John Bardon

John Bardon, born John Michael Jones on August 25, 1939, was an English stage and screen actor. He gained recognition for his portrayal of Jim Branning, the patriarch of the Branning family, in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 1996 to 2011. Bardon's career highlights include receiving the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 1988 for his role in Kiss Me, Kate. Prior to his acting career, he was a shipping clerk and worked in his father's building business. Bardon started his professional acting journey in 1970 with a repertory company in Exeter. He passed away on September 12, 2014.