Henri Szeps
Encyclopedia
Henri Szeps OAM is an Australian actor best known for his role as Robert Beare in the ABC
situation comedy series Mother and Son
.
, Switzerland, in a World War II refugee camp. He grew up in foster families in Switzerland, in French orphanages, and in Paris, and migrated to Australia when he was 8 years old. He gained degrees in Science and Electrical Engineering at the University of Sydney
. During this time he studied acting at the Ensemble Theatre
.
which he played for 21 months, in Sydney and all major Australian cities. He also made frequent television guest appearances in Homicide, Division 4
, Woobinda, Skippy
, etc. In 1971 he went to the United Kingdom where he worked on various stage productions, such as I, Claudius
for Tony Richardson
, and with the Prospect Theatre Company starring Derek Jacobi
, touring around the Mediterranean and through Russia in 1973–74. He also made guest appearances on television: Colditz
, The Strauss Family
. In 1974 he returned to Australia and has since appeared in a great number of theatre productions at the Ensemble Theatre
, the Nimrod Theatre Company
and the Sydney Theatre Company
. Productions include The Good Doctor, Glengarry Glen Ross; four premieres of David Williamson
's plays: Travelling North
, Dead White Males, Heretic.
Szeps won a Helpmann Award for his performance of Herr Schultz in Sam Mendes's Australian re-production of Cabaret
and a Norman Kessell Award for his autobiographical one-man show, I'm Not a Dentist. He has appeared in 4 other one-man shows: The Double Bass, Sky (written for him by John Misto), Why Kids and most recently Wish I'd Said That at the Ensemble Theatre. Four of these have had extensive national tours and the last two were also self-written.
Henri Szeps has appeared in numerous television productions, with continuing roles in Number 96
, City West (SBS), Ride on Stranger (ABC), Daily at Dawn
(Ch 7), and Palace of Dreams (ABC TV), for which he won a Penguin Award – best actor in a Mini Series. Films include Travelling North
, Best of Friends
, Run Rebecca, Run (written for him and Simone Buchanan) and which won the Ruby Slipper for best children's film (Los Angeles) and Warming Up
(also written for him, and Barbara Stephens).
Henri Szeps is however best known in Australia for his performance as Robert Beare, the awful brother, the dentist, in Mother and Son
where he starred alongside Ruth Cracknell
(Maggie Beare) and Garry McDonald
(Arthur Beare). It was in production on and off from 1983 to 1993.
As well his three one-man shows, Szeps has written a book on acting called All in Good Timing (Currency Press
).
and has two children named Amos and Josh (who goes by the name Josh Zepps
, and has a TV career in his own right in Australia and the US). In the Mother and Son episode The Money from series 2, Amos played a cameo role as a patient named Sean. He is now an organisational psychologist.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
situation comedy series Mother and Son
Mother and Son
Mother and Son is a Logie Award-winning Australian television sitcom produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 16 January 1984 until 21 March 1994. The show stars Ruth Cracknell, Garry McDonald, Henri Szeps and Judy Morris...
.
Early life
Szeps was born in LausanneLausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
, Switzerland, in a World War II refugee camp. He grew up in foster families in Switzerland, in French orphanages, and in Paris, and migrated to Australia when he was 8 years old. He gained degrees in Science and Electrical Engineering at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. During this time he studied acting at the Ensemble Theatre
Ensemble Theatre
The Ensemble Theatre is an Australian theatre company, situated in Kirribilli, New South Wales. It is promoted as Australia's longest continuously running professional theatre group, established in 1958.- References :...
.
Acting career
His acting career began in the late 1960s and culminated in his performance of Harold in The Boys in the BandThe Boys in the Band
The Boys in the Band is a 1970 American drama film directed by William Friedkin. The screenplay by Mart Crowley is based on his Off Broadway play of the same title, Crowley penned a sequel to the play years later entitled The Men From The Boys...
which he played for 21 months, in Sydney and all major Australian cities. He also made frequent television guest appearances in Homicide, Division 4
Division 4
Division 4 was an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the Nine Network between 1969 and 1975 for 300 episodes....
