Bill Kerr: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| name = Bill Kerr | | name = Bill Kerr | ||
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| birth_name = William Henry Kerr | | birth_name = William Henry Kerr | ||
| birth_date = {{birth date|1922|06|10|df=y}} | | birth_date = {{birth date|1922|06|10|df=y}} | ||
| birth_place = [[ | | birth_place = [[Cape Town]], [[Cape Province]], South Africa | ||
| death_date = {{death date and age|2014|08|28|1922|06|10|df=y}} | | death_date = {{death date and age|2014|08|28|1922|06|10|df=y}} | ||
| death_place = [[ | | death_place = [[Perth]], [[Western Australia]], Australia | ||
| nationality = [[ | | nationality = [[Australia]]n | ||
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor (radio, stage, television and film)|comedian|vaudevillian}} | | occupation = {{hlist|Actor (radio, stage, television and film)|comedian|vaudevillian}} | ||
| years_active = 1933–2011 | | years_active = 1933–2011 | ||
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'''William Henry Kerr''' (10 June 1922 – 28 August 2014) was a British and Australian actor, comedian, and vaudevillian. | '''William Henry Kerr''' (10 June 1922 – 28 August 2014) was a British and Australian actor, comedian, and vaudevillian. | ||
Born in South Africa, he started his career as a [[ | Born in South Africa, he started his career as a [[child actor]] in Australia, before emigrating to Britain after the [[Second World War]], where he developed a career as a performer in comedy, especially gaining notice in the radio version of ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]''. In 1979 Kerr returned to Australia and developed a second career as a character actor. | ||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
Kerr was born in [[ | Kerr was born in [[Cape Town]], South Africa, on 10 June 1922<ref name="Telegraph">[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11064414/Bill-Kerr-obituary.html Obituary: Bill Kerr], ''Daily Telegraph, 29 August 2014</ref> to an Australian performing arts family, growing up in [[Wagga Wagga]], [[New South Wales]], Australia.<ref name="Dixon">Stephen Dixon [https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/aug/31/bill-kerr "Bill Kerr obituary"], ''The Guardian'', 31 August 2014</ref> His career in show business began when he was very young. Wilton, his son, recalled: "His mum used him instead of using a prop, a baby prop, she actually used her son, her newborn son, so he was literally kind of born to do it."<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-29/actor-bill-kerr-dies/5706576 "Actor Bill Kerr dies at home in Perth, aged 92"], ABC (Australia), 29 August 2014</ref> | ||
Kerr began to work in radio for [[ | Kerr began to work in radio for [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] in 1932, and continued performing child parts for about eight years.<ref name="Sallur">Adam Sallur [http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/07/31/3815011.htm "'I'm only here for four minutes' - The Bill Kerr Story"], ABC (Australia), 31 July 2013</ref> His first screen appearance was in [[Harmony Row (1933 film)|''Harmony Row'']] (1933), where he gives a feisty performance as a juvenile delinquent alongside the great Australian vaudeville comedian [[George_Wallace_(Australian_comedian)|George Wallace]]. Kerr's first dramatic role on screen was a high-profile one in the [[Cinesound Productions|Cinesound]] film [[The Silence of Dean Maitland (1934 film)|''The Silence of Dean Maitland'']] (1934), where he displays striking presence as a blind child.<ref name="Naglazas">{{cite news | url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/24851567/veteran-aussie-actor-bill-kerr-dies/ | title=Veteran Aussie actor Bill Kerr dies | work=The West Australian | date=29 August 2014 | access-date=29 August 2014 | last1=Naglazas|first1=Mark | last2=Banks|first2=Ron}}</ref> Kerr is one of the most important child performers in early Australian film. He saw service in the Australian army during the Second World War, and performed in theatrical shows at home and abroad and toured with his friend, the actor [[Peter Finch]].<ref name="Sallur"/> | ||
==Career in Britain== | ==Career in Britain== | ||
After the war, Kerr moved to [[ | After the war, Kerr moved to [[United Kingdom|Britain]] in 1947.<ref name="BBC290814">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28980254 "Bill Kerr, Australian actor and radio star, dies aged 92"], BBC News, 29 August 2014</ref> During the next few years he was regularly featured in the [[BBC]] radio series ''[[Variety Bandbox]]'', part of the [[BBC Light Programme]]. Retaining his accent, an unusual choice for performers moving to Britain at this time, he was billed as "the boy from Wagga Wagga." A spokesman for the Australian town's museum said that this "struck an instant chord with the post-war British audience, who thought of 'Wagga Wagga' as a comically surreal, end of the earth, magical place somewhere left of Narnia."<ref>Natasha Culzac | ||
