Reg Gorman

Reg Gorman
Born(1932-08-02)2 August 1932
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died5 August 2021(2021-08-05) (aged 89)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, vaudevillian
Years active1964-2021
Known forThe Sullivans
Fergus McPhail
Spouse
Judith Roberts
​
(m. 1964)​
Children3
RelativesOlivia Deeble (granddaughter)
WebsiteGorman Works

Reg Gorman (2 August 1932 – 5 August 2021) was an Australian television and film actor, and comedian, he was known best for his role in TV serial The Sullivans, as Jack Fletcher.[1] and children's series Fergus McPhail as Harry Patterson.[2]

Gorman was also active in radio dramas and theatre and was one of the last active vaudeville performers in Australia.[3][full citation needed]

Personal life

Reg Gorman, trained with Hayes Gordon and J.C. Williamson Theatre Company, he was married to fellow actor Judith Roberts. The couple had three children: Kate, Karl and Charmaine. They raised their children together while working in the theatre, television and film industries.[4]

Career

Television roles

While having his comedy roots in vaudeville,[5][full citation needed] Gorman began his television career with appearances on the Australian television series Consider Your Verdict in 1964 and again in 1966. His first recurring star role in a series was the ATN series Mrs. Finnegan as Darby Finnigan in 13 episodes from 1970 to 1971.

In 1976, he joined the cast of The Sullivans and remained in his role of Jack Fletcher for the series' entire 1976–1983 run.

Gorman played the guest role of Bert Gibbs in Prisoner in 1984, and appeared in several episodes of the series The Henderson Kids (1985). In 1985 he guested in four episodes in Neighbours as Wally Walters, returning to the series again in 1999 in a different role.

He starred as Reg Hide in the 1987 series pilot Jackal and Hide alongside Norman Yemm, his former co-star from The Sullivans,[6] who co-starred in the pilot as the character of Norm Jackal.

In 1994, he played the role of Mr. Fowler in the Hugh Jackman vehicle Snowy River: The McGregor Saga. In 1997 he held the role of Grandpa in seven episodes of The Wayne Manifesto.

From 2000 through to 2001, he appeared in the series Something in the Air in four episodes as Ken. He also appeared as Harry Patterson in all 26 episodes of the 2004 comedy series Fergus McPhail.[2]

Film roles

Gorman was also involved in numerous films, beginning in 1968 as Otto in the western drama Koya no toseinin (released in English as The Drifting Avenger), and up to his later projects, Animals and the short film Like It Was Yesterday (both 2012).

Gorman was described as being one of the last Australian vaudeville performers.[1][7]

Death

Gorman died from cancer at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, aged 89, on 5 August 2021.[8][9]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Type
1961 Whiplash Gang member TV series, 1 episode
1964–66 Consider Your Verdict Reg Fraser TV series, 2 episodes
1967 Contrabandits Pogo / Fred TV series, 2 episodes
1968–69 Skippy Jim Nelson / Jim Paine TV series, 2 episodes
1969 I’ve Married a Bachelor Sergeant Grogan TV series, 1 episode
1969 Riptide Reg / Wal / Charlie TV series, 3 episodes
1969 The Rovers Policeman TV series, 1 episode
1969 Woobinda, Animal Doctor TV series, 1 episode
1970–71 Mrs. Finnegan Darby Finnegan TV series, 13 episodes
1971–73 Spyforce Murphy / Eddie TV series, 2 episodes
1972 Barrier Reef George TV series, 1 episode
1972 Boney Bray TV series, 1 episode
1972 Division 4 Ted Morris / Fred Jackson / Cliff Wood TV series, 2 episodes
1973 Our Man in the Company TV technician TV series, 1 episode
1974 Rush Craig TV series, 1 episode
1965–76 Homicide Eric Dowling / Alfred Harrison / Mick Ryan / Fred Dowling / Mick Evans / Howard Wilson / Max Saunders TV series, 8 episodes
1972–76 Matlock Police Jock McKenzie / Fishy Taylor / Murray Slater / Brian Bennett / Paddy / Joe Campbell TV series, 6 episodes
1976 The Bluestone Boys Brigsy TV series
1976 Bluey Nipper Read TV series, 1 episode
1976 Power Without Glory Priest TV miniseries, 1 episode
1976–83 The Sullivans Jack Fletcher TV series, 1114 episodes
1981 I Can Jump Puddles Arthur TV miniseries, 1 episode
1983 Carson's Law Sergeant / Tate TV series, 2 episodes
1983 Home Maguire TV series, 2 episodes
1983 All the Rivers Run Examining Skipper TV series, 2 episodes
1984 Special Squad Ryan TV series, 1 episode: "Trojan Horses"
1984 Prisoner Bert Gibbs TV series, 4 episodes
1985 A Thousand Skies Joe the Fireman TV series, 1 episode
1985 The Henderson Kids Kernow TV series, 11 episodes
1986 My Brother Tom M / O Driver TV miniseries, 1 episode
1986 The Fast Lane Lou TV series, 1 episode
1986 A Country Practice Fisherman TV series, 2 episodes
1986 Sword of Honour Jack TV miniseries, 1 episode
1987 Jackal and Hide Reg Hide TV series
1988 Sentiments Repo man TV series, 1 episode
1990 The Great Air Race Race official (Charleville) TV miniseries, 1 episode
1992 Boys from the Bush Johnny TV series, 1 episode
1992 The New Adventures of Black Beauty Richmond TV series, 1 episode
1992 Kelly Fireman TV series, 1 episode
1994 Snowy River: The McGregor Saga Mr Fowler TV series, 6 episodes
1994 Law of the Land Gary Jarvis TV series, 1 episode
1985–99 Neighbours Wally Walters / Jock Finch TV series, 10 episodes
1995–01 Blue Heelers Maxie Stubbs / Chook Fowler / Freddie TV series, 3 episodes
1996 Mercury Bruce Cartwright TV miniseries, 1 episode
1997 The Wayne Manifesto Grandpa TV series, 7 episodes
1998 State Coroner Charles Shaw TV series, 1 episode
2000–01 Something in the Air Ken TV series, 4 episodes
2001 My Brother Jack Clarrie TV miniseries
2001 Shock Jock Bill TV series, 2 episodes
2002 Legacy of the Silver Shadow Checkers TV series, 1 episode
2004 Fergus McPhail Harry Patterson TV series, 26 episodes
2010 The Pacific Elderly man on trolley TV miniseries, 1 episode
2012 Woodley Priest TV series. 1 episode
2012 Problems Ron TV series, 4 episodes
2017 Get Krack!n Pete Stark TV series, 1 episode
2022 More Than This Nuts TV series, 1 episode

