Graeme Blundell (born 7 August 1945) is an Australian actor, director, producer, writer, playwright, lyricist and biographer.
Early life Blundell was born on 7 April 1945 in Melbourne; he grew up in the suburb of Clifton Hill. He was educated at Merrilands College and Coburg High School, where he served as a Prefect. He then studied arts at the University of Melbourne, where he resided at Ormond College and became involved in student theatre. He has a younger brother, Dennis, and two younger sisters, Margaret and Kathryn.
Career In his early years, Blundell worked at La Mama Theatre, the Pram Factory, Hoopla, the Playbox Theatre Company, and the Melbourne Theatre Company. He directed and acted in the premiere performance of Jack Hibberd's play Dimboola at La Mama. His first television appearance was as an uncredited extra in the debut episode of Homicide (1964). He is best known as playing the title character in the 1973 sex-comedy film Alvin Purple and its 1974 sequel, Alvin Rides Again.
He has written extensively in The Australian newspaper as well as writing biographies of Brett Whiteley (Brett Whiteley: An Unauthorised Life, 1996, with his then wife Margot Hilton), and Graham Kennedy.
From March 2011, Blundell hosted Sunday Night at the Movies with Graeme Blundell on Foxtel's Fox Classics channel.
On 29 January 2015, Margaret Pomeranz signed with Foxtel to present a new film and television program on Foxtel Arts, along with Graeme Blundell, a series called Screen. The series was renewed in 2018. , Blundell continues to appear in Screen, and past episodes are uploaded to YouTube. He is also TV writer for The Australian newspaper.
Personal life Blundell has been married to playwright Kerry Dwyer, author Margot Hilton, and journalist Susan Kurosawa.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Type 1965 Watt’s Last Voyage Short film 1966 The Garden of Eden in Winter Short film 1968 The Girl-Friends Short film 1969 Two Thousand Weeks Journalist (uncredited)1970 The Naked Bunyip Himself Documentary Film Brake Fluid Short film1971 Carson’s Watermelons Short film Stork Westy Feature film 1973 Alvin Purple Alvin Purple Feature film1974 Alvin Rides Again Alvin Purple / Balls McGee Feature film Three Old Friends Ron Short film1976 Mad Dog Morgan Italian Jack The Sentimental Bloke The Bloke Don's Party Simon 1978 Weekend of Shadows Bernie1979 The Odd Angry Shot Dawson Kostas John 1980 Going Home Jim TV movie1981 Pacific Banana Martin Doctors and Nurses Mr X 1982 The Best of Friends Tom 1983 Midnite Spares Sidebottom 1984 Melvin, Son of Alvin Alvin Purple 1985 From Opera with Love Self TV movie 1986 Australian Dream Geoffrey Stubbs 1987 Those Dear Departed Dr. Howie Feature film (aka Ghosts Can Do It!) The Year My Voice Broke Nils Olson Feature film 1992 The Distant Home Dr Chambers Short film 1993 Joh's Jury Nicholas Cowdery TV movie 1994 Gino Larry Stone 1996 Idiot Box Detective Eric Feature film 1999 Looking for Alibrandi Ron Bishop Feature film 2000 The Love of Lionel's Life Stan TV movie 2002 Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones Ruwee Naberrie Feature film (scenes deleted) 2005 Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith Ruwee Naberrie Feature film 2009 In Her Skin Ivan
Television Year Title Role Type 1964-77 Homicide John Clark / George Jackson / Duncan / Jason Nash / Tony Guest / Mick Thompson / Freddy Hall / Hazy TV series, 12 episodes 1969-73 Division 4 Reg White / John Wilson / Alec Mason / Tom Blackett / Jimmy Richard / Ray Cooper / Roy Brown / Jerry Fletcher TV series, 11 episodes 1972 A Time for Love Adam TV series, 1 episode 1973 Ryan Slade / Flip Mitchell TV series, 2 episodes 1974 Matlock Police Jim Andrews TV series, 1 episode Marion Drunk Miniseries, 1 episode Behind the Legend Ray Parer TV series, 1 episode The Box Don Cook TV series, 162 episodes 1976 Power Without Glory Snoopy Tanner Miniseries, 3 episodes Alvin Purple Alvin Purple TV series, 13 episodes 1978-82 Cop Shop Various characters TV series, 14 episodes 1980 Young Ramsay Bob O’Hara TV series, 1 episode Lawson's Mates TV series, 1 episode Spring & Fall Garth TV series, 1 episode Water Under the Bridge Ralph Miniseries, 1 episode 1982-84 Kingswood Country Warren Florin / Doug C. Horse TV series, 2 episodes 1983-84 A Country Practice Antony York / Hilton Mercer TV series, 4 episodes 1984 Brass Monkeys Noddy TV series 1987 Vietnam Miles TV series, 2 episodes 1988 Richmond Hill Mick Fryer TV series 1989 Rafferty's Rules Bill Wiley TV series, 1 episode 1992 G.P. Dr Peter Swift TV series, 1 episode 1996 Naked: Stories of Men Hughie TV series, 1 episode 1996-97 Fire Snr. Station Officer Druce TV series, 35 episodes Medivac Harry Edwards TV series, 35 episodes 1998 Murder Call Morgan Mason TV series, season 2, episode 9: Deadfall2001 All Saints Peter Hurst TV series, 1 episode Pizza Judge TV series, 1 episode 2002 The Secret Life of Us Alex’s Dad TV series, 1 episode2003 Ocean Star Clive ‘Swampy’ Marsh TV series, 10 episodes Marking Time Ralph Dave Miniseries 2004 Through My Eyes Rex Kuchel Miniseries, 2 episodes 2007 Chandon Pictures John TV series, 1 episode 2008 The Hollowmen Geoff TV series, 3 episodes 2009 East West 101 Shock Jock TV series, 2 episodes 2011 Underbelly Jack Long TV series, 2 episodes Sunday Night at the Movies Host TV series 2011-12 Laid Graham McVie TV series, 12 episodes 2015-2021 Screen Co-presenter (alongside Margaret Pomeranz) TV series 2018 Saturday Night at the Movies Host TV series
Theatre Year Title Role Type 1969 Dimboola Mutton La Mama Theatre (premiere performance)Also director
Writing Brett Whiteley: An Unauthorised Life, with Margot Hilton (Macmillan, 1996) King: The Life and Comedy of Graham Kennedy (Pan Macmillan, 2003) Australian Theatre: Backstage with Graeme Blundell (edited) (Oxford University Press, 1997) The Naked Truth: A Life in Parts (Hachette Australia, 2008) The Australian newspaper - TV writer
References
External links Graeme Blundell at the National Film and Sound Archive