[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/bill-kerr-dead-at-92-australian-actor-that-became-the-boy-from-wagga-wagga-dies-9699914.html "Bill Kerr dead at 92: Australian actor that became the 'Boy from Wagga Wagga' dies"], ''The Independent'', 29 August 2014</ref> [[Harry Secombe]] described Kerr as having a "very laconic act" on the show, beginning his spots with the catchphrase "I'm only here for four minutes."<ref>Harry Secombe [https://books.google.com/books?id=yiFCb4oecMIC&pg=PA144&lpg=PA144 ''Arias and Raspberries: An Autobiography''], London: Pan Books, 1997 [1989], p.144</ref> | [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/bill-kerr-dead-at-92-australian-actor-that-became-the-boy-from-wagga-wagga-dies-9699914.html "Bill Kerr dead at 92: Australian actor that became the 'Boy from Wagga Wagga' dies"], ''The Independent'', 29 August 2014</ref> [[Harry Secombe]] described Kerr as having a "very laconic act" on the show, beginning his spots with the catchphrase "I'm only here for four minutes."<ref>Harry Secombe [https://books.google.com/books?id=yiFCb4oecMIC&pg=PA144&lpg=PA144 ''Arias and Raspberries: An Autobiography''], London: Pan Books, 1997 [1989], p.144</ref> | ||
From 1954 to 1959, he had a regular role as an Australian lodger in the [[ | From 1954 to 1959, he had a regular role as an Australian lodger in the [[BBC]] radio comedy series ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]''.<ref name="Spike&Co">{{cite book|last=McCann|first=Graham|title=Spike & Co.|year=2006|publisher=Hodder & Stoughton|location=London|isbn=0-340-89809-7}} (b)p.158</ref> The series, with comedian [[Tony Hancock]] as the eponymous lead and also featuring [[Sid James]], ran for six series.<ref name="Telegraph"/> Initially sharper than Hancock's characterisation, Kerr's portrayal eventually developed into a more dim-witted character who became the butt of Hancock's jokes.<ref name="Dixon"/> Unlike James, Kerr did not feature in the television version of the Hancock series. Kerr also starred in the highly entertaining radio drama series "The Flying Doctor" (1958–63)<ref>{{cite book |title=The Golden Age of Radio |last = Gifford |first = Denis |publisher=Batsford |year=1985 |page=85 |isbn=0-7134-4235-2}}</ref> regularly flying in and out of the fictitious Wollumboola base as he and his "doctor" colleague brought reprobates to justice in the outback. Later, after Sid James had ended his professional partnership with Hancock, Kerr briefly resumed working with him in the first series of the television comedy ''[[Citizen James]]'' (1960).<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/citizenjames/ ''Citizen James''], BBC Comedy</ref> Kerr's other television appearances in Britain include a ''[[Doctor Who]]'' serial called ''[[The Enemy of the World]]'' (1968), with [[Patrick Troughton]], and a long-running part in the early 1960s BBC-TV soap, ''[[Compact (soap opera)|Compact]]''. | ||
Kerr had much theatrical success in Britain, playing the Devil disguised as Mr Applegate in the first West End production of ''[[ | Kerr had much theatrical success in Britain, playing the Devil disguised as Mr Applegate in the first West End production of ''[[Damn Yankees]]'', directed by [[Bob Fosse]] and first performed in March 1957.<ref>Adrian Wright [https://books.google.com/books?id=6-TvZ0O5NHQC&pg=PA130 ''West End Broadway: The Golden Age of the American Musical in London''], Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 2012, p.130</ref> He appeared in a touring production of the play ''[[The Teahouse of the August Moon (play)|The Teahouse of the August Moon]]'' in 1956.<ref name="Stevens">{{cite book | ||
|last= Stevens | |last= Stevens | ||
|first= Christopher | |first= Christopher | ||
| Line 39: | Line 37: | ||
|isbn = 1-84854-195-3 | |isbn = 1-84854-195-3 | ||
|page=365 | |page=365 | ||
