Ross Higgins
Encyclopedia
Ross Higgins is an Australian actor, best known for his role as Ted Bulpitt in the television situation comedy series Kingswood Country
.
Ross Higgins' entertainment industry career began in 1946, when he took a cadetship at Sydney's Radio 2GB at the age of 16. This led to an on-air announcing position, and hosting of breakfast, and later, evening variety shows. A trained singer, he soon began recording singles which lifted his profile around Australia. His flair for comedy came to the fore in the 1950s, when he became a cast member of the very popular "The Jack Davey Show".
He moved between commercial radio and the ABC, touring the country, hosting and singing with the ABC show band. It was during this period he performed with luminaries such as Peter Dawson, Slim Dusty and Mel Tormé. His radio career reached a peak in the mid 1950s, and when television arrived in 1956, he successfully made the transition, appearing on variety shows, hosting game shows (7 Network) and in the early '60s on "Singalong" and Bobby Limb's "Sound of Music" (9 Network).
During the 1960s, he consolidated his position as a leading voiceover artist, creating character voices for TV and radio ads and cartoons. His earliest character voice – "Louie the Fly" (an animated fly for the Mortein fly-spray commercials), is still recorded by him – most recently in 2008. It is now the longest continuously running campaign in television history, having run continuously for 50 years (1958–2008).
During the mid 1960s, Higgins worked in theatre, doing several back-to-back seasons at Sydney's Menzies Theatre Restaurant – a popular nightspot where musicals were staged under the direction of Hayes Gordon. He had an ongoing role playing the role of a priest in an early Australian soap opera Motel
in (1968), and took guest roles in various series including "Division 4" and "Skippy".
Throughout the 1970s, he and voiceover colleague Kevin Golsby dominated Australian airwaves in the voiceover field, and while enjoying this success another break-through role came in 1977, where he was a key regular performer in sketch comedy
series The Naked Vicar Show
. He played various characters in that series, which lasted two seasons. In 1980, a spin-off series based on a bombastic, Holden Kingswood
driving character he had portrayed in one sketch of The Naked Vicar Show was created, titled Kingswood Country. This series had a successful five year run, completing five-and-a-half seasons.
After the series ended he played a straight dramatic role in soap opera Richmond Hill
(1988). His character, a dour policeman, was the show's main authority figure. In 1992, he starred in the Ten Network's sitcom "Late for School" (which launched the TV careers of Matthew Newton and Stephen Curry). Higgins' most recent role was a reprise of the Ted Bullpitt character in the situation comedy Bullpitt!
in 1997, which had two seasons on the 7 Network.
The series "Kingswood Country" has more recently found new audiences via cable TV, and DVD sales continue in 2010.
Ross Higgins has used his vocal talents on thousands of projects during his 60 years in radio and television, including recording the song "Monster Mash
" for ABC For Kids Video Hits
, recording an album of himself reading the classic Australian children's story "Blinky Bill
".
Kingswood Country
Kingswood Country is an Australian sitcom that screened from 1980 to 1984 on the Seven Network. The series started on 30 January 1980 and was a spin-off from a sketch on comedy program The Naked Vicar Show that had featured Ross Higgins as a blustering bigot...
.
Ross Higgins' entertainment industry career began in 1946, when he took a cadetship at Sydney's Radio 2GB at the age of 16. This led to an on-air announcing position, and hosting of breakfast, and later, evening variety shows. A trained singer, he soon began recording singles which lifted his profile around Australia. His flair for comedy came to the fore in the 1950s, when he became a cast member of the very popular "The Jack Davey Show".
He moved between commercial radio and the ABC, touring the country, hosting and singing with the ABC show band. It was during this period he performed with luminaries such as Peter Dawson, Slim Dusty and Mel Tormé. His radio career reached a peak in the mid 1950s, and when television arrived in 1956, he successfully made the transition, appearing on variety shows, hosting game shows (7 Network) and in the early '60s on "Singalong" and Bobby Limb's "Sound of Music" (9 Network).
