Garry George McDonald AO (born 30 October 1948) is an Australian comedian, television host, actor, satirist and mental health activist. In a career spanning six decades he has had many theatre, television and film roles, and has been listed as a National Living Treasure. He is best known as the seemingly naive celebrity interviewer Norman Gunston, through whom he pioneered the "ambush interviewer" technique since followed by many others. He received a Gold Logie award for the television Norman Gunston Show in which he developed the character and is a Logie Hall of Fame inductee. He is also remembered for his role as the hapless Arthur Beare in the television sitcom Mother and Son, and numerous supporting roles in feature films.
Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2003 for service to the community in the mental health field and to the arts as an entertainer, he has been a board member of the Australian mental health organisation Beyond Blue.
Early life McDonald was born in the Sydney beachside suburb of Bondi in 1948. He was educated at Cranbrook School. During his time at Cranbrook, McDonald developed an interest in acting and, despite family objections, went on to study at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), where he was awarded a Diploma in Acting in 1967.
Career Norman Gunston
It was while working on The Aunty Jack Show in 1973, that McDonald first performed the character for which he became best-known, the gauche and inept TV personality Norman Gunston. Gunston's first appearance was in a series of brief sketches which saw him reporting uncomfortably on a "sex-scandal drought" in Wollongong; a drought he eventually breaks by appearing naked on camera.
McDonald further developed the character in the Norman Gunston Show, for which he won a Gold Logie. Gunston's trademark look included a comb over, makeup to make his face deathbed white, and bits of tissue drying on shaving nicks.Day, Christopher. (1975, 18–24 October). And now ... He-e-e-ere's Norman! "The Most Compellingly Awful Program in the History of Television". TV Guide, pp 15–18. The series, which satirised many aspects of Australian culture and show business, was a mixture of live and pre-recorded interviews, awkward musical segments – excruciatingly sung by Gunston himself in the broadest "strine" accent – and continuing comedy sketches such as "Norman's Dreamtime" (in which Norman read stories to a group of children, such as "Why Underpants Ride Up").
Using Gunston's gormless personality as a cover to break down the defences of his "victims", McDonald pioneered the satirically provocative 'ambush interview' technique which was used to great effect in interviews with Paul McCartney, Muhammad Ali, Keith Moon, Leif Garrett, Sally Struthers and Elton John.
As Norman Gunston, McDonald also had a recording career, releasing a string of satirical pop parody records. Gunston's Top 40 hits included his interpretation of the Tom Jones classic "Delilah", the punk rock send-up "I Might Be A Punk But I Love You, Baby" and "KISS Army", a parody of the Kiss single "I Was Made For Loving You". He also appeared onstage with Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney on 20 January 1976, playing harmonica on "The Torture Never Stops". This performance was later released on the 2002 live album FZ:OZ.
Mother and Son McDonald played Arthur Beare in the television series Mother and Son, starring alongside Ruth Cracknell over six seasons from 1984 until 1994. He won the 1994 Gold Logie for his role in the show.
Offspring McDonald joined the cast of the drama series Offspring in 2012 (season 3) and was a series regular. He played Doctor Philip Noonan.
Personal Early in his career he met his wife, actress Diane Craig, during a production of Let's Get a Divorce. They married in 1971. They have two grown children and live in Berry on the New South Wales south coast.
Suffering from both depression and anxiety, McDonald talks openly about his condition. He is an ambassador and former board director of Beyond Blue, an Australian national depression initiative. He also serves as patron of the New South Wales branch of the Anxiety Disorders Foundation of Australia. McDonald is quoted in the press discussing a link between his own anxiety and that of his grandfather and mother.
McDonald's condition first came to the public's attention when he reached a crisis point after a short-lived attempt to revive the Gunston character in 1993. Then again in 1997, McDonald suffered a severe episode during the launch of a new series, Rip Snorters. McDonald's condition also caused him to withdraw from the 2003 production of Patrick Marber's Howard Katz.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Type 2016 The Light Between Oceans William "Bill" Graysmark Feature film 2012 Being Venice Arthur Feature film 2011 Burning Man Dr Burgess Feature film 2010 Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Emerson Blackwood Feature film 2009 A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne Tony Byrne TV film 2007 The King Nicky Whitta TV film 2006 BlackJack: Dead Memory James TV film 2006 Stepfather of the Bride Ari TV film 2005 Marti’s Party Martin Short film 2003 The Rage in Placid Lake Doug Lake Feature film 2002 Rabbit-Proof Fence Mr. Neal Feature film 2001 Moulin Rouge! The Doctor Feature film 2000 Mr. Accident Kelvin Chevalier Feature film 1990 Struck By Lightning Ollie Rennie Feature film 1987 Ghosts Can Do It Max Falcon Feature film 1987 The Place at the Coast Dan Burroughs Feature film 1985 Wills & Burke Robert O'Hara Burke Feature film 1985 Banduk Mr Kool TV film 1982 Molly Jones Feature film 1982 Ginger Meggs John Meggs Feature film 1982 The Pirate Movie Sergeant/Inspector Feature film 1977 The Picture Show Man Lou Feature film 1975 Games for Parents and Other Children TV film 1975 Picnic at Hanging Rock Constable Jones Feature film 1974 Stone Bike Mechanic Feature film 1973 Avengers of the Reef Updike's Aide Feature film 1969 You Can't See 'round Corners One of Terry's gang (uncredited) Feature film 1967 The Quatermass Experiment (NIDA remake) TV film
