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Tom Oliver

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For other people with similar names, see Thomas Oliver (disambiguation).

Tom Oliver
Born (1938-06-12) 12 June 1938 (age 86)
Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, England
OccupationActor
Years active1954–2016
Known for
Spouse(s)Lynn Rainbow (1973–?)
Jan Oliver (1985–present)

Tom Oliver (born 12 June 1938)[1] is a British naturalised Australian retired actor.

Oliver is best known locally and internationally for his long-running role in TV soap opera Neighbours as Lou Carpenter, a role he played for 25 years becoming one of the longest serving cast members. Lou was known for his constant sparring with Harold Bishop (played by Ian Smith) and romance with Madge (played by Anne Charlston), as well as his trademark dirty laugh, which Oliver noted was inspired by Sid James.

Oliver was a staple of the small screen from the early 1960s, until retiring in 2016. After appearing in numerous Crawford Productions police precedurals, he took the long term role in rural series Bellbird on the ABC, before starring in Number 96 as Jack Sellers.[2]

Biography

Early life and military

Oliver was born in Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, England and started appearing in amateur theatricals as an adolescent in Britain before pursuing a career as a jockey.[3] However, he failed to gain an apprenticeship owing to his size.

He joined the Merchant Navy at 16 and travelled the world, eventually settling in Sydney in 1956. Whilst in the British Forces, he worked on the Pacific Nuclear Testing Base, Christmas Island and so is a member of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association.[4]

Career

Early career

While in Australia, Oliver found work as a stockman, spending three years in this job, working his way around the country. He subsequently returned to the UK before beginning an overland trek across Asia to return to Australia. However, the journey was halted by illness and Oliver returned to Britain where he contacted Albert Finney who was then planning to produce the film Ned Kelly in Australia in 1963. Finney gave him a letter of introduction to an agency in Sydney and Oliver emigrated in 1963, later becoming an Australian citizen. He frequently visits Fareham, Hampshire to see his old friends.[5]

Oliver became a busy theatre and television actor in Australia. He had many guest starring roles on Australian drama series, appearing frequently in the top-rated Crawford Productions police dramas Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police, and in Crawford's adventure series Hunter (1967). He played Clarry in The Shifting Heart.[6]

Oliver was then cast in serial Bellbird, playing the role of Tom Grey from 1969 to 1971, and appeared in the 1971 film Nickel Queen, directed by John McCallum. After this he returned to television guest roles for Crawfords, and other companies.[7] He also appeared in several British TV series at the beginning of the 70's, such as Paul Temple, Thirty-Minute Theatre, and also played two roles in the Gerry Anderson series UFO – a doctor in the episode entitled "Confetti Check A-OK" as well as a SHADO technician in the episode entitled "The Sound of Silence".

Oliver also worked for a time as a presenter on Play School[8] in 1967.

Number 96

In 1972 he joined the cast of fledgling soap opera Number 96 playing the role of Janie Somers' new beau, Jack Sellars. Back-slapping rough diamond Jack, nicknamed 'Jolly Jack Sellars' was intended as a guest character to appear for a run of just three weeks, but the makers of the show were impressed with his performance and the character was made into an ongoing lead regular in the serial. Oliver became one of the Number 96's most popular cast members.

In late 1973, along with much of the show's regular cast, he reprised his television role in a feature film spinoff of the serial, also called Number 96. Oliver stayed in the role in the series for more than two years, finally electing to leave in mid-1974. He quickly returned to guest starring roles on television and film roles of varying sizes. He briefly returned to Number 96 in the same role in September 1975.

Further film and television

Oliver's film roles included ABBA: The Movie (1977). His primary role in the film is as ABBA's gruff bodyguard; however, he additionally appears in the film as a barman and as a chatty moustached taxi driver shown mainly from behind. Through the late 1970s and the 1980s, Oliver appeared in guest and regular roles in many Australian drama series and serials, including Prisoner, Holiday Island, Cop Shop, Sons and Daughters and A Country Practice. He also appeared in the acclaimed miniseries The Dismissal portraying Reg Withers.

Stage

Oliver also acted on the stage in numerous productions, appearing in such plays as The Knack, Cactus Flower, How the Other Half Loves and The Club.[7]

Personal life

During his run in Number 96, Oliver married fellow cast mate Lynn Rainbow, who played Sonia Vansard, and opened a wine bar in Kensington, Sydney cunningly named Jack's Cellar.

