John Douglas Harrop; Actor, Teacher

John Douglas Harrop--an actor, author and teacher--died Saturday at his Ventura home. He was 64.

Born in Thornbury-on-Tees, England, Harrop pursued several different careers in his life. He served as a second lieutenant in the British Army during the Malaysian conflict and received the British military cross for moral courage of a high order, said his wife, Vicki Harrop.

After graduating from Oxford University with degrees in philosophy and political science, Harrop joined the British diplomatic service and worked in Kenya, Burundi and other countries.

When Harrop was 35, he moved to the United States to pursue a lifelong interest in the theater. For 20 years, he taught, acted and directed at both UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara. He also published five books on acting and directing. His final book, “Basic Acting: The Modular Acting Process,” co-authored with Sabin Epstein, will be published this fall.

He retired from teaching in 1987.

Although he missed England, he was fascinated by Southern California’s diversity, his wife said.

“He loved England,” she said. “He loved the civility and the gentleness of the English people. But he also had what he called a nose for the future, and he believed absolutely that Los Angeles was the future.”

He also is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Anne Harrop of Bristol, England; niece Suzanne Harrop and nephew John Harrop, both of Bristol; stepchildren Nora Harrop, Analisa Balestrero, Victoria Balestrero and Livia Balestrero, all of Ventura, and stepson Alex Balestrero, stepdaughter-in-law Cindy Balestrero and step-grandson Ashleigh Balestrero of Los Angeles.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Ted Mayr Funeral Home of Ventura.