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Frank Thring was born on 11 May 1926 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He was an actor, known for Ben-Hur (1959), Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) and The Vikings (1958). He was married to Joan Cunliffe. He died on 29 December 1994 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

A powerful screen presence, Richard Norton wins the applause of international audiences with his engaging ability to play either the hero or the heavy. Rare versatility and focused work ethic have enabled him to build an expanding library of almost 100 film and television titles. The disciplines that brought Norton success originated in his hometown of Croydon, Australia, and his early fascination with martial arts. By age 17 he was a karate black belt working security for nightclubs and serving as chief instructor to 500 karate schools nationwide. He landed a job as bodyguard to The Rolling Stones during the band's Australian tour and experienced his first brush with the demands of global celebrity. Norton trained with Mick Jagger in 4:00 a.m. workouts after concerts. His competency attracted a dazzling roster of other rock star clientèle including James Taylor, ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie and Linda Ronstadt, who invited him to California as her bodyguard. Before Aussies invaded Hollywood in posses, Norton ventured there alone. A friendship with Chuck Norris brought him work in motion pictures. Norris cast Norton as the lethal Kyo, a masked ninja, in The Octagon (1980), and their grueling final combat endures as a classic cinematic fight scene. Director Robert Clouse chose Norton to be one of the ensemble heroes in Force: Five (1981), an international hit, and the young martial artist's career in movies took off. His reputation for stellar performances emerged largely from high-energy Hong Kong films directed by Sammo Kam-Bo Hung and starring Jackie Chan in the mid-'80s. Muscular charisma made Norton the perfect Anglo bad boy for Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars (1985) and Millionaires' Express (1986). Taking the hits of his screen adversaries in those films earned Norton more Hong Kong work and, notably, Chan's abiding respect. Richard calls Jackie "the maestro of martial arts movies." Jackie has returned the compliment by recruiting Norton as one of just two Western actors to perform in several of his Hong Kong-based productions, including the comedic cult favorite Madam City Hunter (1993) and the darker Mr. Nice Guy (1997), directed by Hung. Hung encouraged Norton to play the "Guy" nemesis, a well-heeled gangster, with eccentric edginess. Norton embraced the direction and delivered one of the best co-starring performances in all of Chan's films. The success of Norton's Hong Kong work made him an established star in action films and a frequent cover subject for global martial arts and movie magazines. His collaborations with Cynthia Rothrock catapulted them to a level of fame that inspired a British magazine to deem them the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers of martial arts movies. The recurring partners produced two Rage and Honor (1992) movies, besides co-starring in China O'Brien (1990) and Lady Dragon (1992), among other titles. They reunited for Redemption (2002) with 'Don 'The Dragon' Wilson'. Norton nurtured his leading man status in crime dramas, MIA pictures and futuristic adventures that often featured his real-life training partners in supporting roles, such as Chuck Jeffreys in Rage (1993) and Benny Urquidez in The Fighter (1989). With standout performances in The Sword of Bushido (1990) and Under the Gun (1995), Norton displayed his attraction to heroes with dimensions, even flaws, that force them into action. His style of action incorporates the humor essential to humanizing a hero. It is the dark comedy in Mind Games (2003), directed by Adrian Carr, that enables Norton to triumph in another well-textured role as a suspicious Texan, demonstrating that he takes risks as an actor who ventures beyond action genres. Norton's credits behind the camera have become as diverse as his screen roles. Apart from acting and producing, he is a sought-after stunt/fight coordinator, choreographing action in films such as Nomad: The Warrior (2005), produced by Milos Forman, and Devil's Pond (2003), with Tara Reid and Kip Pardue. Despite a busy career, he continues to achieve black belts in the martial arts, always a motivating force for Norton's accomplishments

Gary Olsen was born on 3 November 1957 in Westminster, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Outland (1981), Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982) and The Day of the Triffids (1981). He was married to Jane Anthony and Candy Davis. He died on 12 September 2000 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Charles 'Bud' Tingwell was born on 3 January 1923 in Coogee, New South Wales, Australia. He was an actor and director, known for Breaker Morant (1980), Murder She Said (1961) and Ned Kelly (2003). He was married to Audrey Wilson. He died on 15 May 2009 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

British character actor with radio and stage experience from 1951. Studied at University College in London and learned acting at the Old Vic Theatre School. Toured South Africa in 1952 and subsequently appeared in many Shakespearean roles in Stratford-upon-Avon. Busy television actor from the late 1950's, popular as ruthless tycoon John Wilder in The Plane Makers (1963). Also noted for his voice-overs for Winston Churchill in two documentary features.