Oliver has been married to his current wife Jan since 1985. Whilst acting on Neighbours, he owned a Maltese Shih Tzu called Lou.[5] He is a keen gardener and mountain fisher.[9]

Neighbours

Today Oliver is best known for his long-running role of Lou Carpenter in Neighbours. He first appeared for a handful of episodes as lovable rogue used-car salesman Lou, Madge Bishop's former flame, in 1988. In early 1992 the character was reintroduced to the series and was a key character until 2016. Oliver was written out of the show in 1996 but producers relented after numerous petitions from fans and he was quickly reintroduced. By 2009, he was the show's longest serving character, both in continuous and overall duration. From the 2009 season, Oliver reduced his role on Neighbours to a part-time regular member of the cast. Oliver appeared in a documentary special celebrating the show's 30th anniversary titled Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite, which aired in Australia and the UK in March 2015.[10][11] In 2015, it was announced that Oliver had cut back further on his role as Lou and would only appear from time to time as a guest. In October 2016 it was announced that Oliver had left the role after 24 years and his last appearance aired in December 2016.[12]

Lou did not feature in the series finale,[13] but there was still a reference to his character in the form of a lawyers' office called "T Oliver".[14] Executive producer Jason Herbison later revealed that he had personally called Oliver to inquire about returning for the final episode, but Oliver turned it down as he was "at a different point in his life now".[15]

Awards

Oliver has been nominated for the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role three times.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1963 Summer Holiday Feature film
1966 They're a Weird Mob Barbecue chef's friend Feature film
1966 Point of Danger TV film
1969 Color Me Dead Dr. McDonald Feature film
1970 Adam's Woman Stacey Film
1970 Paul Temple Eddy Bates TV film
1971 Nickel Queen Roy Olding Feature film
1974 Number 96 Jack Sellars Film
1975 That Coffee Lady From Peking Coffee Shop Man
1977 Going Home TV film
1977 ABBA: The Movie Bodyguard, Bartender, Taxi driver Feature film
1977 Say You Want Me Photographer TV film
1978 Because He's My Friend Ian TV film
1983 High Country Frank Stacey TV film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1964 Consider Your Verdict TV series, season 1, episode 145: "Queen Versus Langdon"
1965 Adventure Unlimited Bill Malone TV series, 2 episodes
1966 Australian Playhouse Mr Carruthers TV series, season 1, episode 16: "Done Away With It"
1967 Love and War TV miniseries, episode 2: "Sergeant Musgrave's Dance"
You Can't See 'Round Corners TV series, 3 episodes
Contrabandits Nicholls TV series, 3 episodes
1968 Hunter Hans Felburg TV series, season 1, episode 26: "The Hans Felburg File"
1969 Riptide Dave Todd / Bruno / Mike Hallett TV series, 3 episodes
Good Morning Mr Doubleday TV series, season 1, episode 9: "A Friend in Need"
1969–71 Bellbird Tom Grey TV series, 83 episodes
1969; 1970 Skippy the Bush Kangaroo Craig / Tex n Ranger TV series, 2 episodes
1970 Thirty-Minute Theatre David TV series, season 5, episode 23
Paul Temple Eddy Bates season 2, 1 episode: "Right Villian"
1970; 1972 Homicide Jason Williams / Jack Smith / Jeff Roberts TV series, 3 episodes
1970–75 Division 4 Arnie Cooper / Jimmy Harrison / George Morris / Robert Hill / Porter TV series, 5 episodes
1971 UFO Doctor / 1st technician TV series, season 1, 2 episodes
The Group TV series, season 1, episode 4: "This Week She's Romantic"
Dynasty Tom Fenwick TV series, 3 episodes
1971; 1975 Matlock Police Charlie / Alexis Katsavakis / Neil O'Brian / Roy Martin TV series, 4 episodes
1972–75 Number 96 Jack Sellars TV series, 105 episodes
1973 Spyforce Brian Dorsey TV series, season 1, episode 36: "The Misfits"
1975 Ben Hall Long Tom Coffin TV miniseries, 5 episodes
1976 Silent Number Stanton TV series, season 1, episode 39: "Paula"
1976–80 King's Men Detective Sgt. Peter Weston TV series, 13 episodes
1977 The Outsiders Artie Fraser TV series, season 1, episode 12: "Ambush"
Glenview High Mick TV series, season 1, episode 12: "Plumber's Boy"
The Dick Emery Show in Australia Various characters TV series
1978 The Truckies TV series, season 1, episode 1: "Running In"
1978–83 Cop Shop Brian Matthews / George Burton / Albert Cobb / Vinny Pratt / Peter Mitchell TV series, season 1, 10 episodes
1979 Skyways Scott Honeyman TV series, season 1, episode 180: "Tippett the Pilot"
1980–81 Prisoner (aka Prisoner: Cell Block H) Ken Pearce TV series, 14 episodes
1980; 1984 Kingswood Country Gerald Holmes / Clive Lomas TV series, 2 episodes
1981–82 Holiday Island Wally Simmons TV series, 64 episodes
1982 Sons and Daughters Andrew Brooks TV series, season 1, episode 279
1983 The Dismissal Liberal Senator Reg Withers TV miniseries, 3 episodes
Patrol Boat Inspector Forest TV series, season 2, episode 9: "Operation Christmas"
1983–87 A Country Practice Ross Irving / Ray Gardner / Stuart Moore / Henry Gill TV series, 10 episodes
1984 The Explorers Sir Thomas Mitchell TV documentary series, season 1, episode 5: "Australia Felix"
Special Squad Tobin TV series, season 1, episode 3: "Code of Silence"
1986 Call Me Mister Bruce TV series, season 1, episode 1: "Longshot"
1988 The Beachcombers Reporter TV series, season 16, episode 14: "Local Heroes"
The Dirtwater Dynasty Our Dad TV miniseries, 1 episode
1988; 1992–2016 Neighbours Lou Carpenter TV series, 2,821 episodes
1989 Hey Dad..! Waiter TV series, season 3, episode 37: "The Cluck of the Draw"
1992 Mother and Son Sergeant TV series, season 5, episode 6: "The Baby"

