Raymond Charles Barrett (2 May 19278 September 2009) was an Australian actor. During the 1960s he was a leading actor on British television, in which he was best known for his appearances in The Troubleshooters (1965–1971). From the 1970s onward he appeared in lead and character roles in Australian films and television series.
Early life Barrett was born on 2 May 1927 in Brisbane, Queensland and was educated at Windsor State Primary School and at Brisbane State High School. Fascinated by radio from an early age, he won an on-air talent competition in 1939 at the age of 12 for an eisteddfod that was broadcast on 4BH radio, with a musical monologue about a dog called "Paddy". This was to place him on a path different from his dream of becoming a boatbuilder.
In 1949, Barrett was initiated into Freemasonry as an initiate and member of Empire Lodge #197 of the United Grand Lodge of Queensland.
Acting career Along with Tatjana Hitrina, Rosemary Stevenson and Betty Ross, Barrett was in the play Cockpit. The production, which ran from 18 June to 21 June 1952, was produced by Babette Stephens and ran at the Albert Hall in Brisbane.La Boite Theatre – Gallery, The Brisbane Repertory Theatre Presents Cockpit By Bridget BolandBrisbane Telegraph, Wednesday, June 18, 1952 - Page 23 Women's Interest, COSTUMES will be of minor importance in the Repertory Theatre's play "Cockpit." which will be presented in the Albert Hall tonight. United Kingdom Ray Barrett first appeared on radio in Brisbane, and later in Sydney, to where he moved in 1954. In 1957, he moved to Britain, where his background as a singer earned him a part in a revue alongside Beryl Reid, Patrick Wymark and Sheila Hancock.The Timeless Land, TV guide compiled by Kate Reid, photographs by Martin Webby, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, page 56, Sydney, 1980,
Owing to his supposedly tough look, Barrett was given character and tough guy roles from an unusually young age. In Britain, he played one of the lead roles in the TV series Emergency Ward 10 and later one of the main characters, the hard-nosed oil worker Peter Thornton, in the long-running BBC series The Troubleshooters.
While Barrett mostly appeared in television, he also made several films including Hammer's The Reptile (1966).
He also voiced characters in Gerry Anderson-produced "Supermarionation" series of the 1960s: Stingray (1964–65), as Commander Shore and Titan, and Thunderbirds (1965–66) as John Tracy, the Hood and various extras. Also in 1965, he appeared as Bennett/Koquillion in the Doctor Who serial The Rescue.Howson, Spencer: Ray Barrett's Dr Who Episodes Released on DVD , ABC Radio and Regional Content, 11 May 2009. He also appeared as a bankrupt businessman in a 1972 edition of Public Eye.
Australia In later years, Barrett starred in film and TV roles in his native Australia, living on Stradbroke Island, Queensland during the 1970s. He appeared as the Prime Minister (a character who is assassinated) in Burn the Butterflies, and as a miner in Golden Soak. In 1980, he played the part of the controversial Australian historical figure Governor Bligh in the ABC Television production The Timeless Land. He had secondary roles in many other productions, including Something in the Air. He had the "role of a lifetime" as the lead in Goodbye Paradise.
Barrett also appeared in such films as Don's Party and The Carmakers (about the 1973 release of the Leyland P76 car, co-starring Noel Ferrier and Nick Tate). In 2005, he received an Australian Film Institute Longford Life Achievement Award.AFI Raymond Longford Award , Australian Film Institute.
