Trivia

A one-time champion roller skater, he performed many of his own stunts in the film Rollerball (1975). He was also a proficient boxer and won several amateur titles in his life, most notably the heavyweight 'Golden Gloves' of Chicago.

His big breakthrough was in the movie The Other Side of Midnight (1977) in which he played the male lead. The film was a huge box office flop, largely due to 20th Century Fox's decision to throw full weight behind the first Star Wars film.

Met wife Tina Carter, a former British model, in Mexico when they were both working on the movie, Lawman (1971). They married in 1971 and have four children -- one son named Tara James Beck (B. June 10, 1971) and three daughters named Tatiana Elena Beck (B. January 1973), Talia Marina Beck (B. May 29, 1976) and Natasha Danielle Beck (B. October 18, 1979).

Made his first TV appearance as an actor in the I Dream of Jeannie (1965) episode, Russian Roulette (1965).

Born in Chicago and grew up in Evanston and Joliet, Illinois. He lived on his father's farm/ranch and while young was interested in becoming a vet.

His tutors encouraged him to try acting as a means to overcome his profound shyness. He was encouraged after performing in a high school play at age 16. Moving to California in 1962 at age 19, he initially made his living by appearing in TV commercials.

Beck's dream TV role on Dallas (1978) proved to be just that -- a dream. He played Pamela Ewing's love interest on the popular western soap during the series' notorious 1985-1986 season (9th), which was explained away at the beginning of the next season as entirely a figment of Pam's imagination. His character appeared in the earlier seasons and was presumed dead by the end of the 7th season. He re-emerged during the dream season. Following the dream season, his character was never referred to again.

In the 1990s, he started voice acting for the first time in his career when he provided the voice of "The Punisher" in three episodes of Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994) (aka "Spider-Man: The Animated Series").

Retired from acting [November 2021].

John appeared with Larry Hagman in one short scene on an early I Dream of Jeannie, for several seasons on Dallas, in the theatrical film The Big Bus and in the TV movie Sidekicks.