Joe Hasham
Encyclopedia
Joseph Christopher "Joe" Hasham OAM (born 4 September 1948 Tripoli
, Lebanon
) is a Lebanese Australian
actor who became famous in Australia
in the 1970s through his long running role of dependable and decent gay lawyer Don Finlayson in soap opera
Number 96
.
in 1968 and subsequently made several appearances in television series produced by Crawford Productions
.
), although the shot was later cut from the film. Hasham continued to play the role until Number 96 ended in 1977.
in the late 1970s. Through the early 1980s he presented a series of television advertisements for a television rental company.
He and Merican are also responsible for the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) along with Living Arts Malaysia which aims to introduce theatre to young Malaysians. Hasham's production company JHA Productions is responsible for many of the commercials screened on Malaysian television.
In 2009, Hasham was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia
(OAM) "for service to performing arts through The Actors Studio, Malaysia, and as an actor, writer, producer and director".
were surprise guests for a Number 96
cast reunion on Australia's Where Are They Now (TV program). In a previous version of this show (late 90s?), Hasham had been flown back to Australia to surprise John Orcsik
.
Tripoli, Lebanon
Tripoli is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in Lebanon. Situated 85 km north of the capital Beirut, Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Geographically located on the east of the Mediterranean, the city's history dates back...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
) is a Lebanese Australian
Lebanese Australian
A Lebanese Australian is an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Lebanese descent. The community is multi-religious, and includes a Christian, mostly Maronite Catholic, majority, as well as a large Muslim minority of both the Shia and Sunni branches of Islam, and various other Christian and...
actor who became famous in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in the 1970s through his long running role of dependable and decent gay lawyer Don Finlayson in soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
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...
.
Early life and education
Hasham graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic ArtNational Institute of Dramatic Art
The National Institute of Dramatic Art is an Australian national training institute for students of theatre, film, and television, based in the Sydney suburb of Kensington. It is supported by the federal Office for the Arts, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. NIDA is located adjacent...
in 1968 and subsequently made several appearances in television series produced by Crawford Productions
Crawford Productions
Crawford Productions is an Australian television production company founded by Hector Crawford; the present incarnation of the company, Crawfords Australia, is now a subsidiary of the WIN television corporation.-History:...
.
Number 96
When Number 96 began in 1972 it was an instant hit and original cast member Hasham became one of the most popular cast members, regarded as a sex symbol by many female fans. He reprised the role in the feature film version of the serial in which his character engaged in a gay kiss with the closeted Simon Carr (John OrcsikJohn Orcsik
John Orcsik is an Australian actor of Hungarian descent.In the early 1970s he appeared in soap opera Bellbird, and played various guest roles in the Crawford Productions police dramas Homicide, Division 4 and Matlock Police...
), although the shot was later cut from the film. Hasham continued to play the role until Number 96 ended in 1977.
Pop-music album
During the run of the series Hasham released a pop-music album, although he was not able to successfully launch a career as a singer. Later in the show's run a spin-off series focusing on Hasham's character switching to a career as a private investigator also failed to pan-out, and Hasham continued his career with acting roles where he was part of a television series ensemble, and in advertisements. Probably his most widely seen post-96 acting performance in Australia was an on-going role as villain, Ken Hansen, in soap opera The Young DoctorsThe Young Doctors
The Young Doctors is an Australian early evening soap opera. The series was set in the fictional Albert Memorial hospital and primarily concerned with romances between younger members of the hospital staff, screened on the Nine Network from Monday, 8 November 1976 until Wednesday, 30 March...
in the late 1970s. Through the early 1980s he presented a series of television advertisements for a television rental company.
Emigration to Malaysia
He emigrated to Malaysia in 1984. There, together with his actor wife Faridah Merican he set up The Actors Studio actor training and theatre company in 1989. He is currently the Artistic Director of the company.He and Merican are also responsible for the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) along with Living Arts Malaysia which aims to introduce theatre to young Malaysians. Hasham's production company JHA Productions is responsible for many of the commercials screened on Malaysian television.
In 2009, Hasham was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The 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"...
(OAM) "for service to performing arts through The Actors Studio, Malaysia, and as an actor, writer, producer and director".
'Number 96' cast reunion
In 2007, he and Chard HaywardChard Hayward
Chard Hayward is a former Australian and later US-based television actor. In Australia, he was best known for his long-running role of Dudley Butterfield in the 1970s television soap opera Number 96....
were surprise guests for a 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...
cast reunion on Australia's Where Are They Now (TV program). In a previous version of this show (late 90s?), Hasham had been flown back to Australia to surprise John Orcsik
John Orcsik
John Orcsik is an Australian actor of Hungarian descent.In the early 1970s he appeared in soap opera Bellbird, and played various guest roles in the Crawford Productions police dramas Homicide, Division 4 and Matlock Police...
.