Gordon Chater
Gordon Chater AM | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gordon Maitland Chater 6 April 1922 |
| Died | 12 December 1999 (aged 77) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1944−1993 |
Gordon Maitland Chater AM (6 April 1922 – 12 December 1999) was a Gold Logie-award-winning English Australian comedian and actor, known for his appearance in revue, theatre, radio, television and film.
Biography
Early life
Chater was born in Bayswater, London and attended Cottesmore School as a child.[1] He attended Cambridge University to study medicine but did not finish his degree, instead taking part in many student revues.
Radio and theatre
Chater arrived in Australia following World War II. He first came to prominence in Australia as a stage and radio actor, and was a cast member of the 1963 Sydney season of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, the debut production by the Old Tote Theatre Company, the precursor to the Sydney Theatre Company.
Television roles
Chater became a national TV star when he was cast with Carol Raye and Barry Creyton in the Australian satirical television series The Mavis Bramston Show,[2] for which he won the 1966 Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television. He cemented his popularity with the title role in the popular sitcom My Name's McGooley, What's Yours?,[2] playing the elderly live-in father of a young married couple, played by John Meillon and Judi Farr. He appeared in many other television comedy series. His fellow actors included Ray Barrett, Stewart Ginn and Charles "Bud" Tingwell, among others.
Stage roles in Australia
Amongst work in many other shows, Chater appeared in:
- The Rocky Horror Show in Brisbane in 1988[3]
- The Sydney Theatre Company production of The Importance of Being Earnest as both "Lane" and "Merriman" in 1990.[3]
- Lady Bracknell's Confinement at the Playhouse, in Melbourne in 1993.[3]
Gordon Chater later worked in the United States, including appearing on Broadway.
In the 1970s Chater was particularly associated with the play The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin by Steve J. Spears, the stage role for which he became best known. The play broke new ground in Australian theatre with its shocking opening scene (in which Chater walked onstage naked) and its discussion of paedophilia.[2]
Honours and awards
- Winner of the Macquarie Award in 1952 for Comedy Performance on Radio
- Winner of the Gold Logie in 1966 for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television (The Mavis Bramston Show)
- Member of the Order of Australia (AM), 1999[4]
References
- ^ The Almost Late Gordon Chater, Bantam Books, 1996, ISBN 9781863597975
- ^ a b c McDonald, Philippa (13 December 1999). "7:30 Report:Gordon Chater dies aged 77". www.abc.net.au/ Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
- ^ a b c "Contributor Identifier: 225086 Contributor Name:Gordon Chater". www.ausstage.edu.au. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
- ^ It's an Honour. Retrieved 22 May 2015
External links
- Gordon Chater – Stage acting credits
- "The Dictionary of Performing Arts in Australia — Theatre . Film . Radio . Television — Volume 1" — Ann Atkinson, Linsay Knight, Margaret McPhee — Allen & Unwin Pty. Ltd., 1996
- "The Australian Film and Television Companion" — compiled by Tony Harrison — Simon & Schuster Australia, 1994
- "The Importance of Being Earnest" — (information and photo): [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]
- Gordon Chater at IMDb
- Gordon Chater at the Internet Broadway Database
- Gordon Chater Dies aged 77 – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- My Name's McGooley – What's Yours? – Classic Australian Television
- The Mavis Bramston Show[permanent dead link] – Nostalgia Central
- The History of The Mavis Bramston Show
- Tributes 1999 – Gordon Chater – Mark Juddery Tributes
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
- Use dmy dates from June 2013
- Male actors from London
- English male stage actors
- English male television actors
- Australian male stage actors
- English emigrants to Australia
- 1922 births
- 1999 deaths
- Gold Logie winners
- 20th-century Australian male actors
- Members of the Order of Australia
- 20th-century English male actors