Lynda Keane (born 1950), is an English-born Australian producer, film and television actress and acting coach.

Keane guest starred on numerous television series during the 1960s and 70s, most notably Bellbird, Homicide, Number 96, The Box, and Prisoner.

She is an acting tutor, who founded her own talent school, called the Lynda Keane Talent School with her husband Greg Anderson as well as the affiliated Keane Kids Management, Keane Kids Studio and Lynda Keane Studios. Among its students have included Brooke Mikey Anderson, Brett Blewitt, Brett Climo, Alyssa Jane Cook, Jamie Croft, Bree Desborough, Gavin Harrison, Matthew Krok, Toni Pearen, Paul Begaud, Charli Robinson, Ben Unwin, Kym Valentine, Nikki Webster, Kristy Wright, Dominic, Sebastian and Rebekah Elmaloglou.

Early acting career Keane began her career as a child actor in London, performing professionally since she was 15 months old, before her family emigrated to Australia when she was ten. Her parents, at that time, owned and operated one of London's leading talent schools.

She continued her career there starring in the 1960 children's series The Adventures of the Terrible Ten and its sequel The Ten Again in 1963. She also guest starred on Bellbird,Mercado, Andrew. Super Aussie Soaps: Behind the Scenes of Australia's Best Loved TV Shows. Melbourne: Pluto Press Australia, 2004. (pg. 24) Hey You and Homicide between 1967 and 1969, appearing on the latter series several times.

In 1970, she married her childhood sweetheart musician Greg Anderson. Keane also began to have a more active career during the 1970s with roles on The Rovers (1970), Number 96 (1972) and several appearances on Division 4 and Matlock Police.

She played a regular role in serial The Box as Barbie Gray (later Barbie Cook) from February 1974 until early 1975. She had a minor role in the television movie The Hotline (1974) as well as one-time appearances on King's Men (1976) and The Outsiders (1976).

Talent school She began to cut back on acting to concentrate on her career as a producer and acting teacher. In 1975, with her husband Greg Anderson, she opened "Gala Productions" and the "Lynda Keane Talent School" a year later. Her success with the school would also lead to the Keane Kids Management, the Keane Kids Studio and the Lynda Keane Studios. In November 1979, she traveled to New York with a group of her students, whose ages ranged between 8 and 16 years old, where they performed songs, dancing and acting performances to raise money for refugees. Keane, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, hoped to raise as much as $50,000."Entertainers are Keane to Help." (21 November 1979). Sydney Morning Herald.

Acting roles

Keane was cast in Prisoner as Denise "Blossom" Crabtree in 1979. Her character was introduced as the mistress of Fred Ferguson, estranged husband of prison inmate Monica Ferguson.Museum of Broadcast Communications (2004). "Prisoner." In H. Newcomb (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Television (Vol. I, 2nd ed.). New York and London: CRC Press. (pg. 1826) This was followed by a guest role in Neighbours in 1998.

Keane did not make an acting appearance for 15 years. During this time she and her partner Anderson helped train many child actors of the 1980s and 90s through their talent school. In 1997, she returned to acting with minor roles in the drama film The CastleWillis, John. Screen World 2000 Film Annual. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corporation, 2001. (pg. 252) and the police drama Blue Heelers. From 2000 to 2005, she also made television guest appearances on Stingers, The Secret Life of Us, Short Cuts and MDA.

Filmography

Film YearTitleRoleType 1977 The F.J. Holden Raelene Feature film 1997 The Castle Federal Court lawyer Feature film

Television YearTitleRoleType 1960 The Adventures of the Terrible Ten aka The Terrific Adventures Of The Terrible Ten Regular role TV series, 51 episodes 1963 The Ten Again Regular role TV series 1966-1974 Homicide Guest roles: Helen Dunn / Barbara Riley / Maureen Walker / Swimming Student / Pamela / Julie White / Fiona Norton TV series, 7 episodes 1967 Hey You! Guest role TV series, 1 episode "The Visit" 1967-1971 Bellbird Regular role: Ruth Grossark ABC TV series, 466 episodes 1970 The Rovers Guest role: Susie TV series, 1 episode 1972-1975 Matlock Police Guest roles: Nancy Randall / Cathy Gallagher / Anne Brandon / Bernice Green TV series, 4 episodes 1972 Number 96 Recurring Guest role: Anne Spencer TV series 1973 Division 4 Guest roles: Debbie Regan / Dulcie Jackson / Rosalie Ward TV series, 3 episodes 1974 The Hotline Lead role (as Linda Keane) TV film 1974 The Box Regular role: Barbie Gray / Barbie Cook (as Linda Keane) TV series, 102 episodes 1975 Until Tomorrow Recurring role TV series 1976 King's Men Guest role TV series, 1 episode "Suffer Little Children" 1976 The Outsiders Guest role: Nurse ABC TV series AUSTRALIA/GERMANY, 1 episode 1977 The Young Doctors Recurring role: Bubbles Gerrard TV series, 5 episodes 1977 Cop Shop Guest role: Brenda TV series, 1 episode 1979 Prisoner Denise Crabtree / Blossom Crabtree TV series, 5 episodes 1997 Blue Heelers Guest role: Citizen 1 TV series, 1 episode 1998 Neighbours Guest role: Meryl Tanner TV series, 1 episode 2000 Stingers Guest role: Shopper TV series, 1 episode 2001 The Secret Life Of Us Guest role: Mrs. Lizens (as Linda Keane) TV series, 1 episode 2002 Short Cuts Guest role: Amy Sedaris TV series, 1 episode 2005 MDA Guest role: Plaintiff ABC TV series, 1 episode 2010 Tangle Guest role: Xavier TV series, 1 episode 2010 Offspring Guest role: Trish TV series, 1 episode

Other appearances +YearTitleRolesNotes1994At HomeHerself - GuestTV series, 1 episode1993A Current AffairHerselfTV series, 1 episode1992In Sydney TodayHerself - GuestTV series, 1 episode1991The World TonightHerself - "Beauty And The Beast" segmentTV series, 1 episode1987Have A GoHerself - Guest JudgeTV series, 2 episodes1978; 1980The Mike Walsh ShowGuest - HerselfTV series, 1 episode1980The Mike Walsh ShowGuest - HerselfTV series, 1 episode1974The Ernie Sigley ShowHerself - GuestTV series, 1 episode

References

External links