Reginald Thomas Lye (13 October 1912NAA Travel Permit – 23 March 1987), was an Australian actor who worked extensively in Australia and England.
Career Lye was one of the busiest Australian actors of the 1950s, appearing in the majority of locally shot features at the time, as well as on stage and radio. Lee Robinson called him "one of the best character actors in Australia."
During World War 2 he served as a Driver, Motor Transport with the RAAF reaching the rank of Leading Air Craftsman (LAC). He was attached to 452 Squadron RAAF (part of No1 Fighter Wing RAAF) based at Strauss Airfield (just outside Darwin) in Northern Territory.
After running his own revue company in the Riverina, Lye joined Sydney's New Theatre. His stage credits there included How Beautiful With Shoes (1946), God Bless the Guv'nor (1946), Enemies (1946), Of Mice and Men (1946), Sons of the South (1947), Woman Bites Dog, Deep Are the Roots (1947), A Physician in Spite of Himself (1947), Rocket Range (1947) and Sky without Birds (1952). He directed Stove, Sink and View in 1948. Lye directed Rocket Range for the Forbes Society, which won Best Play in a local competition. At the Orange Drama Festival, he won the award for Best Actor as Henry Gow in Noël Coward's short play Fumed Oak. He then played Mr Markham in the radio play Mr Markham, Antique Dealer which he also co-adapted for the stage.
He starred alongside Chips Rafferty in several films, including western Eureka Stockade (1949) and King of the Coral Sea (1953). In 1956 he appeared in the British-American comedy film Smiley and Cecil Holmes's Australian anthology film Three in One. and Walk Into Paradise – the latter with Chips Rafferty once more. He then featured in Dust in the Sun (1958), and French-Australian films Stowaway (1958) and The Restless and the Damned (1959).
Lye relocated to England in the early 1960s, with a stage production of The One Day of the Year but after afterwards, found himself unemployed for three months due to an actors' strike. He took jobs repairing houses, but after a year, he finally found a decent agent. In 1965 he secured a minor role in the Hollywood war film King Rat, Following this, he appeared in numerous television series and films, including police procedural series Z-Cars, medical drama Dr. Finlay's Casebook, BBC series For Whom the Bell Tolls, comedy drama series Mrs Thursday and The Wednesday Play. During this time, he shared an Earl's Court flat with New Theatre alumni Jerry Wells.
Lye returned to Australia when the film industry revived in the 1970s. He starred in the 1975 Australian New Wave drama film Sunday Too Far Away, opposite Jack Thompson, for which he won an Australian Film Institute award for Best Supporting Actor for his role. In 1981, he was in political thriller The Killing of Angel Street, based on the true story of the 1975 disappearance of Juanita Nielsen during her involvement in the protest of a King's Cross development project. He then appeared in 1982 road movie Freedom alongside Max Cullen, Chris Haywood, Charles Tingwell, with the ill-fated Jon Blake in the lead role. The following year, he featured in family film Molly, alongside a young Claudia Karvan.
