Jon Carver was born John Beddoes in Birmingham 1952. His mother re married and he became adopted by Ken Barton in 1962. John Barton not being able to register his own name at Equity (due to a higher profile incumbent). He became Jon Carver professionally in 1999.
Jon was raised the son of a Birmingham city councillor and skilled welder and sheet metal worker in the motor trade. Jon's father and mother went on to become Birmingham's first citizens in 1982, when they became Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress.
Jon was not a success at school owing to a bit of a confusing up
… More bringing. In short he was a bit of a rebel. At the age of 15 he accidentally appeared in his school's production of Lionel Barts Oliver, as Fagin and also unexpectedly, stole the show. Jon had at last found something that he was good at. Alas it was to be many more years before he would begin to access his ambition. Although this was the '60s most young men did not argue with their families especially when they said " get a proper Job"
Jon drifted through a number of Jobs and in to an early marriage with Penny Roberts in 1971. They had 3 children James, Jody and Polly from his eldest son James, Jon is now a proud grandfather to Jacob and Fletcher. His son Jody is a senior researcher for a leading housing association and is a post graduate student. His daughter Polly is due to be married next year.
Jon eventually entered the car trade in his dad's footsteps in 1977. He became employed as welder at The Jaguar cars body assembly plant ( formerly Fisher and Ludlow). He progrssed with Jaguar through pre production welder/trainer, to senior body fault rectifier, before moving across the city of Coventry from the now doomed Browns lane plant to Peugeot's Ryton factory, where he became a supervisor in the Body shop. Ill health took its toll and Jon left the car trade and shortly after this a rocky and stormy marriage with Penny came to its inevitable end. They remain good friends however.
Jon had been studying an Open University course at the time and it was at the summer school for that course at Bath university in the summer of 1993, that he met the love of his life Carol Mansell.
Carol encouraged him to chase his dreams. He went to University full time at the ripe age of 43. Took a 2:1 honours in drama and English and then went on to study with George Peck at The Oxford schholl of Drama.
Jon has worked fairly regularly in Film and television, where he has worked almost exclusively with BBC drama. Jon's bookings are managed by Anthony Stuart-Hicks & Paul Leno of ASH Productions Live Personal Management.
