John Franklin (actor)
Encyclopedia
John Franklin is an American
actor
.
. In his spare time he enjoys writing, gardening and listening to music, especially The Beatles
.
.
After Children of the Corn, Franklin went on to appear in the kids' variety show Kids Incorporated
, guest starring in two episodes, "The Leprechaun" and "Space Case." He appeared in many commercials again before guest starring as Arnie in Highway to Heaven
, playing a mentally handicapped teenage runaway.
He provided the voice for Walkabout Chucky in Child's Play. In 1991, Franklin landed the role of Cousin Itt
in The Addams Family
and reprised the role in 1993's Addams Family Values
. Throughout the 1990s, Franklin appeared as a guest on several TV shows, including Chicago Hope
and Star Trek Voyager, then guest starred with David Morse
in George B. and with Steve Guttenberg
in Tower of Terror
.
In 1999, Franklin reprised his debut role, Isaac, in Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return
, co-writing the script with his cousin Tim Sulka. In 2000, he landed a small role in Python
and co starred as Morluv in The Christmas Secret
.
Franklin now works as an English
teacher
at Golden Valley High School
in Santa Clarita, California
. He explained, "After the events of 9/11
, I saw the shallowness of showbiz
and felt a great desire to leave a greater legacy than just being Cousin Itt. Teaching seemed to be a perfect fit for my theatrical talents and to touch many lives."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Personal life
John Franklin was born in Blue Island, Illinois, a southern suburb of Chicago on June 16, 1959. He has three older brothers, an older sister and a younger brother and grew up in a close knit, loving family. In 1977, John graduated from Dwight D. Eisenhower High School, then went on to graduate from the University of Illinois in 1983 with a BFA in theater and teaching. John Franklin is of Polish descent and speaks French and German fluently. In September 2008, Franklin married his partner of 13 years, David, and currently lives in Castaic, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. In his spare time he enjoys writing, gardening and listening to music, especially The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
.
Career
in 1983, John Franklin moved to Los Angeles, CA to pursue a career in acting. He appeared in commercials before successfully auditioning for the role of Isaac in Stephen King's Children of the CornChildren of the Corn (1984 film)
Children of the Corn is a 1984 horror film based upon the 1977 short story of the same name by Stephen King. Directed by Fritz Kiersch, the film stars Peter Horton and Linda Hamilton...
.
After Children of the Corn, Franklin went on to appear in the kids' variety show Kids Incorporated
Kids Incorporated
Kids Incorporated, is an American children's television program that was produced from 1984 to 1993. It was largely a youth-oriented program with musical performances as an integral part of each and every storyline....
, guest starring in two episodes, "The Leprechaun" and "Space Case." He appeared in many commercials again before guest starring as Arnie in Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven is an American television drama series which ran on NBC from 1984 to 1989.- Season 1 :- Season 2 :- Season 3 :- Season 4 :- Season 5 :...
, playing a mentally handicapped teenage runaway.
He provided the voice for Walkabout Chucky in Child's Play. In 1991, Franklin landed the role of Cousin Itt
Cousin Itt
Cousin Itt is a member of the fictional Addams Family. Unlike the other characters, Cousin Itt was not originally created by cartoonist Charles Addams, but by producer David Levy, though he did appear as an unnamed character in Addams's cartoons.- Character :...
in The Addams Family
The Addams Family
The Addams Family is a group of fictional characters created by American cartoonist Charles Addams. As named by Charles Addams, the Addams Family characters include Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Lurch, Grandmama, Wednesday, Pugsley, and Thing....
and reprised the role in 1993's Addams Family Values
Addams Family Values
Addams Family Values is a 1993 sequel to the 1991 comedy The Addams Family. The film was written by Paul Rudnick and directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and many cast members from the original returned for the sequel, including Raúl Juliá, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, and Christina Ricci...
. Throughout the 1990s, Franklin appeared as a guest on several TV shows, including Chicago Hope
Chicago Hope
Chicago Hope is an American medical drama series created by David E. Kelley that ran from September 18, 1994, to May 5, 2000. It takes place in a fictional private charity hospital.-Premise:The show stars Mandy Patinkin as Dr...
and Star Trek Voyager, then guest starred with David Morse
David Morse (actor)
David Bowditch Morse is an American stage, television, and film actor. He first came to national attention as Dr. Jack Morrison in the medical drama St. Elsewhere from 1982 to 1988...
in George B. and with Steve Guttenberg
Steve Guttenberg
Steven Robert "Steve" Guttenberg is an American actor and comedian. He became well known during the 1980s, after a series of starring roles in major Hollywood films, including Cocoon, Three Men and a Baby, Police Academy, and Short Circuit.-Early life:Guttenberg was born in Brooklyn, New York, the...
in Tower of Terror
Tower of Terror
Tower of Terror may refer to:* The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, an accelerated freefall ride located in many Disney theme parks** Tower of Terror , a TV movie based on the Disney attraction...