During the 1960s, he consolidated his position as a leading voiceover artist, creating character voices for TV and radio ads and cartoons. His earliest character voice – "Louie the Fly" (an animated fly for the Mortein fly-spray commercials), is still recorded by him – most recently in 2008. It is now the longest continuously running campaign in television history, having run continuously for 50 years (1958–2008).
During the mid 1960s, Higgins worked in theatre, doing several back-to-back seasons at Sydney's Menzies Theatre Restaurant – a popular nightspot where musicals were staged under the direction of Hayes Gordon. He had an ongoing role playing the role of a priest in an early Australian soap opera Motel
Motel (TV series)
Motel was an Australian television soap opera made by ATN-7 in 1968.The series was screened in a daytime slot and was an attempt at an Australian version of the British serial Crossroads. Motel dealt with the Gillian family, who ran the Greenfields Motel.The series had a cast of thirteen regulars...
in (1968), and took guest roles in various series including "Division 4" and "Skippy".
Throughout the 1970s, he and voiceover colleague Kevin Golsby dominated Australian airwaves in the voiceover field, and while enjoying this success another break-through role came in 1977, where he was a key regular performer in sketch comedy
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
series The Naked Vicar Show
The Naked Vicar Show
The Naked Vicar Show was a satirical Australian radio, television series. The classic Australian sitcom Kingswood Country was spawned from sketches in the series....
. He played various characters in that series, which lasted two seasons. In 1980, a spin-off series based on a bombastic, Holden Kingswood
Holden Kingswood
The Holden Kingswood is a full-size car that was manufactured by General Motors-Holden's, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors , from the beginning of the HK series in 1968 through to the conclusion of the WB series in 1984...
driving character he had portrayed in one sketch of The Naked Vicar Show was created, titled Kingswood Country. This series had a successful five year run, completing five-and-a-half seasons.
After the series ended he played a straight dramatic role in soap opera Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill (TV series)
Richmond Hill was an Australian television soap opera made in 1988 by the Reg Grundy Organisation for the Ten Network. It was devised by Reg Watson who also created Neighbours...
(1988). His character, a dour policeman, was the show's main authority figure. In 1992, he starred in the Ten Network's sitcom "Late for School" (which launched the TV careers of Matthew Newton and Stephen Curry). Higgins' most recent role was a reprise of the Ted Bullpitt character in the situation comedy Bullpitt!
Bullpitt!
Bullpitt! was a short-lived Australian comedy appearing on the Seven Network. It was produced by RS Productions.Screening from 1997 to 1998, the show saw the return of the character Ted Bullpitt who appeared on the 1980-1984 sitcom Kingswood Country. Higgins was the only regular cast member from...
in 1997, which had two seasons on the 7 Network.
The series "Kingswood Country" has more recently found new audiences via cable TV, and DVD sales continue in 2010.
Ross Higgins has used his vocal talents on thousands of projects during his 60 years in radio and television, including recording the song "Monster Mash
Monster Mash
"Monster Mash" is a 1962 novelty song and the best-known song by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. The song was released as a single on Gary S. Paxton's Garpax Records label in August 1962 along with a full-length LP called The Original Monster Mash, which contained several other monster-themed tunes...
" for ABC For Kids Video Hits
ABC for Kids Video Hits
ABC For Kids: Video Hits is an Australian video released in 1991 by ABC Video and Video Selection Australia. It includes video clips of songs sung by various artists such as The Wiggles, Peter Combe, Don Spencer, Ross Higgins, Robyn Archer, Glenn Butcher, Franciscus Henri, Joe Dolce and the others...
, recording an album of himself reading the classic Australian children's story "Blinky Bill
Blinky Bill
Blinky Bill is an anthropomorphic koala and children's fictional character created by New Zealand-born Australian author Dorothy Wall. The character of Blinky first appeared in Brooke Nicholls' 1933 book, Jacko - the Broadcasting Kookaburra, which was illustrated by Wall...
".