British Homeguard #1 Feature film
2009 Piece of My Heart Mike TV movie
2011 Rest for the Wicked Frank
2014 The Cure Lionel Stanton Feature film
Nancy Wake, the White Mouse Fiocca TV movie
The Hobbit Saruman Body Double Feature film
2014 The Light Harvester Short film
2016 Judgement Tavern The Judge Short film
The Light Between Oceans Jock Johnson Feature film
2019 Mistress Mercy Judge Anderson TV movie
2020 Zealandia Man Short film
Reunion Jack Feature film
2022 The Ballard of Maddog Quinn Grandpa Quinn Short film

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2025 Warren's Vortex The Voice (narrator) TV series, 6 episodes
2021–2023 Under the Vines Don TV series, 11 episodes
2020 The Sounds Frank Cabbott 6 episodes
2017 Janet King[1] Graham King TV series, 5 episodes
2016 Roman Empire Marcus Aurelis TV docuseries, 2 episodes
Jack Irish Michael Longmore TV series, 5 episodes
2015 Gallipoli[2] Ian Hamilton TV miniseries, 7 episodes
2014 Hope and Wire Vernon TV series, 1 episode
2013 Wentworth Vinnie Holt TV series, 2 episodes
2010 Spartacus Calavius 5 episodes
Legend of the Seeker Herald TV series, 1 episode
This Is Not My Life Harry Sheridan 5 episodes
2006 The Lost Children Frank TV series, 12 episodes
2005 Hercules Crenon TV series, 2 episodes
2004 Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars Einstein TV miniseries, 2 episodes
2002–2003 Farscape Einstein TV series, 5 episodes
2000–2002 The Dark Knight Du Bois TV series, 6 episodes
2000 The Lost World Balar TV miniseries, 1 episode
Tales of the South Seas Miller TV series, 1 episode
1997–1999 Duggan John Duggan TV series, 13 episodes
1999 Young Hercules Zeus TV series, 1 episode
A Twist in the Tale Earl of Sackville 1 episode
1998 The Day of the Roses Tom Weir TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1997 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Thierry TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1995 Mysterious Island Captain Nemo TV series, 22 episodes
Snowy River: The Mcgregor Saga Jim O'Rourke TV series, 1 episode
1994 Time Trax Xavier TV series, 1 episode
High Tide Boucher TV series, 1 episode
1993 White Fang Tom Cooper TV series, 1 episode
1989–1992 The Ray Bradbury Theater Lazlo TV anthology series, 2 episodes
1992 Spender Doorman TV series, 1 episode
1991 Heroes II: The Return Donald Davidson TV series, 2 episodes
Golden Fiddles Walter Balfour TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1990 The Paper Man Phillip Cromwell TV miniseries, 6 episodes
1989 The Heroes Donald Davidson TV miniseries
1988 Spit MacPhee Jack Tree TV miniseries, 4 episodes
1986 The Great Bookie Robbery Mike Power TV miniseries, 3 episodes
1985 Roche Mick TV series, 9 episodes
1984 Inside Straight Bill McLean TV series, 3 episodes
1975–1983 Close to Home Tom Hearte TV series, 784 episodes
1982 Loose Enzo Ron TV series, 1 episode
1980 Mortimer's Patch Kevin Cartwright TV series, 1 episode
1977 The Governor John Sheehan TV series, 1 episode
1975 The Games Affair TV series

Note

[edit]

Bach's surname is pronounced "Baitch", and not as in the Welsh language pronunciation of the word for small, from which it is derived.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

John Bach

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
John Bach (born 5 June 1946) is a British-born renowned for his prolific career across , television, and spanning more than four decades. Born in , , he emigrated to as a child, arriving in Blenheim around age 12 before settling in , where he attended Linwood High School and developed an interest in under teacher John Kim. Bach began his acting journey in with small roles, including as , before transitioning to in the , where he became a prominent figure in the country's emerging screen industry. His breakthrough came in New Zealand television with the role of Tom Hearte in the soap opera Close to Home (1975), followed by notable roles in landmark films such as the road movie Goodbye Pork Pie (1981), where he delivered a memorable cameo, and the historical drama Utu (1983), which explored Māori land wars. Bach starred as the titular convict Mick Roche in the acclaimed 1985 TV series Roche, earning praise for his portrayal of a determined anti-hero, and later as Detective Inspector John Duggan in the mystery telemovies Duggan (1996) and its spin-off series (1997–1999). Internationally, he gained recognition for playing the ranger Madril in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003), as well as roles in Australian productions like The Great Bookie Robbery (1986) and the miniseries The Sound and the Silence (1992), where he portrayed Alexander Graham Bell. Throughout his career, Bach has amassed over 120 screen credits, including appearances in The Lost Tribe (1983), The Last Tattoo (1994), Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars (1999), The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008), and more recent works such as Gallipoli (2015), for which he received an AACTA Award nomination, the New Zealand series (2021), and the short film The Ballad of Maddog Quinn (2022). He has also been active in , contributing to experimental groups like the Blerta collective and London's Triple Action Theatre, and received a New Zealand Television Award for his performance in Old Scores (1991). Based in , Bach continues to work in both local and international projects, embodying the versatile talent that has defined New Zealand's cinematic landscape.