Television Year Title Role Type TBA Fear of Life Self Documentary 2022 The ABC Of SelfTV series 2015–17 Stop Laughing This is Serious TV series, 5 episodes 2012 Rake Lawrence Fenton TV series, 1 episode 2012 Offspring Phillip Noonan TV series, 33 episodes 2009 Talking Heads TV series 2006 Two Twisted Norm TV series, 1 episode 2004 Enough Rope with Andrew Denton TV series 2004 The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant Reverend Johnson Miniseries, 2 episodes 2002 Bad Cop, Bad Cop Howard Mayes Miniseries, 1 episode 2001–20 Australian Story Self / Norman Gunston TV series, 5 episodes 2000 Love is a Four Letter Word Tom Mattingly TV series, 8 episodes 1999 All Saints Dave Armstrong TV series, 2 episodes 1999 Chuck Finn Tony Rigatoni TV series, 1 episode 1999 Halifax f.p. Alex Goodson TV series, Episode: Someone You Know 1998 Medivac Ernie Sharp TV series, 4 episodes 1996 Rip Snorters Host TV series 1996 Fallen Angels Malcolm Lucas TV series, 20 episodes 1996 Fire Detective Mike Lucas TV series, 2 episodes (Season 2) 1994 G.P. Garry 'Gazza' Weller TV series, 1 episode 1993 Woman in a Lampshade 1992 The Other Side of Paradise Johnson Miniseries, 4 episodes 1991–93 Eggshells Frank Rose TV series 1989 A Funny Thing Happened to Australian Comedy Self TV special 1986 Counting from Six 1985 News Free Zone TV series 1985 Winners Brooks TV series, 1 episode 1984–94 Mother and Son Arthur Beare TV series, 42 episodes 1984 Five Mile Creek Simon Galt TV series, 1 episode 1984 Prime Time TV series 1984 Onstage America Norman Gunston / Self TV series, 4 episodes 1982 Spring & Fall Max Lawrence TV series, 1 episode 1981 Gunston's Australia Norman Gunston TV series 1981 Jimmy Dancer 1977 The Of Show Various characters TV series, 7 episodes 1977 The Garry McDonald Show Self, Norman Gunston, Various TV series, 8 episodes 1975–79 The Norman Gunston Show Norman Gunston TV series, 18 episodes 1975 Wollongong the Brave Kid Eager Miniseries, 4 episodes 1974–75 Matlock Police Stan Smith, Sid Hawkins, Donny Skinner TV series, 3 episodes 1974 Flash Nick from Jindavick Captain Magpie Miniseries, 4 episodes 1974 Division 4 Rev Gareth Davis TV series, 1 episode 1974 Homicide Davo TV series, 1 episodes 1973 The Comedy Game TV series, 2 episodes 1973 The Aunty Jack Show Kid Eager / Norman Gunston TV series, 8 episodes 1973 Over There TV series, 2 episodes 1973 A Brace and a Bit 1972 Snake Gully with Dad and Dave Dave Rudd TV series, 8 episodes 1968 Hunter Ebeling TV series, 1 episode 1967 You Can't See 'Round Corners Young Man TV series, 1 episode
Theatre Year Title Role Type 2008–09 Guys and Dolls Nathan Detroit Princess Theatre & Capitol Theatre, Sydney 2010 Halpern and Johnson Dennis Johnson 2011 November South Australian State Theatre Company 2011 Don's Party 2010 The Grenade 2006 The Give and Take 2005 Two Brothers 2004 Amigos Stephen Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House 2002 Laughter on the 23rd Floor 2001 Stones in His Pockets Director 2001 Up For Grabs 1998 After the Ball 1997 Little Shop of Horrors 1997 Emerald City 1994 Hotspur 1987 Sugar Babies Glengarry Glen Ross Floating World Uncle Vanya Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Awards and honours In 2003, McDonald was appointed an officer of the Order of Australia for service to the community by raising awareness of mental health issues and the effects of anxiety disorders and depression on sufferers and carers, and to the arts as an entertainer.
His popularity among Australians is reflected in his being listed, after public nomination and vote, as a National Living Treasure, someone who has made an outstanding contribution to Australian society in any field of human endeavour.
In 2015, he was a featured subject on the ABC documentary series Australian Story.
In 2020, he appeared on a stamp in the Australia Post Legends of Comedy series.
Awards Year Award Category Result Work Ref. 1976Logie Award New Talent WonThe Norman Gunston Show Gold Logie 1991 Sydney Film Critics Award Best Actor WonStruck by Lightning 1994 Logie Award Most Outstanding Actor WonMother and Son1997 National Trust of Australia National Living Treasure Awarded Garry McDonald Logie Award Hall of Fame Won 2004 Mo Award Male Actor of the Year Won
Art portraits Two portraits of McDonald have won awards at the Archibald Prize. In 1999 a portrait by artist Deny Christian won the Packing Room Prize and, in 2006, Paul Jackson's All the world's a stage won the Peoples Choice Award.The Sun-Herald In 2016, yet another painting of McDonald was a finalist in the Archibald Prize by Kirsty Neilson entitled There's No Humour in Darkness.
References
External links 2002 interview for Australian Story
Garry McDonald at the National Film and Sound Archive Garry McDonald at Screen Australia