John Axon

Who was John Axon?

John Axon was an English television and stage actor. He was perhaps best known for his role as the hospital administrator, Nigel Harper, on the ITV1 television series The Royal. Axon played Harper as a recurring role on the show from 2003 until 2005.

Axon was named after his grandfather, John Axon, an engine driver who was posthumously awarded the George Cross in 1957 after he died while attempting to stop his train before it crashed at Chapel-en-le-Frith.

His theatre credits included Dimas in The Triumph of Love, which opened at the Royal Exchange in Manchester in 2007. He travelled to Hungary in 2008 where he filmed an American television series, Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire, starring Matt Lucas.

Axon collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack near his home in Stockport on 25 October 2008 at the age of 48. He was preparing to play a ballroom dancer in the comedy drama television series, Shameless, at the time of his death.