}}<!--|access-date=11 June 2012--></ref> He also worked with [[Spike Milligan]] and appeared in Milligan and [[John Antrobus]]'s stage play ''[[ | }}<!--|access-date=11 June 2012--></ref> He also worked with [[Spike Milligan]] and appeared in Milligan and [[John Antrobus]]'s stage play ''[[The Bed-Sitting Room (play)|The Bed-Sitting Room]]'',<ref name="thebedsittingroom">Milligan, Spike, & Antrobus, John (1973) ''The Bedsitting Room''. Tandem: London. First published in Great Britain by Margaret & Jack Hobbs, 1970. Published by Universal-Tandem, 1972.</ref> which opened at the [[Mermaid Theatre]] on 31 January 1963.<ref name=Spike&Co/><ref name="ScudamoresMilliganbio">{{cite book | last = Scudamore | first = Pauline | title = Spike Milligan: A Biography. | year = 1985 | publisher = Granada | location = London | isbn = 0-246-12275-7 }} (a)pp.203–204, (b)pp.242–243</ref> A subsequent production opened on 3 May 1967 at the [[Saville Theatre]], and "a cast containing an unusually high proportion of Australian actors including Bill Kerr and David Nettheim."<ref name=ScudamoresMilliganbio/> In the 1969 London production of ''[[Play It Again, Sam (play)|Play It Again, Sam]]'' at the <!-- Name change did not occur until 1994. -->[[Gielgud Theatre|Globe Theatre]], Kerr played [[Humphrey Bogart]].<ref name="Farquhar">Simon Farquhar [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/bill-kerr-comedian-and-actor-who-began-as-a-child-star-and-became-best-known-working-with-the-goons-and-tony-hancock-9709974.html "Bill Kerr: Comedian and actor who began as a child star and became best known working with the Goons and Tony Hancock"], ''The Independent'', 3 September 2014</ref> | ||
In 1972 he co-starred with [[ | In 1972 he co-starred with [[Anthony Newley]] in the Newley/Bricusse musical, ''The Good Old Bad Old Days'',<ref>John Fleming [http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/john-fleming/the-very-highly-talented-_b_947995.html "The Very Highly Talented and now Slightly Forgotten Anthony Newley"], ''The Huffington Post'', 8 September 2011</ref> which enjoyed a run lasting 309 performances.<ref>Adrian Wright [https://books.google.com/books?id=UcKIhZ8HiGYC&pg=PA259 ''A Tanner's Worth of Tune: Rediscovering the Post-war British Musical''], Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 2010, p.259</ref> Later he had a role (with [[Julia McKenzie]] and [[Una Stubbs]]) in the musical play ''[[Cole (play)|Cole]]'', dedicated to the work of [[Cole Porter]] and first staged at the [[Mermaid Theatre]], London in July 1974.<ref>Alun Morgan [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-benny-green-1167076.html Obituary: Benny Green], ''The Independent'', 24 June 1998</ref> Kerr took the part of Bluey Notts, described as "an Australian bookie's clerk, a crude racialist", in [[The Melting Pot (television programme)|''The Melting Pot'']] (1975). This was a sitcom written by [[Spike Milligan]] and [[Neil Shand]], which was cancelled by the BBC after just one episode had been broadcast.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Milligan |first1=Spike |author-link1=Spike Milligan |last2=Shand |first2=Neil |author-link2=Neil Shand |title=The Melting Pot |year=1983 |publisher=[[Robson Books]] |location=London |isbn=0-86051-195-2 |at=introductory pages }}</ref> He also appeared in several British films, such as ''[[The Dam Busters (film)|The Dam Busters]]'' (1955) and ''[[The Wrong Arm of the Law]]'' (1963).<ref>Nicky Harley [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11064733/Actor-Bill-kerr-dies-age-92.html "Actor Bill Kerr dies age 92"]{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''Daily Telegraph'', 29 August 2014</ref> | ||
==Return to Australia and later life== | ==Return to Australia and later life== | ||
In 1979, Kerr returned to Australia<ref name="BBC290814"/> and settled in Perth, Western Australia.<ref name="Naglazas"/> Now concentrating on character roles, he played serious roles in Australian films, including [[ | In 1979, Kerr returned to Australia<ref name="BBC290814"/> and settled in Perth, Western Australia.<ref name="Naglazas"/> Now concentrating on character roles, he played serious roles in Australian films, including [[Peter Weir]]'s films ''[[Gallipoli (1981 film)|Gallipoli]]'' (1981) and ''[[The Year of Living Dangerously (film)|The Year of Living Dangerously]]'' (1982).<ref name="Naglazas"/> In 1982 Kerr acted in the film ''[[The Pirate Movie]]''.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=The Pirate Movie (1982) 'PIRATE MOVIE,' WITH KRISTY MCNICHOL|author-link=Janet Maslin|author=Maslin, Janet|date=August 9, 1982|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9806E4DB103BF93AA3575BC0A964948260}}</ref> | ||
He worked on the Australian stage during the 1980s, in musicals such as ''[[ | He worked on the Australian stage during the 1980s, in musicals such as ''[[My Fair Lady]]'', where he received excellent reviews as Alfred Doolittle.<ref name="Telegraph"/> Kerr played real-life Australian military personalities on three occasions, appearing as bomber pilot [[Harold Brownlow Martin|Micky Martin]] in ''The Dam Busters'' (1955), as General [[John Monash]] in the TV mini-series ''[[Anzacs (TV series)|Anzacs]]'' (1985) and as General [[Harry Chauvel]] in the film ''[[The Lighthorsemen (film)|The Lighthorsemen]]'' (1986). In addition to his serious roles, he also continued to appear in comedies including the film ''[[The Coca-Cola Kid]]'' (1985) and ''[[Let's Get Skase]]'' (2001). | ||
