Syd Heylen
| Syd Heylen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Harold Charles Sydney Heylen 25 May 1922 Renmark, South Australia |
| Died | December 4, 1996 (aged 74) |
| Other names | Sydney Heylen |
| Occupation | Television actor and comedian |
| Spouse | Patti Brittain (actress) |
| Children | Syd Heylen Jnr (Entertainer) |
Syd Heylen (25 May 1922, Renmark, South Australia – 4 December 1996) was an Australian actor, comedian, and variety performer who often performed in a traditional vaudeville type style.
He remains best known for his role as Vernon "Cookie"' Locke, a chef and barman in the Australian television series A Country Practice, which he played from 1982 until end in 1993. He was rarely seen without his trademark chef or akubura hat throughout the series run. He was written out of the series alongside other older co-star Gordon Piper (who played a mate of Cookie's) as the producers wanted to concentrate on a younger cast and updated formula. The series creator James Davern would later regret dropping "Cookie and Bob," as they were two of the show's central characters who provided many of the comedy scenes,between the more dramatic storylines.
Heylen was also well known during the 1960s as a regular performer on the HSV 7 variety show Sunnyside Up as "Sydney from Sydney". He teamed with other comics such as Honest John Gilbert presenting comedy sketches in between the musical items.
In mid 1975 he acted in soap opera The Box playing a fast-talking television sportscaster. In 1980 Heylen was a regular cast member in the short lived serial Arcade. He played Walter Blair, the owner of Aristocrat, a dry cleaning establishment in the shopping mall (Arcade) of the title.
Heylen played a minor role in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior as Curmudgeon.[1]
In the 1980s he released a number of albums containing songs such as "Who's Sorry Now" (to which the D-Generation quipped "anyone who bought the album".)
His son Syd Heylen Junior is also a well known entertainer. Syd Heylen was a patron and performer for the Variety Club, where he was awarded as The First National Treasure.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Pictures at The State Library Of Victoria
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