John Mortimer Frawley (18 August 1929 – 3 March 1999) was an Australian character actor with numerous stage, television and film credits to his name, he also worked in the United Kingdom.
He is not to be confused with another actor named John Frawley who had an uncredited role in the Lesley Selander 1948 US western film Panhandle (film).
Early career Frawley started his professional career in theatre productions from 1955, including a lengthy national tour of Shakespeares Twelfth Night and later performed in King Lear.
He started his television career in the United Kingdom during the 1960s, which included appearing in episodes of The Prisoner and espionage series The Avengers.
Films Frawley appeared in several small roles in Australian films during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. His film roles of the 1970s included football comedy The Great Macarthy (1975) starring John Jarratt. the Fred Schepisi coming of age drama The Devil's Playground and adventure film Eliza Fraser (both 1976).
Others were mystery drama The Last Wave (1977) alongside Richard Chamberlain, thriller The Night the Prowler and family film Blue Fin (both 1978).
His 1980's films included the horror film Harlequin (1980) with Robert Powell, Annie's Coming Out (1984), Call Me Mr. Brown (1986) and comedy Backstage (1988) with Laura Branigan.
Frawley's 1990s films included the black comedy drama Dallas Doll, with Sandra Bernhard (1994), and the period adventure film Flynn starring Guy Pearce, his final screen appearance in 1996
Television During the 70s and 80s he also appeared on the small screen including the 1977 made-for-television film Trial of Ned Kelly, together with John Waters and Gerard Kennedy. as well as television series, with guest roles in Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police, Marion and Cop Shop.
He returned to television in the 1980s and 1990s, with appearances in prison drama Prisoner (a.k.a. Prisoner: Cell Block H). From 1985 to 1986, Frawley played Dr Frank Turner in medical drama The Flying Doctors for 24 episodes. In 1990, he had a recurring role as Derek Wilcox in long-running soap opera Neighbours. He also appeared in 1991 Logie Award-winning miniseries Brides of Christ alongside Naomi Watts and Russell Crowe.
Death Frawley died suddenly of undisclosed causes at his Melbourne home on 3 March 1999, at the age of 69.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1975 The Great Macarthy Webster 1976 The Devil's Playground Brother Celian The Trespassers 1976 Eliza Fraser Brown 1977 The Last Wave Policeman 1978 The Night, the Prowler Humphrey Bannister Blue Fin 1980 Harlequin Dr Lovelock 1984 Annie's Coming Out Harding 1986 The Humpty Dumpty Man Call Me Mr. Brown Captain Howson 1988 Backstage 1994 Dallas Doll 1996 Flynn (aka My Forgotten Man) Headmaster
Television Year Title Role Notes 1962 Probation Officer Jeweller 1 episode Compact Theatre doorman 1 episode Out of This World Furrier 1 episode Emergency Ward 10 Mr Ricardo 1 episode The Avengers Autograph-Hunting Passenger / Reynolds 2 episodes The Tommy Steele Show: Quincy's Quest Ted TV movie1963 Ghost Squad Detective 1 episode ITV Television Playhouse Barman Anthology series, episode: "There Could Be a Knighthood in It"1964 Consider Your Verdict 1 episode Thorndyke Croupier 1 episode The Plane Makers Air Vice-Marshal Sloane 1 episode The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling Major 1 episode 1965 Front Page Story Features Editor 1 episode 1966 Knock on Any Door Wicks 1 episode Adam Adamant Lives! Sir Charles Thetford 1 episode 1967 The Saint The Doctor 1 episode The Prisoner Flowerman 1 episode 1967–1974 Homicide Supt. Les Holding / Mr Enright / Dr. Frank Clarkson / Banker / Soames / Joe Martino 6 episodes 1971–1975 Division 4 Downley / Councillor Braden Smith / Harold Sloane / Franklin / Magistrate 5 episodes Matlock Police Ray Murray / Dell / Peter Hughes / Gov. Mitchell / Father Gilbert 5 episodes 1972 Behind the Legend Thomas Blamey Anthology series, episode: "Thomas Blamey" 1973 Frank and Francesca Miniseries, 6 episodes 1974 Marion Jamie Finnegan Miniseries, 4 episodes 1975 Cash and Company Jessica's father-in-law Miniseries, 3 episodes Quality of Mercy Anthology series, episode 6: "We Should Have Had a Uniform" 1976 Silent Number Osborne 1 episode 1977 Opening Night Det. Inspector