Ian Smith (actor)

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Ian Smith
Ian Smith (actor) crop.jpg
Smith in 2001
Born (1938-06-19) 19 June 1938 (age 87)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Other namesIain Smith
Occupations
  • Actor
  • television producer
  • screenwriter
Years active1943–1944; 1958–2025
Known for Neighbours as Harold Bishop
Notable work Prisoner (known internationally as Prisoner: Cell Block H) - Executive Producer Screenwriter - Actor

Ian Smith (born 19 June 1938) [1] is an Australian former actor, television producer and screenwriter.

Contents

Smith is best known for his television roles most especially his lengthy tenure on serial Neighbours as Harold Bishop from 1987 until 1991, he returned as a regular again in 1996 and left in 2009, though has returned in guest parts in 2011, 2015, 2022, 2023 and 2024-2025 respectively. He has also appeared in numerous theatre and pantomimes.

Previously, Smith had appeared on the cult series Prisoner in the recurring roles as Head of the Corrections Department, Ted Douglas. Smith also worked on that series as an executive producer and screenwriter.

In 2023 Smith stated he would make some guest appearances in the relaunch of Neighbours, but also said he was happy to call it a day. However in 2024 he returned to the role. [2] On 2 December 2024, it was announced that Smith would depart Neighbours again after he revealed that he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. [3]

Early life

Smith was born to Peggy Kline in 1938 and first appeared in theatre as a child in 1943 and 1944, resuming is career in the late 1950s. [4] [5]

Career

Early career

Smith having been a theatre performer of some years started appearing in television roles in the late 1960s with guesting roles in drama series for Crawford Productions, in police dramas Homicide , Division 4 , Matlock Police and Bluey .

After having appeared in numerous guest parts in Division 4. he got his major break gaining a regular role in television serial Bellbird ; after this he made a guest appearance in serial The Box in 1975.

He subsequently worked at Reg Grundy Productions with guest parts in there TV drama Glenview High and Chopper Squad

Prisoner

Smith worked concurrently behind the scenes with Grundy's as associate producer and script editor of cult serial Prisoner , but also had a semi-regular role in the series as head of the Corrections Department, Ted Douglas.

Smith was not scheduled to play Ted Douglas, but the actor who had been contracted for the role did not show up on the day of filming and, given his acting experience, the crew said Smith should change hats and get in front of the camera. [6]

Neighbours

Smith became famous through his portrayal of bumbling Harold Bishop in the soap opera Neighbours from 1987 to 1991, returning in 1996. He switched to recurring status from 2008 to 2009, becoming one of the program's longest-serving characters after 2,132 episodes. For his portrayal of Harold, Smith received a nomination for a Gold Logie Award in 2009. In 1989, while he and co-star Anne Charleston were appearing in pantomime in the UK, they recorded the Christmas song "Old Fashioned Christmas". [7]

In December 2010, Ryan Moloney revealed to TV Week that Smith would be returning to Neighbours in 2011. Smith appeared for six weeks from May 2011. [8] Smith returned to Neighbours in 2015, with former co-star Anne Charleston for the 30th anniversary. He also appeared in a documentary celebrating the anniversary titled Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite , which aired in Australia and the UK in March 2015. [9] [10]

In April 2018, Smith admitted that he should have left Neighbours sooner and admits he felt typecast. Smith admitted "he wasn't aware he was becoming 'Harold from Neighbours while he was on the show" and joked that when he auditioned for other roles he would be told "Oh you were in Neighbours, you were Harold, you couldn't possibly be a murdering paedophile". [11]

In February 2022, Laura-Jayne Tyler of Inside Soap reported that Smith would be reprising his role to play a part in the show's finale. [12] Smith has filmed a part in an upcoming film titled Residence, playing Mike the Thaumaturge. [13]

On 2 December 2024, it was announced that Smith would depart Neighbours after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, with executive producer Jason Herbison saying that they would write the character out. Charleston returned for Smith's last Neighbours appearance but as a new character. [3]

I'm a Celebrity

Smith featured in Series 11 of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! to set the camp-mates challenges. He did not join the camp-mates. [14]

Theatre

Smith has also worked in theatre since the late 1950s, including for companies J. C. Williamson's, Tivoli and Melbourne Theatre Company, in roles in productions Merry Widow , Camelot , My Fair Lady , Fiddler on the Roof , Antony and Cleopatra .

