He is most famous for playing Corporal/Sergeant/RSM Benton in Doctor Who (1963) from
1968 until 1975. Before winning the role of Benton, Levene worked as an extra.
Levene had originally been cast in a non-speaking role as a cyberman in the 1968 story 'The
Invasion' but when director Douglas Camfield sacked the actor who was
supposed to be playing Corporal Benton, he gave the role to John Levene
instead.
He has a daughter called Samantha and a son, Jason, living in Feilding, New Zealand.