Graeme Blundell
Encyclopedia
Graeme Blundell is an Australian actor, director, producer, writer and biographer.
Blundell was born in Melbourne; he grew up in Clifton Hill
, a suburb of Melbourne. He was educated at University High School
and the University of Melbourne
.
In his early years, Blundell worked at La Mama Theatre
, the Pram Factory, Hoopla, the Playbox Theatre Company, and the Melbourne Theatre Company
. He directed and acted in the premiere performance of Jack Hibberd
's play Dimboola
at La Mama. His first television appearance was as an uncredited extra in the debut episode of Homicide (1964). He is best known as playing the title character in the 70's sex-comedy film Alvin Purple
.
He has written extensively in The Australian
newspaper as well as writing biographies of Brett Whiteley
(Brett Whiteley: An Unauthorised Life, 1996, with his then wife Margot Hilton
), and Graham Kennedy
(King, 2003).
Blundell was born in Melbourne; he grew up in Clifton Hill
Clifton Hill, Victoria
Clifton Hill is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 4 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. The border between Clifton Hill and Fitzroy North is Queens Parade and Smith Street. Merri Creek defines the eastern border of Clifton Hill. Its Local Government Area is...
, a suburb of Melbourne. He was educated at University High School
University High School, Melbourne
The University High School is a public, co-educational high school, located in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville.-History:...
and the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
.
In his early years, Blundell worked at La Mama Theatre
La Mama Theatre (Melbourne)
The La Mama Theatre is a theatrical venue located at 205 Faraday St, Carlton, Victoria. It opened in a former factory building on 30 July 1967 and still operates today under the direction of Liz Jones....
, the Pram Factory, Hoopla, the Playbox Theatre Company, and the Melbourne Theatre Company
Melbourne Theatre Company
The Melbourne Theatre Company is a theatre company based in Melbourne. Founded in 1953, it is the oldest professional theatre company in Australia, and has its own theatre, The MTC Theatre – which houses the 500-seat Sumner Theatre and the 150-seat Lawler Studio – located in Melbourne's Arts...
. He directed and acted in the premiere performance of Jack Hibberd
Jack Hibberd
Dr Jack Hibberd is an Australian playwright.-Biography:Hibberd studied medicine at the University of Melbourne, where he resided at Newman College and practised as a clinical immunologist in Melbourne from 1964 until 1973...
's play Dimboola
Dimboola (play)
Dimboola is a play by the Australian author Jack Hibberd. It premiered in 1969 at La Mama Theatre under the direction of Graeme Blundell. The whole action of the play supposedly takes place at a real wedding at which the actors represent the families of the bride and groom and the audience are...
at La Mama. His first television appearance was as an uncredited extra in the debut episode of Homicide (1964). He is best known as playing the title character in the 70's sex-comedy film Alvin Purple
Alvin Purple
Alvin Purple was a 1973 Australian comedy film starring Graeme Blundell, written by Alan Hopgood and directed by Tim Burstall.It received largely negative reviews from local film critics. Despite this it was a major hit with Australian audiences...
.
He has written extensively in The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
newspaper as well as writing biographies of Brett Whiteley
Brett Whiteley
Brett Whiteley, AO was an Australian artist. He is represented in the collections of all the large Australian galleries, and was twice winner of the Archibald Prize...
(Brett Whiteley: An Unauthorised Life, 1996, with his then wife Margot Hilton
Margot Hilton
Margot Hilton is an Australian author.Hilton was born in London and graduated from the University of Leeds. She visited Australia in 1974 for a holiday and decided to stay, becoming an Australian citizen in 1983...
), and Graham Kennedy
Graham Kennedy
Graham Cyril Kennedy, AO was an Australian radio, television and film performer, often called Gra Gra and The King of Australian television.-Childhood:...
(King, 2003).
