Johnny Lockwood
Encyclopedia
Johnny Lockwood is an English, Australian-based actor and comedy performer, possibly best known for his role in the 1970s television soap opera Number 96
, playing Hungarian Jewish deli-proprieter Aldo Godolfus.
as a comedian.
World War II intervened and Lockwood joined the RAF in 1942 and was discharged in 1944. Lockwood returned to performing, working in vaudeville, pantomime, radio and television. In 1949 performed in the Royal Command Performance at the London Coliseum. During the performance he tripped and fell, suffering a bloody nose. His quip to the audience "Well, they told me you wanted blood tonight" was widely reported by the press.
Lockwood came to Australia in 1957 for a ten-week run with the Tivoli Theatre circuit, however after that job finished he remained in Australia for five years. Returned to the UK to play Fagin in Lionel Bart's Oliver!
at the New Theatre but once that run finished Lockwood followed his yearnings and returned permanently to Australia.
Lockwood spent a year with television series Sunnyside Up
, went to the US to perform in Las Vegas
, returned to Australia for a two-year run with classic comedy series The Mavis Bramston Show
, and then played the lead role in Canterbury Tales. The role in Number 96 followed in 1972. Lockwood was an original cast member of the series and his character – bumbling Jewish delicatessen proprietor Aldo Godolfus – was one of the show's most well-known and recognised figures. The character was killed off in a dramatic revamp of the series – the infamous bomb blast storyline – in September 1975.
During the 1980s and 1990s he made guest appearances in Australian drama series and soap operas. In 1985, Lockwood appeared in soap opera Neighbours
as Daphne Lawrence
's grandfather, Harry Henderson. He guest starred in two 1991 episodes of soap opera E Street
. During this period he also acted in feature films.
In the early 2000s Lockwood continued to make television and film appearances including roles in Moulin Rouge!
and miniseries The Potato Factory
.
Johnny Lockwood married again in 1980.
Johnny Lockwood's daughter Joanna Lockwood
is an actor who appeared briefly in Number 96 in 1977 and followed this with a long running role in police drama Cop Shop
.
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...
, playing Hungarian Jewish deli-proprieter Aldo Godolfus.
Career
Lockwood had always wanted to perform on stage. Was orphaned at age 11 and at 14 applied to a job as a dancer in a touring show. He continued to develop his talents and by 18 was given a contract by Jack HyltonJack Hylton
Jack Hylton was a British band leader and impresario.He was born John Greenhalgh Hilton in the Great Lever area of Bolton, Lancashire, the son of George Hilton, a cotton yarn twister. His father was an amateur singer at the local Labour Club and Jack learned piano to accompany him on the stage...
as a comedian.
World War II intervened and Lockwood joined the RAF in 1942 and was discharged in 1944. Lockwood returned to performing, working in vaudeville, pantomime, radio and television. In 1949 performed in the Royal Command Performance at the London Coliseum. During the performance he tripped and fell, suffering a bloody nose. His quip to the audience "Well, they told me you wanted blood tonight" was widely reported by the press.
Lockwood came to Australia in 1957 for a ten-week run with the Tivoli Theatre circuit, however after that job finished he remained in Australia for five years. Returned to the UK to play Fagin in Lionel Bart's Oliver!
Oliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
at the New Theatre but once that run finished Lockwood followed his yearnings and returned permanently to Australia.
Lockwood spent a year with television series Sunnyside Up
Sunnyside Up
Sunnyside Up was a weekly variety program produced at HSV-7 Melbourne, during the late 1950s and early 1960s.The program was hosted by Bill Collins, with comedy by Syd Heylen , Honest John Gilbert, Syd Hollister, Maurie Fields and Val Jellay...
, went to the US to perform in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, returned to Australia for a two-year run with classic comedy series The Mavis Bramston Show
The Mavis Bramston Show
The Mavis Bramston Show was a popular and award-winning Australian TV satirical sketch comedy series of the mid-1960s.-Introduction:The tremendous impact that The Mavis Bramston Show had in Australia in the mid-1960s was heightened because of its unique place in the history of the Australian TV...
, and then played the lead role in Canterbury Tales. The role in Number 96 followed in 1972. Lockwood was an original cast member of the series and his character – bumbling Jewish delicatessen proprietor Aldo Godolfus – was one of the show's most well-known and recognised figures. The character was killed off in a dramatic revamp of the series – the infamous bomb blast storyline – in September 1975.
During the 1980s and 1990s he made guest appearances in Australian drama series and soap operas. In 1985, Lockwood appeared in soap opera Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
as Daphne Lawrence
Daphne Clarke
Daphne Rose Clarke is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Elaine Smith. She made her first on-screen appearance in the serial's first episode on 18 March 1985. Daphne a stripper hired for Des Clarke's bucks party and she moved in him. She and Des fell in love...
's grandfather, Harry Henderson. He guest starred in two 1991 episodes of soap opera E Street
E Street
E Street is an Australian television soap opera created by Forrest Redlich and produced by the Ten Network from 1989 to 1993.Whereas Neighbours is set in a middle-class suburb, Home and Away in a seaside town, and Richmond Hill a semi-rural ordinary community, E Street was set in a tough inner-city...
. During this period he also acted in feature films.
In the early 2000s Lockwood continued to make television and film appearances including roles in Moulin Rouge!
Moulin Rouge!
Moulin Rouge! is a 2001 romantic jukebox musical film directed, produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. Following the Red Curtain Cinema principles, the film is based on the Orphean myth, La Traviata, and La Bohème...
and miniseries The Potato Factory
The Potato Factory
The Potato Factory is a 1995 historical-novel by Bryce Courtenay, which was made into an Australian miniseries in 2000. The book is the first in a three-part series, followed by Tommo & Hawk and Solomon's Song...
.
Personal life
Anne Lockwood, Johnny Lockwood's wife since 1947, died in Sydney in 1976. After Johnny had gone to bed one evening she died after suffering a heart attack and falling from the balcony of their high-rise apartment. Some people speculated that she had committed suicide, something Johnny angrily denied.Johnny Lockwood married again in 1980.
Johnny Lockwood's daughter Joanna Lockwood
Joanna Lockwood
Joanna Lockwood is an Australian actress who has played regular roles in various television series. After completing a brief stint in the closing episodes of soap opera Number 96 in 1977 she played the on-going lead role of police officer's wife and former stripper Valerie Johnson in police drama...
is an actor who appeared briefly in Number 96 in 1977 and followed this with a long running role in police drama Cop Shop
Cop Shop
Cop Shop was an Australian police drama television series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday operations of both the uniformed police officers and the plain-clothes detectives of the fictional Riverside Police Station....
.