Writer, director and producer Richard Franklin was born on July 15, 1948 in Melbourne, Australia. Infatuated with cinema at an early age, Franklin first began making 8mm films at age 10. Franklin saw Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" two years later and was hooked on movies for life. Richard enrolled at Monash University in Melbourne and worked as an assistant cameraman at a television advertising company. Franklin eventually went to America and attended the University of Southern California in 1967. While studying at USC Franklin got Hitchcock to do a Q&A session for a screening of "Rope." Hitchcock in turn invited Franklin to watch him work on the set of "Topaz." Franklin returned to Australia following graduation in 1969 and got a job as an assistant director for the popular TV series "Homicide." Franklin went on to direct several episodes. He also made several short movies and documentaries around this time. Franklin made his feature film debut with the raunchy sex comedy "The True Story of Eskimo Nell." He followed this picture with the equally bawdy "Fantasm." His third movie "Patrick" was a nifty horror feature that proved to be a big international success; it won the Grand Prize at the Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival, was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Film, and won the Best Director Award at the Sitges-Catalonian International Film Festival. "Roadgames" was a tense and witty "danger on the road" thriller knockout which was the most expensive Australian film made in the early 80s. Franklin then did the surprisingly solid and satisfying belated sequel "Psycho II." His other movies include the delightful "Cloak and Dagger," the silly "Link," and the hugely enjoyable "F/X 2." However, Franklin became weary of Hollywood studio politics and returned to his native Australia. He made the acclaimed play adaptations "Hotel Sorrento" and "Brilliant Lies." "Hotel Sorrento" won an AFI Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and was nominated for both Best Film and Best Director. Franklin also did a made-for-TV adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic fantasy adventure novel "The Lost World." His final feature was the horror thriller "Visitors." In addition to his film work, Franklin also directed episodes of the TV shows "Flatland," "A Fine Romance," and "Beauty and the Beast." He was a drummer in the Melbourne band The Pink Finks and was a lecturer at the Swinburne School of Film and Television in Australia. Richard Franklin died from prostate cancer at age 58 on July 11, 2007.

George Miller was born on 28 November 1943 in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. He was a director and producer, known for The Man from Snowy River (1982), Matlock Police (1971) and The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter (1990). He died on 17 February 2023 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Alethea McGrath was born on 1 June 1920 in Melbourne, Australia. She was an actress, known for Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002), Knowing (2009) and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005). She died on 9 February 2016 in Melbourne, Australia.

Sheila Florance was born on 24 July 1916 in St. Kilda East, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She was an actress, known for Prisoner (1979), Mad Max (1979) and A Woman's Tale (1991). She was married to Jan (John) Adam Balawaider and Roger Lightfoot Oyston. She died on 12 October 1991 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Betty Bobbitt was an American-Australian actress, author, singer, playwright and theatre performer. Betty was born in Manhattan, New York in 1939 .

Betty is best known for her role as Judy Bryant in the legendary Australian crime drama Prisoner (1979), where she would stay until her characters exit in 1985. Betty would also make appearances in Blue Heelers (1994), Blue Heelers (1994), Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles (2001), All Saints (1998). Betty would also make an appearance in a 2019 Neighbours (1985) episode celebrating the 40th anniversary of Prisoner, and be present at the 40th Reunion luncheon held in 2019.

After her Prisoner exit Bobbitt would return to the Melbourne Theatre Company and continue her theatre work.

Betty would enter semi-retirement in 2010, and run a novelty store, and in 2011 released her book "From The Outside" detailing her time on the hit show Prisoner.

Bobbitt passed away on 30 November 2020 after suffering a stroke five days prior. She was 81.

Television Print Personal appearances Beau. For Y&R Mattingly. 1993 / 2002 Client. Beaurepaire Tyres 80 Commercials Created by Paul Hankinson and Roger Ginsberg. John Skaro and Roger Nance. Casting Director Greg Apps

Theatre Of Mice and Men. By John Steinbeck Role :Lennie Director :Ray Lawler Melbourne Theatre Company 1976

Promises Promises JCWilliamson Director Fred Hebert With Orson Bean. Role Karl Kuberlick

Peter Muston was a producer and production manager, known for Nowhere Boys (2013), La Brea (2021) and Itch (2020). He died on 11 October 2023 in Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Well-known American born character actor, he was a former professional boxer and arrived in Australia as a qualified referee. His raspy voice, energetic personality and natural talents quickly came to the attention of Australian TV production houses.

