Alan Coleman (cricketer), Alan Coleman
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Alan James Coleman (28 December 1936 – 10 December 2013) was an
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...
-born TV series writer, director, producer and former actor.


Biography

Coleman was born in Birmingham, West Midlands, England, he the first director of the British drama series ''
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'', before emigrating to Australia in 1974, where he worked on numerous soap operas including medical drama ''
The Young Doctors ''The Young Doctors'' is an Australian early-evening soap opera originally broadcast on the Nine Network and produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation, it aired from Monday 8 November 1976 until Wednesday 30 March 1983. The series is primarily s ...
'' which he also created, as well as ''
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'' (known also internationally as '' Prisoner: Cell Block H)'' and ''
Neighbours ''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera that 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 and ...
'', he also worked in New Zealand on drama ''
Shortland Street ''Shortland Street'' is a New Zealand Prime time, prime-time soap opera centring on the fictitious Shortland Street Hospital. The show was first broadcast on TVNZ 2 on 25 May 1992 and is New Zealand's longest-running drama and soap opera, be ...
''. Coleman was the head of children's programming at ATV in the UK until emigrating to Australia in 1974. In 1997, he directed several episodes of the British soap opera, ''
Family Affairs ''Family Affairs'' is a British soap opera that aired on Channel 5. It debuted on 30 March 1997, the day of the launch of said channel and was the first programme broadcast on the channel. It was screened as five thirty-minute episodes per w ...
'' as a part of a working holiday in the UK. At one point, he also temporarily parted company with the
Reg Grundy Organisation Reg Grundy Organisation (founded as Reg Grundy Enterprises, later known as both Reg Grundy Productions and Grundy Television and known informally as Grundy's) was an Australian-based multinational mass media company, primarily involved in tele ...
production stable to establish his own company, which provided television coverage of major sporting events. Before going behind the camera, he originally worked as an actor and is on record as saying that "you cannot be a good director unless you have acted yourself". Coleman's autobiography, ''One Door Shuts'', was self-published through Trafford Publishing in 2009.


Personal life

Coleman was married to Barbara (deceased). He had three children; Nick, Chris (deceased) and Jacqui. Coleman died on 10 December 2013 on the Central Coast in
New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
. His agent, Darren Gray, stated "Alan was a very special man. He launched so many careers both in front of and behind the camera, was behind so many hit shows and gave pleasure through his work to audiences around the world. He pioneered the art form viewers refer to as the soap opera but to him the shows were always five nights a week, fast turn-around drama serials."


Honour

In 2008, Coleman was presented with the inaugural "Lifetime Achievement Award" for his outstanding contribution to the 'soap opera' industry at The Soap Shows- Aussie Soap Awards.Alan Coleman wins Lifetime Achievement Award


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Coleman, Alan 1936 births 2013 deaths Australian soap opera writers English screenwriters English male screenwriters English soap opera writers British male television writers Australian male television writers