Early life

Childhood and family background

John Bach was born on 5 June 1946 in , , . His family resided in a mining town affected by the industry's economic decline, which prompted their emigration to in 1956 when Bach was around 12 years old. The family initially settled in Blenheim, where Bach recalled the striking contrast to his Welsh upbringing, noting the vibrant green landscapes and intense summer heat upon arrival. Soon after, Bach and his sisters relocated to , where his father, a Welsh Baptist minister, continued his work. Bach's early interest in acting emerged during his childhood in , where he secured his first role portraying in a local production, an experience marked by a humorous mishap that ignited his passion for performance. This formative encounter laid the groundwork for his later pursuits in upon settling in .

Education and early influences

Bach attended Linwood High School in , where he was a bookish teenager who became deeply involved in the school's active drama department. His passion for was sparked early, having caught the "acting bug" with his first role as back in before the move. A key influence during his school years was drama teacher John Kim, who ran weekend drama classes and encouraged Bach's participation in various productions. Under Kim's guidance, Bach took on both serious and comical theatre roles at Linwood, honing his performance skills and solidifying his interest in as a career path. These early post-emigration theatre experiences in Christchurch's environment were instrumental in shaping his foundational approach to performance.

Career

Early stage and television work (1970s–1980s)

Bach began his professional acting career in in the early , entering the local scene, where he built a reputation through ensemble work and character-driven roles that emphasized emotional depth and . This foundational period marked his entry into the local scene, where he built a reputation through ensemble work and character-driven roles that emphasized emotional depth and . His early stage work in the and included notable performances in productions, with a standout role in Greg McGee's Foreskin's Lament in 1981, where he portrayed a central figure grappling with rugby culture and personal identity. The play, a seminal work in Kiwi theatre, showcased Bach's ability to capture the tensions of working-class masculinity, contributing to its enduring status as a cultural touchstone. These stage experiences, influenced by his youthful interest in performance sparked during education in the UK and , laid the groundwork for his transition to screen acting. On television, Bach made his debut in 1974 as a blundering in the children's fantasy series The Games Affair, a six-part thriller set during the that introduced him to audiences on TV One. He gained prominence soon after with the role of schoolteacher Tom Hearte in the long-running Close to Home (1975–1983), appearing in hundreds of episodes as part of the central Hearte family, whose domestic dramas reflected suburban life in . Bach reprised the character for the series finale in 1983, underscoring his reliability in serialized storytelling. A major breakthrough came in 1985 with the lead role of Mick Roche in the urban drama series Roche, where he portrayed the eldest brother in a family-run trucking business navigating economic hardships and personal conflicts in the . The series, which aired on TV One, was a ratings success and highlighted Bach's versatility in gritty, blue-collar characters, solidifying his status as a key figure in New Zealand's emerging television landscape during the decade.

Film roles and breakthrough (1980s–1990s)