Filmography
- 1971 StorkStork (film)Stork is a 1971 Australian comedy film directed by Tim Burstall. Stork is based on the play 'The Coming of Stork' by David Williamson. Bruce Spence and Jacki Weaver make their feature film debuts in Stork, being honoured at the 1972 Australian Film Awards, where they shared the acting prize...
- 1973 Alvin PurpleAlvin PurpleAlvin Purple was a 1973 Australian comedy film starring Graeme Blundell, written by Alan Hopgood and directed by Tim Burstall.It received largely negative reviews from local film critics. Despite this it was a major hit with Australian audiences...
- 1974 Alvin Purple Rides AgainAlvin Purple Rides AgainAlvin Purple Rides Again is a 1974 Australian sex-comedy film sequel to Alvin Purple. It was directed by David Bilcock and Robin Copping. It was rated M unlike its predecessor which was rated R. Alvin Rides Again still features a lot of full frontal nudity.-Plot:The irresistible Alvin Purple...
- 1974 The BoxThe Box (TV series)The Box was an Australian soap opera than ran on Network Ten from February 1974 until 1977.The Box was produced by Crawford Productions who at the time was having great success producing police procedural television series in Australia...
- 1976 Don's PartyDon's PartyDon's Party is a 1971 play by David Williamson set during the 1969 Australian federal election. The film based on the play was entered into the 27th Berlin International Film Festival.-Plot:...
- 1976 Alvin Purple (TV series)Alvin Purple (TV series)Alvin Purple was an Australian television situation comedy series made by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1976.The series followed continued adventures of the title character, previously featured in successful sex comedy feature films Alvin Purple and Alvin Purple Rides Again .Graeme...
- 1979 The Odd Angry ShotThe Odd Angry ShotBased on the novel of the same name by William L. Nagle, The Odd Angry Shot is a film following the experience of Australian soldiers during the Vietnam War...
- 1984 Foreplay
- 1984 Melvin, Son of Alvin
- 1986 Australian Dream
- 1987 The Year My Voice BrokeThe Year My Voice BrokeThe Year My Voice Broke is a 1987 coming of age story by director John Duigan, starring Noah Taylor, Loene Carmen, and Ben Mendelsohn. Set in 1962 in the rural Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, it was the first in a projected trilogy of films centred around the experiences of an awkward...
- 1987 Those Dear Departed
- 1994 Gino
- 1996 Idiot Box
- 2000 Looking For AlibrandiLooking for AlibrandiLooking for Alibrandi is a 1999 Australian film written by Melina Marchetta based on the novel of the same name. The film sets in the 1990s Sydney, New South Wales and starring Australian actors, including Pia Miranda as Josephine Alibrandi, the film's main character, Anthony LaPaglia as her...
- 2002 Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
- 2005 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
- 2008 The HollowmenThe HollowmenThe Hollowmen is an Australian television comedy series set in the offices of the Central Policy Unit, a fictional political advisory unit personally set up by the Prime Minister to help him get re-elected. Their brief is long term vision; to stop worrying about tomorrow's headlines, and focus on...
- 2009 In Her Skin
Writing
- Brett WhiteleyBrett WhiteleyBrett Whiteley, AO was an Australian artist. He is represented in the collections of all the large Australian galleries, and was twice winner of the Archibald Prize...
: An Unauthorised Life, with Margot HiltonMargot HiltonMargot Hilton is an Australian author.Hilton was born in London and graduated from the University of Leeds. She visited Australia in 1974 for a holiday and decided to stay, becoming an Australian citizen in 1983...
(Macmillan, 1996) - King: The Life and Comedy of Graham KennedyGraham KennedyGraham Cyril Kennedy, AO was an Australian radio, television and film performer, often called Gra Gra and The King of Australian television.-Childhood:...
(Pan Macmillan, 2003) - Australian Theatre: Backstage with Graeme Blundell (edited) (Oxford University Press, 1997)
- The Naked Truth: A Life in Parts (Hachette Australia, 2008)