Comedian and actor John Sessions who appeared on Whose Line Is It Anyway and QI dies aged 67 after suffering heart attack
- John Sessions, 67, died at home in South London from a ‘heart condition’
- He was best known for his role in Spitting Image and appearing on panel shows
- His agent Alex Irwin confirmed that the actor had passed away in a statement
Actor and comedian John Sessions has died aged 67.
John Gibb Marshall, better known by his stage name John Sessions, passed away at his home in South London yesterday.
He was best known for his appearances on panel shows including Whose Line is it Anyway?, Have I Got News For You, and QI, as well as numerous appearances in UK and Hollywood movies.
John Gibb Marshall, better known by his stage name John Sessions, passed away at his home in South London yesterday
A statement issued by his agent Alex Irwin of Markham, Froggatt & Irwin said: ‘It is with great sadness we can confirm that on Monday 2nd November, the actor John Sessions died at his home in South London. He will be hugely missed.’
Sessions was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1953 and had a twin sister, Maggie, and an older brother.
His big-screen credits included The Good Shepherd, The Merchant of Venice and The Bounty.
He was also known for his surreal performances on his one-man TV shows. Recent TV drama credits included Victoria, The Loch and Mr Selfridge.
The actor also performed in various film adaptations of Shakespeare plays including Kenneth Branagh’s Henry V in 1989, Philostrate in the 1999 film of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Salerio in the 2004 movie The Merchant of Venice.
John Sessions performing at the Kings Head Theatre, London, 1985
Evening Standard Drama Awards at the Savoy John Sessions with Joan Collins, November 1994
Actor and writer Robert Webb wrote on Twitter: ‘Bobby Ball and now John Sessions! Two very different performers who both absolutely inspired and delighted me at different times. Lovely, funny men.’
A tweet from the team behind panel show QI said: ‘John Sessions was a panellist on QI’s first ever episode: Series A, Episode One, ‘Adam’.
‘His incredible wit and encyclopaedic knowledge played a huge part in the show’s history and everyone at QI is deeply saddened to learn of his passing.’
Blur musician Graham Coxon said: ‘John sessions… was mega bright and funny.. that’s a great shame. RIP.’
John Sessions as CI Frank Smilie in ‘The Loch’ TV Series – Jun 2017