'Beachcombers' Star Pat John Has Died

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Jul 14, 2022

Pat John — the Indigenous actor known best for playing Jesse Jim on long-running CBC comedy-drama The Beachcombers — has died. 

Jackson Davies, John's friend and former Beachcombers co-star, confirmed news of the actor's July 13 passing to CBC News today, writing in tribute on Facebook, "The Full Buck Moon rises Wednesday night, the closest, largest, and brightest Full Moon we'll see for all of this year, may it shine on your journey PJ."

"I met Pat, PJ to us on Beach, in 1974, my first year on the series, his 2nd," Davies continued. "He was funny, kind, and although he didn't get the credit he should have, he was also a very good actor. He had the greatest laugh ever, and it was my goal in life to get him to laugh, just to hear it. Somehow when PJ laughed the world was ok again."

On The Beachcombers, John — a member of the shíshálh Nation (Sechelt First Nation) in Sechelt, BC — played the role of Jesse Jim, the partner of Greek-Canadian log salvager Nick Adonidas (Bruno Gerussi) aboard logging tug boat Persephone. He would later make an appearance in 2002 television movie The New Beachcombers, alongside Davies. 

Filmed and set in Gibsons, BC, The Beachcombers ran for 19 seasons, making it the second longest-running Canadian television drama. This fall marks the show's 50th anniversary, having first aired in October 1972.

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