John Aylesworth

John Aylesworth and Frank Peppiatt, two zany young copywriters at a Toronto advertising agency, were given a shot at Canadian TV stardom in the early '50s. The comics were a hit and are considered Canada's first comedy team.  Their stardom lasted until Wayne and Shuster moved in to TV and the pair found themselves pushed aside.

The talented duo landed on their feet by producing and writing in New York and Hollywood. Between 1958 and 1988 Peppiatt and Aylesworth were the most successful comedy-variety creative team in television history. They wrote comedy material for Groucho Marx, Bob Hope, George Burns and Victor Borge. They wrote specials for Princess Grace of Monaco, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and even John Wayne. They were responsible for series such as the Judy Garland Show, the Andy Williams Show and Sonny and Cher.

He is now living in San Diego and currently working on a book titled "A Job Laughing" Watch for it to come out.

Please note; John's son Thomas, born May 16, 1968, passed away February 28, 2003. A site hasbeen dedicated in his memory. www.aylesworth.us.  Please visit it soon as it says a lot about this talented man.  

Biographical Information

 Birth Place: Toronto, Canada, August 16, 1928

Writer - filmography

Directed by Gene Nelson Writing credits Frank Peppiatt (written by) and John Aylesworth (written by)

(1980s) (1970s) (1960s) (1950s) (1940s)

1. "Dolly" (1987) TV Series (writer)
2. "New Love, American Style" (1985) TV Series (writer)
   Dorothy Hamill Presents Winners (1978) (TV)
3. Olde English Christmas (1977) (TV)
   ... aka Perry Como's Olde English Christmas (USA: complete title)
4. "The Julie Andrews Hour" (1972) TV Series (writer)
5. "The ABC Comedy Hour" (1972) TV Series (writer)
   ... aka ABC Comedy Hour Presents the Kopycats (USA: rerun title)
6. Swing Out, Sweet Land (1970) (TV)
7. Wake Me When the War Is Over (1969) (TV) (written by)
8. "Hee Haw" (1969) TV Series (writer)
9. Monte Carlo: C'est La Rose (1968)
10. "The Kraft Music Hall" (1967) TV Series (writer)
11. "The Jonathan Winters Show" (1967) TV Series (writer)
12. "Hullabaloo" (1965) TV Series (writer)
13. "The Judy Garland Show" (1963) TV Series (writer)
    "The Andy Williams Show" (1959) TV Series (writer)
14. "Front Page Challenge" (1957) TV Series (creator)
    ... aka Daytime Challenge (Canada: English title: daytime version title)
15. "Cross-Canada Hit Parade" (1955) TV Series (writer)
16. "On Stage" (1954) TV Series (writer)
17. "After Hours" (1953) TV Series (writer)
18. "The Big Revue" (1952) TV Series (writer)
19. "The Perry Como Show" (1948) TV Series (writer)
    ... aka Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (USA: new title)
    ... aka The Chesterfield Supper Club
     

Filmography as: Writer, Producer, Actor, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Producer - filmography
(1980s) (1970s) (1960s)

1. "The Nashville Palace" (1981) TV Series (executive producer)
2. "Hee Haw Honeys" (1978) TV Series (executive producer)
3. "Shields and Yarnell" (1977) TV Series (producer)
4. "The Sonny and Cher Show" (1976) TV Series (producer)
5. "Keep on Truckin'" (1975/I) TV Series (producer)
6. "The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine" (1974) TV Series (executive producer)
7. "Hee Haw" (1969) TV Series (executive producer)
8. "The Jonathan Winters Show" (1967) TV Series (producer)
   
    

Filmography as: Writer, Producer, Actor, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Actor - filmography
(1980s) (1970s) (1960s) (1950s)

1. "The Nashville Palace" (1981) TV Series .... Announcer
2. "The Big Show" (1980) TV Series .... Announcer
3. "The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine" (1974) TV Series .... Announcer
4. "The Jonathan Winters Show" (1967) TV Series .... Announcer (1967-1969)
5. "On Stage" (1954) TV Series .... Regular
6. "After Hours" (1953) TV Series .... Regular

Filmography as: Writer, Producer, Actor, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Himself - filmography
(2000s) (1990s) (1960s) (1950s)

1. Comedy Gold (2005) (TV) .... Himself
2. Adrienne Clarkson Presents: A Tribute to Peppiatt & Aylesworth: Canada's First Television Comedy Team (1996) (TV) .... Himself
3. "On Parade" (1964) TV Series .... Himself/Various
4. "The Big Revue" (1952) TV Series .... Himself/Various

Filmography as: Writer, Producer, Actor, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Archive Footage

1. The Joke's on Us: 50 Years of CBC Satire (2002) (TV) .... Himself

Filmography as: Writer, Producer, Actor, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Notable TV Guest Appearances

1. "This Is Your Life" playing "Himself" in episode: "Junior Samples" 13 May 1971
2. "Telescope" playing "Himself" in episode: "Peppiatt & Aylesworth" 1966