Judith Mary Stuart Farr[2]AM(5 October 1938 – 30 June 2023), also credited asJudy Farr,[1]was an Australian actress of theatre, film and television, with a career spanning some seven decades, she was best known for severalsituation comedyroles on Australian television. Farr also appeared in Australian films such asDecember BoysandWalking on Water,for which she won anAFI award.[3]
Judi Farr | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 October 1938 Cairns,Queensland,Australia |
| Died | 30 June 2023(aged 84) |
| Other names | Judy Farr |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, director[1] |
| Years active | 1958[1]–2020[1] |
| Television | A Place to Call Home Please Like Me Grass Roots Kingswood Country |
Early life
editBorn inCairnsin 1938, Farr was the first born child of Phyllis and Herbert 'Bert' Farr. Her father's death in Borneo during World War 2 prompted her mother to move the family toBondi, Sydney,where Judi and her brother Michael, grew up by the beach in their grandmother’s unit.
At the age of nine Farr won an elocution competition, recitingWilliam ShakespeareatSydney Town Hall.She studied ballet for 10 years, quitting in her teen years. She attended Holy Cross School in Woollahra.
Farr enrolled in drama school for 3 months and soon after, joined The Colony Players, an amateur Sydney theatre group, and acted inPhillip Street Theatresatirical revues. At age 19, she had her lucky break at Genesian Theatre inThe Skin of Our Teeth.[4]
Career
editTelevision
editFarr made her television debut in a 1962 live broadcast ofThe Taming of the ShrewonABC TV.[5]
Farr became well known for her role of Rita in the situation comedyMy Name's McGooley, What's Yours?(1967–1968).[6]She continued to play the character in that show's short-lived sequel seriesRita and Wallyin 1968.[6]
Later she played a similarly high-profile regular role in a successful sitcom, portraying dizzy wife Thelma inKingswood Countrystarting in 1980. She left the series in 1982, and in the script Thelma was sent off on a world cruise. She later sent word she would not be returning to her husband and Farr did not return to the series.
Aside from these roles Farr had a long and busy career acting in dramatic roles in film and theatre, and television. She had guest roles in drama series, television movies and miniseries. Television roles of the 1970s included guest spots on dramas including theCrawford Productionspolice shows, and a recurring role in soap operaNumber 96in 1974 and 1975, playing in comedy storylines. Later guest appearances include roles inA Country Practice,All SaintsandCrashBurn.
Farr was also known for playing Aunt Peg inPlease Like Me.
Film roles
editHer first film role was a brief appearance inThey're a Weird Mob(1966). Later films includeFatty Finn(1980),The Year My Voice Broke(1987),Flirting(1991) andOscar and Lucinda(1997). Her film and television roles of the 2000s includeFarscape: The Peacekeeper Wars(2004) TV movie,The Alice(2004) TV movie,Thunderstruck(2004),Go Big(2004) TV movie,Walking on Water(2002) andChangi(2001) (miniseries).
Theatre work
editShe toured nationally and internationally withCloudstreetand has worked for all major theatre companies in productions which includeDeath of a Salesman,Lettice and Lovage(oppositeJune Salter) andAngels in America.
Honours & awards
editFarr was awarded the 1992 Theatre Critics Award for her stage role inWomen of Troyand was the winner of the2002 AFI Best Supporting Actressfor her performance in the 2002 filmWalking on Water.
She received a 2016 Sydney Theatre Lifetime Achievement Award at theSydney Theatre Awards.