.
In 1999, Franklin reprised his debut role, Isaac, in Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return
Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return
Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return is the sixth film in the Children of the Corn series. It is the fourth film that went direct-to-video...
, co-writing the script with his cousin Tim Sulka. In 2000, he landed a small role in Python
Python (film)
Python is a made-for-TV horror movie directed by Richard Clabaugh. The film features several cult favorite actors, including William Zabka of The Karate Kid fame, Wil Wheaton, Casper Van Dien, Jenny McCarthy, Keith Coogan, Robert Englund , and Sean Whalen.The film concerns a...
and co starred as Morluv in The Christmas Secret
The Christmas Secret
The Christmas Secret is a TV movie starring Richard Thomas and Beau Bridges. It premiered on CBS in 2000. As of 2009, it was shown in the 25 Days of Christmas programming block on ABC Family, but it was not part of the block in 2010.-Plot:...
.
Franklin now works as an English
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
at Golden Valley High School
Golden Valley High School (Santa Clarita)
Golden Valley High School is a high school in the William S. Hart Union High School District in the community of Canyon Country, California located in Santa Clarita, California. The school first opened in 2004 with a brand new campus. The student population is approximately 2500 in grades 9...
in Santa Clarita, California
Santa Clarita, California
Santa Clarita is the fourth largest city in Los Angeles County, California, United States and the twenty-fourth largest city in the state of California. The 2010 US Census reported the city's population grew 16.7% from the year 2000 to 176,320 residents. It is located about northwest of downtown...
. He explained, "After the events of 9/11
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, I saw the shallowness of showbiz
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
and felt a great desire to leave a greater legacy than just being Cousin Itt. Teaching seemed to be a perfect fit for my theatrical talents and to touch many lives."
Film, TV work
- Star Trek: VoyagerStar Trek: VoyagerStar Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
(1 episode, 2000) - Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's ReturnChildren of the Corn 666: Isaac's ReturnChildren of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return is the sixth film in the Children of the Corn series. It is the fourth film that went direct-to-video...
(1999) as Isaac Chroner - Wag the DogWag the DogWag the Dog is a 1997 black comedy film starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro, co-starring Anne Heche, Denis Leary and William H. Macy about a Washington spin doctor who, merely days before a presidential election, distracts the electorate from a sex scandal by hiring a Hollywood film producer...
(1997) - Tower of TerrorTower of Terror (film)Tower of Terror is a 1997 made-for-TV supernatural thriller directed by D. J. MacHale. It is based on the theme park attraction, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, at Disney's Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida and was originally a presentation of The...
(1997) (TV) - Chicago HopeChicago HopeChicago Hope is an American medical drama series created by David E. Kelley that ran from September 18, 1994, to May 5, 2000. It takes place in a fictional private charity hospital.-Premise:The show stars Mandy Patinkin as Dr...
(1 episode, 1996) - Addams Family ValuesAddams Family ValuesAddams Family Values is a 1993 sequel to the 1991 comedy The Addams Family. The film was written by Paul Rudnick and directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and many cast members from the original returned for the sequel, including Raúl Juliá, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, and Christina Ricci...
(1993) as Cousin Itt - The Addams FamilyThe Addams FamilyThe Addams Family is a group of fictional characters created by American cartoonist Charles Addams. As named by Charles Addams, the Addams Family characters include Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Lurch, Grandmama, Wednesday, Pugsley, and Thing....
(1991) as Cousin Itt - Child's Play (1988) as Walkabout Chucky
- Highway to HeavenHighway to HeavenHighway to Heaven is an American television drama series which ran on NBC from 1984 to 1989.- Season 1 :- Season 2 :- Season 3 :- Season 4 :- Season 5 :...
(1 episode, 1986) - Children of the CornChildren of the Corn (1984 film)Children of the Corn is a 1984 horror film based upon the 1977 short story of the same name by Stephen King. Directed by Fritz Kiersch, the film stars Peter Horton and Linda Hamilton...
(1984) as Isaac Chroner