Reg Gorman (2 August 1932 – 5 August 2021) was an Australian television and film actor, and comedian, he was known best for his role in TV serial ''
The Sullivans
''The Sullivans'' is an Australian period drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran on the Nine Network from 15 November 1976 until 10 March 1983. The series tells the story of a fictional average middle-cla ...
'', as Jack Fletcher.
and children's series ''
Fergus McPhail
Fergus McPhail is an Australian children's comedy series that was released on Network Ten in 2004.
Plot summary
Fergus McPhail stumbles from crisis to crisis, mostly of his own making. His irrationally optimistic alter-ego acts as his conscien ...
'' as Harry Patterson.
Gorman was also active in radio dramas and theatre and was one of the last active
vaudeville
Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...
performers in Australia.
Personal life
Reg Gorman, trained with Hayes Gordon
Hayes Gordon OBE, AO (February 25, 1920October 19, 1999) was an American actor, stage producer and director and acting teacher with a considerable career in Australia.
Early life
Gordon was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was mentored by O ...
and J.C. Williamson Theatre Company, he was married to fellow actor Judith Roberts. The couple had three children: Kate, Karl and Charmaine. They raised their children together while working in the theatre, television and film industries.
Career
Television roles
While having his comedy roots in vaudeville, Gorman began his television career with appearances on the Australian television series ''Consider Your Verdict
''Consider Your Verdict'' is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network originally screening from February 1961 through to June 1964. It was based on a radio series with the same name broadcast on 3DB in ...
'' in 1964 and again in 1966. His first recurring star role in a series was the ATN
ATN is the Sydney flagship television station of the Seven Network in Australia. The licence, issued to a company named Amalgamated Television Services, a subsidiary of John Fairfax & Sons, was one of the first four licences (two in Sydney, two ...
series '' Mrs. Finnegan'' in 1970 and 71 as Darby Finnigan in 13 episodes.
In 1976, he joined the cast of ''The Sullivans
''The Sullivans'' is an Australian period drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran on the Nine Network from 15 November 1976 until 10 March 1983. The series tells the story of a fictional average middle-cla ...
'' and remained in his role of Jack Fletcher for the series' entire 1976–1983 run.
He played a guest role of four episodes of ''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. ...
'' as Bert Gibbs in 1984 and appeared in four episodes of the series ''The Henderson Kids
''The Henderson Kids'' is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for Network Ten between 1985 and 1987. It was created and storylined by Roger Moulton, who also wrote 5 episodes in the first series and 2 episodes in the ...
'' (1985). In 1985 he guested in four episodes in '' Neighbours'' Wally Walters], returning to that series again in 1999 in a different role.
He starred as Reg Hide in the 1987 series pilot ''Jackal and Hide'' alongside Norman Yemm
Norman Yemm (23 March 1933 – 3 February 2015) was an Australian actor, opera singer and sportsman.
Screen career (Film and TV)
Yemm's film roles include ''Night of Fear'' and ''The Fourth Wish''
On the small screen he may be best remembe ...
, a co-star from ''The Sullivans'', who co-starred in the pilot as the character of Norm Jackal.
In 1994, he played the role of Mr. Fowler in the Hugh Jackman
Hugh Michael Jackman (born 12 October 1968) is an Australian actor. Beginning in theatre and television, he landed his breakthrough role as James "Logan" Howlett / Wolverine in the 20th Century Fox ''X-Men'' film series (2000–2017), a role ...
vehicle '' Snowy River: The McGregor Saga''. In 1997 he held the role of Grandpa in seven episodes of '' The Wayne Manifesto''.
In 2000 through to 2001, he appeared in the series ''Something in the Air
"Something in the Air" is a song by English rock band Thunderclap Newman, written by Speedy Keen who also sang the song. It was a No. 1 single for three weeks in the UK Singles Chart in July 1969. The song has been used for films, television ...
'' in four episodes as Ken. His most recent episodic role was as Harry Patterson in all 26 episodes of the 2004 comedy series ''Fergus McPhail
Fergus McPhail is an Australian children's comedy series that was released on Network Ten in 2004.
Plot summary
Fergus McPhail stumbles from crisis to crisis, mostly of his own making. His irrationally optimistic alter-ego acts as his conscien ...
''.
Film roles
Gorman was also involved in numerous films, beginning in 1968 as Otto in the western
Western may refer to:
Places
*Western, Nebraska, a village in the US
*Western, New York, a town in the US
*Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western world, countries that id ...
drama , released in English as '' The Drifting Avenger'', and up to his most recent 2012 projects, the sci fi
Syfy (formerly Sci-Fi Channel, later shortened to Sci Fi; stylized as SYFY) is an American basic cable channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. Lau ...
film ''Animals'' and the short film
A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...