Farr was appointed aMember of the Order of Australiafor "significant service to the performing arts as an actor" in the2021 Queen's Birthday Honours.[7]
Personal life
editIn 1963, Farr married Derry Macgillicuddy, after meeting him while performing together in aGenesian Theatreproduction. The couple had three children – Sean, Sarah and Bridie.[8]
Illness & death
editFarr retired from the industry in 2015, after a cancer battle. She had been diagnosed with a squamous cell carcinoma in her parotid gland, during her time working on theA Place to Call Home.The operation to remove it resulted in unilateral facial disfigurement, which was cause for several reconstructive surgeries. Judi had a stroke in 2016.[9]
Farr died of respiratory failure on 30th June 2023 after a long illness, at the age of 84.[2][10][11]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | The Taming of the Shrew | TV movie | |
| 1962 | Family Album | TV movie | |
| 1964 | Split Level | TV movie | |
| 1966 | They're a Weird Mob | Telephonist in Hotel (uncredited) | Feature film |
| 1979 | Dawn! | New Resident | Feature film |
| 1979 | Just Out of Reach | Mother | Feature film |
| 1980 | Fatty Finn | Mrs. Hogan | Feature film |
| 1982 | Dingle and the Dip | TV movie | |
| 1984 | Who Killed Hannah Jane? | Hannah Jane Peden | TV movie |
| 1985 | Brides of the Gods | Narrator | Film documentary |
| 1986 | For Love Alone | Aunt Bea | Feature film |
| 1986 | Double Sculls | Eilen Bayliss | TV movie |
| 1987 | Right From Day One | Herself | Training film |
| 1987 | Go For It | Role unknown | Short film |
| 1987 | The Year My Voice Broke | Sheila Embling | Feature film |
| 1991 | Flirting | Sheila Embling | Feature film |
| 1995 | Mother's Requiem | Mother | Short film |
| 1996 | Turning April | Mother | Feature film |
| 1997 | Oscar and Lucinda | Mrs. Smith | Feature film |
| 2000 | My Mother My Son | Mother | Short film |
| 2002 | Walking on Water | Margaret | Feature film |
| 2003 | Page to Stage | Herself - Performance Director | TV film documentary |
| 2004 | Thunderstruck | Mrs. Jones | Feature film |
| 2004 | Go Big | Marion Katz | TV movie |
| 2004 | The Alice | Lee | TV movie |
| 2006 | Unfolding Florence: The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst | Florence Broadhurst | Feature film documentary |
| 2006 | Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America | Mrs. Koppel | TV movie |
| 2007 | December Boys | Reverend Mother | Feature film |
| 2008 | The Sound of Shadows | Christina | Short film |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964–65 | Here's Dawn | TV series | |
| 1966 | The Interpretaris | Alys - Computer | TV miniseries, 6 episodes |
| 1966–68 | My Name's McGooley, What's Yours? | Rita Stiller | TV series, 88 episodes |
| 1968 | Rita and Wally | Rita Stiller | TV series, 8 episodes |
| 1970 | The Link Men | Anna Seberg | TV series, episode 11: "Somebody's Kid Is Missing" |
| 1970, 1971 | Division 4 | Lillian Walker / Trish Carstairs | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1972 | A Nice Day at the Office | Christine | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1972 | Matlock Police | Jill | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973 | The Comedy Game | TV series, 1 episode: "The Engagement Party" | |
| 1973 | The Evil Touch | Anne Sullivan | TV series, episode 6: "A Game of Hearts" |
| 1974 | Mac and Merle | TV series, regular role | |
| 1974 | The Fourth Wish | TV miniseries, 1 episode | |
| 1974–75 | Number 96 | Alderman Mrs April Bullock | TV series, 10 episodes |
| 1975 | Behind the Legend | Harriet | TV series, episode 5: "George Coppin" |
| 1976 | Alvin Purple | Slater | TV series, episode 4: "Hospitality" |
| 1978 | Father, Dear Father in Australia | Aunty Tom | TV series, episode 3: "The Floating Housekeeper" |
| 1978 | Tickled Pink | Rachel Benson | TV series, episode 2: "Relative Air Pollution" |
| 1980–1982 | Kingswood Country | Thelma Bullpitt | TV series, 59 episodes |
| 1983 | Scales of Justice | Mary Miles | TV miniseries, episode 2: "The Game" |
| 1983 | A Country Practice | Faye Simpson | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1983 | Learned Friends | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1985 | Double Sculls | Ellen Bayliss | TV film |
| 1985 | Winners | Abbatoir Manager's Wife | TV film series, 1 episode |
| 1986 | A Country Practice | Norma Hammond | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1986 | Mother and Son | Matron | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1987 | Vietnam | TV miniseries, 1 episode | |
