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John Standing

John Standing

Actor · Born August 16, 1934 (92) · London, England, UK

Sir John Ronald Leon, 4th Baronet (born 16 August 1934) is an English actor and baronet who is known as John Standing. He is the stepson of John Clements. Standing was born in London, the son of Kay Hammond (née Dorothy Katherine Standing), an actress, and Sir Ronald George Leon, 3rd Baronet, a stockbroker descended from Sir Herbert Leon, the builder of Bletchley Park. He succeeded his father as the 4th baronet in 1964, but does not use the title. The Leon family were, until 1937, owners of Bletchley Park, the country house in Buckinghamshire used in the Second World War as a code-breaking centre. He was educated at Eton College and Millfield School, Somerset. He served in the King's Royal Rifle Corps as a second lieutenant, before going on to study at the Byam Shaw School of Art in London Standing began his career in Peter Brook's 1955 production of Titus Andronicus starring Laurence Olivier and wife Vivien Leigh and later played leading parts in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, Christopher Fry's Ring Round the Moon, A Sense of Detachment by John Osborne, and Noël Coward's Private Lives, with Maggie Smith. He was nominated for an Olivier award (1979) for Close of Play at the National Theatre. He made his film debut in The Wild and the Willing (1962), going on to appear in King Rat (1965), Walk, Don't Run (1966), The Psychopath (1966), The Eagle Has Landed (1976), The Elephant Man (1980), Nightflyers (1987), Mrs Dalloway (1997) and A Good Woman (2004). One of his first major television roles was as Sidney Godolphin in the BBC twelve-part serial, The First Churchills (1969). Other television appearances include Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1979); the ITV sitcom The Other 'Arf (1980–84), with Lorraine Chase; The Choir (1995) and King Solomon's Mines (2004). In the United States, he made guest appearances in numerous weekly programmes including L.A. Law, Civil Wars and Murder, She Wrote, and co-starred briefly with Robert Wagner and Samantha Smith in the action series Lime Street (1985). In 1976, he also appeared opposite Peter O'Toole in the little-seen BBC thriller film, Rogue Male, directed by Clive Donner. He appeared in the horror film Nightflyers (1987) adapted from a short story by George R. R. Martin. In 2002, he had a speaking credit on Lost Horizons, the second studio album from the British electronic duo Lemon Jelly. On track 1, "Elements", he lists the basic “elements" that make up the world: ash, metal, water, wood, fire and sky. On track 3, "Ramblin' Man", Standing reads a long list of various locations around the world, ranging from small Sussex villages to major world capitals. In July 2010, it was confirmed that he would be appearing as Jon Arryn in the HBO series Game of Thrones, based on Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 16, 1934 (92)
From
London, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
65 on MovieCove · 132 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Down 9% in 30 days

What are John Standing's films like?

Across their 33 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 31 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

A split, not a type: Grounded 18 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 5

Gentle 6 · Charged 14 · Intense 11

Steady 10 · Shifting 19 · Whiplash 2

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 19 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 5

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 20 · Relentless 0

Casual 13 · Engaged 14 · Full focus 4

Easy watch 11 · Affecting 15 · Heavy 5

Resolved 18 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 2 of 7 analyzed roles.

Shadow
2 of 7
Threshold guardian
2 of 7
Mentor
2 of 7
Hero
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
18
Melancholic
9
Warm
8
Absurd
7
Dread
7
Other
33

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous7

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch John Standing's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 41 of their 65 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (22).

Subscription and free streaming for John Standing's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

132 credits, 65 with a MovieCove page.

  • Can You Hear Me?(2024)

    as Ben

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films
  • The Great Escaper(2023)

    as Arthur

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
  • May… I Have This Dance? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Narrator

  • A Family Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Bernard

  • Churchill and the Movie Mogul(2019)

    as Additional Voices (voice)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • King Lear(2018)

    as Butler

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • Patrick Melrose(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · as George Watford

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
  • The Happy Prince(2018)

    as Dr. Tucker

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • The Hippopotamus(2017)

    as Podmore

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
  • The Crown(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Imbert-Terry

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows
  • Churchill's Secret(2016)

    as Lord Camrose

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
  • Queen & Country(2014)

    as Grandfather George

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • The Last Resort (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Mr. Carpenter (voice)

  • Rosamunde Pilcher: The Other Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lord George Meriot

  • Borgia(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows
  • Game of Thrones(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Jon Arryn

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows
  • The Shadow in the North(2007)

    as Webster Garland

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
  • Consenting Adults (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Lord Goddard

  • The Contractor(2007)

    as Sir Anthony

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
  • I Want Candy(2007)

    as Michael de Vere

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • Fallen Angel(2007)

    Show 3 episodes · as Voice of Francis Youlgreave

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows
  • Rabbit Fever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Ally's dad

  • Scoop(2006)

    as Garden Party Guest

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
  • The Line of Beauty(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lord Kessler

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows
  • V for Vendetta(2005)

    as Lilliman

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
  • Lassie(2005)

    as French

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
  • Animal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Dean Frydman

  • A Good Woman(2004)

    as Dumby

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
  • King Solomon's Mines(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Sam Maitland

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows
  • Shoreditch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Jenson Thackery

  • Keen Eddie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Trust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Teresa's Father

  • The Real Jane Austen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Mr. Austen

