The Batman Begins and Dunkirk star, who was the uncle of director Christopher Nolan and screenwriter-and-film producer Jonathan Nolan died on April 11.
In a statement to the Stratford-Upon-Avon Herald, John's widow, Kim Hartman, described the star as "a free spirit, who always knew what he wanted and acted on his own terms; the only truly original thinker I think I ever knew. Articulate, intelligent and with an anarchic wit, he was always willing to see both sides of an argument."
He is also survived by their children, Miranda and Tom, and his grandchildren, Dylan and Kara.
Fans have rushed to social media platforms to pay tribute to the late actor - who played Douglas Fredericks, Wayne Enterprises board member, in 2005's Batman Begins and the Blind Man in 2017's Dunkirk.
Born in Westminster, London, John - the younger brother of Jonathan and Christopher's late father, Brendan Nolan - worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company for almost two years before he played the titular role in the BBC miniseries, Daniel Deronda, in 1970.
Director and nephew Christopher cast John in his 1998 crime-thriller film, Following, as The Policeman.
Years later, he played Wayne Enterprises board member Douglas Fredericks in the action-crime movies Batman Begins and 2012's The Dark Knight Rises, both opposite leading man Christian Bale.
He is also remembered for playing villain John Greer in the second series of the CBS sci-fi drama, Person of Interest - created by the two younger Nolans - and remained on the programme until it ended with the fifth series in 2016.
A year later, Christopher Nolan got his uncle to play The Blind Man in the war-action film Dunkirk.
John Nolan's final acting credit came in 2024 as Speaker of the High Council in the HBO sci-fi series, Dune: Prophecy.
Away from acting, John worked as a theatre director and teacher at Stratford College.
9°C