Personal life and death Lye's first wife was Phyllis Alma (Bessey) Lye, whom he married in Canterbury, New South Wales on 11 February 1935. They were divorced on 1 October 1947. In 1948, Lye married his second wife, Ruth Margaret Clyne in Glebe, Sydney. By 1951 they were living at Jemalong Weir via Forbes, in Sydney's far west. He had a daughter and two sons. Lye died on 23 March 1987, age 74 in Hawkesbury District Hospital, Windsor, New South Wales.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1949 Eureka Stockade Digger 1954 King of the Coral Sea Grundy 1955 Three in One The Swaggie Anthology film, segment "Joe Wilson's Mates" 1956 Walk Into Paradise Ned 'Shark-eye' Kelley 1956 Smiley Pa Bill Greevins 1956 Captain Steve's Odyssey 1957 The Shiralee Desmond 1958 The Stowaway Buddington 1958 Smiley Gets a Gun Pa Bill Greevins 1958 Dust in the Sun Dirks 1959 L'ambitieuse (aka The Ambitious or The Restless and the Damned) Matthews 1962 The Amorous Prawn (aka The Playgirl and the War Minister) Uncle Joe, the poacher 1963 The Wrong Arm of the Law Reg Denton 1964 The Counterfeit Constable (aka Allez France! or Go France!) Le chauffeur de taxi fatigué 1964 Stell 1965 King Rat Tinker Bell 1966 The Wrong Box Third Undertaker 1967 Fathom Mr. Trivers 1967 Danger Route Balin 1967 A Challenge for Robin Hood Much 1968 The Lost Continent Helmsman 1969 Battle of Britain Workman (uncredited) 1968 The Magnificent Six and ½: It's Not Cricket Angry Houseowner Short film 1970 The Games Gilmour 1970 Performance Workman (uncredited) 1971 10 Rillington Place (aka The Strangler of Rillington Place) Tramp 1972 Burke & Hare Old Joe 1972 The Amazing Mr. Blunden Sexton 1972 Ooh… You Are Awful Bogus Milkman (uncredited) 1975 Sunday Too Far Away Old Garth 1977 Jabberwocky Hawker (uncredited) 1977 Wombling Free Assistant Surveyor 1977 Blind Man's Bluff Uncle Fred 1978 Death on the Nile Workman (uncredited) 1979 Tarka the Otter Dairy Farmer 1979 Unidentified Flying Oddball (aka The Spaceman and King Arthur) Prisoner 1979 A Man Called Intrepid Newsvendor 1981 The Killing of Angel Street Riley 1982 Freedom Old farmer 1983 Molly Old Dan
Television Year Title Role Notes 1957 Shadow of Doubt Hughie TV play 1958 The Flaming Sword Poggy TV movie 1959 The Grey Nurse Said Nothing TV play 1960 The Dock Brief Fowle TV play 1960 Turning Point Lucy TV play 1960 Stormy Petrel George Suttor Miniseries, 1 episode 1961 The Sergeant from Burralee Joshua Beer TV play 1961 Whiplash Barrow / Bradley Bradley / Police Sergeant 3 episodes 1962 Reunion Day Carmody TV play 1962 The Slaughter of St Teresa's Day Barney TV play 1962 The Runner TV play 1962 Ghost Squad Night Watchman 1 episode 1962 The One Day of the Year Wacka Dawson TV play 1962–1964 ITV Play of the Week Leslie / Donny Pratt / Mr Thompson Anthology series, 4 episodes 1962–1971 Armchair Theatre Charlie Gutteridge / Mr Williamson / Dad Anthology series, 3 episodes 1963 BBC Sunday-Night Play Walter Tompkins Anthology series, 1 episode 1963 Jezebel ex UK George Tucker 1 episode 1963 Moonstrike Avary Anthology series, 1 episode 1963–1964 Emergency Ward 10 Mr Anstruther 9 episodes 1963–1966 No Hiding Place Fred Conner / Jake / Tug Wilson / Mortimer Bilk 4 episodes 1964 Crane Stanley 1 episode 1964 The Protectors Pop Masters 1 episode 1964 Catch Hand Smoky 1 episode 1964 Theatre 625 Foka Anthology series, 1 episode 1964–1965 The Saint Captain Bill Williams / George / Pop Kinsall 3 episodes 1964–1969 Dixon of Dock Green Jigger Lees / Boatman 7 episodes 1965 Hit and Run Jelly Evans 4 episodes 1965 Gideon's Way Doctor Hill 1 episode 1965 Contract to Kill Paul Cormier Miniseries, 1 episode 1965 Jury Room John Brightman 1 episode 1965 Heiress of Garth Spatcher Miniseries, 1 episode 1965 The Troubleshooters Mr Spratt 1 episode 1965 A World of Comedy Sanop 409 Miniseries, 1 episode 1965 For Whom the Bell Tolls Primitivo 3 episodes 1965 The Mask of Janus Tchernik 1 episode 1965; 1968 Dr. Finlay's Casebook Hughie Logan / Rab Wilkie 2 episodes 1965–1975 Z-Cars Norman Bright / Limpy Jack / Bernie Planter / Billy Bowes / Harold Greenhalgh / Snout / Happy Day / Matthews 10 episodes 1966 Orlando Johnny 1 episode 1966 This Man Craig Grandpa Cook 1 episode 1966 Softly, Softly Parsons / Willie Murchison 2 episodes 1966 Adam Adamant Lives! Harold 1 episode 1966 King of the River Nat 3 episodes 1966–1967 Mrs Thursday Bill Lee 7 episodes 1966; 1968 Thirty-Minute Theatre Georgie / Charlie Harper Anthology series, 2 episodes 1967 Look and Read Stan West 1967 Mickey Dunne Cyril 1 episode 1967–1970 The Wednesday Play Lorry driver / Jack / Toby Anthology series, 3 episodes 1968 Doctor Who Griffin the Chef Episode 3 of "The Enemy of the World" 1968 Mr. Rose Caretaker 1 episode 1968 The Jazz Age Ilya Prokhorich 1 episode 1968 The Champions Curtis 1 episode 1968 Treasure Island Tom Morgan 8 episodes 1969 The Fossett Saga Stage Door Keeper 1 episode 1969 The Expert Mr Atkins 1 episode 1969 W. Somerset Maugham Pryce 1 episode 1969 Softly Softly: Task Force Lane 1 episode 1969 Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Manny 1 episode 1969; 1970 The Flaxton Boys Flintock / Addison 2 episodes 1970 Francis Durbridge's Paul Temple Billy 1 episode 1970 Smith The Old Man in the Fireplace Miniseries, 6 episodes 1970 Manhunt Georges 1 episode 1970 Ace of Wands Digger Farmer 2 episodes 1970 The Adventures of Don Quick Hephaestus 1 episode 1971 Budgie Old Narky 1 episode 1971 Jason King Mistral 1 episode 1971 BBC Play of the Month Peasant Anthology series, 1 episode 1971–1976 The Dick Emery Show 8 episodes 1972 Owen, M.D. Martin 2 episodes 1972 The Scobie Man Reg 3 episodes 1973 The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Mortuary Superintendent Anthology series, 1 episode 1973 Morecambe and Wise Ranji Khan / Egyptian waiter 2 episodes 1972–1973 The Fenn Street Gang Parkes / Caretaker 3 episodes 1973 Son of the Bride Man in shoe shop 1 episode 1973–1974 Two Women Vincenzo Miniseries, 4 episodes 1973 The Kids from 47A Mr Grubb 1 episode 1973 Bowler Tramp 1 episode 1973 The Dragon's Opponent 2nd Shearer Miniseries, 1 episode 1973 Arthur of the Britons Cattle Dealer 1 episode 1973 Freewheelers Scuttle 2 episodes 1973; 1975 Thriller Caretaker Anthology series, 2 episodes 1973–1976 Crown Court Jack Smith / Tom Bernard 7 episodes 1974 Dracula Zookeeper TV movie 1974 The Adventures of Black Beauty George 1 episode 1974 Thick as Thieves Norman 2 episodes 1974; 1976 A Little Bit of Wisdom Porter / Old man 2 episodes 1975 The Tomorrow People Vanyon 2 episodes 1975 Doctor on the Go First Porter 1 episode 1975 Six Days of Justice Fred Curtis Anthology series, 1 episode 1975 Quiller Chirac 1 episode 1975 Hogg's Back Old man 1 episode 1975–1976 Down the 'Gate Old Wol 12 episodes 1976 Yes, Honestly Harold 1 episode 1976; 1978 The Ghosts of Motley Hall Old Gory 2 episodes 1976; 1978 Sykes Shoplifter / Skipper 2 episodes 1976; 1978 Wings Tom 10 episodes 1977 Maidens' Trip Herbert 1 episode 1977 Sea Tales: The Return Albert Miniseries, 1 episode 1977 Get Some In! Barman 1 episode 1977 Ripping Yarns Mr Bag 1 episode 1977 Jackanory Playhouse Ben Anthology series, 1 episode 1978 Whodunnit? Dan Crabbe 1 episode 1978 Out Jacob 1 episode 1978 George and Mildred Father 1 episode 1978 Return of the Saint Lou 1 episode 1978 The Chiffy Kids Mr Jameson 1 episode 1979 Park Ranger Elijah 2 episodes 1979 Sally Ann Capper 1 episode 1979 A Man Called Intrepid Newsvendor Miniseries, 3 episodes 1981 Home Sweet Home Arthur 1 episode 1983 For the Term of His Natural Life Blind Mooney Miniseries, 1 episode 1984 Boy in the Bush Amos Miniseries, 2 episodes 1988 Joe Wilson Jimmy Nowlett Miniseries, 1 episode
Theatre
As actor