John Waters (actor)
Encyclopedia
John Russell Waters is a film, theatre and television actor and musician best known in Australia, to where he moved in 1968. He has been in the industry for over 40 years, and was part of the Australian children's series, Play School
, for almost 20 years.
in 1969, then Judas
in Godspell
. Among his most famous roles are Sergeant Robert McKellar in the 1976 television series Rush (famously revoiced and parodied by The D-Generation
as The Olden Days on their comedy programme The Late Show
), Capt. Alfred Taylor in the 1980 film version of Breaker Morant
, and Pontius Pilate
in the Australian concert production of Jesus Christ Superstar
. Many Australians still remember him best from his nearly 20-year stint on the Australian children's series Play School
(1972–1991).
Waters also appeared in the 1983 Australian miniseries All the Rivers Run
as Brenton Edwards.
He was in the original Australian production of They're Playing Our Song, which opened on 23 August 1980 at the Theatre Royal in Sydney. It starred Waters and Jacki Weaver, with Rhonda Burchmore as one of the "Inner Voices". An Australian cast recording of the show was later released by Festival Records.
In 1989, Waters won the AFI Award for Best Actor for his role as Garfield the Cat in the Frank Howson
-written film Boulevard of Broken Dreams.
Waters is also an accomplished musician, and has toured for many years with his one man show Looking Through a Glass Onion, a tribute to John Lennon
featuring numerous examples of Lennon's music, words and images.
Waters also appeared on stage in a production of The Sound of Music
, in which he played the part of Captain von Trapp, alongside Lisa McCune
as Maria.
During his tenure with Play School, he narrated various children's video trailers for ABC-TV
.
He played Perry Luscombe in Fireflies
, which lasted for only one season on ABC-TV
in 2004.
He has starred in advertisements for Bird's Eye frozen food products, and also joined the cast of All Saints
in June 2006 as Mike Vlasek, the new head of surgery. He remained with the show until its cancellation in late 2009.
In 2008, he played The Narrator in Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show
at Star City Casino
, Sydney.
Waters has toured around Australia in a critically acclaimed role alongside Brett Tucker in The Woman In Black.
He currently appears on the Logie-award winning series, Offspring
.
, and in 1988, won the Best Lead Actor gong at the AFI Awards
for his role in the film Boulevard of Broken Dreams
.
He has been nominated for several other awards too, including Best Lead Actor (in 1978 for Weekend of Shadows) and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama (in 2006 for All Saints
) at the AFI Awards
, and for Most Popular Actor in a Telemovie or Mini-Series (in 1992 for Which Way Home
) at the Logie Awards.
Play School (Australian TV series)
Play School is an Australian educational television show for children produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It is the longest-running children's show in Australia, and the second longest running childrens show in the world. An estimated 80% of pre-school children under six watch the...
, for almost 20 years.
Career
His first big break was in musicals, playing Claude in a Sydney production of HairHair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
in 1969, then Judas
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus to the hands of the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver.-Etymology:...
in Godspell
Godspell
Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...
. Among his most famous roles are Sergeant Robert McKellar in the 1976 television series Rush (famously revoiced and parodied by The D-Generation
The D-Generation
The D-Generation was a popular and influential Australian TV sketch comedy show, produced and broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for two series, between 1986 and 1987...
as The Olden Days on their comedy programme The Late Show
The Late Show (Australian TV series)
The Late Show was a popular Australian comedy show, which ran for two seasons on ABC from 18 July 1992 to 30 October 1993.-Cast:The Late Show has its roots in the 1980s comedy group, The D-Generation...
), Capt. Alfred Taylor in the 1980 film version of Breaker Morant
Breaker Morant (film)
Breaker Morant is a 1980 Australian film about the court martial of Breaker Morant, directed by Bruce Beresford and starring British actor Edward Woodward as Harry "Breaker" Morant...
, and Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilatus , known in the English-speaking world as Pontius Pilate , was the fifth Prefect of the Roman province of Judaea, from AD 26–36. He is best known as the judge at Jesus' trial and the man who authorized the crucifixion of Jesus...
in the Australian concert production of Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
. Many Australians still remember him best from his nearly 20-year stint on the Australian children's series Play School
Play School (Australian TV series)
Play School is an Australian educational television show for children produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It is the longest-running children's show in Australia, and the second longest running childrens show in the world. An estimated 80% of pre-school children under six watch the...
(1972–1991).
Waters also appeared in the 1983 Australian miniseries All the Rivers Run
All the Rivers Run
All The Rivers Run is an Australian television miniseries from 1983 and 1989, starring Sigrid Thornton and John Waters. The miniseries is based on the Australian historical novel by Nancy Cato, first published in 1958. The film is marketed with the tagline A sweeping saga of one woman's struggle...
as Brenton Edwards.
