10/19/2014

John Pappas: The Actor Who Is Hiding In Plain Sight

By Dominique Martin


With a career that has spanned more than forty-five years, he has appeared in countless movies and television shows. People who see John Pappas in public are likely to think they somehow know him, rather than thinking they saw him acting in a movie. With his chameleon like acting skills, he may not be recognizable from one role to the next.

He hails for Northern California, spending his youth in Oakland and attending college at San Francisco State University. Since 1974 he has spent most of his time in the greater Hollywood area. Seems that he went where he could find work in his chosen fields. That was not going to happen in Oakland.

He is a man of many talents. He made appearances in just about every popular show of 1980s from detective dramas to sitcoms. In the 1970s he also performed as a stand-up comic making appearance on the well-known daytime talk shows of the era.

As if acting and comedy were not enough, this talented actor also made his mark in the theater. He did not merely perform, he also wrote and directed plays. He spent time in the Los Angeles theater circuit, but he was no stranger to New York either. When he was the original actor to play a given role, he showed the ability to take the character from the West to the East Coast.

With his chameleon-like appearance, he is just plausible as the evil villain in a spy thriller as he is at playing the guy next door. Typically, he is not the star. Rather he fills a small but pivotal role.

A good portion of his longevity was spent on a popular soap opera. For twenty-two years he had a regular role, not just periodic guest appearance. His guest appearance on that soap opera may have brought him to the attention of the producers, but his likability with the show's fans is what kept him on the show.

For a time when he was doing stand up comedy he part of a two man comedic team. The pair would tell jokes and sing, not unlike another popular duo of that era, the Smothers Brothers. It was all good, clean fun. The team poked more fun at themselves than anyone else.

His talents even extend to painting. His style is generally abstract impressionism. This well-rounded artist has been producing wonderful paintings for more than 30 years. His work hangs in private venues and in art galleries.

There are many character actors like him who are ubiquitous but somehow under appreciated. It really does not matter that he has not achieved the status of a major film or TV star. He has made a living at the craft he loves, and he has had only one wife. Today he makes his home in Long Beach, California, with his wife and their two dogs, beloved Golden Retrievers. He has followed his own creative path, with acting, writing, directing, comedy and art. These facts seem to indicate a balanced, generally happy life. Bravo, sir. See you at the movies or on TV.




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