John Carey(VIII)
- Actor
John was born May 14, 1961, the youngest son of ten children born to a
blue collar worker father and an opera singer mother who lost her voice
in a house fire when John was 4 years old. He hitch-hiked across
country at age 16. Moving to California after high school, he worked as
a background "extra" actor in a slew of films and TV shows. When there
was a strike that shut down film production, at age 20 he landed a job
working as a private chef for singer Peggy Lee, for whom he worked for
several months, living in her Bel Air mansion. He replaced Lee's former
butler, Bernard Lafferty. A woman who used to hang out at Lee's house
and often helped him with the kitchen and household chores while they
had long conversations. John thought that this woman was someone who
used to work for Lee. Years later John found out that she was
billionairess Doris Duke, who only mentioned one person in her will
when she died, her butler, Bernard Lafferty. John attended several
universities and colleges, including the Cleveland Institute of Art,
but does not have a degree. Other LA jobs he held included limousine
driver, dog groomer, private chef, fitness trainer, and in the kitchen
of the traveling circus, Cirqu du Soliel. Eventually John worked in the
world of publishing of newspapers, magazines, and books. As a writer he
has written several screenplays, two novels, and has been a ghost
co-writer on several health-related books, including vegan recipe and
nutrition books, and books about the medical and life insurance
industries. The Slamdance Screenplay Competition described John's film
script, "Faith, Hope, and Daniel," as "brilliant" and said it should
attract the attention of major actresses seeking an Academy Award
nomination. He is skilled in clay sculpture, as well as realistic
drawing of the human form and nature. He has trained in opera and
classical singing, as well as acting. A life long biker, he has biked
the coast of California and the Hawaiian islands.