Bach's entry into film came with small but notable roles in New Zealand productions during the late 1970s and early 1980s, marking his shift from stage and television work. In 1977, he appeared as a barman in the action-comedy , an early Blerta collective effort directed by that showcased his emerging screen presence. This was followed by a memorable cameo as the eccentric Snout in the 1981 road movie , where his wild, loopy performance as an "outright freak" contributed to the film's cult status as a Kiwi classic. In 1983, Bach took on the role of Belcher in Murphy's colonial western Utu, a gritty depiction of the that further established him in the burgeoning local film industry. A pivotal moment arrived the same year with The Lost Tribe, Bach's first starring role as the dual characters of identical twins Edward and Max Scarry— brothers entangled in a set in remote . Directed by John Laing, the film highlighted Bach's ability to portray complex moral ambiguities, with Max's disappearance amid a search for a lost tribe driving the narrative's tension and immersion. This lead performance solidified his breakthrough in cinema, building on his prior television success in the 1985 series Roche. By the 1990s, Bach consolidated his career through hybrid television-film projects that blended dramatic depth with investigative elements. In the 1990 Australian miniseries The Paper Man, he portrayed media mogul Philip Cromwell over a 30-year span, delivering a nuanced depiction of ambition and ethical compromise in a high-profile role that expanded his international visibility. Later, in 1996, Bach starred as the titular Detective Inspector John Duggan in the telemovies and subsequent series Duggan, a New Zealand production featuring tight scripts and a grumpy, bereaved solving crimes with personal stakes. This role, blending with emotional resonance, underscored his versatility and cemented his status in Kiwi screen storytelling through the decade.

International and later career (2000s–present)

Bach gained international prominence in the early 2000s through his portrayal of the Gondorian Ranger Madril in Peter Jackson's (2002) and (2003), a role that expanded his visibility beyond audiences. As Faramir's second-in-command, Madril featured in key battle sequences, contributing to the films' global success and Bach's recognition in major fantasy cinema. In 2004, Bach appeared as the enigmatic Einstein in the Australian-American miniseries : The Peacekeeper Wars, reprising a character from the series' earlier episode "Unrealized Reality." This role involved portraying a expert in a high-stakes interstellar conflict, showcasing Bach's versatility in genre television and appealing to international sci-fi fans. Bach continued his international work in the with a recurring role as Titus Calavius in the historical drama Spartacus: Blood and Sand (2010), where he depicted a corrupt Roman official entangled in gladiatorial . Later that decade, he earned a nomination for Best Guest or in a Drama at the 2015 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards for his performance as General Sir Ian Hamilton in the miniseries Gallipoli, a portrayal of the British commander during the campaign that highlighted his command presence in historical narratives. In recent years, Bach has returned to New Zealand-based productions while maintaining a steady output. He played the wealthy patriarch Frank Cabbott in the 2020 thriller series , set against the Marlborough Sounds backdrop, exploring family secrets and disappearance. From 2021 to 2024, Bach portrayed Don Silverton, a vineyard co-owner, in the comedy-drama , contributing to its lighthearted depiction of rural entrepreneurship across three seasons. These roles underscore Bach's enduring career, blending international acclaim with ongoing contributions to Kiwi screen storytelling, building on earlier successes like his 1991 New Zealand Television Award for Old Scores.

Filmography

Film

John Bach has appeared in numerous feature films and shorts throughout his career. The following is a chronological list of his film credits:
YearTitleRole
1980Beyond Reasonable DoubtDet. Murray Jeffries
1980Goodbye Pork PieSnout
1982PrisonersBodell
1982Carry Me BackWinton
1982Battletruck (aka Warlords of the 21st Century)Bone
1983The Lost TribeEdward / Max Scurry
1983UtuBelcher
1983Wild HorsesJack
1984Other HalvesJim
1984Heart of the StagShearer
1984Pallet on the FloorJack Voot
1985Lie of the LandGorrie
1986Dangerous OrphansDesk Sergeant
1987Bad BloodBert Cropp
1988GeorgiaKarlin
1990Blood Oath (aka Prisoners of the Sun)Major Roberts
1994The Last TattooAustin Leech
1994CrimebrokerFrank MacPhee
1994Golden FiddlesWalter Balfour
2002The Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersMadril
2003The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingMadril
2007The TattooistLazlo
2008The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince CaspianBritish Homeguard #1
2010Rest for the WickedFrank
2012The Hobbit: An Unexpected JourneySaruman Double
2014The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five ArmiesSaruman Picture Double
2014The CureLionel Stanton
2015GallipoliSir Ian Hamilton
2016The Light Between OceansMayor Jock Johnson
2018Mistress MercyJudge Anderson
2020ReunionJack
2024The Moon Is Upside DownDon
2025Holy DaysBishop Chaytor