Kerr also appeared in ''[[ | Kerr also appeared in ''[[Glenview High]]'' (1978–79) and the television comedy series ''[[Minty (TV series)|Minty]]'' (1998) and played the part of Douglas Kennedy in the soap opera ''[[The Young Doctors]]'' (1980). He was seen as Dave Welles in the Australian mini-series ''[[Return To Eden]]'' (1983) where he helped Stephanie Harper after she had been attacked by a crocodile. He reprised his role of Dave Welles in the 1985 series of ''Return To Eden'' by giving Stephanie a deed to a worthless section of land in the Northern Territory. | ||
Kerr provided the narration for the documentaries ''No Survivor - The Mysterious Loss of HMAS Sydney'' (1995) for the [[ | Kerr provided the narration for the documentaries ''No Survivor - The Mysterious Loss of HMAS Sydney'' (1995) for the [[Nine Network]], ''Malice or Mutiny'' (2003) for the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]]), and a series for Discovery, released in the US as ''[[Animal X (TV series)|Animal X]]'' (originally ''Animal X Natural Mystery Unit''). | ||
[[File:Bill Kerr 2011 Walk of Honour plaque.jpg|thumb|upright|Walk of Honour plaque]] | [[File:Bill Kerr 2011 Walk of Honour plaque.jpg|thumb|upright|Walk of Honour plaque]] | ||
On 26 January 2011, Kerr received the 2011 Walk of Honour in [[ | On 26 January 2011, Kerr received the 2011 Walk of Honour in [[Wagga Wagga]], which was unveiled on 17 May 2011.<ref name=wwcc>{{cite web|title=Wagga Wagga Australia Day Award Winners announced|url=http://www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/resources/documents/26_01AusDayAwardwinners.pdf|date=26 January 2011|work=[[City of Wagga Wagga|Wagga Wagga City Council]]|access-date=17 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110330042131/http://www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/resources/documents/26_01AusDayAwardwinners.pdf|archive-date=30 March 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bill Kerr thrilled by home-town accolade|url=http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/bill-kerr-thrilled-by-hometown-accolade/2166719.aspx|newspaper=[[The Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga)|The Daily Advertiser]]|date=18 May 2011|access-date=18 May 2011}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Kerr died in his family home in [[Perth]], Western Australia, on 28 August 2014 at the age of 92.<ref name="Naglazas"/> He was married three times.<ref name="Farquhar"/> | ||
==Filmography== | ==Filmography== | ||
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}} | {{Div col|colwidth=30em}} | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Harmony Row (1933 film)|Harmony Row]]'' (1933) - Leonard aka Sonny | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[The Silence of Dean Maitland (1934 film)|The Silence of Dean Maitland]]'' (1934) - Cyril Maitland Jr. | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Penny Points to Paradise]]'' (1951) - Digger Graves | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[My Death Is a Mockery]]'' (1952) - Hansen | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Appointment in London]]'' (1952) - Bill Brown | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[You Know What Sailors Are (1954 film)|You Know What Sailors Are]]'' (1954) - Lt. Smart | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[The Night My Number Came Up]]'' (1955) - The Soldier | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[The Dam Busters (film)|The Dam Busters]]'' (1955) - Flight Lieutenant [[Harold Brownlow Martin|H. B. Martin]], D.S.O., D.F.C., A.F.C. | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Port of Escape]]'' (1956) - Dinty Missouri | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[The Shiralee (1957 film)|The Shiralee]]'' (1957) - (uncredited) | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[The Captain's Table]]'' (1959) - Bill Coke | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[A Pair of Briefs]]'' (1962) - Victor - Club Owner | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[The Wrong Arm of the Law]]'' (1963) - Jack Coombes | ||
* ''[[Doctor in Distress (film)|Doctor in Distress]]'' (1963) - Australian Sailor | * ''[[Doctor in Distress (film)|Doctor in Distress]]'' (1963) - Australian Sailor | ||
* ''[[Doctor in Clover]]'' (1966) - Digger | * ''[[Doctor in Clover]]'' (1966) - Digger | ||
