John Orcsik

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John Orcsik
Born (1946-05-03) 3 May 1946 (age 79)
Australia
Occupations
  • Actor
  • screenwriter
  • director
  • producer
Years active1967- present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1982;div. 1998)​

John Orcsik (born 3 May 1946), credited also variously as Jon Orcsik, John Orschik, John Orscik and John Crosik, is an Australian television and film actor, screenwriter, director and producer, [1] known for his television roles starting from the late 1960s, but also for the film version of the soap opera Number 96 . He was married to actress Paula Duncan.

Contents

Early life

Orcsik was born in 1946, [2] in Austria to refugee parents [3] and is of Hungarian descent. [1] He was raised and educated in Perth, Western Australia [4] [3] In his teens, he began training in amateur theatre, including playing Biff Loman in Death of a Salesman . [3]

In his early years, he was also a bodybuilder and karate student, and owned and operated a horse riding school in Western Australia. His horse riding skills later coming in handy for television roles in Ben Hall and Tandarra . [5]

Orcsik moved to Sydney to further his acting career. [3]

Career

After relocating to Sydney, Orcsik scored his first job within three weeks, after auditioning for the lead role in a play called The Knack, alongside Jacki Weaver. The production toured to Tasmania. [6] In 1989, he auditioned and was accepted into the Melbourne Theatre Company, where he spent over two years as a contract actor. His agent then encouraged him to return to Sydney, to begin working in film and television. [6]

Orcsik made his screen debut appearing in the rural drama soap opera Bellbird . In 1967, he played various guest roles in the Crawford Productions police dramas Homicide , Division 4 and Matlock Police .

He had a role in television series Number 96 in 1972, and subsequently reprised the role in the feature film version of the serial, in 1973. He later briefly reappeared in the same series, late in its run, playing a different character, this time credited as 'John Crosik'. He also appeared in 1974 film Petersen , and played a minor role in 1975 action film The Man from Hong Kong . [7]

After roles in other Crawford Productions programs, Bluey (1976) and The Sullivans , [7] and an appearance in Chopper Squad (1978), in 1978 Orcsik joined new Crawfords police series Cop Shop early in its run as Detective Mike Georgiou, [7] He had been brought in to replace Tony Bonner but ended up becoming one of the main cast members. [8] He continued in the role until the end of the series in December 1983.

After Cop Shop ended, Orcsik worked as a television scriptwriter, contributing several scripts to the series Prisoner . He also continued acting and throughout the 1980s. He played several roles in television movies and miniseries, including Harvest of Hate (1979), [7] The Hijacking of the Achille Lauro (1989), Displaced Persons (1984), [9] Dadah Is Death (aka A Long Way from Home, 1988) [7] and Kokoda Crescent (1989). Other credits of the 1980s included television series Mission: Impossible (1988) and the film The Edge of Power (1987). With his swarthy Mediterranean appearance, Orcsik was cast as Middle Eastern characters in many of these productions.

He also had roles in such Australian television series such as Zoo Family (1985), [7] Home and Away (1992), [4] Paradise Beach (1993), Lift Off (1995), Pacific Drive (1996), and Medivac (1997). He directed the 1996 TV movie Academy .

Orcsik's later acting appearances include a cameo role as a doctor in miniseries The Day of the Roses (1998) and a recurring role in serial Neighbours (1999–2002), [5] as well as parts in Stingers (2000), [5] Blue Heelers (2002), MDA (2002), The Saddle Club (2003), [5] Always Greener (2002; 2003), Scooter: Secret Agent (2005).

He also appeared in the 2011 TV movie Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away . In 2019, he played the gypsy leader, Alexandru Draghici in "Sorrow Song", a season 5 episode of The Doctor Blake Mysteries .

