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Alan John Hopgood AM (29 September 1934 – 19 March 2022), also known as Alan Hopwood, was an Australian actor, producer, and writer. He wrote the screenplay for the 1972 film ''
Alvin Purple ''Alvin Purple'' is a 1973 Australian sex comedy film starring Graeme Blundell in the title role; the screenplay was written by Alan Hopgood and directed by Tim Burstall, through his production company Hexagon Productions and Village Roadshow ...
'' and made appearances in television shows such as '' Bellbird'', ''
Prisoner A prisoner (also known as an inmate or detainee) is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement, captivity, or forcible restraint. The term applies particularly to serving a prison sentence in a prison. ...
'' and ''
Neighbours ''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera, which has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons an ...
''.


Early life

Hopgood was born in
Launceston, Tasmania Launceston () or () is a city in the north of Tasmania, Australia, at the confluence of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River (kanamaluka). As of 2021, Launceston has a population of 87,645. Material was copied ...
, and grew up in the state. He acted in several dramatic roles in his childhood. He attended school in Melbourne and then studied at the
University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...
, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Hon) and a Diploma of Education. His first play, ''Marcus'', was produced at Melbourne University while he was working as a school teacher. He left teaching to write full-time and start his acting career.


Career


Scriptwriting and screenwriting

Hopgood's first successful play, ''
And the Big Men Fly ''And the Big Men Fly'' is an Australia-based play by Alan Hopgood, written in 1963, and has been adapted to numerous media including a TV series and film. Its primary subject is the fictional Australian rules football team, the Crows. Plot s ...
'', was about
Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...
and was produced in 1963 by the Union Theatre Repertory Company at the Russell Street Theatre in Melbourne with scripts by Brad Hopgood. The play was adapted for TV by the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the national broadcaster of Australia. It is principally funded by direct grants from the Australian Government and is administered by a government-appointed board. The ABC is a publicly-own ...
in 1973 and also a telemovie. In 1964, he followed with ''The Golden Legion of Cleaning Women''. In 1966 he produced '' Private Yuk Objects'', which he said was the first play anywhere in the world on the subject of the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
. Hopgood has also written a number of film and television screenplays, including the comedy film ''
Alvin Purple ''Alvin Purple'' is a 1973 Australian sex comedy film starring Graeme Blundell in the title role; the screenplay was written by Alan Hopgood and directed by Tim Burstall, through his production company Hexagon Productions and Village Roadshow ...
'' (1973), which was the most commercially successful Australian film of the early 1970s.


Screen actor: Television and film

Hopgood was an actor with the Melbourne Theatre Company for ten years and was an early "soap" star in ''Bellbird'', in which for six years he played the town doctor. He has also performed in the later soaps, ''Prisoner'' (for which he also scripted many episodes) and ''Neighbours'' as Jack Lassiter (a role he reprised in August 2013). As an actor, his cinema credits include ''
My Brilliant Career ''My Brilliant Career'' is a 1901 novel written by Miles Franklin. It is the first of many novels by Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin (1879–1954), one of the major Australian writers of her time. It was written while she was still a teenager, ...
'' (1979), '' The Blue Lagoon'' (1980), ''
Roadgames ''Roadgames'' (stylized as ''Road Games'') is a 1981 Australian thriller film directed by Richard Franklin and starring Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis. The film follows a truck driver travelling across Australia who, along with the help of a ...
'' (1981), '' Evil Angels'' (1988, released as ''A Cry in the Dark'' outside of Australia and New Zealand) and ''
The Man from Snowy River II ''The Man from Snowy River II'' is a 1988 Australian drama film, the sequel to the 1982 film ''The Man from Snowy River''. It was released in the United States by Walt Disney Pictures as ''Return to Snowy River'', and in the United Kingdom as ...
'' (1988). He worked with a large number of actors including
Frank Thring Francis William Thring (11 May 1926 – 29 December 1994) was an Australian character actor in radio, stage, television and film; as well as a theatre director. His early career started in London in theatre productions, before he starred in Ho ...
,
Meryl Streep Mary Louise Meryl Streep (born June 22, 1949) is an American actress. Often described as "the best actress of her generation", Streep is particularly known for her versatility and accent adaptability. She has received numerous accolades throu ...
,
Brooke Shields Brooke Christa Shields (born May 31, 1965) is an American actress and model. She was initially a child model and gained critical acclaim at age 12 for her leading role in Louis Malle's film ''Pretty Baby'' (1978). She continued to model into ...
,
Sam Neill Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill (born 14 September 1947) is a New Zealand actor. Neill's near-50 year career has included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an "international leading man", he has been regarded as one o ...
and
Judy Davis Judith Davis (born 23 April 1955) is an Australian actress in film, television, and on stage. With a career spanning over 40 years, she has been commended for her versatility and regarded as one of the finest actresses of her generation. Frequen ...
.Entertainoz
In late 2021, Hopgood appeared in an exclusive interview for the official ''
YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
'' channel "Talking Prisoner", in which he discussed his life and career. The episode was published in January 2022.


Honours

Hopgood won
AWGIE award The AWGIE Awards is an annual awards ceremony conducted by the Australian Writers' Guild, for excellence in screen, television, stage and radio writing. The awards began in 1967. The awards are judged by over 50 writers, most of whom are previo ...
s for ''
The Cheerful Cuckold "The Cheerful Cuckold" is a 1969 Australian TV play. It was written by and stars Alan Hopgood. Plot It was about a young university lecturer (Hopgood) who is cuckolded by his wife Sybil (Sue Donovan). He devises a method to deal with it. Cast *Al ...
'' and ''The Bush Bunch'' and writing several feature films including ''Alvin Purple'' and the documentaries ''The Prophecies of Nostradamus'' and ''The Fountain of Youth''. Hopgood was awarded the A.M. (Member of the
Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...
) in 2005 for his services to the performing arts as an actor, playwright and producer, and to the community through raising awareness of men's health issues.


Health issues and death

Alan Hopgood developed prostate cancer and published a book on the experience titled "Surviving Prostate Cancer'' - One Man's Journey'', which was widely praised. He ofter toured giving humorous lectures on mens health issues. Hopgood died from prostate cancer at the age of 87 on 19 March 2022 at a hospital in Melbourne.Acting icon Alan Hopgood, 87, passes away
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Filmography


Actor


Writing credits


References


External links

*


Alan Hopgood
at
AustLit AustLit: The Australian Literature Resource (also known as AustLit: Australian Literature Gateway; and AustLit: The Resource for Australian Literature), usually referred to simply as AustLit, is an internet-based, non-profit collaboration betwee ...
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hopgood, Alan 1934 births 2022 deaths Australian dramatists and playwrights Australian male film actors Australian screenwriters Australian male soap opera actors Australian male stage actors Deaths from cancer in Victoria (Australia) Deaths from prostate cancer People from Launceston, Tasmania University of Melbourne alumni 20th-century Australian male actors 21st-century Australian male actors Members of the Order of Australia