Jump to content

Roger Oakley

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 1.42.19.255 (talk) at 09:54, 5 August 2020 (add references,). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Roger Oakley
Born (1943-08-21) 21 August 1943 (age 81)
NationalityNew Zealand
Occupations
  • Actor
  • theatre director
  • voice-over
Years active1967–present
Known for

Roger Oakley (born 21 August 1943, Auckland) is a New Zealand-born Australian and former British actor and theatre director noted for his performances in television serials, mini-series, and television films. He is also active as a theatre performer and voice-over, Oakley, has been a professional working actor for over 50 years. His best known roles include original character of foster father Tom Fletcher in Home and Away between 1988-1990, (the role originally auditioned by Ray Meagher), and controversial politician Doug Rutherford in Something in the Air. Roger appeared in his only feature film role in 1977 in his native New Zealand in the movie Sleeping Dogs starring Sam Neill, but has appeared in numerous telemovies and mini-series including the 12-part serial The Damnation of Harvey McHugh[1]

Early life and careering England

Oakley was born in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand on 21 August 1943 and had a regular suburban upbringing. After leaving Auckland Grammar School, he studied languages in New Zealand, before moving to England and appearing on the stage. He emigrated to Australia in 1978, carving out a successful screen career, although he has continued to appear in stage roles, a genre he has ben a regular performer, since th late 1970s[2]

Career

Television and stage

Oakley joined the cast of the high rating period drama soap The Sullivans as Major Barrington. He also appeared in The John Sullivan Story, a spin-off from The Sullivans. He has appeared in numerous mini-series and television movies.

He is best known as an original cast member of Home and Away, playing foster father Tom Fletcher from 1988 to 1990, opposite co-star Vanessa Downing who originated the part of wife Pippa Fletcher before the role was re-cast in 1990 with Debra Lawrance, he made briefly a guest appearance in 2008.[3] His other role was as Doug Rutherford in Something in the Air in 2000.

Other TV credits include: Cop Shop, Prisoner, A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors, Good Guys Bad Guys, Blue Heelers, The Young Doctors and Neighbours. As of 2020, he remains active in the industry. He featured in the stage production of My Fair Lady His most recent theatre productions were The NightWatchman, Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker, and The Golden Dragon by contemporary German playwright Roland Schimmelpfennig. He also appeared in the television series Underbelly and Winners and Losers.

Film

Film roles include Sara Dane, Travelling North, The Far Country and The Last of the Ryan's

Filmography

Year Title Role
1978 The Sullivans Major Barrington
1977 Sleeping Dogs Assassin leader
1977 The McKenzie Affair Sidebottom
1977 Hunters Gold Cameron
1978 Against the Wind Father Dixon
1978 Cop Shop Dick Davies/Peter Miller
1979 Skyways Joe D, Angelo
1979 The John Sullivan Story Major Barrington
1982 Sons and Daughters Dr. Parker
1982 Sara Dane Major Foveaux
1982 Women of the Sun Mr. Johnson
1983 Prisoner Chris Young
1982-1984 A Country Practice Chilla Yates / Bill Young
1984 Eureka Stockade Scobie
1987 Travelling North Stan
1987 The Flying Doctors Bert Webster
1987 Ground Zero Commercial director
1988 The Far Country Immigration officer
1990 Motormouth unknown
1994 The Damnation of Harvey McHugh | Bernard
1995 Correlli Jack Glennen
1996 Shark Bay
1997 Hercules: The Legendary Journey King Xenon
1997 The Last of the Ryans Justice Starke
1997 Good Guys Bad Guys Ron "Maddog" Morello
1998 Halifax f.p. Frank Bailey
1998 State Coroner Barry Randall
1999 Duggen Brigadier Endacott
1999 Joe Wilkinson Mr. Wilkinson
2000 Blue Heelers Russ Cavell
2000-2002 Something in the Air Doug Rutherford
2006 Court of Lonely Royals
2007 Blue Heelers Sam Curtis
1988-2008 Home and Away Tom Fletcher
2008 Neighbours Jim Parker
2008 The Hollowmen
2008 Satisfaction Greg
2009 My Year Without Sex Natalie's Father
2011 Underbelly Files: The Man That Got Away customs officer
2011 Game Simon
2011 The Last Waltz Liam
2013 Winners and Losers Uncle Pat O'Keefe
2017 Utopia Chairman of Independent Board
2017 Serving Joy unknown role
2019 Glitch (TV series) Mike
  1. ^ "Australian Screen".
  2. ^ "Roger Oakley". AusStage.
  3. ^ Tom Fletcher – Home and Away Characters – Back to the Bay