Michael Caton(born 21 July 1943) is an Australian actor, comedian and television host, best known for playing Uncle Harry in the Australian television seriesThe Sullivans,Darryl Kerrigan in 1997's low-budget hit filmThe Castle,and Ted Taylor in the television seriesPacked to the Rafters.
Michael Caton | |
|---|---|
 Caton in 2017 | |
| Born | 21 July 1943 Monto, Queensland,Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian, television presenter |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Spouse | Helen Esakoff |
Early life
editCaton was born inMonto, Queensland,[1]was educated in Gympie at St Patrick's College, a Boarding School, where he had his first experience as an actor, and then grew up inWoolloongabba,Brisbane.[2]
Media career
editTelevision
editIn 1976, Caton starred as Uncle Harry Sullivan in the long running Channel 9 war family dramaThe Sullivans.
Caton starred in the Australian drama seriesFive Mile Creekfrom 1983 until 1985. He then appeared in the risqué 1990s soap operaChances(in 1991 and 1992).
Since 1999, Caton has hosted two lifestyle programs –Hot PropertyandHot Auctions– on theSeven Networkuntil 2009, andChannel Ninesince 2010.
In 2005, he was a contestant on the third series of the Australian version ofDancing with the Stars.
He was in theChannel 7dramedyPacked to the Rafters,playing Ted Taylor, father of Julie Rafter, and grandfather to all the grandchildren and their partners.
Caton works with theQueensland rugby league teamas 'cultural ambassador', a role which he inherited from deceased long-time team managerDick Turner.[3]
Filmography
editTelevision
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Skippy | Young Man | 1 episode (#3.83 El Toro) |
| 1970 | Division 4 | Steve | 1 episode (#69 The Man from Lightning Ridge) |
| 1970–74 | Homicide | Bruce Perkins / Ambrose | 2 episodes (#247 A Time for Grieving / No. 403 A Thing of the Past) |
| 1974 | Ryan | Claude | 1 episode (#1.37 Goodbye Holly Beckett) |
| 1976 | King's Men | Joey Oslow | 1 episode (#1.10 Public Enemy Number 1) |
| 1976–77 | The Sullivans | Uncle Harry Sullivan | 737 episodes |
| Holiday Island | Charlie Watson | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1982–93 | A Country Practice | Max Grainger / Dwayne, Trev & Lennie Kerby / Clive Bradley / Malcolm Fellows | 8 episodes |
| 1983 | The Weekly's War | Les Haylen | TV miniseries |
| 1983–85 | Five Mile Creek | Paddy Malone | 38 episodes |
| 1987 | The Flying Doctors | Noel Farley | 1 episode (#2.22 Every Day a Gift) |
| 1988 | Home and Away | Barry Davenport | 2 episodes (#1.61/#1.63) |
| 1988 | Hey Dad..! | Chris Gordon | 1 episode (#2.33 VW for Sale) |
| 1991 | Chances | Bill Anderson | |
| 1993 | Paradise Beach | Ken Hayden | 1 episode (#1.139) |
| 1996 | G.P. | Michael Ree | 1 episode (#8.7 New Confusions) |
| 1997 | Heartbreak High | Barney | 1 episode (#4.24) |
| 1997 | Blue Heelers | Ken Norse | 1 episode (#4.6 Fowl Play) |
| 1998 | Wildside | Brian Savini | 1 episode (#1.15) |
| 1998 | All Saints | Bob Parkin | 6 episodes |
| 1999 | Stingers | Benny | 1 episode (#1.11 Ten Feet Tall and Bullet Proof) |
| 1999–current | Hot Property/ Hot Auctions | Himself | Host |
| 1999 | All-Star Squares | Self | Panellist |
| 2000 | The Track | Voice over | TV documentary |
| 2001 | Always Greener | Jack | 1 episode (#1.8 Dog Days) |
| 2002 | Dossa and Joe | Joe Bailey | 6 episodes |
| 2002–03 | Bad Cop, Bad Cop | Detective Sergeant Red Lilywhite | 8 episodes |