* ''[[A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (film)|A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum]]'' (1966) - Gladiator-in-Training | * ''[[A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (film)|A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum]]'' (1966) - Gladiator-in-Training | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Doctor Who]]'' serial ''[[The Enemy of the World]]'' (1967-1968, TV Series) - Giles Kent | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Tiffany Jones (film)|Tiffany Jones]]'' (1973) - Morton | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Ghost in the Noonday Sun]]'' (1973) - Giacomo | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Girls Come First]]'' (1975, Short) - Hugh Jampton | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[House of Mortal Sin]]'' (1976) - Mr. Davey | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[The Young Doctors]]'' (1980, TV Series) - Douglas Kennedy | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Gallipoli (1981 film)|Gallipoli]]'' (1981) - Jack | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Save the Lady]]'' (1982) - MacDuff | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[The Pirate Movie]]'' (1982) - Major General | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[The Year of Living Dangerously (film)|The Year of Living Dangerously]]'' (1982) - Colonel Henderson | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Platypus Cove]]'' (1983) - Mr. Anderson | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Dusty (film)|Dusty]]'' (1983) - Tom Lincoln | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Return to Eden]]'' (1983, TV Mini-Series) - Dave Welles | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Razorback (film)|Razorback]]'' (1984) - Jake Cullen | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Vigil (film)|Vigil]]'' (1984) - Birdie | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[The Settlement (1984 film)|The Settlement]]'' (1984) - Kearney | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[White Man's Legend]]'' (1984) (TV Movie) | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[A Fortunate Life]]'' (1985, TV Mini-Series) - Narrator | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[The Coca-Cola Kid]]'' (1985) - T. George McDowell | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Anzacs (TV series)|Anzacs]]'' (1985, TV Mini-Series) - Gen. Monash / [[John Monash|General Monash]] | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Relatives (1985 film)|Relatives]]'' (1985) - Grandpa | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Return to Eden]]'' (1986, TV Series) - Dave Welles | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[The Lighthorsemen (film)|The Lighthorsemen]]'' (1987) - Gen. Sir Harry Chauvel | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Running from the Guns]]'' (1987) - Gilman | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Bushfire Moon]]'' (1987) - Trevor Watson | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Kokoda Crescent]]'' (1989) - Russ | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[The New Adventures of Black Beauty]]'' (1990) - Samuel Burton (in this role he atypically spoke in an impeccable [[Received Pronunciation]] accent) | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Sweet Talker (film)|Sweet Talker]]'' (1991) - 'Uncle' Cec | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[The River Kings]]'' (1991, TV Mini-Series) - Captain Elijah | ||
* ''Over the Hill'' (1992) - Maurice | * ''Over the Hill'' (1992) - Maurice | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[No Survivors - The Mysterious Loss of HMAS Sydney]]'' (1995, TV) | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Let's Get Skase]]'' (2001) - Mitchell Vendieks | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Changi (TV series)|Changi]]'' (2001, TV Mini-Series) - Older Eddie | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Peter Pan (2003 film)|Peter Pan]]'' (2003) - Fairy Guide | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Malice or Mutiny]]'' (2003, TV Series) | ||
* ''Southern Cross'' (2004) - Tom Casely | * ''Southern Cross'' (2004) - Tom Casely | ||
* ''[[ | * ''[[Animal X (TV series)|Animal X Natural Mystery Unit]]'' (2004–2006, TV Series) | ||
{{div col end}} | {{div col end}} | ||
Revision as of 10:13, 4 August 2024
Bill Kerr | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | William Henry Kerr 10 June 1922 Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa |
| Died | 28 August 2014 (aged 92) Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1933–2011 |
| Children | 4 |
William Henry Kerr (10 June 1922 – 28 August 2014) was a British and Australian actor, comedian, and vaudevillian.