Fox TV movie Trial of Ned Kelly Judge Redmond Barry TV movie 1978–1981 Cop Shop Judge / Daniel Parker / Graham Metcalfe / Bert Harrison / Neill Harris 7 episodes 1979 Skyways Judge Smith 2 episodes 1980 The Timeless Land Governor King TV movie1981 Bellamy Jack 1 episode Outbreak of Love Miniseries 1981; 1986 Prisoner (aka Prisoner: Cell Block H) Harry Bassinger / James Marne 8 episodes 1983; 1984 Runaway Island Rev Symes 2 episodes 1984 Boy in the Bush Mr George Miniseries, 4 episodes Conferenceville TV movie Special Squad Whiteman 1 episode Carson's Law Judge 3 episodes 1985–1986 The Flying Doctors Dr Frank Turner 24 episodes 1986 Whose Baby? Administrator Miniseries, 1 episode 1990 Neighbours Derek Wilcox 8 episodes 1991 Brides of Christ Bishop Miniseries, 2 episodes1992 Boys from the Bush Alec 1 episode Round the Twist Inspector Ghost 1 episode
Theatre Year Title Role Notes 1955 Twelfth Night Malvolio Australian regional tour with Union Theatre Repertory Company Meda Soldier's attendant on Creon and Aegeus Comedy Theatre, Melbourne The Time of Your Life University of Melbourne with Union Theatre Repertory Company 1956 The Yeomen of the Guard Actor / singer Theatre Royal, Adelaide with J. C. Williamson's & Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company1958 Cox and Box / H.M.S. Pinafore The Gondoliers Annibale Theatre Royal, Adelaide with Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company Hotel Paradiso Cot University of Melbourne with Union Theatre Repertory Company The Knight of the Burning Pestle Venturwell Blood Wedding The bride's father The Threepenny Opera John Brown Lysistrata 1959 Look Back in Anger University of Melbourne, Victorian regional tour The Merchant of Venice Duke of Venice Theatre Royal, Adelaide, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Theatre Royal Sydney with J. C. Williamson's King Lear Duke of Cornwall A Midsummer Night's Dream Theatre Royal, Adelaide with J. C. Williamson's The Winter's Tale Old Shepherd Theatre Royal, Adelaide, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Theatre Royal Sydney with J. C. Williamson's 1959–1960 The Belle of New York Bristol Hippodrome, UK 1963 When the Gravediggers Come Emerald Hill Theatre, Melbourne Who'll Come A-Waltzing? Comedy Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's & St Martin’s Theatre Company Goodnight Mrs. Puffin Stephen Parker Comedy Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's1968 Bell, Book and Candle St Martins Theatre, Melbourne Staircase Harry C. Leeds Period of Adjustment Mame Actor / singer Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide with J. C. Williamson's1969 Hadrian VII Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's Out of the Crocodile St Martins Theatre, Melbourne This Story of Yours Baxter 1971 Caroline Dr John Lang St Martins Theatre, Melbourne, Playhouse, Canberra1972 The Wakefield Plays Hobart City Hall Horrie's Alibi Flinders University, Adelaide 1974 The Signalman's Apprentice Monash University, Melbourne with The Alexander Theatre Company 1975 The Freeway Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC 1966 The Season at Sarsaparilla Mr Erbage Sydney Opera House with Old Tote Theatre 1977 Caesar and Cleopatra Pothinus 1978–1979 The Kingfisher Standby Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Seymour Centre, Sydney1979 Life of Galileo Cardinal Bellarmine / Mr Gaffone Nimrod Theatre, Sydney The Venetian Twins The Judge Sydney Opera House with STC & Nimrod Theatre Company1980 The Sunny South Sydney Opera House with STC What the Butler Saw Dr Rance Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA 1981 Lulu Goll / Others Playhouse, Adelaide, Sydney Opera House with STCSA1982 You Can't Take It With You Sydney Opera House with STC Night and Day Geoffrey Carson Marian St Theatre, Sydney, Canberra Theatre1984 The Lady from the Sea Dr. Wangel Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA Romeo and Juliet The Time Is Not Yet Ripe Sir Joseph Quiverton 1985 Heartbreak House Sydney Opera House with STC 1991 Uncle Vanya Telegin Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC 1992 A Month of Sundays Aylott 1993 Shadowlands Warnie Lewis Playhouse, Melbourne
References
Books: William K Halliwell, The Filmgoer's Guide to Australian Films, Angus & Robertson Publishers (1985)
External links