Peter Malcolm Sumner-Potts (29 January 1942 – 22 November 2016), professionally known as Peter Sumner, was an Australian actor, director, and writer. He had a long career in theatre, television, and film.
Career Acting Initially a high-school teacher, Sumner made his professional acting debut in the 1965 television adaption of the novel My Brother Jack, followed by his film debut in 1966's They're a Weird Mob and his professional theatre debut in a 1967 production of Arthur Miller's Incident at Vichy."Incident at Vichy", The Australian Jewish Times, 26 October 1967, p. 2.
Sumner was a presenter on the ABC youth show On the Inside from 1967 to 1968Hay, J. "Inside Information", The Canberra Times, 6 June 1967, p. 13. while continuing to act, including starring in the Ensemble Theatre's 1968 production of Daphne in Cottage D."Sydney Life and Times", The Australian Jewish Times, 24 October 1968, p. 10. He then appeared in supporting roles in the films Color Me Dead (1969) and Ned Kelly (1970) before being cast as one of the leads of the successful television series Spyforce, which ran for 41 episodes from 1971 to 1973 and was shown around the world, including in Yugoslavia.Radio TV Rejika, Belgrade, July 1975, p. 1.
Sumner served as a presenter on Play School in 1974 while also starring in the miniseries A Touch of Reverence and appearing in guest roles in series including Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police, Boney and The Sullivans.
In 1976 Sumner was on a European holiday when he arrived in London broke. His agent organised two days work on an American science fiction movie named Star Wars, filmed in Elstree Studios.Maddox, G. "Peter Sumner, Australia's link to the original Star Wars, dies at 74", Sydney Morning Herald, 23 November 2016. Playing Death Star Officer Lieutenant Pol Treidum, Sumner had two lines, as well as controlling the Dianoga (garbage compactor monster) puppet.
Later film appearances included The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978), The Survivor (1981) and Bush Christmas (1983). On television he starred in Tickled Pink (1978–81) and, opposite Jacki Weaver, in the sitcom Trial By Marriage, portrayed Bill Hayden in The Dismissal and appeared in many Australian soap operas, including Cop Shop, Neighbours, E Street, The Flying Doctors, Home and Away, All the Way, Cluedo, Heartbreak High and Jeopardy.
Directing Sumner was a follower of Meher Baba and directed a TV documentary, Baba's Birthday, shot in India, produced by Sensory Image, with music by Pete Townshend. The documentary follows Sumner's son, Luke Sumner, as he journeys to India in search of spiritual meaning.
Additionally, Sumner directed theatrical performances, including a season of Extremities for The Edge Theatre, Sydney, and wrote and directed the documentary Cradle of mankind.
In 1988 Sumner produced Australian theatrical posters 1825-1914, which accompanied an exhibition held at the Performing Arts Museum"Australis Project: Sources on 19th Century Australian Theatre", The Wolanski Foundation Project, https://www.twf.org.au/research/australisbib.html, accessed 15 October 2025. and the rights for his script Spiderdance, based on the life of Lola Montez, were secured by Indianic Pictures in 2021.
Personal The great grand-nephew of John Bird Sumner, Archbishop of Canterbury,Musgrove, N. "A touch of reverence", The Australian Women's Weekly, 27 November 1974, p. 25. Sumner was married twice. The first was to Christina, with whom he had two daughters; Kate and Joanna. Sumner married actor and activist Lynda Stoner on 30 December 1982"Colour pictures: Lynda weds", TV Week, 22 January 1983, p. 1. and their son Luke was born in 1984."Lynda Stoner's family affair", TV Week, 22 September 1984, p. 1. Sumner and Stoner remained married until his death, aged 74, after a long illness.Sydney Morning Herald: Tributes, 26 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016
Filmography Film
As actor Year Film Role Type 1966 They're a Weird Mob Bit Part (uncredited) Feature film 1969 Color Me Dead Stanley Phillips Feature film 1970 Ned Kelly Tom Lloyd Feature film 1972 The Lady and the Law TV movie 1973 And Millions Will Die Dixie Hart TV movie 1974 The Spiral Bureau TV movie Human Target TV movie 1976 McManus MPB Sergeant McManus TV movie 1977 Star Wars Lieutenant Pol Treidum (uncredited) Feature film Kiss and the Ride Ferry TV movie 1978 The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith Dowie Steed Feature film The King of the Two Day Wonder Jim Delaney Feature film 1979 Middle Age Spread Reg Feature film 1980 Players in the Gallery Simon Harris TV movie The Department Robby TV movie 1981 Run Rebecca, Run Mr. Dimitros Feature film The Survivor Tewson Feature film 1983 Bush Christmas Ben Thompson Feature film 1984 The Secret Discovery of Australia George Collingridge TV movie 1986 Shark's Paradise Cooper TV movie Army Wives Grant's Father Feature film 1987 Hot Ice Joe Carpenter TV movie 1992 Survive the Savage Sea Buzz TV movie Seeing Red Gorman Feature film 1995The Eyes of Bangladesh NarratorDocumentary 1999 The Dark Redemption Lieutenant Pol Treidum Short film - Star Wars fan film2001 Mr Strehlow's Films NarratorDocumentary 2006 Who Killed Dr Bogle and Mrs Chandler? Legal Representative 2 TV movie 2011 Ektopos Zebediah 2012 Ryder Country Professor Ed Woodman 2015 The Quarantine Hauntings Dr. Henry Dickenson Final film role
