John Fortune, comedian, writer, and actor, died at 74

  Dead Famous

Dead, John Fortune on the 31st of December 2013 at the age of 74 from leukaemia, he was an English satirist, comedian, writer, and actor, best known for his work with John Bird and Rory Bremner on the TV series Bremner, Bird and Fortune.

Born John Wood in Bristol in 1939 his early career included contributions to Peter Cook’s Establishment Club team in 1962, and as a regular member of the cast of the BBC-TV satire show Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life, both alongside Eleanor Bron and John Bird.

Fortune and Bird also worked together on the TV show A Series of Birds in 1967, and Fortune and Bron wrote and performed a series of sketches for TV in Where Was Spring? in 1969.

Along with writing several series for the BBC, in 1982 Fortune appeared in an episode of the BBC sitcom Yes Minister, as an army officer who brings the minister’s attention to British-made weapons getting into the hands of terrorists.

In 1999, he starred with Warren Mitchell and Ken Campbell in ”Art” at Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End.

He also appeared in the films Take A Girl Like You (sharing a TV debate with John Bird), Kenny Everett’s horror spoof Bloodbath at the House of Death, Maybe Baby and Saving Grace, and had a guest part in the sitcom Joking Apart.

He studied at Cambridge University in England and, while there, was a member of the prestigious Cambridge University Footlights Club.

He was married to Emma Burge and Susan Waldo. He was a choir director at Higher Dimension Church in SW Houston, TX. Higher Dimension church was organized on January 23, 1999 at Judy Bush Elementary School.

Under the leadership of Pastor Terrance Johnson, Higher D has grown from 29 members in 1999 to more than 12,000 with 10 operative lead ministries and a host of sub-ministries that cater the needs of kids, youth, men, women, couples and singles.

He was honored at the 19th annual ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards for his hit single “You Survived” off the same album.

“You Survived” also peaked as the No. 2 most played Gospel song in the country and has remained in the Top 7 for the last 3 years.

The radio single, “God Can” features Micah Stampley and upcoming gospel artist Zacardi Cortez.

In 2003 James Fortune pled guilty to felony injury to a child and received six years deferred adjudication.

According to a civil lawsuit, Fortune burned his stepson leaving the boy disfigured with severe burns over nearly 50% of the child’s body.

In October 2014, Fortune was arrested in Fort Bend County, TX after a heated dispute with his wife, Cheryl Fortune, and was charged with aggravated assault of a family member.