John Shepherd sits in the large and useful category of working actors, the kind of casting that steadies a production rather than sells it. The first screen credit dates from 1981. He has spent more time in thriller than anywhere else. The work has come from casting rather than from stardom. 'The Hunt for Red October' sits at the front of the filmography, where he appears as Russian Foxtrot Pilot. The list also includes 'Friday the 13th: A New Beginning'.