Television

John Bach's television career spans over five decades, encompassing lead roles in New Zealand series, guest appearances in international productions, and miniseries. His early work focused on domestic dramas and adventures, while later credits include fantasy and crime genres.
Year(s)TitleRoleNotes
1974The Games AffairVillainGuest role in episodes.
1975–1983Close to HomeTom HearteRegular role across multiple seasons.
1975Richard PearseJack PearseTV movie.
1976If You Can't Beat 'EmRichardRecurring role.
1977The GovernorJohn SheehanGuest in episode "To the Death".
1977Joe and KoroNigelGuest role.
1977Three New Zealanders: Ngaio MarshHamletTV special.
1978The Mad Dog Gang Meets Rotten Fred and RatsgutsWilkieTV movie.
1979The GatheringLouMiniseries.
1980Mortimer's PatchKevin CartwrightGuest role.
1980Sea UrchinsHarveyAnthology series episode.
1982Loose EnzRonSketch comedy episode.
1984Inside StraightDetective Sergeant Bill MacLeanMiniseries.
1984IrisMikeTV movie.
1985RocheMick RocheLead role in 13-episode series.
1986The Great Bookie RobberyMike PowerMiniseries.
1986The Ray Bradbury TheaterUnknownGuest appearance.
1989Shark in the ParkUnknownGuest role.
1990The New Adventures of Black BeautyUnknownEpisode role.
1991Old ScoresEwen MurrayTV movie.
1991Marlin BayUnknownRecurring.
1992The Sound and the SilenceAlexander Graham BellTV movie.
1993Shortland StreetUnknownGuest.
1993Typhon's PeopleDaniel HarringtonMiniseries.
1994Hercules: The Legendary JourneysUnknownGuest.
1995Xena: Warrior PrincessUnknownGuest.
1995Mysterious IslandCaptain NemoMiniseries.
1997Duggan: Death in ParadiseDetective Inspector John DugganLead in telemovie.
199720,000 Leagues Under the SeaProfessor Pierre ArronaxMiniseries.
1998Duggan: Sins of the FathersJohn DugganLead in telemovie.
1998Day of the RosesTom WeirTV movie.
1998William Shatner's A Twist in the TaleThe Earl of SackvilleEpisode "Obsession in August".
1999Duggan: Time and TideDetective Inspector John DugganLead in telemovie.
1999Duggan: A Shadow of DoubtJohn DugganLead in telemovie.
2000Jack of All TradesUnknownGuest.
2000ClareDr. Herbert GreenMiniseries.
2002MatakuUnknownEpisode role.
2004Farscape: The Peacekeeper WarsEinsteinMiniseries.
2004Power Rangers DinoThunderUnknownGuest.
2004Ike: Countdown to D-DayAir Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-MalloryTV movie.
2005The CultUnknownSeries regular.
2008–2010Legend of the SeekerHeraldRecurring.
2010Spartacus: Blood and SandMagistrate Titus CalaviusRecurring.
2010This Is Not My LifeHarry SheridanSeries regular.
2014Hope and WireVernonMiniseries.
2014The Brokenwood MysteriesUnknownGuest.
2015GallipoliSir Ian HamiltonMiniseries; AACTA Award nomination for Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama.
2016Ash vs Evil DeadUnknownGuest.
2021–2023Under the VinesDon SilvertonRecurring role.

References

  1. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/29094-john-bach
  2. https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/john-bach/biography
  3. https://gcm.co.nz/artists/john-bach
  4. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/john_bach
  5. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0045324/
  6. https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/131289204/under-the-vines-star-john-bach-on-his-career-and-lack-of-comedic-roles
  7. https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-games-affair-the-porcelain-runner-episode-two-1974
  8. https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/close-to-home-first-episode-1975
  9. https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/close-to-home-final-episode-1983
  10. https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/roche-series-1985
  11. https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/john-bach/screenography
  12. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0130368/fullcredits/
  13. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082464/fullcredits/
  14. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086497/fullcredits/
  15. https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-lost-tribe-1983
  16. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0139432/
  17. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0285393/
  18. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0207882/
  19. https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Madril
  20. https://farscape.fandom.com/wiki/John_Bach
  21. https://www.tvmaze.com/characters/102488/spartacus-magistrate-titus-calavius
  22. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3577058/awards/
  23. https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/300089474/the-sounds-its-john-bach-to-the-future-as-kiwi-legend-stars-in-new-thriller
  24. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13612448/
  25. https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/john-bach/awards
  26. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083721/fullcredits/
  27. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0259398/
  28. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110311/
  29. https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/John_Bach
  30. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499448/fullcredits/
  31. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3593190/
  32. https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/john-bach
  33. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091059/
  34. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102581/
  35. http://archives.theonering.net/movie/cast/bach.html
  36. https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=12734
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