| 2002 | The Weakest Link | Self | Contestant – Celebrity Special episode |
| 2003 | The Fat | Self | 1 episode (#6.16) |
| 2005 | Dancing with the Stars | Self | 5 episodes, series 3 |
| 2006 | How the Hell Did We Get Here? | Self | 2 episodes |
| 2008–2013 | Packed to the Rafters | Ted Taylor | 111 episodes |
| 2018 | Underbelly Files: Chopper | Keith Read | 2 episodes |
| 2021 | Back to the Rafters | Ted Taylor | 6 episodes |
Film
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Private Collection | ||
| 1979 | The Last of the Knucklemen | Monk | |
| 1981 | Hoodwink | Shapley | |
| 1982 | Fluteman | Oswald Snaith | |
| 1982 | Monkey Grip | Clive | |
| 1986 | Great Expectations, the Untold Story | Travis | TV movie |
| 1988 | The 13th Floor | Dr Fletcher | |
| 1988 | Joe Wilson | Dave Regan | TV mini-series |
| 1990 | The Paper Man | Leonard Webb | TV mini-series |
| 1990 | Shadows of the Heart | Frank Barrett | TV movie |
| 1996 | The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years | Bill Masters | TV movie |
| 1997 | The Castle | Darryl Kerrigan | |
| 1998 | Never Tell Me Never | Max Shepherd | TV movie |
| 1998 | 13 Gantry Row | Mr Hob | TV movie |
| 1998 | The Echo of Thunder | Bill Gadrey | TV movie |
| 1998 | The Interview | Barry Walls | |
| 2001 | The Animal | Dr Wilder | |
| 2004 | Strange Bedfellows | Ralph Williams | |
| 2015 | Last Cab to Darwin | Rex | |
| 2017 | Three Summers | Henry | |
| 2020 | Rams | Les |
Stage
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Hair | Melbourne | |
| 1972 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Priest | |
| 1973 | The Tooth of Crime | Nimrod Theatre Company | |
| 1982 | The Stripper | Sheriff Lavers | Sydney Theatre Company |
| 2007–08 | Priscilla Queen of the Desert - the Musical | Bob |
Discography
editCaton, playing the role of a Priest, is part of the Chorus singing on the original Australian cast recording ofJesus Christ Superstar,1972.[4]He is the major voice talking in the background onJohn Paul Young's 1975 hit "Yesterday's Hero".[4][5]From Caton's role inthe moviehe sings on many tracks onEd Kuepper – Last Cab to Darwin – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack,2015.[4]
Accolades
editHonours
editCaton has been inducted into theAustralian Film Walk of Famein honour of his work in Australia's cinema and television industries.[6]
Awards & nominations
edit| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Australian Film Institute | Best Actor in a Television Drama | The Castle | Nominated |
| 2011 | Logie Awards | Logie Award for Most Popular Actor | Packed to the Rafters | Won |
| 2016 | AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actor | Last Cab to Darwin | Won |
Personal life
editCaton is married to Helen Esakoff. His son Septimus narratesMy Kitchen RulesandRobot Wars.[7]
References
edit- ^People: Michael Caton,Dimensions(ABC TV), 29 August 2002.
- ^"Michael Caton and Jackie Trad discuss Woolloongabba 28 June 2016".State Library of Queensland.28 June 2016.Retrieved9 March2023.[dead link]
- ^Masters, Roy (9 July 2011)."Maroons follow Tosser's advice to the letter".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved10 July2011.
- ^abc"Michael Caton".Discogs.Retrieved18 September2021.
- ^Apter, Jeff (2020).Friday on My Mind: the Life of George Young.Sydney: Allen and Unwin. pp. 161–162.ISBN978-1-76087-510-7.
- ^"Putting on the Ritz".Southern Courier.Retrieved23 June2011.
- ^Vagg, Stephen (18 August 2019)."Australian Movie Stars".Filmink.
External links
edit