Glenn Robbins

Glenn Robbins
Robbins in character as Kel Knight at Kath & Kimderella film premiere, August 2012
Born
Glenn Maxwell Robbins

(1957-12-30) 30 December 1957 (age 66)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • writer
  • actor
  • television and radio presenter
Years active1984–present
Television
SpouseSelina Robbins

Glenn Maxwell Robbins (born 30 December 1957) is an Australian comedian, writer, actor, television and radio presenter. He is best known for The Comedy Company, portraying Kel Knight in Kath & Kim and adventurer Russell Coight in All Aussie Adventures. Robbins has appeared on The Panel, Thank God You're Here and Have You Been Paying Attention?.

Early life

Robbins attended Strathmore High School[1] and graduated in 1975. He later studied drama and media at the Melbourne State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree in 1979. He first moved into performing in 1981.[2]

Career

Television

Robbins began his acting career in 1984, appearing in two episodes of Prisoner and one episode of Special Squad. In 1985 he appeared on the sketch show The Eleventh Hour. He shot to fame in 1988 when he starred in another sketch show, The Comedy Company, in which one of his characters, "Uncle Arthur", became very popular. In 1991 he joined the team of Fast Forward for two seasons. Other sketch shows in which he has appeared include Full Frontal (1993), Jimeoin (1994–95) and Something Stupid (1998).

In 1998, Robbins became a panellist on the weekly television show The Panel. This aired on Network Ten. The show lasted eight seasons, going into hiatus in 2005.

Robbins played Australian adventurer Russell Coight in All Aussie Adventures from 2001 until 2002 and again in 2018 on Network Ten, as well as the 2004 telemovie.[3][4][5]

From 2002, he played the role of Kel Knight in the television comedy series Kath & Kim. He also appeared in the Da Kath & Kim Code telemovie in 2005. The series ended in 2007.[6][7][8]

In 2006, Robbins appeared in two episodes of Network Ten's Thank God You're Here. He is executive producer of the Network 10 sketch comedy show The Ronnie Johns Half Hour.[9] In 2008, he launched a new game show on the Seven Network entitled Out of the Question.[10] In 2011 he was the guest on the fourth episode of the comedy program The Joy of Sets on the Nine Network.

From 2013, Robbins has appeared in the ABC comedy series Upper Middle Bogan as Wayne Wheeler, and has a semi-regular guest spot on Have You Been Paying Attention?.

Film

In 2001, Robbins played the role of Pete O'May in the award-winning Australian film Lantana. In 2006 he co-starred with Mick Molloy in the comedy feature BoyTown as an '80s pop-star called "Benny G.". In 2011 he appeared in the comedy Scumbus. In 2012 he reprised his role of Kel Knight in the movie Kath & Kimderella.[11]

Radio

Robbins has a weekly one-hour radio segment on Melbourne radio station 3AW as part of The Weekend Break with Grubby and Dee Dee Sunday edition.[12]

Awards

Robbins has been nominated at the Logies several times. He was nominated for Most Popular Actor in 2003 and 2004 for his role in Kath & Kim and again nominated in 2005 for his role in the telemovie Da Kath & Kim Code.

Personal life

The third son of Arthur and Gwen, Robbins is married to Selina,[13] who is a nurse, and currently lives in Melbourne.[12]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1987 The Bit Part Man #2
1988 Rikky and Pete Newspaper Foreman
Evil Angels Young Father
2001 Lantana Pete O'May
2006 The Deal Mike Short film
BoyTown Benny G
2012 Kath & Kimderella Kel Knight
Scumbus Brett Chester

