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Campbell Copelin (15 March 1901 – 3 August 1988) was an English actor, who moved to Australia in the 1920s and worked extensively in film, theatre, radio and television. He had a notable association with J.C. Williamson Ltd and frequently collaborated with F. W. Thring and Frank Harvey.^[1] He often played villains.

In the early 1930s he appeared in a number of Australian talking films, mostly as a villain but occasionally as a heroic lead.

He returned to England and worked for some time in Hollywood. He went back to Australia in the 1950s and appeared in some early television plays.

Biography

Copelin served in the Army, then emigrated to Australia. He worked on the land, then as a commercial artist before deciding to become an actor.^[2]^[3]

Copelin fell ill shortly before making Lovers and Luggers.^[4]

He moved to London in the late 1930s. After the war he returned to Australia, and worked regularly on stage and appeared in many early Australian television plays.

Copelin died in Melbourne.

Criminal history

In 1928 he was fined for using indecent language and resisting arrest.^[5]

On the night of 18 March 1931 Copelin took a £1,000 plane out for a joyride in Melbourne and crashed it into Sandridge golf links, causing him to spend several months in hospital.^[6] "I had never seen Melbourne by night," he said, "so I decided to have a look. It was wonderful and I'm going to have another look as soon as I can, but next time I'll do it In a safer way."^[7]

He was charged with stealing the plane^[8] but these charges were later withdrawn on the basis that he had suffered enough through his injuries.^[9] Years later he said he was injured in a general plane accident.^[10]

In 1933 Copelin was arrested and fined for stealing a police bicycle.^[11]

Selected filmography

Film

Two Minutes Silence (1933)
Clara Gibbings (1934) - Errol Kerr
The Streets of London (1934)
A Ticket in Tatts (1934) - Harvey Walls
Sheepmates (1934, abandoned)
It Isn't Done (1937) - Ronald Dudley
Tall Timbers (1937) - Charles Blake
Lovers and Luggers (1938) - Archie
Typhoon Treasure (1938) - Alan Richards
Brighton Rock (1948) - Police Inspector
Kiss the Blood Off My Hands (1948) - Publican
Hills of Home (1948) - Minor Role (uncredited)
Command Decision (1948) - Correspondent (uncredited)
Sword in the Desert (1949) - Sgt. Chapel
Challenge to Lassie (1949) - Thief (uncredited)
Twelve O'Clock High (1949) - Mr. Britton (uncredited)
Three Came Home (1950) - English Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Please Believe Me (1950) - English Bobby (uncredited)
Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950) - Officer (uncredited)
Portrait of Clare (1950) - Inspector Cunningham
Midnight Episode (1950) - The General
The Brown Man's Servant (Nosey Wheeler) (45 minutes short film, with Victor Platt

TV credits

The Brown's Man Servant (1953)
Saturday Special (1951–53) (Mr. Pike), in 2, of 35, episodes.
Killer in Close Up - "The Wallace Case" (1957)
A Dead Secret (1959, TV Movie)
Ned Kelly (1959)
Heart Attack (1960)
Night of the Ding Dong (1959, TV Movie) - Mr. Kelp
The Big Deal (1961)
The Lady from the Sea (1961)
Call Me a Liar (1961)
House of Mancello (1962)
Consider Your Verdict (1962) - guest star
Marriage Lines (1962, TV Movie)^[12]
Lola Montez (1962, TV Movie)
The Prisoner (1963)
The Angry General (1964, TV Movie)
A Man for all Seasons (1964, TV movie)
Australian Playhouse - "VIPP" (1966)
Ryan (1974)
Matlock Police - various guest roles
Homicide (1973–75) - various guest parts
The Sullivans (1978) - 4 episodes

Select theatre credits

The Unfair Sex (1927)
Eliza Comes to Stay (1927)
Outward Bound (1927)
The Last Warning (1927)
The Alarm Clock (1927)
Scandal (1928)
Sport of Kings (1928)
Bird in Hand (1929)
This Thing Called Love (1930)
In Port (1930)
Eliza Comes to Stay (1930)
On the Spot (1931)
The Calendar (1931)
A Warm Corner (1931)
As Husbands Go (1931)^[13]
The Streets of London (1933)
Rope (1933)
Collits' Inn (1933)
Mother of Pearl (1934)
The Shining Hour (1935)^[14]
Night Must Fall (1936)
Lovers Leap (1936)
Grand National Night (1946)
Frenchie and the Lily (1952)^[15]
Murder Story (1954)^[16]
Nude with Violin (1958)
Who'll Come A-Waltzing (1962–63) - for JC Williamsons
Never Too Late (1964)
Hostile Witness (1967) - with Ray Milland

References

^ "WHO ARE OUR POTENTIAL STARS?". Table Talk. Melbourne. 31 August 1933. p. 17. Retrieved 16 March 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "A "Quiet Evening" with CAMPBELL COPELIN". Table Talk. Victoria, Australia. 27 September 1934. p. 19. Retrieved 15 April 2020 – via Trove.
^ Australasian Radio Relay League. (4 June 1937), "Campbell Copelin He Once Taught in a Lunatic Asylum", v. ; 24-38 cm., The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal, 29 (23), Sydney: Wireless Press, nla.obj-718634764, retrieved 27 July 2023 – via Trove
^ "ACTOR IS DOGGED BY ILL-LUCK". The Labor Daily. No. 4213. New South Wales, Australia. 7 June 1937. p. 5. Retrieved 27 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "ACTOR FINED". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 25 April 1928. p. 7. Retrieved 15 April 2020 – via Trove.
^ 'Actor Crashes in Plane; Seriously Hurt', The Mail (Adelaide) Saturday 19 March 1932 p2
^ "SEE CITY". The Sun. New South Wales, Australia. 26 March 1932. p. 7 (LAST RACE RESULTS). Retrieved 15 April 2020 – via Trove.
^ CAMPBELL COPELIN IN COURT. The Argus (Melbourne), Thursday 16 June 1932, p5.
^ "CAMPBELL COPELIN IN COURT". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 16 June 1932. p. 5. Retrieved 15 April 2020 – via Trove.
^ "ACTOR IS DOGGED BY ILL-LUCK". The Labor Daily. New South Wales, Australia. 7 June 1937. p. 5. Retrieved 15 April 2020 – via Trove.
^ "MOMENTS WHEN AN ACTOR FEELS THE URGE". Smith's Weekly. New South Wales, Australia. 2 December 1933. p. 10. Retrieved 15 April 2020 – via Trove.
^ Vagg, Stephen (29 November 2020). "Forgotten Australian TV plays: Marriage Lines". Filmink. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
^ "Untitled". Smith's Weekly. New South Wales, Australia. 7 November 1931. p. 8. Retrieved 15 April 2020 – via Trove.
^ "THE SHINING HOUR". The Age. Victoria, Australia. 9 September 1935. p. 10. Retrieved 15 April 2020 – via Trove.
^ "London sees Melbourne woman's play". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 9 January 1952. p. 5. Retrieved 15 April 2020 – via Trove.
^ "LONDON'S NEW PLAY --". The Age. Victoria, Australia. 21 August 1954. p. 17. Retrieved 15 April 2020 – via Trove.