As director and/or writer Year Film Role Type 1985 Cradle of mankind Writer and director Documentary
Television Year Film Role Type 1965 My Brother Jack Miniseries, 1 episode 1967-68 On the Inside Presenter 1969, 1970 Delta Bill Keegan / Dr Brian Doyle TV series, 2 episodes 1970 The Link Men TV series, season 2, episode 13: A Dress to Die For Dynasty Jim Westlake TV series, 1 episode 1971-73 Spyforce Gunthar Haber TV series, 41 episodes 1972-73 Over There Lieutenant Allison TV series, 4 episodes 1973 Boney Sergeant Peter Fuller TV series, 1 episode The Comedy Game TV series, 1 episode 1973, 1974 The Evil Touch Richard TV series, 2 episodes 1973-74 Certain Women Carl Faber TV series, 15 episodes 1974 Matlock Police Dennis Reid TV series, 1 episode Homicide Kenny Sutton TV series, 1 episode A Touch of Reverence Rev. Alex Bartlett Miniseries Silent Number Ted Grant / Clifton TV series, 2 episodes Play School Presenter TV series 1975 Division 4 Ron Slater TV series, 1 episode The Sullivans 1976 Luke's Kingdom Karl Walthausen Miniseries, 1 episode The Lost Islands Christian Dobler TV series, 2 episodes 1977 Bluey Ronald Hamlin TV series, 1 episode 1977-83 Cop Shop Detective Tom Foster TV series, 7 episodes 1978 Glenview High Scott Brady TV series, 2 episodes Catspaw Flight Lieutenan Harry Sewell TV series, 7 episodes 1978, 1979 Tickled Pink Jason Jones / Bruce Jefferson TV series, 2 episodes 1979 Skyways Bob Cusack TV series, 2 episodes 1980 Young Ramsay Bob Marshall TV series, 1 episode 1980-82 Trial by Marriage Bruce Jefferson TV series, 13 episodes 1983 The Dismissal Treasurer Bill Hayden Miniseries, 2 episodes 1984 Five Mile Creek Lucas Morgan 1 episode Special Squad Nick Hardy TV series, 1 episode Carson's Law John Meadows TV series, 2 episodes 1984, 1992 A Country Practice Ray Lennox / Max Wellings / Dr Kenrich TV series, 6 episodes 1986, 1992 The Flying Doctors Harry Grant / Phil Buchanan TV series, 2 episodes 1988 All the Way Phillip Seymour Miniseries, 3 episodes 1989 E Street Jonathan Bromley TV series, 10 episodes 1989, 1995 G.P. Dr Vince Fisher / Rod TV series, 4 episodes 1990 Neighbours Ewan O'Brien TV series, 6 episodes 1991 Hampton Court Max 1 episode Sex Commercial voice TV special 1992 Cluedo Reverend Green TV series, 21 episodes 1995 Spellbinder Mr Kennett TV series, 5 episodes 1997-99 Heartbreak High Les Bailey TV series, 36 episodes 1998 Moby Dick Captain Gardiner Miniseries, 1 episode Murder Call Bette Fidler / Vic Bamford TV series, season 2, episode 13: “A Dress to Die For” 1998, 2001 Water Rats Carl Sexton / John Barnes TV series, 2 episodes 1999, 2008 All Saints Tom Grieve / Miles Bannock / Errol Baumann TV series, 3 episodes 2000 Home and Away Edward Dunglass Snr TV series, 1 episode 2001 Outriders Bud Sattler 4 episodes 2002 Jeopardy Arnie TV series, episodes Blue Heelers Joshua Grieves TV series, 1 episode BackBerner Professor Norman Twigg TV series - 1 episode 2003 Snobs Doctor Miniseries, 1 episode 2004 Jessica Rennie Miniseries (2 part) 2006 Blue Water High Teacher TV series, 1 episode 2007 Baba's Birthday Director Documentary 2014 Rake Archbishop Thomas TV series, 1 episode
Stage As actor Year Title Role Venue 1967Incident at Vichy Monceau Ensemble Theatre, Sydney1968Daphne in Cottage D Joseph Ensemble Theatre, Sydney1969 The Real Inspector Hound Birdboot Ensemble Theatre, SydneyPostscript to a Promise Ensemble Theatre, Sydney1970Two for the Seesaw Jerry Ryan Killara Community Theatre Company, Sydney1972-73The Trial of Brer Rabbit Brer Bear Richbrooke Theatre, Sydney1975 Chez Nous Old Tote Theatre Company, Parade Theatre The Importance of Being Earnest Old Tote Theatre Company, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Abelard and Heloise Abelard Old Tote Theatre Company, Sydney 1976A Doll's House Torvald Helmer Old Tote Theatre Company, Sydney Opera House, SydneyA Handful of Friends Mark Marshall Nimrod Theatre Company, Sydney1980Celluloid Heroes Nimrod Theatre Company, Sydney 1981Celluloid Heroes Theatre Royal, Sydney 1984 Taking Steps Ensemble Theatre, Sydney 1990 Rumors Comedy Theatre, Melbourne 1993 Hot Taps Riverside Theatres, Sydney 2000Troilus and Cressida Aeneas Bell Shakespeare Company, Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne, Sydney Opera House, Sydney and The Playhouse, Canberra 2001 The Tempest Prospero Bell Shakespeare Company
As director Year Title Role Type2002Good Sometime Director Newtown Theatre, SydneyThe Truck Director Newtown Theatre, Sydney2003The Waiting Room Director Newtown Theatre, Sydney Extremities Director The Edge Theatre, Sydney
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