Born in South Africa, he started his career as a child actor in Australia, before emigrating to Britain after the Second World War, where he developed a career as a performer in comedy, especially gaining notice in the radio version of Hancock's Half Hour. In 1979 Kerr returned to Australia and developed a second career as a character actor.
Biography
Kerr was born in Cape Town, South Africa, on 10 June 1922[1] to an Australian performing arts family, growing up in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.[2] His career in show business began when he was very young. Wilton, his son, recalled: "His mum used him instead of using a prop, a baby prop, she actually used her son, her newborn son, so he was literally kind of born to do it."[3]
Kerr began to work in radio for ABC in 1932, and continued performing child parts for about eight years.[4] His first screen appearance was in Harmony Row (1933), where he gives a feisty performance as a juvenile delinquent alongside the great Australian vaudeville comedian George Wallace. Kerr's first dramatic role on screen was a high-profile one in the Cinesound film The Silence of Dean Maitland (1934), where he displays striking presence as a blind child.[5] Kerr is one of the most important child performers in early Australian film. He saw service in the Australian army during the Second World War, and performed in theatrical shows at home and abroad and toured with his friend, the actor Peter Finch.[4]
Career in Britain
After the war, Kerr moved to Britain in 1947.[6] During the next few years he was regularly featured in the BBC radio series Variety Bandbox, part of the BBC Light Programme. Retaining his accent, an unusual choice for performers moving to Britain at this time, he was billed as "the boy from Wagga Wagga." A spokesman for the Australian town's museum said that this "struck an instant chord with the post-war British audience, who thought of 'Wagga Wagga' as a comically surreal, end of the earth, magical place somewhere left of Narnia."[7] Harry Secombe described Kerr as having a "very laconic act" on the show, beginning his spots with the catchphrase "I'm only here for four minutes."[8]
From 1954 to 1959, he had a regular role as an Australian lodger in the BBC radio comedy series Hancock's Half Hour.[9] The series, with comedian Tony Hancock as the eponymous lead and also featuring Sid James, ran for six series.[1] Initially sharper than Hancock's characterisation, Kerr's portrayal eventually developed into a more dim-witted character who became the butt of Hancock's jokes.[2] Unlike James, Kerr did not feature in the television version of the Hancock series. Kerr also starred in the highly entertaining radio drama series "The Flying Doctor" (1958–63)[10] regularly flying in and out of the fictitious Wollumboola base as he and his "doctor" colleague brought reprobates to justice in the outback. Later, after Sid James had ended his professional partnership with Hancock, Kerr briefly resumed working with him in the first series of the television comedy Citizen James (1960).[11] Kerr's other television appearances in Britain include a Doctor Who serial called The Enemy of the World (1968), with Patrick Troughton, and a long-running part in the early 1960s BBC-TV soap, Compact.
Kerr had much theatrical success in Britain, playing the Devil disguised as Mr Applegate in the first West End production of Damn Yankees, directed by Bob Fosse and first performed in March 1957.[12] He appeared in a touring production of the play The Teahouse of the August Moon in 1956.[13] He also worked with Spike Milligan and appeared in Milligan and John Antrobus's stage play The Bed-Sitting Room,[14] which opened at the Mermaid Theatre on 31 January 1963.[9][15] A subsequent production opened on 3 May 1967 at the Saville Theatre, and "a cast containing an unusually high proportion of Australian actors including Bill Kerr and David Nettheim."[15] In the 1969 London production of Play It Again, Sam at the Globe Theatre, Kerr played Humphrey Bogart.[16]
In 1972 he co-starred with Anthony Newley in the Newley/Bricusse musical, The Good Old Bad Old Days,[17] which enjoyed a run lasting 309 performances.[18] Later he had a role (with Julia McKenzie and Una Stubbs) in the musical play Cole, dedicated to the work of Cole Porter and first staged at the Mermaid Theatre, London in July 1974.[19] Kerr took the part of Bluey Notts, described as "an Australian bookie's clerk, a crude racialist", in The Melting Pot (1975). This was a sitcom written by Spike Milligan and Neil Shand, which was cancelled by the BBC after just one episode had been broadcast.[20] He also appeared in several British films, such as The Dam Busters (1955) and The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963).[21]
Return to Australia and later life
In 1979, Kerr returned to Australia[6] and settled in Perth, Western Australia.[5] Now concentrating on character roles, he played serious roles in Australian films, including Peter Weir's films Gallipoli (1981) and The Year of Living Dangerously (1982).[5] In 1982 Kerr acted in the film The Pirate Movie.[22]
He worked on the Australian stage during the 1980s, in musicals such as My Fair Lady, where he received excellent reviews as Alfred Doolittle.[1] Kerr played real-life Australian military personalities on three occasions, appearing as bomber pilot Micky Martin in The Dam Busters (1955), as General John Monash in the TV mini-series Anzacs (1985) and as General Harry Chauvel in the film The Lighthorsemen (1986). In addition to his serious roles, he also continued to appear in comedies including the film The Coca-Cola Kid (1985) and Let's Get Skase (2001).