Film

Year Title Role Type
1963 Prelude to Harvest Seaman TV movie
1965 Rusty Bugles Ollie TV movie
1965 The Sweet Sad Story of Elmo and Me TV movie
1968 The Drifting Avenger (aka Koya no toseinin) Otto Feature film
1969 It Takes All Kinds Man at airport Feature film
1969 The Intruders Boatman (uncredited) Feature film
1970 Ned Kelly Bracken (uncredited) Feature film
1974 Between Wars Orderly Feature film
1974 Alvin Rides Again Bookmaker Feature film
1975 Inn of the Damned Coach driver Feature film
1975 Plugg Constable Hector Raymond Feature film
1975 Polly Me Love TV movie
1975 End Play TV reporter Feature film
1976 Caddie Male drinker Feature film
1983 Dusty Watson Feature film
1987 The Bit Part Scott Feature film
1987 Slate, Wyn & Me Wilkinson Feature film
1987 A Matter of Convenience Repo Man TV movie
1988 A Cry in the Dark (aka Evil Angels) Mr. Whittaker Feature film
1988 The Four Minute Mile Vancouver journalist TV movie
1990 The Big Steal Neighbour Feature film
1990 A Date with Destiny Grooper Short film
1997 The Alive Tribe Barfly Feature film
1999 The Craic RSL Manager Feature film
2002 Dalkeith Len Feature film
2003 Gusto Old Man Short film
2005 You and Your Stupid Mate Stan Feature film
2008 Guy in a Field Father Short film
2006 Five Moments of Infidelity David Feature film
2007 The Postman Short film
2009 Nero's Short film
2009 Swings and Roundabouts Roy Short film
2010 Punch Drunk Joe Sparro Short film
2011 Percy Percy Short film
2011 The Cup Vern Feature film
2010 The Pawn Private Domenic Chaplan Feature film
2011 Cold Showers The Manager Short film
2012 Animals Richard Patterson M.P. Feature film
2012 Like It Was Yesterday Arthur Short film
2014 I Remember the Future Abe Short film
2017 The Comet Kids Lucas Feature film
2018 Two Moments in Time Grandad Thatchette Short film

Theatre

Year Title Role Type
1962 What's New? Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney
1962 A Wish is a Dream Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney
1963–64 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Jenkins Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide
1964 Santa's Christmas Party Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney
1965 The Diplomatic Baggage Palace Theatre, Sydney
1966 The Odd Couple Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
1967 Sweet Charity 2nd cop / Waiter / Daddy Johann Sebastian Brubeck / Barney Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne
1971 The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail Sam Staples Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1973 Summer of the Seventeenth Doll Nimrod Street Theatre
1975 The Enchanted Forest St James Playhouse, Sydney with PACT Youth Theatre
1976; 1980 Dry Run Marian Street Theatre, National Theatre, Melbourne
1980 The Comedians Tikki and John’s Vaudeville, Melbourne
1983 The Student Prince Lutz Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
1985 On the Blind Side (Golden Oldies - the Play) Ensemble Theatre, Sydney, Playhouse Canberra
1990 Favourite Son Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
1992 Petrov: The Musical Melbourne Concert Hall
1998 Dick Whittington and His Cat Melbourne Athenaeum
1999 Dimboola Darkie Illusions Showroom, Melbourne
2000 Call Me Madam Congressman Wilkins State Theatre, Melbourne
2001 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Scrubwomen, Wally Womper State Theatre, Melbourne
2001 The Shrinking Ledge Chapel Off Chapel
2003 Snap Shots Gasworks Theatre, Melbourne with The Affordable Theatre Company
2004 Reg Gorman - Hanging on to Vaudeville Comedian / Self Melbourne Town Hall for Melbourne International Comedy Festival
2004 Hats Off! to Sondheim National Theatre, Melbourne
2005 McCubbin BMW Edge, Melbourne with Hydra Productions

[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Radio National (18 July 2011). Reg Gorman: Hanging on to Vaudeville (podcast). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  2. ^ a b Robin Oliver (12 March 2004). "Fergus McPhail". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  3. ^ "The Gorman Conquest". The Bulletin. No. 6410–6418. Australian Consolidated Press; J. Haynes and J.F. Archibald. 2004. pp. 15–ff.
  4. ^ "About the Gormans". Gorman Works. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Reg Gorman". Nation Review. No. 85–109. 1962.
  6. ^ Nick Place, Michael Roberts (2006). 50 Years of Television in Australia. Hardie Grant Publishing. p. 124. ISBN 1740663950.
  7. ^ Gray, Darren (10 August 2021). "Vale Reg Gorman: An Australian showbusiness veteran". www.nfsa.gov.au. National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  8. ^ Knox, David. "Vale: Reg Gorman". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Vale: Reg Gorman, 'Neighbours' and 'The Sullivans' actor". IF Magazine. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  10. ^ https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/9659