John Compton was an American actor. Compton was born John Compton Tolley in Lynchburg, Tennessee. In 1943, Compton left Lynchburg and went to Hollywood hoping to become an actor. He washed dishes at a restaurant and spent time around union halls seeking a break in the film industry. His next job was answering a telephone at Columbia Pictures Studio. Eventually he paid $100 to get a bit part in a film, but the results of that appearance offered little hope for his future.