''Like It Was Yesterday''.
Gorman was described as being one of the last Australian vaudeville performers.
Death
Gorman died from cancer at The Alfred Hospital
The Alfred Hospital, also known as The Alfred or Alfred Hospital, is a leading tertiary teaching hospital in Melbourne, Victoria. It is the second oldest hospital in Victoria, and the oldest Melbourne hospital still operating on its original si ...
in Melbourne, aged 89, on 5 August 2021.
Filmography
;Television
* ''Consider Your Verdict
''Consider Your Verdict'' is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network originally screening from February 1961 through to June 1964. It was based on a radio series with the same name broadcast on 3DB in ...
'' (2 episodes, 1964–1966)
* ''Contrabandits'' (2 episodes, 1967)
* ''Skippy'' (2 episodes, 1968–1969)
* ''Riptide'' (3 episodes, 1969)
* ''The Rovers'' (1 episode, 1969)
* ''Woobinda, Animal Doctor'' (1 episode, 1969)
* ''Mrs. Finnegan'' (13 episodes, 1970–1971) as Darby Finnegan
* ''Barrier Reef'' (1 episode, 1972)
* ''Division 4
''Division 4'' is an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the Nine Network between 1969 and 1975 for 301 episodes.
Synopsis
The series was one of the first dramas to follow up on the enormous success o ...
'' (2 episodes, 1972)
* ''Boney'' (1 episode, 1972)
* ''Spyforce
''Spyforce'' is an Australian television series that aired from 1971 to 1973 on Nine Network. The series was based upon the adventures of Australian Military Intelligence operatives in the South West Pacific during World War II. It was produced ...
'' (2 episodes, 1971–1973)
* ''Rush'' (1 episode, 1974)
* '' Homicide'' (8 episodes, 1965–1976)
* ''Matlock Police
''Matlock Police'' is an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the 0-10 Network (now known as the 10 Network) between 1971 and 1976. The series focused on the police station and crime in the Victorian town o ...
'' (6 episodes, 1971–1976)
* ''Power Without Glory
''Power Without Glory'' is a 1950 historical novel written by Australian author Frank Hardy, following the life and ambitions of John West, a politician born into a working-class family who rises to prominence in Australian federal politics. ...
'' (1976)
* ''The Bluestone Boys'' (1976)
* ''The Sullivans
''The Sullivans'' is an Australian period drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran on the Nine Network from 15 November 1976 until 10 March 1983. The series tells the story of a fictional average middle-cla ...
'' (1976–1983) as Jack Fletcher
* ''Bluey'' (1 episode, 1976)
* ''I Can Jump Puddles
''I Can Jump Puddles'' is a 1981 Australian television mini-series based on the 1955 autobiographical series of the same name by author Alan Marshall. Adapted for television by screenwriters Cliff Green and Roger Simpson, the series starred Le ...
'' (1981)
* ''Carson's Law
''Carson's Law'' is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Ten Network between 1982-1984. The series was a period piece set in the 1920s and starred Lorraine Bayly as progressive solicitor Jennifer Carson. The ep ...
'' (1983)
* ''All the Rivers Run
''All the Rivers Run'' is an Australian historical novel by Nancy Cato, first published in 1958.
It was adapted as a 1983 Australian television mini-series starring Sigrid Thornton and John Waters. The mini-series is marketed with the tagline ' ...
'' (1983)
* ''Special Squad'' (1 episode, 1984)
* ''Prisoner'' (4 episodes, 1984) as Bert Gibbs
* ''The Henderson Kids
''The Henderson Kids'' is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for Network Ten between 1985 and 1987. It was created and storylined by Roger Moulton, who also wrote 5 episodes in the first series and 2 episodes in the ...
'' (4 episodes, 1985) as Kernow
* ''My Brother Tom'' (1986)
* ''A Matter of Convenience'' (1987)
* ''Jackal and Hide'' (1987) as Reg Hide
* ''The Great Air Race'' (1990)
* ''Law of the Land
The phrase ''law of the land'' is a legal term, equivalent to the Latin ''lex terrae'', or ''legem terrae'' in the accusative case. It refers to all of the laws in force within a country or region, including statute law and case-made law.
Use in ...