Personal life

Although Smith was brought up as a Roman Catholic, [15] in a 2008 interview, he was an atheist. [16]

On 2 December 2024, Smith announced that he had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, resulting in his final departure from Neighbours in early 2025. [3] On 30 December 2024, Smith gave an update to his condition confirming that his tumour had shrunk in size and was still undergoing treatment. [17]

Smith publicly endorsed independent MP Zoe Daniel in the electorate of Goldstein at the 2025 Australian federal election. [18]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
TBAResidenceMike the ThaumaturgeFilm
2009Remembering NigelHimselfFilm
1997 The Last of the Ryans Sir Arthur RylahFilm
1993 Body Melt Dr. CarreraFeature film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2021 How to Stay Married Father MichaelTV series
2010 Underbelly: The Golden Mile Ken WallisTV series
2009The Jesus SpoonBuck Senior
2007 Little Britain Down Under HimselfSpecial thanks
2000Neighbours RevealedHimself
Harold Bishop		TV special
1996 The Genie from Down Under Race JudgeTV series
1994 Blue Heelers Clive BurtonTV series
1987–91, 1996–2009, 2011, 2015, 2022, 2023–2025 Neighbours Harold BishopTV series
1981 I Can Jump Puddles Mr. SladeTV series
1979–86 Prisoner Ted Douglas,
Rev. Potter,
Policeman		TV series (also writer, script editor & associate producer)
1978 Chopper Squad TV series
1977 Glenview High RockyTV series
Bluey Sen. Det. DavidsonTV series
1975 Division 4 Mike ChapmanTV series
Matlock Police BarryTV series
Quality of Mercy TV series
1974 Ryan TV series
Alpha Scorpio UnknownTV series
1972 Homicide Johnny ReidTV series
1971–73 Matlock Police Larry Fisher
Rick Cameron,
David Wishart,
Const. Graham Browning,
Estate Agent,
John Roberts		TV series
1971 Homicide Michael EdmundsTV series
1969DetectiveDick Spencer
1967 Belbird Russell AshwoodTV series
1966 Homicide Ray FoxTV series

Other appearances

YearTitleRoleNotes
2018 Hughesy, We Have a Problem Himself (Celebrity Problem segment)TV series
2015 Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite HimselfTV special
2011 I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Special guestTV series, season 11
2009 Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation HimselfTV series
2005 Australian Story HimselfTV series
2002It Shouldn't Happen to a... SoapstarHimself
2001 The Big Breakfast GuestTV series
1992 Noel's House Party HimselfTV series
1991 Pebble Mill at One HimselfTV series
That's Showbusiness HimselfTV series
1990Happy Birthday, Coronation StreetHimselfTV special

Theatre

References

  1. ↑ "Interview Ian Smith". YouTube .
  2. ↑ David Knox (21 April 2023). "Ian Smith: "I do want to retire"". TV Tonight.com.
  3. 1 2 3 Staff Writer (2 December 2024). "Beloved Neighbours star reveals terminal cancer diagnosis: 'Vey aggressive'". Yahoo Life. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  4. ↑ Elizabeth Gracie (22 May 2025). "Ian Smith says he is "healthier than ever" in candid cancer update".
  5. ↑ "Ian Smith credits".
  6. ↑ Talking Prisoner Cell Block H Interview with Ian Smith Ted Douglas 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtYTgYgBBxE
  7. ↑ Wylie, Ian (9 November 1989). "Everybody loves panto Neighbours". Manchester Evening News . Retrieved 23 December 2024– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  8. ↑ Millar, Paul (28 December 2010). "Harold Bishop returning to Ramsay Street". Digital Spy . Hachette Filipacchi UK . Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  9. ↑ Knox, David (28 February 2015). "Airdate: Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite". TV Tonight . Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  10. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (4 March 2015). "Neighbours 30th anniversary schedule confirmed by Channel 5". Digital Spy . Archived from the original on 5 March 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  11. ↑ Sandwell, Ian (18 April 2018). "Neighbours legend Ian Smith wishes he'd quit Harold Bishop role sooner". Digital Spy . Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  12. ↑ Tyler, Laura-Jayne (26 February – 4 March 2022). "Harold comes home!". Inside Soap . No. 9. p. 13.
  13. ↑ "Cast". Residence the film. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  14. ↑ Dean, Sarah (20 November 2011). "'I'm A Celebrity' Day 7: Ian Smith Joins The Jungle, Things Heat Up Between Emily Scott And Mark Wright, Sinitta Freaks Out AGAIN". The Huffington Post UK . Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  15. ↑ Sale, Jonathan (13 December 2007). "Passed/Failed: An education in the life of Ian Smith, actor in 'Neighbours'". Independent.co.uk . Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  16. ↑ " Ian himself is the longest-serving member of the cast, and fans are often shocked when they meet him, expecting him to be an old fuddy duddy like his famous alter ego. "I can't argue with any of his morals on life," Ian says. "He believes in honesty, in not doing anybody any harm, and doing an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. "As far as those things go, I pretty much base him on my own values, but I swear, I drink booze and I'm an atheist, so I am different to Harold." "Gemma Quaid interviewing Smith, 'Blue skies over Erinsborough', Birmingham Post, 9 February 2008, Features, TV & Radio, p. 32.
  17. ↑ Knox, David (31 December 2024). "Ian Smith shares 'significant' health update | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  18. ↑ "Zoe Daniel gets endorsement from everyone's favourite neighbour". The Age. 2 May 2025. Archived from the original on 2 May 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
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