, Woobinda, Skippy
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo is an Australian television series for children created by John McCallum, produced from 1966–1968, telling the adventures of a young boy and his intelligent pet kangaroo, in the Waratah National Park in Duffys Forest, near Sydney, New South Wales.Ninety-one 30-minute...
, etc. In 1971 he went to the United Kingdom where he worked on various stage productions, such as I, Claudius
I, Claudius
I, Claudius is a novel by English writer Robert Graves, written in the form of an autobiography of the Roman Emperor Claudius. As such, it includes history of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty and Roman Empire, from Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BC to Caligula's assassination in AD 41...
for Tony Richardson
Tony Richardson
Cecil Antonio "Tony" Richardson was an English theatre and film director and producer.-Early life:Richardson was born in Shipley, Yorkshire in 1928, the son of Elsie Evans and Clarence Albert Richardson, a chemist...
, and with the Prospect Theatre Company starring Derek Jacobi
Derek Jacobi
Sir Derek George Jacobi, CBE is an English actor and film director.A "forceful, commanding stage presence", Jacobi has enjoyed a highly successful stage career, appearing in such stage productions as Hamlet, Uncle Vanya, and Oedipus the King. He received a Tony Award for his performance in...
, touring around the Mediterranean and through Russia in 1973–74. He also made guest appearances on television: Colditz
Colditz
Colditz is a town in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, near Leipzig, located on the banks of the river Mulde. The town has a population of 5,188 ....
, The Strauss Family
The Strauss Family
The Strauss Family is a 1972 Associated Television series, made in England, of eight episodes, about the family of composers of that name, including Johann Strauss I and his sons Johann Strauss II, Eduard Strauss and Josef Strauss....
. In 1974 he returned to Australia and has since appeared in a great number of theatre productions at the Ensemble Theatre
Ensemble Theatre
The Ensemble Theatre is an Australian theatre company, situated in Kirribilli, New South Wales. It is promoted as Australia's longest continuously running professional theatre group, established in 1958.- References :...
, the Nimrod Theatre Company
Nimrod Theatre Company
The Nimrod Theatre Company, in Nimrod Street, Kings Cross, Sydney, Australia, was founded by in 1970 by John Bell, Richard Wherrett and Ken Horler, and gained a reputation for producing more "good new Australian drama" from 1970 to 1985 than any other Australian theatre company...
and the Sydney Theatre Company
Sydney Theatre Company
The Sydney Theatre Company is one of Australia's best-known theatre companies operating from The Wharf Theatre near The Rocks area of Sydney, as well as the Sydney Theatre and the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre....
. Productions include The Good Doctor, Glengarry Glen Ross; four premieres of David Williamson
David Williamson
David Keith Williamson AO is one of Australia's best-known playwrights. He has also written screenplays and teleplays.-Biography:...
's plays: Travelling North
Travelling North
Travelling North is a 1987 film directed by Carl Schultz.An aged couple decide to move from Melbourne to Queensland.-Play:The David Williamson play Travelling North premiered in 1979, the year that Williamson moved from Melbourne to Sydney...
, Dead White Males, Heretic.
Szeps won a Helpmann Award for his performance of Herr Schultz in Sam Mendes's Australian re-production of Cabaret
Cabaret (musical)
Cabaret is a musical based on a book written by Christopher Isherwood, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The 1966 Broadway production became a hit and spawned a 1972 film as well as numerous subsequent productions....
and a Norman Kessell Award for his autobiographical one-man show, I'm Not a Dentist. He has appeared in 4 other one-man shows: The Double Bass, Sky (written for him by John Misto), Why Kids and most recently Wish I'd Said That at the Ensemble Theatre. Four of these have had extensive national tours and the last two were also self-written.
Henri Szeps has appeared in numerous television productions, with continuing roles in Number 96
Number 96 (TV series)
Number 96 was a popular Australian soap opera set in a Sydney apartment block. Don Cash and Bill Harmon produced the series for Network Ten, which requested a Coronation Street-type serial, and specifically one that explored adult subjects...
