Roger Oakley (born 21 August 1943) is a New Zealand-born actor and noted for his performances in Australian television serials, mini-series, feature and television films. He is also active as a theatre performer, director and voice-over. Oakley has been a professional working actor for over 55 years.

Early life

Oakley was born in

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

North Island The North Island ( , 'the fish of Māui', historically New Ulster) is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but less populous South Island by Cook Strait. With an area of , it is the List ...

, New Zealand on 21 August 1943 and had a regular suburban upbringing. After leaving Auckland Grammar School, he studied languages in New Zealand, before he moved to England where he started his career in theatre. He emigrated to Australia in 1978, carving out a successful career on screen, although he has continued to appear in theatre productions

Career

He is perhaps best known for his role in ''

Home and Away ''Home and Away'' (''H&A'') is an Australian television soap opera. It was created by Alan Bateman and commenced broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. Bateman came up with the concept of the show during a trip to Kangaroo Point, N ...

'' as the original character of foster and (later adoptive) father

Tom Fletcher Thomas Michael Fletcher (born 17 July 1985) is an English musician, composer, author and vlogger. He is one of the lead vocalists and rhythm guitarist of British pop rock band McFly, in addition to being the group's founder. In his 20-year ca ...

between 1988 and 1990, (with a brief guest appearance in 2008) opposite co-star Vanessa Downing who played his wife Pippa Fletcher before the role was recast with Debra Lawrance with a (brief guest appearance in 2008. Playing the pivotal role of the foster father, at the beginning of the series Oakley was considered by producers as the most important member of the older cast"Oram, James ""Home and Away: Behind the Scenes" published by Angus and Robertson He appeared in the ABC series '' Something in the Air as controversial politician Doug Rutherford'' between 2000 and 2002. His other notable roles include '' The Sullivans'' appearing in both the television series and film version as Major. Barrington. Oakley appeared in feature film roles including in 1977 in his native New Zealand in the movie '' Sleeping Dogs'' starring

Sam Neill Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill (born 14 September 1947) is a New Zealand actor. His career has included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an "international leading man", he is regarded as one of the most versatile acto ...

, and in Australia in ''

Sara Dane ''Sara Dane'' is a 1982 Australian television miniseries about a woman transported from England to Australia for a crime she did not commit.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995'', Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p231 Original novel ...

'', '' Women of the Sun'', '' TheFar Country'', ''

Travelling North ''Travelling North'' is a play by Australian playwright David Williamson premiered in 1979, and published as a text in 1980,Williamson, David, 1980: "Travelling North". Currency Press, Sydney. telling the story of a late-life romance and reloca ...

'' .'' The Last of the Ryans'' '' My Year Without Sex'' but has also appeared in numerous telemovies and mini-series including the 12-part serial '' The Damnation of Harvey McHugh''. Other TV credits include: ''

Cop Shop ''Cop Shop'' is a long-running Australian police drama television series produced by Crawford Productions that ran for seven seasons between 28 November 1977 and 23 July 1984. It comprised 582 one-hour episodes. Synopsis The show revolved arou ...

'',

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 or captivity in a prison or physical restraint. The term usually applies to one serving a Sentence (law), se ...

, ''

A Country Practice ''A Country Practice'' is an Australian television soap opera/serial which was broadcast on the Seven Network from 18 November 1981 until 22 November 1993, and subsequently on Network Ten from 13 April 1994 to 5 November 1994. Altogether, 14 ...

'', '' The Flying Doctors'', '' Good Guys Bad Guys'', ''

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

'', '' The Young Doctors'' 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 featured in the stage productions of ''

My Fair Lady ''My Fair Lady'' is a musical theatre, musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story, based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play ''Pygmalion (play), Pygmalion'' and on the Pygmalion (1938 film), 1938 film ...

'', ''The NightWatchman'', ''Circle Mirror Transformation'' by Annie Baker, and ''The Golden Dragon'' by contemporary German playwright Roland Schimmelpfennig. He also appeared in the television series '' Underbelly'' and ''

Winners and Losers ''Winners & Losers'' is an Australian television drama series first broadcast on the Seven Network on 22 March 2011. It was created by the producers of '' Packed to the Rafters'' and is aired in the show's former time slot. ''Winners & Losers' ...

''.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

* 1943 births 20th-century New Zealand male actors 21st-century New Zealand male actors Male actors from Auckland Living people Male actors from Sydney New Zealand emigrants to Australia New Zealand expatriates in England New Zealand film directors New Zealand male film actors New Zealand male television actors New Zealand male voice actors People educated at Auckland Grammar School {{NewZealand-actor-stub