Kerr also appeared in Glenview High (1978–79) and the television comedy series Minty (1998) and played the part of Douglas Kennedy in the soap opera The Young Doctors (1980). He was seen as Dave Welles in the Australian mini-series Return To Eden (1983) where he helped Stephanie Harper after she had been attacked by a crocodile. He reprised his role of Dave Welles in the 1985 series of Return To Eden by giving Stephanie a deed to a worthless section of land in the Northern Territory.
Kerr provided the narration for the documentaries No Survivor - The Mysterious Loss of HMAS Sydney (1995) for the Nine Network, Malice or Mutiny (2003) for the ABC), and a series for Discovery, released in the US as Animal X (originally Animal X Natural Mystery Unit).
On 26 January 2011, Kerr received the 2011 Walk of Honour in Wagga Wagga, which was unveiled on 17 May 2011.[23][24] Kerr died in his family home in Perth, Western Australia, on 28 August 2014 at the age of 92.[5] He was married three times.[16]
Filmography
- Harmony Row (1933) - Leonard aka Sonny
- The Silence of Dean Maitland (1934) - Cyril Maitland Jr.
- Penny Points to Paradise (1951) - Digger Graves
- My Death Is a Mockery (1952) - Hansen
- Appointment in London (1952) - Bill Brown
- You Know What Sailors Are (1954) - Lt. Smart
- The Night My Number Came Up (1955) - The Soldier
- The Dam Busters (1955) - Flight Lieutenant H. B. Martin, D.S.O., D.F.C., A.F.C.
- Port of Escape (1956) - Dinty Missouri
- The Shiralee (1957) - (uncredited)
- The Captain's Table (1959) - Bill Coke
- A Pair of Briefs (1962) - Victor - Club Owner
- The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963) - Jack Coombes
- Doctor in Distress (1963) - Australian Sailor
- Doctor in Clover (1966) - Digger
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966) - Gladiator-in-Training
- Doctor Who serial The Enemy of the World (1967-1968, TV Series) - Giles Kent
- Tiffany Jones (1973) - Morton
- Ghost in the Noonday Sun (1973) - Giacomo
- Girls Come First (1975, Short) - Hugh Jampton
- House of Mortal Sin (1976) - Mr. Davey
- The Young Doctors (1980, TV Series) - Douglas Kennedy
- Gallipoli (1981) - Jack
- Save the Lady (1982) - MacDuff
- The Pirate Movie (1982) - Major General
- The Year of Living Dangerously (1982) - Colonel Henderson
- Platypus Cove (1983) - Mr. Anderson
- Dusty (1983) - Tom Lincoln
- Return to Eden (1983, TV Mini-Series) - Dave Welles
- Razorback (1984) - Jake Cullen
- Vigil (1984) - Birdie
- The Settlement (1984) - Kearney
- White Man's Legend (1984) (TV Movie)
- A Fortunate Life (1985, TV Mini-Series) - Narrator
- The Coca-Cola Kid (1985) - T. George McDowell
- Anzacs (1985, TV Mini-Series) - Gen. Monash / General Monash
- Relatives (1985) - Grandpa
- Return to Eden (1986, TV Series) - Dave Welles
- The Lighthorsemen (1987) - Gen. Sir Harry Chauvel
- Running from the Guns (1987) - Gilman
- Bushfire Moon (1987) - Trevor Watson
- Kokoda Crescent (1989) - Russ
- The New Adventures of Black Beauty (1990) - Samuel Burton (in this role he atypically spoke in an impeccable Received Pronunciation accent)
- Sweet Talker (1991) - 'Uncle' Cec
- The River Kings (1991, TV Mini-Series) - Captain Elijah
- Over the Hill (1992) - Maurice
- No Survivors - The Mysterious Loss of HMAS Sydney (1995, TV)
- Let's Get Skase (2001) - Mitchell Vendieks
- Changi (2001, TV Mini-Series) - Older Eddie
- Peter Pan (2003) - Fairy Guide
- Malice or Mutiny (2003, TV Series)
- Southern Cross (2004) - Tom Casely