He was in the original Australian production of They're Playing Our Song, which opened on 23 August 1980 at the Theatre Royal in Sydney. It starred Waters and Jacki Weaver, with Rhonda Burchmore as one of the "Inner Voices". An Australian cast recording of the show was later released by Festival Records.
In 1989, Waters won the AFI Award for Best Actor for his role as Garfield the Cat in the Frank Howson
Frank Howson
Frank Howson has had a career in entertainment. He directed Flynn on the early life of Errol Flynn and Hunting...
-written film Boulevard of Broken Dreams.
Waters is also an accomplished musician, and has toured for many years with his one man show Looking Through a Glass Onion, a tribute to John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
featuring numerous examples of Lennon's music, words and images.
Waters also appeared on stage in a production of The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
, in which he played the part of Captain von Trapp, alongside Lisa McCune
Lisa McCune
Lisa McCune , is a four-time Gold Logie Award winning Australian actress, best known for her role as Senior Constable Maggie Doyle in Blue Heelers, and as Lt...
as Maria.
During his tenure with Play School, he narrated various children's video trailers for ABC-TV
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
.
He played Perry Luscombe in Fireflies
Fireflies (TV series)
Fireflies is an Australian television show which aired on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Australia and RTÉ One in Ireland. It debuted on 7 February 2004 and screened as 22 episodes. The series was set in the fictional country town of Lost River, population 487...
, which lasted for only one season on ABC-TV
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
in 2004.
He has starred in advertisements for Bird's Eye frozen food products, and also joined the cast of All Saints
All Saints (TV series)
All Saints is an Australian medical drama which first screened on the Seven Network. The series debuted on 24 February 1998 and concluded its run on 27 October 2009...
in June 2006 as Mike Vlasek, the new head of surgery. He remained with the show until its cancellation in late 2009.
In 2008, he played The Narrator in Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Show is a long-running British horror comedy stage musical, which opened in London on 19 June 1973. It was written by Richard O'Brien, produced and directed by Jim Sharman. It came eighth in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the "Nation's Number One Essential Musicals"...
at Star City Casino
Star City Casino
The Star Sydney Casino & Hotel in Pyrmont, Sydney, is the second largest casino in Australia after rival Melbourne's Crown Casino. Overlooking Darling Harbour, The Star Sydney Casino features two gaming floors, eight bars, seven restaurants, 351 hotel rooms and 130 serviced and privately owned...
, Sydney.
Waters has toured around Australia in a critically acclaimed role alongside Brett Tucker in The Woman In Black.
He currently appears on the Logie-award winning series, Offspring
Offspring (TV series)
Offspring is an Australian television comedy-drama series which premiered on Network Ten in Australia on 15 August 2010. Offspring is centred around 30-something obstetrician Nina Proudman and her family, as they navigate the chaos of modern life...
.
Awards
In 1975, Waters won the Best New Talent award at the Logie Awards for his role in 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....
, and in 1988, won the Best Lead Actor gong at the AFI Awards
AFI Awards
AFI Awards may refer to:* The American Film Institute Awards* The Australian Film Institute Awards...
for his role in the film Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Generally, "The Boulevard of Broken Dreams" refers to Sunset Boulevard, due to its historically being both the primary location for live entertainment in the Los Angeles, California metropolitan region and a red-light district ."Boulevard of Broken Dreams" may also refer to:-Music:* "Boulevard of...
.
He has been nominated for several other awards too, including Best Lead Actor (in 1978 for Weekend of Shadows) and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama (in 2006 for All Saints
All Saints (TV series)
All Saints is an Australian medical drama which first screened on the Seven Network. The series debuted on 24 February 1998 and concluded its run on 27 October 2009...
) at the AFI Awards
AFI Awards
AFI Awards may refer to:* The American Film Institute Awards* The Australian Film Institute Awards...
, and for Most Popular Actor in a Telemovie or Mini-Series (in 1992 for Which Way Home
Which Way Home
Which Way Home is a 2009 documentary film directed by Rebecca Cammisa. The film follows several children who are attempting to get from Mexico to the United States. Cammisa received a Fulbright Scholar Grant to make the documentary in 2006. The film premiered on HBO on August 24, 2009.-External...
) at the Logie Awards.
Selected filmography
- Eliza FraserEliza Fraser (film)Eliza Fraser is a 1976 Australian bawdy adventure drama film, directed by Tim Burstall and starring Susannah York, Trevor Howard, Noel Ferrier and John Castle. The screenplay was written by David Williamson....
(1976) - Breaker MorantBreaker Morant (film)Breaker Morant is a 1980 Australian film about the court martial of Breaker Morant, directed by Bruce Beresford and starring British actor Edward Woodward as Harry "Breaker" Morant...
(1980)