| 1987 | Melba | Amy Davidson | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 1988 | Rafferty's Rules | Rhonda White | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1988 | Mike Willesee's Australians | Ma (Mrs. Lyell) | TV film series, episode 5: "Lottie Lyell" |
| 1989 | G.P. | Joan | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1990 | Come In Spinner | Mrs. Gartred | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 1991 | Boys from the Bush | Phyllis | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1991 | A Country Practice | Grace Mullens | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1991 | E Street | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1994 | G.P. | Helen Kendall / Kathleen Sutton | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Medivac | Arch's Mother | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997 | Murder Call | Mrs. Parkins | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1999 | All Saints | Kathleen O'Hara | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 2000–03 | Grass Roots | Janice Corniglio | TV series, 18 episodes |
| 2000 | Stingers | Aunty Jan | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2001 | Changi | Older Joyce | TV miniseries, 1 episode |
| 2001 | Water Rats | Liz Cunio | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2003 | CrashBurn | Marg | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2004 | Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars | Scarran Doctor | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 2011; 2012 | Laid | Nan / Pearl | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Jack Irish: Bad Debts | Mrs. Bishop | TV film, 1 episode |
| 2013 | Please Like Me | Aunty Peg | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 2013 | Twentysomething | Marie | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2013 | Camp | Dorothy Jessup | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2013-15 | A Place to Call Home | Peg Moloney | TV series, 7 episodes |
Television (as self)
edit| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | The Mobil-Limb Show | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1965 | The Mavis Bramston Show | Herself - Various characters | TV series |
| 1979; 1983 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1991 | In Sydney Today | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | Good Morning Australia | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | The Mavis Bramston 30th Anniversary Special | Herself | TV special |
| 1996, 2006 | Where Are They Now? | Herself | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1998 | Denise | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2007 | Good As Gold! | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Theatre
editAs actor
editAs director
edit| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Travelling North | Director | Marian Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1989 | Jigsaws | Director | Q Theatre, Penrith |
| 1990 | Black Comedy | Director | Glen Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1990 | Perfect Mismatch | Director | Glen Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1993 | Absent Friends | Director | Marian Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1997 | The Memory of Water | Director | Marian Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 2001 | The Gin Game | Director | Marian Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 2001 | Spurboard | Director | Performance Space, Wollongong |
References
edit- ^abcdAusStage."Judi Farr".
- ^ab"Judith Mary Stuart 'Judi' Farr Death Notice".Sydney Morning Herald.22 July 2023.Retrieved22 July2023.
- ^"Queen's Birthday Honours 2021: Judi Farr, Angela Bishop. | TV Tonight".14 June 2021.
- ^"Obituary: Australian actress Judi Farr shunned celebrity".
- ^"Obituary: Australian actress Judi Farr shunned celebrity".
- ^abMoran, Peter John (1988).The Acanthaster phenomenon.Townsville, Qld.: Australian Institute of Marine Science.doi:10.5962/bhl.title.60630.ISBN9780642132505.
- ^"Ms Judi Farr".It's An Honour.Retrieved13 June2021.
- ^"Obituary: Australian actress Judi Farr shunned celebrity".
- ^https://medium /the-equity-magazine/the-quiet-achiever-fcf5b21a3d47[bare URL]
- ^Australian actor Judi Farr has died
- ^"Obituary: Australian actress Judi Farr shunned celebrity".
- ^"AusStage".
- ^https://shanahan.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FARR-Judi-110418.pdf[bare URL PDF]