Gordon Maitland ChaterAM(6 April 1922 – 12 December 1999) was anEnglish Australiancomedian and actor, and recipient of theGold Logie,he appeared in revue, theatre, radio, television and film, with a career spanning almost 50 years.[1]
Gordon ChaterAM | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gordon Maitland Chater 6 April 1922 |
| Died | 12 December 1999(aged 77) |
| Education | University of Cambridge |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian |
| Years active | 1944−1993 |
| Known for | The Mavis Bramston Show,My Name's McGooley, What's Yours? |
Biography
editEarly life and career
editChater was born in Bayswater, West London and attendedCottesmore Schoolas a child.[2]He attendedCambridge Universityto study medicine but did not finish his degree, instead taking part in many student revues.
Chater having arrived in Australia post World War II came to prominence as a stage and radio actor, and was a cast member of the 1963 Sydney season ofChekhov'sThe Cherry Orchard,the debut production by theOld Tote Theatre Company,the precursor to theSydney Theatre Company.He appeared in a radio program oppositeGwen Plumb[1]
Screen and television roles
editChater appeared in TV movies and series, he became a national star when he was cast withCarol RayeandBarry Creytonin the Australian satirical television seriesThe Mavis Bramston Show,[3]for which he won the 1966Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television.He cemented his popularity with the title role in the popular sitcomMy Name's McGooley, What's Yours?,[3]playing the elderly live-in father of a young married couple, played byJohn MeillonandJudi Farr.He appeared in many other television comedy series. His fellow actors includedRay Barrett,Stewart GinnandCharles "Bud" Tingwell,among others.
Chater was critical of early Australian television direction which he characterised as too often "'feet, knees and in the distance pictures'. People watching TV are interested in people and close ups in Australia were hard to come by in the early days of Australian television."[4]
Theatre roles
editAmongst work in many other shows, Chater appeared inThe Rocky Horror ShowinBrisbanein 1988,[5]theSydney Theatre Companyproduction ofThe Importance of Being Earnestas both "Lane" and "Merriman" in 1990,[5]andLady Bracknell's Confinementat the Playhouse, in Melbourne in 1993.[5]
Gordon Chater later worked in the United States, including appearing onBroadway.
In the 1970s Chater was particularly associated with the playThe Elocution of Benjamin FranklinbySteve J. Spears,the stage role for which he became best known. The play broke new ground in Australian theatre with its shocking opening scene (in which Chater walked onstage naked) and its discussion of paedophilia.[3]
Honours and awards
edit- Winnerof theMacquarie Radio Awardin 1952 for Comedy Performance on Radio
- Winnerof theGold Logiein 1966 for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television (The Mavis Bramston Show)
- Member of theOrder of Australia(AM), 1999[6]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Production | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Smiley Gets a Gun | Rev. Galbraith | TV movie |
| 1963 | My Three Angels | Convict | TV movie |
| 1976 | Me and Mr Thorne | Reginald Thorne | TV movie |
| 1992 | The Important in Being Ernest | Lane, Merriman | TV movie |
| 1993 | This Won't Hurt a Bit | Dental Professor | Feature film |
Television
edit| Year | Production | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | The Adventures of Long John Silver | Alfredo | TV series |
| 1958/59 | ITV Television Playhouse | Reverend Michael Brute / Victor Prine | TV series, 2 episodes:Various Heavens,Private Lives |
| 1959 | Armchair Theatre | TV series, Episode:To Ride A Tiger | |
| 1958/61 | ITV Play of the Week | Henry Straker / Mr Bullivant | TV series, 2 episodes:Man and Superman,Break from Cover |
| 1961 | The Story of Peter Grey | TV series | |
| 1964 | The Mavis Bramston Show | Various Characters | TV series |
| 1966-68 | My Name's McGooley, What's Yours? | Dominic McGooley | TV series, 88 episodes |
| 1968 | Rita and Wally | McGooley | TV series |
| 1968 | The Gordon Chater Show | Host | TV series |
| 1971 | The Godfathers | Jamieson | TV series |
| 1972 | Snake Gully with Dad and Dave | Dad Rudd | TV series |
| 1974 | Behind the Legend | Thomas Mitchell | TV series, Episode:Thomas Mitchell |
| Mac and Merle | John "Mac" McInern | TV series | |
| 1975 | The Dave Allen Show in Australia | Various | TV series |
| 1975 | Celebrity Squares | Himself | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1976 | This Is Yoir Life | Himself | TV series |
| 1976 | Matlock Police | Doc. Horton | TV series |
| 1980 | Broadway on Showtime | Dr. Cedric Seward | TV series |
| 1981 | Parkinson in Australia | Guest | TV series |
Theatre
edit| Year | Production | Role | Venue / Theatre Co. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | The Cherry Orchard | Old Tote Theatre | |
| 1970s | The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin | ||
| 1988 | The Rocky Horror Show | Brisbane | |
| 1990 | The Importance of Being Earnest | Lane / Merriman | Sydney Theatre Company |
| 1993 | Confinement | Playhouse, Melbourne |
References
edit- ^abLane, Richard (2000).The Golden Age of Australian Radio Drama Volume 2.National Film and Sound Archive. pp. 111–115.
- ^The Almost Late Gordon Chater,Bantam Books, 1996,ISBN9781863597975
- ^abcMcDonald, Philippa (13 December 1999)."7:30 Report:Gordon Chater dies aged 77".Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Retrieved8 February2009.
- ^Chater, Gordon (1996).The Almost Late Gordon Chater.Bantam. p. 117.
- ^abc"Contributor Identifier: 225086 Contributor Name:Gordon Chater".ausstage.edu.au.Retrieved8 February2009.
- ^It's an Honour.Retrieved 22 May 2015
External links
edit- Gordon Chater– Stage acting credits
- "The Dictionary of Performing Arts in Australia — Theatre. Film. Radio. Television — Volume 1"— Ann Atkinson, Linsay Knight, Margaret McPhee — Allen & Unwin Pty. Ltd., 1996
- "The Australian Film and Television Companion"— compiled by Tony Harrison — Simon & Schuster Australia, 1994
- "The Importance of Being Earnest"— (information and photo):[1],[2],[3],[4],[5]
- Gordon ChateratIMDb
- Gordon Chaterat theInternet Broadway Database
- Gordon Chater Dies aged 77–Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- My Name's McGooley – What's Yours?– Classic Australian Television
- The Mavis Bramston Show[permanent dead link]– Nostalgia Central
- The History of The Mavis Bramston Show
- Tributes 1999 – Gordon Chater– Mark Juddery Tributes