John Wood (11 November 19091 March 1965)National Archives of Australia, Service Record, Signalman John Wood, NX65819. was an Australian who acted on the stage and briefly became a film star in Hollywood and Britain in the late 1930s.

Early acting career Wood was born in Forbes, New South Wales and attended Sydney Church of England Grammar School. After briefly venturing into operating a banana plantation he turned to acting. He performed on stage for the J. C. Williamson Company in Australia between 1929 and 1933, earning good reviews as a "talented juvenile" and handsome young actor "with promise.""MUSIC AND DRAMA" Queensland Figaro (Brisbane, Qld : 1901 – 1936) Saturday 23 September 1933. Page 8. See also individual reviews of plays including "THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS" The Northern Miner (Charters Towers, Qld. : 1874 – 1954) Thursday 24 October 1929. Page 3. and "SPARKLING COMEDY AT THE ROYAL-THE FIRST MRS FRASER" Advertiser and Register (Adelaide, SA : 1931) Monday 10 August 1931, Page 8. Retrieved 3 July 2013

Stage and screen work in London and Hollywood By early 1934 he had established himself in London, cast soon after arrival in the lead role of Lord Fancourt Babberley in a 1933 revival of Charley's Aunt at the Gaiety TheatreJ P Wearing, The London Stage 1930–39, 2nd ed. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield 2014, entry 33.387, p. 329"SYDNEY LETTER" Queensland Figaro (Brisbane, Qld : 1901 – 1936) Saturday 13 January 1934, Page 14.

He appeared in supporting roles in several British B films before being offered a key role as Flavius in the 1935 Hollywood movie The Last Days of Pompeii."AN AUSTRALIAN IN HOLLYWOOD" The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Saturday 7 March 1936, Page 24. Retrieved 3 July 2013 He also appeared with Bette Davis in the radio play Just Suppose, a fantasy drama about an English king marrying an American woman.The Judy Garland Experience

He returned to England in 1936. Two busy years of stage and film work followed, including Over She Goes (1937) in which he sang and danced with co-stars Stanley Lupino and Laddie Cliff. John Wood's last two British films were for the Associated British Picture Corporation, made with fellow Australian actor, Mary Maguire.

Return to Australia For reasons unknown, he returned to Australia in 1939. He claimed that in film, he had "never really had a role I liked – they have all been light juvenile parts." Despite this, he said he preferred screen work to the stage. "Somehow the screen work is not quite so monotonous," he said. Wood also commented on the attitude of British studios to an Australian accent. "There are two schools of thought about Australian actors in London. The first dislikes the Australian accent, and the second ... is eager to employ them. At Elstree, for instance, Australians are exceedingly popular, the producers considering that they have more punch. Stanley Lupino is also a great supporter for Australians, and employs them whenever possible." "NEVER HAD A FILM ROLE I REALLY LIKED" The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), Monday 16 October 1939, Page 6. Retrieved 3 July 2013 War had been declared whilst he was en route back to Australia, and for a short time he returned to the stage."MINERVA THEATRE", The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954) Saturday 27 January 1940, Page 10. Retrieved 3 July 2013"NEW THRILLER", Williamstown Chronicle (Vic. : 1856 – 1954) Saturday 1 June 1940, Page 4. Retrieved 3 July 2013 He also developed a reputation for recounting amusing film industry anecdotes."GRETA GARBO AT NIGHTCLUB" The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), Thursday 16 November 1939, Page 21. Retrieved 3 July 2013

While he had been in Hollywood his engagement to Australian stage actress Mary MacGregor was announced. Wood and MacGregor had performed together in Australia on stage for J.C. Williamson."BRISBANE GIRL IN ROMANCE OF THEATRE, MARY MACGREGOR ENGAGED" The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 – 1954) Thursday 27 February 1936, Page 13 The marriage did not proceed but Wood performed again with MacGregor during 1940.

POW performer In November 1940, Wood joined the Australian Army and was posted to 8th Division as a signalman. His unit arrived in Singapore in early 1941, and like most members of the 8th Division, he entered captivity following the Malayan campaign in February 1942.

While in captivity, Wood took a leading role in providing entertainment for allied Prisoners of War. Official Australian war artist and fellow POW Murray Griffin painted Wood's portrait and sketched performances and players. Russell Braddon another POW, described Wood as "the greatest source of stage anecdotes and comic songs that Changi knew."Russell Braddon (1952) The Naked Island p.166 Lloyd O'Neil, Hawthorn Victoria, reprint 1975. According to another POW, Wood also dressed up effectively for performances as a woman. "He is the goods, and sure gives the boys ideas," claimed Hedley Hatch.Roland Perry (2010) The Changi Brownlow. Page 168. Sydney, Hachette Australia.

Post-war career After his repatriation in 1945, Wood returned to the Australian stage and was active in the Minerva Theatre Players."YOUNG ACTOR IS FORMER POW" The Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 – 1954), Saturday 3 August 1946, Page 6. Retrieved 2 July 2013 He married British actress Phil Buchanan in Melbourne in July 1946"WEDDINGS, ENGAGEMENT" The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), 10 July 1946, Page 6. Retrieved 2 July 2013 and performed in The Hasty Heart and While the Sun Shines for occupying forces in Japan in 1947."SYDNEY'S TALKING ABOUT" The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), Thursday 3 July 1947, Page 14. Retrieved 2 July 2013 By 1949 he had returned to London, and was performing on the stage and radio, several productions having Australian themes."ALL AUSTRALIAN PLAY FOR LONDON THEATRE" The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), Saturday 20 August 1949, Page 3. Retrieved 2 July 2013"KEPT THEIR ACCENT" The Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 – 1954) Saturday 7 January 1950, Page 5. Retrieved 2 July 2013 By 1956, his old battalion newsletter reported he was suffering health problems and living quietly in a village in Spain.Makan – Official Organ of 2/30th Bn. A.I.F. No. 113, 1 June 1956 He died in Australia in 1965.

Filmography

Full Circle (1935) The Girl in the Crowd (1935) The Case of Gabriel Perry (1935) The Last Days of Pompeii (1935) To Catch a Thief (1936) Over She Goes (1937)"JOHN WOOD" The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954) Friday 31 December 1937, p. 20. Retrieved 4 July 2013 Housemaster (1938) Oh Boy! (1938) Hold My Hand (1938) Luck of the Navy (1938) Black Eyes (1939) An Englishman's Home (1940) Stolen Face (1952)Often incorrectly attributed to English actor John Wood born 1930. See

References

External links

Australian War Memorial Collection. Murray Griffin, 1943: "Sergeant John Wood." Painting depicts a portrait of NX65819 Corporal (Sergeant) John Wood, 8 Division Signals, actor, member of Australian concert Party (in charge from September 1943) in 2 Australian Imperial Force, Changi. Australian War Memorial Collection. Murray Griffin, 1943: "Pantomime production, Changi" Australian War Memorial Collection. Murray Griffin, c 1942–1945: "Men of AIF Concert Party Sketch depicts Val Mack, Frazer Harvey, John Wood, Jack Smith, Frank Wood and Jack Geoghegan" Australian War Memorial Collection. Murray Griffin, c 1942–1945: "Men of AIF Concert Party Sketch depicts Doug Peart, Slim de Grey, Fred Brightfield, John Wood, Doug Mathers, Eric Beattie, Harry Smith and Keith Stevens"