- Animal X Natural Mystery Unit (2004–2006, TV Series)
References
- ^ a b c Obituary: Bill Kerr, Daily Telegraph, 29 August 2014
- ^ a b Stephen Dixon "Bill Kerr obituary", The Guardian, 31 August 2014
- ^ "Actor Bill Kerr dies at home in Perth, aged 92", ABC (Australia), 29 August 2014
- ^ a b Adam Sallur "'I'm only here for four minutes' - The Bill Kerr Story", ABC (Australia), 31 July 2013
- ^ a b c d Naglazas, Mark; Banks, Ron (29 August 2014). "Veteran Aussie actor Bill Kerr dies". The West Australian. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
- ^ a b "Bill Kerr, Australian actor and radio star, dies aged 92", BBC News, 29 August 2014
- ^ Natasha Culzac "Bill Kerr dead at 92: Australian actor that became the 'Boy from Wagga Wagga' dies", The Independent, 29 August 2014
- ^ Harry Secombe Arias and Raspberries: An Autobiography, London: Pan Books, 1997 [1989], p.144
- ^ a b McCann, Graham (2006). Spike & Co. London: Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-89809-7. (b)p.158
- ^ Gifford, Denis (1985). The Golden Age of Radio. Batsford. p. 85. ISBN 0-7134-4235-2.
- ^ Citizen James, BBC Comedy
- ^ Adrian Wright West End Broadway: The Golden Age of the American Musical in London, Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 2012, p.130
- ^ Stevens, Christopher (2010). Born Brilliant: The Life Of Kenneth Williams. John Murray. p. 365. ISBN 1-84854-195-3.
- ^ Milligan, Spike, & Antrobus, John (1973) The Bedsitting Room. Tandem: London. First published in Great Britain by Margaret & Jack Hobbs, 1970. Published by Universal-Tandem, 1972.
- ^ a b Scudamore, Pauline (1985). Spike Milligan: A Biography. London: Granada. ISBN 0-246-12275-7. (a)pp.203–204, (b)pp.242–243
- ^ a b Simon Farquhar "Bill Kerr: Comedian and actor who began as a child star and became best known working with the Goons and Tony Hancock", The Independent, 3 September 2014
- ^ John Fleming "The Very Highly Talented and now Slightly Forgotten Anthony Newley", The Huffington Post, 8 September 2011
- ^ Adrian Wright A Tanner's Worth of Tune: Rediscovering the Post-war British Musical, Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 2010, p.259
- ^ Alun Morgan Obituary: Benny Green, The Independent, 24 June 1998
- ^ Milligan, Spike; Shand, Neil (1983). The Melting Pot. London: Robson Books. introductory pages. ISBN 0-86051-195-2.
- ^ Nicky Harley "Actor Bill Kerr dies age 92"[dead link], Daily Telegraph, 29 August 2014
- ^ Maslin, Janet (August 9, 1982). "The Pirate Movie (1982) 'PIRATE MOVIE,' WITH KRISTY MCNICHOL". The New York Times.
- ^ "Wagga Wagga Australia Day Award Winners announced" (PDF). Wagga Wagga City Council. 26 January 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 March 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ "Bill Kerr thrilled by home-town accolade". The Daily Advertiser. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.[permanent dead link]
External links
Categories:
- Pages with script errors
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- Articles with dead external links from July 2021
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- Articles with permanently dead external links
- 1922 births
- 2014 deaths
- Australian male film actors
- Australian male radio actors
- Australian male television actors
- South African emigrants to Australia
- Male actors from Cape Town
- People from Wagga Wagga
- Australian Army personnel of World War II
- Australian expatriates in the United Kingdom
