John Fegan (actor)
Encyclopedia
John 'Jack' Fegan was an Australian film and television actor. He appeared in many Australian films and television shows in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, including the long running series Homicide as Inspector Jack Connolly. He was born in Belfast
, Ireland.
Fegan grew up in the Falls Road area of Belfast and moved to Australia as a young man. He made his way to Sydney where he worked as a labourer, including as a habourside worker on The Hungry Mile
during the Great Depression
. He became an actor after becoming involved in the worker's theatre movement.
He joined the Australian army during World War II and served in New Guinea
.
Fegan starred as Inspector Jack Connolly, head of the squad – a seasoned policeman in the classic dry, gruff mould that remains popular in similar shows today. The name Connolly was selected to reflect the Irish influence in Australian police forces and no doubt it helped to account for Fegan's still strong Belfast
accent. The show was so popular and considered so accurate (police procedure was followed faithfully and police advisors ensured that things were done correctly) that the actors were often confused for real police officers and, at one point, Fegan was invited to a policeman's ball.
Fegan retired from Homicide in 1969.
In 2007, "Homicide" was chosen for a 50 cent stamp to celebrate 50 years of television in Australia. Fegan, as Inspector Connolly, is standing in the centre of the stamp, flanked by fellow original cast members Lex Mitchell and Terry McDermott.
, another Australian police drama. The episode was critically lauded and Fegan received a Logie Award
for 'Best Individual Acting Performance' for his efforts.
, yet another Australian police drama. It would have been a footnote in a short lived series, but for an incident on set. Two young actors were performing or rehearsing a fight scene when Frank Packer
, the owner of the Network, came in. Packer, who had been a boxer in his younger days but who at the time was in his mid-sixties, declared that they were doing it wrong and demonstrated the correct technique by putting the actor playing the police officer in a headlock. Fegan, also in his sixties, had been watching from behind the camera and suggested that since the young actor was the one who was supposed to be performing the headlock then perhaps Packer should demonstrate on him so the young actor could watch. Packer got Fegan in the same headlock but Fegan, who had also been a boxer in his younger days, Packer ended up on the ground. According to an article about the event in The Sydney Morning Herald
(no reference available) Packer's hearing aid came flying out and Fegan lashed out and crushed it with his foot. Packer insisted that Fegan be fired on the spot. Upon being advised that Fegan was performing a single-episode guest role only, Packer's response was reportedly "Well, sack him when he's finished".
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Ireland.
Fegan grew up in the Falls Road area of Belfast and moved to Australia as a young man. He made his way to Sydney where he worked as a labourer, including as a habourside worker on The Hungry Mile
The Hungry Mile
The Hungry Mile is the name harbourside workers gave to the docklands area of Darling Harbour East, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in the Great Depression...
during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. He became an actor after becoming involved in the worker's theatre movement.
He joined the Australian army during World War II and served in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
.
Homicide
Homicide was the first major television series to be produced in Australia, the domestic television market having been previously dominated by American and British imports. Homicide proved that there was a market for home-grown programming and was highly successful. For this reason, as well as for inspiring a series of popular police dramas that followed, it remains one of the most important programmes in the history of Australian television.Fegan starred as Inspector Jack Connolly, head of the squad – a seasoned policeman in the classic dry, gruff mould that remains popular in similar shows today. The name Connolly was selected to reflect the Irish influence in Australian police forces and no doubt it helped to account for Fegan's still strong Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
accent. The show was so popular and considered so accurate (police procedure was followed faithfully and police advisors ensured that things were done correctly) that the actors were often confused for real police officers and, at one point, Fegan was invited to a policeman's ball.
Fegan retired from Homicide in 1969.
In 2007, "Homicide" was chosen for a 50 cent stamp to celebrate 50 years of television in Australia. Fegan, as Inspector Connolly, is standing in the centre of the stamp, flanked by fellow original cast members Lex Mitchell and Terry McDermott.
Division 4
After leaving Homicide, John Fegan guest starred in a number of other television series. In particular, he appeared as the recently released from prison John Kelso in episode 100 of Division 4Division 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....
, another Australian police drama. The episode was critically lauded and Fegan received a Logie Award
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
for 'Best Individual Acting Performance' for his efforts.
The Link Men
In 1970 John Fegan guest starred in an episode of The Link MenThe Link Men
The Link Men was an Australian television series shown in 1970.The series was the first drama series made in-house by the Nine Network as part of an attempt to rival the cop shows produced by Crawford Productions such as Homicide and Division 4. The Link Men starred Kevin Miles, Bruce Montague and...
, yet another Australian police drama. It would have been a footnote in a short lived series, but for an incident on set. Two young actors were performing or rehearsing a fight scene when Frank Packer
Frank Packer
Sir Douglas Frank Hewson Packer, KBE , was an Australian media proprietor who controlled Australian Consolidated Press and the Nine Network.-Biography:...
, the owner of the Network, came in. Packer, who had been a boxer in his younger days but who at the time was in his mid-sixties, declared that they were doing it wrong and demonstrated the correct technique by putting the actor playing the police officer in a headlock. Fegan, also in his sixties, had been watching from behind the camera and suggested that since the young actor was the one who was supposed to be performing the headlock then perhaps Packer should demonstrate on him so the young actor could watch. Packer got Fegan in the same headlock but Fegan, who had also been a boxer in his younger days, Packer ended up on the ground. According to an article about the event in The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
(no reference available) Packer's hearing aid came flying out and Fegan lashed out and crushed it with his foot. Packer insisted that Fegan be fired on the spot. Upon being advised that Fegan was performing a single-episode guest role only, Packer's response was reportedly "Well, sack him when he's finished".