Death Barrett died on 8 September 2009 at the Gold Coast Hospital in Southport, Queensland, aged 82, after suffering a brain haemorrhage.Veteran Actor Ray Barrett Dies at 82, Herald Sun, 8 September 2009. His final acting appearance had been in the 2008 film Australia.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Type 1954 The Desperate Women Agent 1960 The Sundowners Uncredited 1961 Touch of Death Maxwell 1962 Mix Me a Person Insp. Wagstaffe Jigsaw Sgt. Gorman 1963 80,000 Suspects Health Inspector Bennett 1964 Valley of the Kings Mr. Marsh 1966 The Reptile Harry George Spalding Thunderbirds Are Go John Tracy / The Hood (voice) 1967 Just Like a Woman Australian 1971 Revenge Harry 1972 Peer Gynt Button moulder 1973 Little Laura and Big John Cates 1975 The Amorous Milkman John The Hostages Joe Blake 1976 Don's Party Mal Let the Balloon Go Dr. McLeod 1978 The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith Farrell 1979 Tim Man outside hotel (uncredited) 1980 The Earthling Parnell 1982 A Shifting Dreaming A Dangerous Summer F.C.O. Webster 1983 Goodbye Paradise Michael Stacy 1984 Where the Green Ants Dream Cole 1985 The Empty Beach MacLeary Rebel Bubbles Relatives Geoffrey 1987 Frenchman's Farm Harry Benson Contagion Bael 1988 As Time Goes By J.L. Weston 1990 Prisoners of the Sun (aka Blood Oath) President of the Bench 1991 Waiting Frank 1994 No Worries Old Burkey 1995 Hotel Sorrento Wal Moynihan Dad and Dave: On Our Selection Dwyer Singapore Sling: Old Flames 1996 Brilliant Lies Brian Connor Hotel de Love Jack Dunne 1997 Heaven's Burning Cam 1998 In the Winter Dark Maurice Stubbs 2002 Dalkeith Tarquin St John Smythe 2003 Visitors Bill Perry 2008 Australia Ramsden (final film role)
Television Year Title Role Type 1957 The Adventures of Long John Silver Paul 1959 Educating Archie Ray 1960 Armchair Mystery Theatre Detective-Sergeant Cullen Anthology series 1960–1961 Emergency Ward 10 Dr. Don Nolan 1960–1962 Armchair Theatre Alan Whint / Donnie / Ben Anthology series1962 Out of This World Dr. Alan Whint Man of the World Charlie West Scales of Justice: Moment of Decision Anthology series, episode 3 1962–1963 Edgar Wallace Mysteries Henry Fraser / Sammy 2 episodes: "Time to Remember", "To Have and to Hold" 1962–1965 Drama 61–67 Captain Murchison Anthology series1963 The Avengers Strong Z-Cars Len Wilson ITV Playhouse Larry Ransome TV play First Night Frank Angelo 1963–1964 ITV Play of the Week Sergeant Weston / Jack Bailey TV play Ghost Squad Peter Clarke / Mr. Hicks 1963–1965 No Hiding Place Johnny Crown / Larry Hobbs 1964 The Saint Willie Kinsall 1964–1965 The Brothers Karamazov Mitya Karamazov Stingray Commander Sam Shore / Sub-Lieutenant John Horatio Fisher / King Titan (voice) 1964–1974 Dixon of Dock Green Phil Burgh / Nat Singer 1965 Doctor Who Bennett / Koquillion Thursday Theatre Jacko Anthology series BBC Play of the Month Knight Anthology series Blackmail Patek Gideon C.I.D. 1965–1966 Thunderbirds John Tracy / The Hood / Lieutenant Burroughs / Various characters (voice) 1965–1972 Mogul Peter Thornton 1966 The Spies Walker The Man in Room 17 Al Gover 1967 Till Death Us Do Part Self Episode: "Till Closing Time Us Do Part" 1969 The Corbett Follies 1972 Public Eye Melville Hayden-Peters Episode: "The Bankrupt" 1973 Churchill's People Leo Hennessey 1974 Barlow at Large Johnny Duchene The Adventures of Black Beauty T. Otis Waygood Colditz Flt. Lt. Jack Collins The Double Dealers Geoffrey Burch 1976 Arena Col Burrows Miniseries The Outsiders Harry 1976–1977 Moynihan 1978 Run from the Morning Detective Sergeant Grogon Miniseries, 6 episodes No Room to Run Jack Deakin TV movie1979 Golden Soak Alec Hamilton Miniseries Burn the Butterflies Prime Minister TV movie1980 The Timeless Land Governor Bligh Miniseries Departmental TV movie1981 Levkas Man Miniseries Sporting Chance Robbo The Last Bastion Gen. Thomas Blamey Miniseries1984 Five Mile Creek Harry Waterfront Sam Elliott Miniseries Conferenceville TV movie1986 The Flying Doctors Frank Watson Tusitala Harry Moors Miniseries The Challenge Robert McCullough Miniseries 1989 G.P. Rex Mitchell 2 episodes 1990 The Paper Man Maurice Grimm Miniseries1995 Correlli Harry Powell Bordertown Colonel Forsythe Miniseries 1996 Fire Charles 1997 Medivac 2000 Something in the Air Len Taylor Stingers Mr. Rafferty 2003 White Collar Blue Barry Hill After the Deluge Old Cliff Kirby Miniseries 2004 All Saints Doc Connelly 1 episode
References
External links
Ray Barrett Collection 1927-2007, State Library of Queensland - Collection of papers, scrapbooks, visual and audiovisual material relating to the life and career of Ray Barrett.