'' (1 episode, 1994)
* '' Snowy River: The McGregor Saga'' (6 episodes, 1994) as Mr. Fowler
* '' The Wayne Manifesto'' (7 episodes, 1997) as Grandpa
* ''State Coroner'' (1 episode, 1998)
* '' Neighbours'' (6 episodes, 1985–1999) as Wally Walters
* '' My Brother Jack'' (2001)
* ''Something in the Air'' (4 episodes, 2000–2001) as Ken
* ''Shock Jock
A shock jock is a radio broadcaster or DJ who entertains listeners and attracts attention using humor and/or melodramatic exaggeration that may offend some portion of the listening audience. The term is used pejoratively to describe provocative o ...
'' (2 episodes, 2001) as Bill
* ''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, ...
'' (3 episodes, 1995–2001)
* ''Legacy of the Silver Shadow
''Legacy of the Silver Shadow'' is an Australian children's television series that first aired on the Ten Network in 2002. The thirteen-part series follows the story of four children who help a dead superhero.
''Legacy of the Silver Shadow'' ...
'' (1 episode, 2002)
* ''Fergus McPhail
Fergus McPhail is an Australian children's comedy series that was released on Network Ten in 2004.
Plot summary
Fergus McPhail stumbles from crisis to crisis, mostly of his own making. His irrationally optimistic alter-ego acts as his conscien ...
'' (26 episodes, 2004) as Harry Patterson
* ''The Pacific'' (1 episode, 2010)
* ''Woodley'' (1 episode, 2012) as Priest
* ''Problems'' (4 episodes, 2012) as Ron
;Film
* ('' The Drifting Avenger'') (1968) as Otto
* ''It Takes All Kinds'' (1969)
* ''The Intruders'' (1969)
* ''Ned Kelly'' (1970) as Bracken
* ''Between Wars
''Between Wars'' is an Australian 1974 drama/war film released on 15 November 1974. It was directed by Michael Thornhill and written by Frank Moorhouse.
Plot
Four episodes in the life of doctor Edward Trenbow:
*In 1918 Trenbow is treating shell ...
'' (1974)
* ''Alvin Rides Again
''Alvin Rides Again'' is a 1974 Australian sex-comedy film sequel to ''Alvin Purple''. It was directed by David Bilcock and Robin Copping, who were regular collaborators with Tim Burstall.David Stratton, ''The Last New Wave: The Australian Film ...
'' (1974) as Bookmaker
* '' Plugg'' (1975) as Constable Hector
* ''Inn of the Damned'' (1975)
* ''End Play
''End Play'' is a 1976 Australian thriller film directed by Tim Burstall and starring George Mallaby, John Waters and Ken Goodlet. It was an adaptation of the 1972 novel ''End Play'' by Russell Braddon. It was made by Hexagon Productions.Moran & ...
'' (1975) as TV Reporter
* ''Dusty'' (1983) as Watson
* ''The Bit Part'' (1987) as Scott
* '' Slate, Wyn & Me'' (1987) as Wilkinson
* ''A Cry in the Dark
''Evil Angels'' (released as ''A Cry in the Dark'' outside Australia and New Zealand) is a 1988 Australian drama film directed by Fred Schepisi. The screenplay by Schepisi and Robert Caswell is based on John Bryson's 1985 book of the same nam ...
'' (1988) as Mr. Whittaker
* ''A Date with Destiny'' (1990) as Grooper
* ''The Big Steal'' (1990) as Neighbour
* ''The Alive Tribe'' (1997) as Barfly
* ''The Craic
''The Craic'' (stylised as ''The Craíc'') is a 1999 Australian comedy film starring stand-up comedian Jimeoin with Alan McKee, directed by Ted Emery.
Plot
It is 1988, and two best friends from Ireland—Fergus Montagu (Jimeoin) and Wesley Murr ...
'' (1999) as RSL Manager
* '' Dalkeith'' (2002) as Len
* ''Gusto'' (2003) as Old Man
* ''You and Your Stupid Mate
''You and Your Stupid Mate'' is a 2005 Australian comedy film directed by Marc Gracie and starring Nathan Phillips and Angus Sampson.
Premise
Two best friends who live together in a caravan park discover that their favourite soap opera is about ...
'' (2005) as Stan
* ''Guy in a Field'' (2006) as Father
* ''Five Moments of Infidelity'' (2006) as David
* ''Nero's'' (2009)
* ''Swings and Roundabouts'' (2009) as Roy
* ''Punch Drunk'' (2010) as Joe Sparro
* ''The Pawn'' (2010) as Domenic Chaplan
* ''Percy'' (2011) as Percy
* ''The Cup'' (2011) as Vern
* ''Animals'' (2012) as Richard Patterson
* ''Like It Was Yesterday'' (in post-production) as Arthur
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gorman, Reg
1932 births
2021 deaths
Australian male comedians
Australian male television actors
Male actors from Sydney