, City West (SBS), Ride on Stranger (ABC), Daily at Dawn
Daily at Dawn
Daily at Dawn was an Australian sitcom that screened in 1981 on the Seven Network. The series was written and produced by Gary Reilly and Tony Sattler, the team behind other popular Australian comedy series such as Kingswood Country, Hey Dad..! and The Naked Vicar Show.The series was set in the...
(Ch 7), and Palace of Dreams (ABC TV), for which he won a Penguin Award – best actor in a Mini Series. Films include Travelling North
Travelling North
Travelling North is a 1987 film directed by Carl Schultz.An aged couple decide to move from Melbourne to Queensland.-Play:The David Williamson play Travelling North premiered in 1979, the year that Williamson moved from Melbourne to Sydney...
, Best of Friends
Best of Friends
-Tasks and Treats:In the show, five friends with a strong friendship must complete a series of three unpleasant tasks in order to win a final treat The tasks include mucking out pigs, cleaning bins, picking up ice with the bare feet, getting your feet tickled without laughing or smiling and so on,...
, Run Rebecca, Run (written for him and Simone Buchanan) and which won the Ruby Slipper for best children's film (Los Angeles) and Warming Up
Warming up
A warm-up is usually performed before participating in technical sports or exercising. A warm-up generally consists of a gradual increase in intensity in physical activity , a joint mobility exercise, stretching and a sport related activity. For example, before running or playing an intense sport...
(also written for him, and Barbara Stephens).
Henri Szeps is however best known in Australia for his performance as Robert Beare, the awful brother, the dentist, in Mother and Son
Mother and Son
Mother and Son is a Logie Award-winning Australian television sitcom produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 16 January 1984 until 21 March 1994. The show stars Ruth Cracknell, Garry McDonald, Henri Szeps and Judy Morris...
where he starred alongside Ruth Cracknell
Ruth Cracknell
Ruth Cracknell AM was an Australian theatre and television character actress who appeared in many comedy roles. She was known variously as "Crackers", "Dame Crackers" and "Dame Ruth" throughout a career spanning 56 years....
(Maggie Beare) and Garry McDonald
Garry McDonald
Garry George McDonald, AO is an Australian stage and screen actor.-Early life and career:McDonald was born in Sydney and was educated at Cranbrook School and National Institute of Dramatic Art....
(Arthur Beare). It was in production on and off from 1983 to 1993.
As well his three one-man shows, Szeps has written a book on acting called All in Good Timing (Currency Press
Currency Press
Currency Press is Australia's only specialist performing arts publisher and its oldest independent publisher still active. Their list includes plays and screenplays, professional handbooks, biographies, cultural histories, critical studies and reference works....
).
Personal life
He is married to actress Mary Ann SeverneMary Ann Severne
Mary Ann Severne is an actress active in Australian made films and television programs from the 1970s.She began her acting career in various theatre productions including playing Paola in a production of There's a Girl in My Soup, and she was part of a company at the Wayside Chapel, Sydney...
and has two children named Amos and Josh (who goes by the name Josh Zepps
Josh Zepps
Josh Zepps is an Australian-born media personality, political satirist, and TV show host. Zepps, the son of actor Henri Szeps, changed his last name from "Szeps" to avoid pronunciation confusion. Josh Zepps attended Fort Street High School and the University of Technology, Sydney...
, and has a TV career in his own right in Australia and the US). In the Mother and Son episode The Money from series 2, Amos played a cameo role as a patient named Sean. He is now an organisational psychologist.
Honours and awards
- 1985 Penguin Award – Performance by an Actor in a mini-series (Palace of Dreams)
- 1997 Norman Kessell Memorial Award – Outsanding Performance (I'm Not a Dentist)
- 2003 Helpmann Award – Best Supporting Male Actor in a Musical (Cabaret)
- 2001 Medal of the Order of AustraliaOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
("for service to the arts, and to the community through the Australia Day Council and the National Centre for Childhood Grief")