Mercurio appeared in several Australian period style TV shows including Tandarra (1976), Cash and Company (1975) and Power Without Glory (1976). Additionally, he was a regular bad guy on several Australian police series TV shows including Homicide (1964), Division 4 (1969) and Matlock Police (1971). His film appearances have included Crocodile Dundee II (1988), The Man from Snowy River (1982) and Doing Time for Patsy Cline (1997).

He is the father of talented dancer / actor / entertainer Paul Mercurio who starred in Strictly Ballroom (1992)

Aidan Fennessy was born in 1966 in Victoria, Australia. He was an actor and director, known for Mr. Wasinski's Song (2001), Neighbours (1985) and What Rhymes with Cars and Girls. He died on 13 September 2020 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Alan Hopgood was born on 29 September 1934 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. He was a writer and actor, known for Knowing (2009), The Blue Lagoon (1980) and Neighbours (1985). He was married to Gay Hopgood. He died on 19 March 2022 in Melbourne, Australia.

Penne Hackforth-Jones was born on 5 August 1949 in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA. She was an actress, known for Muriel's Wedding (1994), Kokoda Crescent (1989) and Cash and Company (1975). She died on 17 May 2013 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

A familiar face on Australian television, Janet's career in the entertainment industry has not been limited to the small screen. Winner of two Green Room Awards (Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Actress in a Support Role), Janet's resume also lists many theatre and film credits including: Rising Fish Prayer, Hotel Sorrento, Navigating, Jerusalem, Good Works, Underwear, Perfume and Crash Helmet, A Happy and Holy Occasion, Sex Diary of an Infidel, Love Letters, Framework, Lysistrata, Ticka Tocka Linga and Once a Catholic. Janet's membership of the prestigious Melbourne Theatre Company Ensemble has also enabled her involvement in productions such as Othello, Tom & Viv, The Threepenny Opera, Pax Americana, The Curse of the Werewolf and Never In My Lifetime, to name but a few. Probably best recognised as the aloof inmate Reb Keane on the hugely popular Prisoner series, Janet has numerous television credits, including Words Fail Me, Home, Carson's Law, This Man This Woman, Embassy, A Country Practice, Blue Heelers, Janus, State Coroner and the international mini-series Moby Dick.

Australian stage, screen and TV actor Lewis Fiander was educated at Trinity Grammar School and made his acting debut at the National Theatre in Melbourne in 1954. At the age of 18 he moved to Sydney to broaden his skills as a radio actor and in due course perfected a varied gallery of dialects and accents. On the stage, he specialized in Shakespearean comedy, including "Twelfth Night" and "The Merchant of Venice", though in later years taking on diverse roles in musical plays, works by Ibsen and O'Neill, even as Professor Higgins in a Victorian Arts Centre production of "My Fair Lady".

Fiander moved to London with the Elizabethan Theatre Trust in the early 60's and spent the next two decades in the U.K., often side by side with some of the giants of his profession, including Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud. In 1966, he toured New Zealand with the Royal Shakespeare Company. The following year he landed the prized role of Mr. Darcy in a BBC production of Pride and Prejudice (1967). A break in his stage and TV work permitted him to act on the big screen in two back-to-back horror films: Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde (1971) and as one of the victims in Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972). He is also remembered by fans of Doctor Who (1963) as the drug smuggling scientist Professor Tryst in the notorious Tom Baker serial Nightmare of Eden: Part One (1979). Tryst's strange Germanic accent (Fiander's own idea) - combined with the square spectacles and histrionics - seems somehow reminiscent of Peter Sellers's Dr. Strangelove. Either that or something from Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969).

Back on the stage, Fiander enjoyed perhaps his greatest success starring as John Adams in the 1970 London New Theatre production of "1776", a play with music about the signing of the American Declaration of Independence. He had another palpable hit as actor-singer in 1986, teaming up with Patricia Hodge for "Noël and Gertie", a compilation of musical numbers originally written by Noël Coward and performed in tandem with Gertrude Lawrence. In the late 80's, Fiander returned to Australia and appeared several times on television, notably in the mini-series Tanamera - Lion of Singapore (1989) and Bangkok Hilton (1989).

