Actor. He was a balding British character actor who is best remembered for his numerous television roles including that of 'Sergeant Roger Duclos' in the television mini-series, "Monsignor Renard" (2000), and for his role of 'Mr. Nigel Harper' in the ITV1 television series, "The Royal" from 2003 to 2005, which is a medical drama that follows the staff and patients of St Aidan's Royal Free Hospital during the 1960s. He was born in Stockport, England, and he was educated locally and briefly studied graphic design before attending and studying at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England. He made his actual television debut playing the role of 'Jackson's Lawyer' in the television crime drama mini-series, "Prime Suspect 3" in 1993. The mini-series which won several awards including a Primetime Emmy Award, a BAFTA Award, an Edgar All Poe Award, and a Television Critics Association Award, also starred Helen Mirren, Karen Tomlin, and Tom Bell, and it tells the story of Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison who investigates a child murder and discovers a sinister link to the police while assigned to a Vice Squad. Besides, "Prime Suspect 3" (1993), "Monsignor Renard" (2000), and "The Royal" (2003-2005), his many other television credits include, "Out Of The Blue," "Dalziel And Pascoe," "Expert Witness," "Wycliffe," "Heartbeat," "The Lakes," "City Central," "Peak Practice," "The 10th Kingdom," "Casualty," "Phoenix Nights," "Always And Everyone," "Oscar Charlie," "The Afternoon Play," "Emmerdale Farm," "The Bill," "Doctors," "Life On Mars," "Johnny And The Bomb," "New Street Law," "The Chase," "Lilies," "Bear Behaving Badly," and "Unforgiven." His many film credits include, "The King Of Us" (2002), "Under The Greenwood Tree" (2005), and "Florence Nightingale" (2008), which tells the biographical life story of the famous social reformer and nurse Florence Nightingale and her spiritual and emotional breakdown after the Crimean War. His last role was as 'Assassin #2' in the American television comedy series, "Kröd Mändoon And The Flaming Sword Of Fire" which also starred Matt Lucas and was filmed in Hungary in 2008. The episode entitled 'Wench Trouble' aired a year after his death in 2009. Besides his film and television credits, he also appeared in the theatre. His theatre credits include playing 'Dimas' in "The Triumph Of Love," which opened at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, England, in 2007. He continued working in both television, films, and theatre, until his untimely death. He was preparing to play a ballroom dancer in the comedy-drama television series, "Shameless" at the time. He passed away from a sudden heart attack on October 25, 2008, at the age of 48, in his native Stockport, England, and his funeral was held at Stockport Cemetery and Crematorium in Stockport, England. He never married nor had any children. He was the namesake and grandson of train driver John Axon who tragically died at Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, England, on February 9, 1957, at the age of 56, while trying to stop a freight train after the brakes had failed and who was posthumously awarded The George Cross Medal of Honour for Civilian Bravery in recognition of his actions to stop the train.