Appearances (as self)

Year Title Role Type
Play School Host TV series
1967 Is Anybody Doing Anything About It? Himself
1971 Tempo: In the Seventies Commentator
1976 The Celebrity Game Contestant TV series
1979 The Great Train Robbery Performer
1995 Neighbours: A 10th Anniversary Himself / Lou Carpenter TV documentary special
1996 Burke's Backyard Celebrity Gardener TV series
1996 National Television Awards Himself Awards show
2000 Neighbours Revealed Himself TV documentary special
2008 Neighbours on Five
2012 This Morning Himself
2012 The Wright Stuff Guest Panelist TV series
2013 Celebrity Juice Himself TV series
2015 Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite Himself / Lou Carpenter TV documentary special

As producer

Year Title Role Type
1987 The Right Hand Man Producer

Theatre

Year Title Role Venue / Co.
1965 The Knack Tolen Phillip Street Theatre
1965 The Birthday Party Independent Theatre, Sydney
1965 The Business of Good Governance Assembly Hall, Sydney with Q Theatre Company
1965 Where Did Vortex Go? St Alban's War Memorial Hall, Sydney, Killara Soldiers Memorial Hall, Sydney with Community Theatre Company Limited
1966 Cactus Flower Harvey Theatre Royal, Sydney, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
1967 The Homecoming UNSW, Old Tote Theatre, Canberra Theatre
1968 The Shifting Heart Clarrie ABC TV Studios, Melbourne (live broadcast as part of Wednesday Theatre)
1971 Three Months Gone Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
1976 A Handful of Friends Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
1977 Away Match Tony Piper Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
1978 The Club Playhouse Theatre, Perth with MTC
1978 Fathers Day Tom Mayfair Theatre, Sydney, Total Theatre, Melbourne
1980 Family Circles Ted Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
1982 Night and Day George Guthrie Marian Street Theatre, Sydney, Canberra Theatre
1982 The Price Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1984 Season's Greeting's Neville Marian Street Theatre, Sydney with Northside Theatre Company
1986 Otherwise Engaged Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
1988 Breaking the Code Northside Theatre, Sydney
1988; 1989 Time and Time Again Ensemble Theatre, Sydney for Sydney Festival
1989 Curtains Northside Theatre, Sydney
1989 How the Other Half Loves Glen Street Theatre, Sydney, Laycock Street Theatre, Gosford, University of Sydney, Twelfth Night Theatre, Brisbane, Gold Coast Arts Centre, New Independent Theatre, Auckland
1990 A Night with Robinson Crusoe Ensemble Theatre, Sydney for Sydney Festival
1990–1991 Noises Off Lloyd Dallas Glen Street Theatre, Sydney, Twelfth Night Theatre, Brisbane, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Gold Coast Arts Centre, Nambour, Bundaberg, Ayr, Cairns, Mackay, Townsville, Comedy Theatre, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Regal Theatre, Perth with Theatre of Comedy

[16]

References

  1. ^ Mark (27 February 2007). "The Inane Babble of a Backpacker: Mission Accomplished!!!". The Inane Babble of a Backpacker. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  2. ^ Giles, Nigel. Number 96: Australia Most infamous Address
  3. ^ "Neighbours: The Perfect Blend | Interview: Tom Oliver". The Perfect Blend. 21 March 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  4. ^ "BBC – Neighbours – Who's who Page 3". 15 April 2005. Archived from the original on 15 April 2005. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  5. ^ a b "BBC – Neighbours – Who's who Page 5". 21 March 2005. Archived from the original on 21 March 2005. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  6. ^ Vagg, Stephen (7 June 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: The Shifting Heart". Filmink. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  7. ^ a b Atterton, Margot. (Ed.) The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Australian Showbiz, Sunshine Books, 1984. ISBN 0-86777-057-0 p 170
  8. ^ "Neighbours: The Perfect Blend | Interview: Tom Oliver". perfectblend.net. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  9. ^ "BBC – Neighbours – Who's who Page 4". 21 March 2005. Archived from the original on 21 March 2005. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  10. ^ Knox, David (28 February 2015). "Airdate: Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  11. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (4 March 2015). "Neighbours 30th anniversary schedule confirmed by Channel 5". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  12. ^ Knox, David (25 October 2016). "Tom Oliver departing Neighbours". TV Tonight.
  13. ^ Rodger, James (30 July 2022). "Every Neighbours star who was 'snubbed' in finale as fans left devastated". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  14. ^ Williams, Kathryn (30 July 2022). "Fans love Neighbours final's sweet nod to Lou Carpenter absence". WalesOnline. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  15. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (2 August 2022). "Neighbours boss addresses finale mysteries". Digital Spy.
  16. ^ [:http://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/3389 "Tom Oliver"]. AusStage database. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
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