Alex Scott was born on 18 September 1929 in Australia. He was an actor, known for Romper Stomper (1992), Fahrenheit 451 (1966) and The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971). He was married to Anne Nelis and Barbara Ady Potger. He died on 25 June 2015 in Toorak, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

One of Australia's most recognisable actors, Alwyn Kurts had previously been an accredited war correspondent, before becoming a notable figure in Melbourne radio in the 1950s via his program "Raising A Husband", and as an executive at radio station 3XY.

Shortly after television arrived in 1956, he transferred "Raising A Husband" from radio, going on to host other TV game shows "Hutton's Family Quiz" and "Dont Argue". He compered the debate program "Fighting Words" in the early 1960s, before moving into acting with guest roles in "Hunter" and "Homicide".

He became a household name after joining the regular cast of "Homicide" in 1969 as Inspector Colin Fox. His portrayal of the gruff policeman won him much praise, leading to a flood of work when he exited the series in 1973.

He was (briefly) one of the hosts on the local version of "Beauty & The Beast", before stunning critics and viewers alike as Ted Cook in the sit-com "The Last Of The Australians". As the hapless bigot frustrated at every turn, Kurts showed a remarkable comic talent which had only been hinted at in "Homicide".

He joined the cast of "Cop Shop" in 1982 as Senior Sergeant Reg Wallis, staying for a year. Thereafter, he made occasional guest appearances in local TV drama and movies, including a marvellous character role as Mr. Ball in "Spotswood", whilst enjoying a well-earned retirement. He died in 2000.

Brian May rates highly as one of the best film music composers in the history of Australian cinema. May's scores are distinguished by their full, rich and supremely melodic orchestration. Brian was born on July 28, 1934 in Adelaide, South Australia. He studied as a pianist, violinist and conductor at the Adelaide Elder Conservatorium. May joined the ABC Adelaide in 1957 so he could form and conduct the well-regarded ensemble the ABC Adelaide Big Band. At age 35 Brian moved to Melbourne to become the conductor and arranger of the ABC's Melbourne Show band. Brian began his career providing the themes for such TV programs as "Bellbird," "Countdown," and "New Wave" prior to breaking into the movie business. His score for the dramatic series "Rush" in particular is considered one of his finest musical accomplishments. Brian achieved his greatest commercial success with the thrilling and powerful scores for the first two "Mad Max" futuristic science fiction action features, supplying raw, potent and thunderous music which added immensely to the on-screen drama and excitement. May deservedly received an Australian Film Institute Award for his outstanding work on "Mad Max." His scores for "Roadgames," "Mad Max 2," and "Frog Dreaming" were also nominated for Australian Film Institute Awards for Best Score. Brian collaborated on four pictures with director Richard Franklin: ""The True Story of Eskimo Nell," "Patrick," "Roadgames," and "Cloak & Dagger." (Franklin originally wanted to work with May again on "Psycho II," but wound up ultimately using Jerry Goldsmith instead.) Moreover, Brian provided the music for a handful of movies made by producer Anthony I. Ginnane: "Patrick," "Snapshot," "Harlequin," "The Survivor," "The Race for the Yankee Zephyr," and "Turkey Shoot." May composed the chillingly effective scores for the horror films "Nightmares," "Blood Moon," "Dr. Giggles," and "Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare." Brian May died at age 62 from a heart attack on April 25, 1997.

Damian Hill was an actor and writer, known for Pawno (2015), West of Sunshine (2017) and Measure for Measure (2019). He died on 22 September 2018 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Maurie Fields was born on 4 August 1926 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He was an actor, known for Country Town (1971), Bellbird (1967) and Death of a Soldier (1986). He was married to Val Jellay and Dorothy. He died on 18 December 1995 in Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

John Lee was born on 31 March 1928 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. He was an actor, known for Return to Eden (1983), North Sea Hijack (1980) and Warship (1973). He died on 21 December 2000 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Paul Cox was born on 16 April 1940 in Venlo, Limburg, Netherlands. He was a director and writer, known for Innocence (2000), My First Wife (1984) and Man of Flowers (1983). He was married to Juliet Bacskai. He died on 18 June 2016 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.