Although born and raised in Australia, John Bedouin made his name in the USA as an actor early in the twentieth century. During the almost two decades he spent in America Bedouin appeared in many Broadway successes, leading one New York Dramatic Mirror critic to describe him as 'an old favourite and one of the best character actors in the country' (9 April 1913, 12). According to several reports Bedouin became homesick in the late 1910s and by 1920 had returned to Australia where he continued his stage career throughout the remainder of the decade. The Sydney Morning Herald records in 1934 that he was in much demand for butler roles, having played such parts in no less than 23 plays (19 April 1934, Women's Supp. p.9).
By the late 1920s Bedouin had begun to expand his theatrical activities beyond acting, involving himself initially in film production and later in radio. The Evening News reported in 1926 that having lately been 'associated with Hollywood' he was to be the producer of a series of films featuring children between the ages of five and thirteen. Although the titles of these films are not mentioned, the article indicates that one had already been produced in Victoria (25 October 1926, p.11). Little else is known about Bedouin's film production activity to date, apart from his credit (for Continuity) in The Devil's Playground (1928).
It was to be in radio production that Bedouin's later Australian career was to find its greatest success. Between the early 1930s and up until shortly before his death Bedouin was employed almost continuously as an actor, writer and producer. One of his earliest works as a writer was in collaboration with composer Fred Whaite on the musical play The Willow Pattern Plate (1933). He is also known to have produced episodes in the March of Time series (1935-ca.1940s), a dramatised newsreel program which drew on incidents in the week's news. One of his last known radio appearances as an actor was in The Night Porter, a comedy produced by for Cribb and Foote in May 1945.
