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JohnSumner

  • Actor
John-Sumner-Key-Profile.jpg

After making a career in marketing at record company RCA, English-born John Sumner switched back to his original love of performing in 1992. Since then he’s appeared in Shortland Street and had a memorable role in political satire Spin Doctors as Giles Peterson — "the buffoon", as Sumner calls him — the boss of a PR agency. He played the producer of a current affairs show on TV's Cover Story, and on the big screen was cameraman Herb in Peter Jackson’s remake of King Kong. Sumner has also lent his voice talents to numerous shows and documentaries, including Going Going Gone, Treasure Island and Piha Rescue.

Screenography

2021 As: Lester Burton Television
Power Rangers Ninja Steel
2017 - 2018 As: Santa Claus Series
2017 As: JP (episode 5) Television
2016 As: Neville Rockhouse Television
2016 As: Harbour Master Television

Awards

2003 New Zealand Television Awards
Nominated for Best Entertainment/Comedy Performance: for Spin Doctors, series 3

“In terms of the character of Giles, it was simply a guy who had gone in early, made a hell of a lot of money, decided he was gonna be a winemaker, it sucks, he creates vinegar, and it was just a wonderful character to be able to play ... "a buffoon", who's well-meaning but very conscious of himself.”

John Sumner on his role in Spin Doctors, in an interview for The Beat Goes On, 25 March 2013