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Prisoner Detective / Husband 2 episodes
1985 A Thousand Skies Hudson Fysh Miniseries
The Eleventh Hour Various roles also writer
Special Squad 1 episode: "A Wild Oat"
The Video Comedy Show Himself
1986 The Flying Doctors Mac 1 episode: "Acceptance"
While You're Down There Various characters also writer (5 episodes)
1987 Theatre Sports Himself
1988–90 The Comedy Company Uncle Arthur / Gary Dare / Darren (1988–89) also writer
1990 Tonight Live with Steve Vizard Himself also writer
1991–92 Fast Forward Various characters also writer, season 3–4 (37 episodes)
1991 Turn It Up Bob Unscreened pilot
1993 Full Frontal Guest performer 7 episodes, also writer 1993–95 (20 episodes)
A Royal Commission Into the Australian Economy Policeman / President George Bush (Retired) Television film
The Making of Nothing Barry Mappin Television film, also writer
1994 Standing on the Road Himself Television documentary, also writer, producer
Frontline Himself 1 episode: "Add Sex and Stir"
1994–95 Jimeoin Various characters also writer
1996 Eric Various characters Television film
1997–2001 Headliners — co-creator, director, creative producer
1998 The Russell Gilbert Show Himself 1 episode: "Episode 1.1", also writer, creative consultant
Something Stupid Various characters also writer
1998–2007 The Panel Himself 183 episodes, also co-producer
1999 The Mick Molloy Show Himself 1 episode: "Episode 1.5"
The Micallef P(r)ogram(me) Himself 1 episode: "Episode 2.2"
2001–02, 2018 All Aussie Adventures Russell Coight
2001, 2006, 2009 Rove Himself / Russell Coight 3 episodes
2002–04, 2007 Kath & Kim Kel Knight
2003 Fast Forward: One More Round Himself / Various characters Television special
2004 Saturday Night Darren and Brose Himself 1 episode: "Episode 1.1"
Good Morning Australia Himself 1 episode
Russell Coight's Celebrity Challenge Russell Coight Television film, also creative consultant, casting director
2005 Australia Unites: Reach Out to Asia Himself Telethon
2005–06 The Ronnie Johns Half Hour — executive producer
2005 Da Kath & Kim Code Kel Knight Television film
2006, 2024 Thank God You're Here Himself / Russell Coight 2 episodes, creative consultant (2006–09), 1 episode, cameo
2006 The Crocodile Hunter: A Tribute to Steve Irwin Himself / Russell Coight (uncredited) Television documentary
Australian Idol Himself Top 7 Results Show
2006–07 Dancing with the Stars Himself / Kel Knight / Himself - audience member 3 episodes
2007 The Nation Himself 1 Episode: "Episode 9"
2008 Out of the Question Host also producer
2010 Santo, Sam and Ed's Cup Fever! Himself 1 episode: "Episode 21"
2013 Twentysomething Jess's Dad 1 episode: "Tricks of the Trade"
2014 Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell ABC Sports Correspondent (uncredited) 1 episode: "Episode 3.10"
2015 Open Slather Various characters also creative consultant, writer (5 episodes)
Dirty Laundry Live Young Lawrence Mooney 1 episode: "Episode 3.12"
2013–16 Upper Middle Bogan Wayne Wheeler
2013–Present Have You Been Paying Attention? Himself 29 episodes
2015 Russell Coight Guest Quiz Master
2017 True Story with Hamish & Andy Harold 1 episode: "Emidio"
2019 Have You Been Paying Attention? New Zealand Himself 2 episodes
2021 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Russell Coight 1 episode

Bibliography

Contributor

  • Robbins, Glenn (2007). "Contributor". Laugh Even Louder!. By Camp Quality. Gosford, New South Wales: Scholastic Australia Pty Limited. ISBN 978-1-74169-022-4.[14]

References

  1. ^ "Class photo". strathmore.vic.edu.au. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Glenn Robbins • Comedian • MC". Enhance Entertainment PTY LTD. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  3. ^ "How Glenn Robbins became Russel Coight". TV Tonight. 4 November 2016. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Glenn Robbins' outback adventurer Russell Coight is back". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 August 2018. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Outback personality Russell Coight returns to Red Centre ahead of TV comeback". ABC News. 17 July 2018. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  6. ^ "LOOK AT MOI! Epic Kath and Kim reunion locked in". PerthNow. 6 October 2022. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  7. ^ "'We had to make out that he couldn't play': Kath and Kim star recalls unique challenge in Warne's cameo". honey.nine.com.au. 30 March 2022. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  8. ^ Burns, Brielle (30 December 2020). "Where are they now? The cast of Kath and Kim, 18 years later". Mamamia. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  9. ^ "AFC – Searchable Film Database". Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  10. ^ "Yahoo Australia | News, email and search". au.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Kath & Kimderella: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 6 September 2012. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  12. ^ a b Robbins, Glenn (8 December 2013). "Glenn Robbins segment". The Weekend Break (Interview). Interviewed by Grubby and Dee Dee. Melbourne: 3AW.
  13. ^ http://www.life.com/celebrity-pictures/80889770/celebrities-attend-melbourne-cup-carnival-2006-aami-victoria-derby-day [dead link]
  14. ^ Camp Quality (2007). Laugh Even Louder!. Gosford, New South Wales: Scholastic Australia Pty Limited. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-74169-022-4.