John Countryman, a diplomat who graced Hollywood screens in his youth, leaves a lasting legacy and is survived by his loving wife, Illona Zwolski Vachon, and their child.
A retired child actor known as Johnnie Russell had appeared in more than a dozen Hollywood films in his pre-tens and briefly on the New York Stage.
Highlights
- John Countryman was a well-known child actor who transformed his diplomat career.
- He was married twice in his lifetime, once to a French woman and second to his wife, Illona Zwolski Vachon.
- Countryman and his wife had a daughter, Vanessa, the Secretary of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Moreover, during his 35-year diplomatic career, Countryman rose to the position of U.S. Ambassador to Oman, a post held from 1981 to 1985.
A polyglot and specialist in the Middle East, he played decisive roles in the Iran hostage crisis, the Iran-Iraq War, and the negotiation of the U.S. Oman military access agreement.
Since his retirement, he has pursued real estate and directed the mission for peace and cooperation in the Middle East, working to resolve conflicts between Arabs, Israelis, and Iranians.
John Countryman Was Married to a French woman before exchanging his wedding vowels with his wife, Illona Zwolski Vachon.
The life of the seasoned foreign service officer John Countryman was filled with two marriages and a remarkable career that spanned continents.
His first marriage to a Frenchwoman in Istanbul introduced him to the French language and culture, which would serve as the bedrock for future assignments.
John R Countryman, a former US Foreign Service career officer who was once a child star under the name of Johnny Russell, has died. pic.twitter.com/r2lXlAUyAz
— K9 News (@SausageAnchor) December 31, 2024
Although the marriage ended when he was posted to Tripoli, it played a significant role in shaping his adaptability and cultural fluency.
Moreover, the foreign service officer’s second marriage to Illona Zwolski Vachon, a Polish woman who worked for AIDs, began at an inflection point in his career.
The two married in Malta, honeymooned across the U.S. West Coast, and settled for a period in Libreville, Gabon, to which he had been assigned as Deputy Chief of Mission.
My wife now works for AID and this has changed a little bit. But it my day there was an office of training in AID. Any country where you had this little training package could tap into all kinds of…this is not university or college training, but this was technical, special training.
John Countryman and his wife had a daughter who has a career of distinction in public service
Born to John Countryman and Illona Zwolski Vachon, Vanessa Countryman has an illustrious career in government service.
She has been the Secretary of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission since June 2019.
Her rise to this position shows her commitment to and knowledge of regulatory and economic analysis.
Before being appointed Secretary, Ms. Countryman served in critical positions at the SEC, such as Chief Counsel and Deputy Chief Counsel in the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (DERA).
She has been with the SEC since 2010, and previously, Countryman’s daughter was Counsel to SEC Commissioner Kathleen Casey and Daniel Gallagher.
Furthermore, she started practicing law at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and clerked for the Honorable Emilio M. Garza, United States Circuit Judge, Fifth Circuit.
Additionally, Mr and Mrs Countryman’s daughter is an exceptionally distinguished scholar with a J.D. from the University of Chicago, an M.Phil, from Oxford University, and a B.A. from Columbia University.
Additional Information
- John R. Countryman’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 million as of 2025.
- He was born to his father, Russell Countryman, who worked for the Associated Press as a photography and art editor; his mother was a Czech immigrant.
- Countryman grew up with his sister, who preferred a rather private life than him.
