John Sumner

John Sumner is an actor who grew up in England and South Africa before his family settled in New Zealand when he was nine. He started out performing live on Auckland's nightclub circuit at 19, and within months was appearing in local variety television shows. A first major stage show came within two years, and he went on to mix club and television work with repertory theater, earning popular and critical acclaim as Charlie Brown in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and playing Emory in The Boys in the Band. In 1976 he left performing for the music and home video industries, then returned in 1992 by way of television commercials. Roles in local film and television followed, along with parts in international productions made in New Zealand. He has combined acting with running a business.