|
 Born
on Main St., Rabat, Malta G.C., in 1933. Immigrated
to Canada in 1951. Destination? California.
Educated at Mdina Boy’s school, Malta, as well as
high school in Toronto, Canada.
A few months after he arrived in Toronto, John fell
in love with a Canadian girl, and deciding to ignore
the sponsorship papers to the United States, and
settled in Canada.
Grima’s interest in the theatre began early in his
teens. He would perform for the neighbourhood
refugee children, during World War II. He also took
part in school productions, performed on stage at
the Astoria theatre, Rabat, and at the Radio City
theatre, Hamrun, in Malta.
After returning home from a visit to Hollywood in
1956, he enrolled at the Jack Medhurst theatre
school for a four years course. There he was
immediately chosen as a leading man, portraying
roles of Romeo, in “Romeo and Juliet”, Macbeth,
Hamon in “Antigone”, Father in “Beauty and the
Beast”, and many more. He received two scholarships.
In 1957, he made his professional acting debut in
Shakespeare’s, “King Lear”, at the Crest theatre in
Toronto. He continued to perform on stage at the
Royal Alexandra theatre; playing the role of the
evil Magician in “Aladdin”, at Heart House theatre;
dual roles in Kafka’s, “The Trial”, at the Colonnade
theatre; and the role of Scipio in “Caligula”, at
the Actor’s theatre. Later on he also directed the
British comedy, “Not Now, Darling”, at the Fairview
theatre, in Toronto.
Also in the same year, John made his Television
debut, starring as Max in “the Price of Silence”,
co-starring with British actor, Barry Morse, and
directed by Charles Jarrott, at the Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation, (CBC), Canada.
 He
made many more appearances in both Canadian and
American television productions such as: the RCMP,
On Camera, General Motors Presents, Tugboat Annie,
Wojek, The Collaborators, War of the Worlds,
Hudson’s Bay, Great Performance and Top Cops, to
name a few.
In 1958, John made his film debut starring in, “the
Golden Age”, for the National Film Board of Canada.
Other Canadian and US films followed, among them,
“Day of Experience” and “Killers of the Wild”.
During his career, he worked with such names as:
Donald Sutherland, William Shatner, Leslie Nielson,
Barry Morse, Anthony Quayle, Celia Johnson, Melvin
Douglas, Jack Palance, Olivia Hussy, Nehemia Persoff
and Michelle Lee.
Grima has starred in several films. Made some 50
plus appearances on Television, starred in five
Radio plays and appeared in over twelve stage plays.
Honoured with Knighthood in the Sovereign Order of
St. John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, with the
rank of Grand Commander, the Order of George
Washington and the Order of the Holy Cross of
Jerusalem, with the rank of Commander.
Married to Edith Porteous from Toronto, Canada, and
has four children. John Jr., Victor, Marie-Rose and
Georgina. |
