Gerry Connolly | |
---|---|
Born | Gerald William Connolly 15 November 1957 |
Occupation(s) | Actor, writer |
Years active | 1980−present |
Notable work | Fast Forward (1989) The Real Macaw (1998) The Gerry Connolly Show (1988) |
Gerald William Connolly (born 15 November 1957) is an Australian comedian, actor, impressionist and pianist. He is best known for his satirical caricatures of public figures such as former Queen of the United Kingdom Elizabeth II, King Charles III, Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Neville Wran, Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, John Howard, Bill Collins and Dame Joan Sutherland, among many others.
Connolly was born in Rockhampton, Queensland. He studied at, and subsequently graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane, with a Bachelor of Music. [1]
Connolly has gained much notoriety in Australia and the UK, having much success at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and Adelaide Comedy Festival with his hit one-man shows, including Gerry Connolly - Alone or with Others and I, CONnolly. In 1986, his live performances earned him the Wallace 'Comedian of the Year' Award. He has also made many TV appearances, including spots on Fast Forward , Live and Sweaty , Tonight Live with Steve Vizard , Hey Hey Its Saturday and Kath & Kim , as well as his own series, The Gerry Connolly Show.
He played the Headmaster in ABC1's Dead Gorgeous . Connolly appeared as himself in the ninth episode of the 1998 Australia television series The Games (in which he impersonated Bob Hawke). In 2019, Connolly auditioned for Britain's Got Talent impersonating Queen Elizabeth II while roasting the judges. [2] He was eliminated in the 2nd semi-final.
In 1993, Connolly featured in a dramatic role portraying former Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen in the ABC telemovie Joh's Jury . He also had the major role of Lou Rickets in the Australian family film The Real Macaw in 1998, and made a cameo appearance as Father Murphy in The Wog Boy .
Connolly has also had a successful career in the theatre, working with such groups as the Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company and Belvoir St Theatre. He played the role of Mahoney in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s 1999 production of Arturo Ui , which earned him a nomination for a Green Room Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 2022 he played the role of Mr Paravicini in the Australian tour of The Mousetrap . [3]
He has played piano with the Melbourne, Queensland and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, being featured in concerts televised across Australia and the UK.
Year | Title | Role | Type |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | The Gerry Connolly Show | Various characters | TV series, 6 episodes |
1992 | Acropolis Now | Larry ('Wheel of Language' Host) | TV series, 1 episode |
1990–92 | Fast Forward | Various characters / Queen Elizabeth II | TV series, 53 episodes |
Live and Sweaty | TV series | ||
Tonight Live with Steve Vizard | TV series | ||
Hey Hey Its Saturday | TV series | ||
1997 | Australian Story | Presenter | TV series, 1 episode |
1998 | The Games | Himself (as Bob Hawke) | TV series, episode 9 |
1999 | Dog's Head Bay | Tony Du Clos | TV series, 1 episode |
2004 | Kath & Kim | Merrill Streep | TV series, 1 episode |
2007 | Spicks and Specks | Himself | TV series, 1 episode |
2010 | Dead Gorgeous | Headmaster Griffith | TV series |
2015 | Open Slather | Queen Elizabeth II | TV series, 1 episode |
2016 | Fancy Boy | Ian's Dad | TV series, 1 episode |
2018 | Stage Mums | TV series, 4 episodes | |
2019 | Britain's Got Talent | Contestant (impersonating Queen Elizabeth II) | TV series (eliminated in 2nd semi-final) |
2022 | Irreverent | Minister | TV series, 1 episode |
Year | Title | Role | Type |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | Over the Hill | Hank | Feature film |
1993 | Joh's Jury (aka Police State) | Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen | TV movie |
1993 | A Royal Commission into the Australian Economy | Bob Hawke / Prince Charles / Geoffrey Robertson / Queen Elizabeth II | TV movie |
1993 | Camp Christmas | Queen Elizabeth II | TV movie |
1995 | The Search for Christmas | Himself | TV movie |
1998 | The Real Macaw | Lou Rickets | Feature film |
2000 | The Wog Boy | Father Murphy | Feature film |
2000 | The Magic Pudding | Dobson Dorking (voice) | Animated feature film |
2012 | Mystery of a Hansom Cab | Reginald Valpy | TV movie |
Year | Nominated work | Award | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1986 | Gerry Connolly | Wallace 'Comedian of the Year' Award | Won | |
1999 | Arturo Ui | Green Room Award | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated |
2004 | Gerry Connolly | Mo Award | Male Comedy Performer of the Year | Won |
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Sir Johannes Bjelke-Petersen was a conservative Australian politician. He was the longest-serving and longest-lived premier of Queensland, holding office from 1968 to 1987, during which time the state underwent considerable economic development. He has become one of the most well-known and controversial figures of 20th-century Australian politics because of his uncompromising conservatism, political longevity, and the institutional corruption of his government.
The Joh for Canberra campaign, initially known as the Joh for PM campaign, was an attempt by Queensland National Party premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen to become Prime Minister of Australia. The campaign was announced in January 1987 and drew substantial support from Queensland businessmen and some conservative politicians. The campaign caused a split in the federal Coalition. It did not attract widespread support and collapsed in June 1987. The Australian Labor Party, led by Bob Hawke, went on to win the 1987 federal election with an increased majority, gaining its highest-ever number of seats. Bjelke-Petersen came under increasing scrutiny as the Fitzgerald Inquiry gained traction, and was forced out of politics altogether in December 1987.
Michael John Ahern was an Australian National Party politician who was Premier of Queensland from December 1987 to September 1989. After a long career in the government of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Ahern became his successor amid the controversy caused by the Fitzgerald Inquiry into official corruption. Ahern's consensus style and political moderation contrasted strongly with Bjelke-Petersen's leadership, but he could not escape the division and strife caused by his predecessor's downfall.
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The following lists events that happened during 1986 in Australia.
The following lists events that happened during 1987 in Australia.
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Joh for PM is an Australian musical comedy written by Stephen Carleton with music and lyrics by Paul Hodge.
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