  • The Gathering Storm(2002)

    as Lord Moyne

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
  • The Falklands Play(2002)

    as Rt Hon William Whitelaw CH MC MP (Home Secretary)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
  • Witness to a Kill(2001)

    as Foreign Secretary

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films
  • Pandaemonium(2000)

    as Rev Holland

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
  • Queen's Messenger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Foreign Secretary

  • In Deep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ritchie

  • Love in a Cold Climate(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lord Montdore

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows
  • The Calling(2000)

    as Jack Plummer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films
  • Longitude (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Capt. Proctor

  • Longitude (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Proctor

  • Mad Cows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Politician

  • Rogue Trader(1999)

    as Peter Baring

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • 8 ½ Women(1999)

    as Philip Emmenthal

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
  • Joan of Arc (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Archbishop

  • The Vice(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Weir

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows
  • The Woman In White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Mr. Gilmore

  • The Woman In White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mr. Gilmore

  • Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
  • A Dance to the Music of Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 4 episodes · as Nicholas Jenkins (older)

  • Mrs Dalloway(1997)

    as Richard Dalloway

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • Lexx(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Count Dracul

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows
  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Rust · as Will Tunstall

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
  • Gulliver's Travels(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Admiral Bolgolam

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows
  • Look at the State We're In! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr Smith

  • The Choir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 5 episodes · as Bishop Robert Young

  • Riders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Malise Gordon

  • Chaplin(1992)

    as Butler

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
  • The Old Boy Network (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 7 episodes · Actor

  • The Count of Solar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Coudray

  • Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Whitfield

  • Civil Wars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Terrence Hemnings

  • Eerie, Indiana(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Professor Nigel Zirchon

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows
  • Tonight at 8.30 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Toby Cartwright

  • Night of the Fox(1990)

    as Alan Stacey

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films
  • Chameleons(1989)

    as Henry

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
  • Paddington Bear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 13 episodes · as Mr. Brown

  • The Endless Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Belfrage

  • The Endless Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 2 episodes · as Belfrage

  • Dark Holiday(1989)

    as Charnaud

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
  • Poirot(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Colonnel Toby Luttrell

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows
  • Murphy's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Flapjack Floozie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Dr. Kipper

  • Nightflyers(1987)

    as D'Branin

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films
  • Visitors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Jack

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Nigel Morris

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows
  • Lime Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 8 episodes · as Edward Wingate

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack

  • The Biko Inquest(1984)

    as Van Rensburg

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Constable · as Chief Daniel Trent

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as George Franklin

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows
  • To Catch a King(1984)

    as The Duke of Windsor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
  • Pygmalion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Colonel Pickering

  • Privates on Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Captain Sholto Savory

  • Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Shillingbury Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Dick Firman

  • The Elephant Man(1980)

    as Fox

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
  • The Sea Wolves(1980)

    as Finley

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • The Other 'Arf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 27 episodes · Actor

  • Hart to Hart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Collins

  • The Class of Miss MacMichael(1978)

    as Charles Fairbrother

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • The Legacy(1978)

    as Jason Mountolive

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films
  • Beryl Reid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Sinking of the HMS Victoria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Captain Winsloe

  • BBC2 Play of the Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Winsloe

  • Nanny's Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as John Tallwatch

  • Jubilee 1977 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as John Tallwatch

  • The Eagle Has Landed(1976)

    as Father Verecker

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • Rogue Male(1976)

    as Major Quive-Smith

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
  • Space: 1999(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Pasc

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows
  • Van der Valk(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Ehrlich

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows
  • The Frighteners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Tony Wardle

  • Au Pair Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Buster

  • X, Y & Zee(1972)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Lord Amberley

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows
  • All the Right Noises (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Bernie

  • Wine of India (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Russ

  • Charley's Aunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Jack Chesney

  • The First Churchills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 12 episodes · as Sidney Godolphin

  • A Touch of Love(1969)

    as Roger

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • The Main Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Lord Radchester

  • ITV Saturday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Bluntschli

  • Torture Garden(1967)

    as Leo Winston (segment 3 "Mr. Steinway")

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • ITV Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Walk Don't Run(1966)

    as Julius D. Haversack

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
  • The Psychopath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Mark Von Sturm

  • King Rat(1965)

    as Daven

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Cléante · as Jack Chesney

  • The Wednesday Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Russ

  • Agent 8 3/4(1964)

    as Men's Room Attendant

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Sharp at Four (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Sutcliffe

  • The Iron Maiden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Humphrey Gore-Brown

  • Young and Willing(1962)

    as Arthur

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films
  • The Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Gendarme

  • A Pair of Briefs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Hubert Shannon

  • Drama 61-67 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Ronald Brook

  • The Avengers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Sutcliffe

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 132 titles from 1956 to 2025; peak year 1998.

Film career

19562025

Peak 1998 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1964Screen debut· Hot Enough for June
  • 1999First top-billed film· 8 ½ Women
  • 1999Career best· 8 ½ Women

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting132 of 132: 132 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score56th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s20 · acting1970s19 · acting1980s25 · acting1990s24 · acting2000s27 · acting2010s13 · acting2020s3 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 3% of 30 roles
6469940414

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do John Standing's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 45; across their 31 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 48th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Reach · how many have seen their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Midcredits score across 65 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th23
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

29 of their 65 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Universally Panned2
  • Crowd Pleaser29
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed18

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is John Standing's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles37–77 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles15–64 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles35–69 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 36 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 52 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does John Standing work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Standing's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jack Higgins shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles