Esben Storm (26 May 1950 – 28 March 2011) was a Danish Australian actor, screenwriter, television producer, television director, voice artist and songwriter. He was well known for his work with the Australian Children's Television Foundation, headed by

Patricia Edgar Patricia May Edgar AM is an Australian author, television producer, educator and media scholar best known as the founding director of the Australian Children's Television Foundation. Early life She was born in Mildura, Victoria, and moved ...

, where he worked for 15 years. The company sold programs to 92 countries, and Storm was involved in writing, acting, editing, and directing numerous programs, including ''

Round the Twist ''Round the Twist'' is an Australian children's comedy television series based on stories by author Paul Jennings that follows the supernatural adventures of the Twist family. The series was created and produced by Patricia Edgar, and develope ...

''. He worked to adapt John Marsden's ''Tomorrow'' series but lost the rights to the film. His acting credits included roles in the films ''

The Coca-Cola Kid ''The Coca-Cola Kid'' is a 1985 Australian romantic comedy film. It was directed by Dušan Makavejev and stars Eric Roberts and Greta Scacchi. The film is based on the short stories ''The Americans, Baby'', and ''The Electrical Experience'' by ...

'' (1985), ''

Wrong World ''Wrong World'' is a 1985 Australian drama film directed by Ian Pringle and starring Richard Moir, Jo Kennedy, Nick Lathouris, Robbie McGregor, and Esben Storm. It was filmed in Nhill and Melbourne in Victoria, Australia.David Stratton, ''The ...

'' (1985) and ''

Young Einstein ''Young Einstein'' is a 1988 Australian comedy film written, produced, directed by and starring Yahoo Serious. It is a fantasized account of the life of Albert Einstein which alters all people, places and circumstances of his life, including r ...

'' (1988); his last acting role was in the medical drama series '' All Saints''.Finney, Sarah
Vale Esben Storm (1950 – 2011)
, Australian Film Institute, 29 March 2011.

Biography

Storm came to Australia with parents Laurits and Ane in 1958 after Laurits lost the family farm to lawyers. After having settled in Melbourne, his father worked as a builder's labourer and built a darkroom where Esben learned photographic processing, composition and lighting. Storm started making films at 18 with his partner Haydn Keenan. His early work was mostly serious in nature, including a 1983 documentary about the Hilton Bombing in Sydney called ''With Prejudice''. He wrote and directed '' 27A'' (1974), '' In Search of Anna'' (1978) (with film stills and publicity shots by Carol Jerrems, who was then his girlfriend), ''Deadly'' (1991), and ''Subterano'' (2003); he directed ''Devil's Hill'' (1988) and the Tasmanian film in the '' Touch the Sun'' series of bicentennial telemovies. In 2007, he directed the SBS comedy series ''

Kick A kick is a physical Strike (attack), strike using the leg, in unison usually with an area of the knee or lower using the foot, heel, tibia (shin), ball of the foot, blade of the foot, toes or knee (the latter is also known as a knee (strike), ...

''. Storm also worked on several television series such as ''

'', '' The Genie from Down Under'' (in which he was scriptwriter and director), ''

Sky Trackers The sky is an unobstructed view upward from the surface of the Earth. It includes the atmosphere of Earth, atmosphere and outer space. It may also be considered a place between the ground and outer space, thus distinct from outer space. In th ...

'' (in which he was script consultant), ''

Li'l Elvis Jones and the Truckstoppers ''Li'l Elvis and the Truckstoppers'' is an animated musical children's television series and the Australian Children's Television Foundation's (ACTF's) first joint venture under the Distinctly Australian Program introduced by the Australian Pr ...

'' (in which he was the show's creator, scriptwriter and dialogue director), ''

Blue Heelers ''Blue Heelers'' is an Australian Police procedural, police drama series that was produced by Endemol Australia, Southern Star Group and ran for 12 years on the Seven Network, from 1994 to 2006. Although based around the policing of the town, ...

'' (as a director), ''

Crash Zone ''Crash Zone'' is an Australian children's science fiction television series which aired on the Seven Network from 13 February 1999 to 25 August 2001. It was produced by Australian Children's Television Foundation, in association with the Disn ...

'', and ''

Winners Winners Merchants International L.P is a chain of off-price Canadian department stores owned by TJX Companies. It offers brand name clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, fine jewelry, beauty products, and housewares. Products are at a 20-60 ...

'' (for which he directed the episode "The Other Facts of Life").

Actor

In 1976, Storm acted in ''Hanging About'', a film by Carol Jerrems, who was then his girlfriend and living with him in Willoughby. He played Tom in ''Room to Move'' and Leo George in ''The Other Facts of Life'', and also appeared in ''

More Winners ''Winners'' is an Australian children's television anthology series conceived and produced for the ACTF by its founding director, Patricia Edgar.Australian Children's Television Foundation, (1991). Australian Children's Television Foundation Annu ...

'' (in which he played The Waiter in the episode "The Big Wish") and ''

Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

'' (in which he played Pat). In ''Blue Heelers'' (which he also directed), he played Colin Roper in the episode "Breaking the Cycle".

Death

Storm died, aged 60, on 28 March 2011.

Select filmography

*''Doors'' (1969) – short *''In His Prime'' (1972) – short *''Stephanie'' (1972) – short *''A Motion Picture'' (1972) – short *'' 27A'' (1974) *'' In Search of Anna'' (1978) *''

With Prejudice Prejudice is a legal term with different meanings, which depend on whether it is used in criminal, civil, or common law. In legal context, "prejudice" differs from the more common use of the word and so the term has specific technical meanings. ...

'' (1982) *" Birthin' Hips" (1983) *''

Stanley Stanley may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Stanley'' (1972 film), an American horror film * ''Stanley'' (1984 film), an Australian comedy * ''Stanley'' (1999 film), an animated short * ''Stanley'' (1956 TV series) ...

'' (1984) *''

'' (1989–2001) – director and script consultant (1989), writer/screenplay (1991; 2000–01), actor (as Mr. Snapper) *'' Deadly'' (1991) *" Terrormisu: A Night Of Just Desserts " (1993) *" Rusty & The Bathtub Banana" (1993) *''

Li'l Elvis and the Truckstoppers ''Li'l Elvis and the Truckstoppers'' is an animated musical children's television series and the Australian Children's Television Foundation's (ACTF's) first joint venture under the Distinctly Australian Program introduced by the Australian Pr ...

'' (1998)

Unmade films

*''Angel Gear'' (mid-1970s) *''Bondi Blue'' (early 1980s) –

Reg Grundy Reginald Roy Grundy (4 August 1923 – 6 May 2016) was an Australian entrepreneur and media mogul, best known for his numerous television productions. He was the producer of various Australian game shows, such as '' Blankety Blanks'' (based on ...

withdrew financing just before filming was to start"Interview with Esben Storm", ''Signis'', 22 August 1995
accessed 21 November 2012. *''Dirty Barry'' (written 1970s, tried to make 1980s) * " Doctor Flatus" (1994)

Awards

*1979: Australian Film Institute Award for Best Original Screenplay ('' In Search of Anna'')AFI Award Winners Feature Categories 1958-2009
, Australian Film Institute.

References

External links

*
Storm Productions
{{DEFAULTSORT:Storm, Esben 1950 births 2011 deaths Australian male television actors Australian male film actors Australian screenwriters Australian television producers Australian television directors Australian television writers Australian voice directors Australian people of Danish descent Danish emigrants to Australia Australian male television writers