He died at Camberwell and is buried at Camberwell Old Cemetery, London. Courtney married Elizabeth Ann Norman (b. 1821), with whom he had several children: John Fuller Courtney (b. 1847), Albert Fuller Courtney (1851-1907), Rose Helena Courtney (b. 1857), Louise Marian Courtney (b. 1859), Emily Courtney (b. 1860), Clara Courtney (b. 1862), and Alice Courtney (b. 1863). John Courtney appeared on stage as Colonel Freelove in 1829 in the comedy "The Day after the Wedding", or "A Wife's First Lesson" by Maria Theresa Kemble. He played "Thames Darrell" (1840) in "Jack Sheppard" a play by John Buckstone based on the novel of the same name by William Harrison Ainsworth first performed at the Adelphi Theatre in 1839. It was a historical romance and a Newgate novel based on the real life of the 18th-century criminal Jack Sheppard. He played Julio in the William Macready production of Othello at the Italian Opera House, Paris in December 1844. He played Sir Agrovaine in "The Three Perils of Man" by James Hogg at the Surrey Theatre in 1852. He played Gaylove in "The Hunchback" by James Sheridan Knowles at Windsor Castle attended by Queen Victoria and Lord Palmerston, Prime Minister on 11 January 1860. He also played this part at the performances at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket 13–15 February 1860. He played Captain Peppercoat in "The Flying Dutchman" and appeared in performances of Macbeth and "the Corsicans". "Bounce" or "The Ojibbeway Indians" or "The American Indians" co-written by J M Maddox "Aged Forty" Thomas Hailes Lacy publisher "Taken by Surprise" also performed at the Grecian Theatre and co-written by J M Maddox "Clarissa Harlowe" also performed at the City of London Theatre Oct 1846 and the Surrey Theatre 1859. Adapted from the French play by Samuel Richardson. Thomas Hailes Lacy published and co-adapted "The Cook of Kennington" or "No Followers Allowed" co-written by D W Osbalidston "The Gunsmith of Orleans" or "The Dead Women's Secret" book written by Eliza Sheridan published in 1847 Jane Eyre or "The Secrets of Thornfield Manor" was the first theatrical production (performed in 1848) of Charlotte Brontë's novel.