His most recent credits have been Superwog and New Gold Mountain , both in 2021. [5]

After a request by industry professionals in Queensland, John started film and television acting studio The Australian Film & Television Academy (TAFTA) on the Gold Coast in 1994, coaching many actors including Kodi Smit-McPhee. He has since expanded to Melbourne and Sydney and continues to run classes online and in-person. [10]

Personal life

Orcsik married his Cop Shop co-star Paula Duncan in June 1982 (their characters also married on the series). When Duncan fell pregnant in real life, the producers wrote it into the script. [8] They eventually divorced, but have since worked together on fundraising activities, and later acted together in 1990s series Paradise Beach .

Orcsik and Duncan's daughter, Jessica Orcsik is also an actor and producer. [11]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleType
1972 The Man Who Shot the Albatross TV movie
1974 Petersen WalterFeature film
1974 Number 96' [12] Simon CarrFeature film
1975 The Man from Hong Kong CharlesFeature film
1976Secret DoorsTV movie
1976 The Trespassers CedricFeature film
1976 Murcheson Creek TV movie
1976 Do I Have to Kill My Child? FangTV movie
1978 The Death Train Truck DriverTV movie
1979 Harvest of Hate TerroristTV movie
1985 Displaced Persons MiklosTV movie
1988A Long Way from HomeBrian SpinnelTV movie
1989 The Edge of Power Alex CahillFeature film
1989 The Hijacking of the Achille Lauro Samir Al-quantariTV movie
1989 Kokoda Crescent VinceFeature film
1992AcademyThe StalkerTV movie
1998Casino ReefTV movie
2007The CondemnedBelarus Warden
2009RexJon/JohnTV movie
2011 Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away Ferdi ViganiTV movie
2015 Pawno Tony RobinsonFeature film
2015Crime and PunishmentSutherlandFeature film
2017 The Legend of Ben Hall John KellyFeature film
2018 The BBQ HectorFeature film

Television

YearTitleRoleType
1967 Bellbird TV series
1972 Number 96 Simon CarrTV series
1972 Behind the Legend TV series
1973 Boney Greg PampinoTV series
1972-74 Matlock Police 5 character rolesTV series
1972-75 Division 4 5 character rolesTV series
1974 Number 96 Simon CarrTV series
1974-76 Homicide 4 character rolesTV series
1975Ben HallJohnny GilbertTV miniseries
1976 Tandarra Pat DalyTV miniseries
1977 The Sullivans Father MulcahyTV series
1977 Bluey Dino RossiTV series, 1 episode
1978 Chopper Squad Dave EvansTV series
1984 Special Squad Ted RaffertyTV series
1978-84 Cop Shop Det. Mike GeorgiouTV series
1985 Five Mile Creek Frank MooreTV series
1985 Zoo Family Ken BennettTV series
1986 The Flying Doctors BevanTV series
1987 A Country Practice Sam VenutiTV series
1989 Mission: Impossible Prince ArcadiTV series
1991 Boys from the Bush AngelsTV series
1991 Acropolis Now TheoTV series
1991 Chances Rev. Dwayne RogersTV series
1992 Home and Away Les BagleyTV series
1993 Paradise Beach Mr. JeromeTV series
1994 Time Trax NickTV series
1993-95 G.P. 2 rolesTV series
1996 Pacific Drive Wes SandergardTV series
1997 Medivac Dr. Cliff HoughhanTV series
1998 Misery Guts Mr. GambasoTV series
1998 The Day of the Roses Erica's DoctorTV miniseries
2000 Stingers Hughie PapadakisTV series
2002 Pizza Agent SamTV series
2002 Blue Heelers Don CarsonTV series
2002 MDA Bret IntoshTV series
2003 The Saddle Club CawlinTV series
2003 Always Greener Mario LinguiniTV series
2005 Scooter: Secret Agent MastersTV series
2006 Nightmares and Dreamscapes Stan the CopTV series
2007 Kick BokorTV miniseries
2007 City Homicide Lyndon QuayleTV series
2008 All Saints WardenTV series
2008 Rush Dr. FreemanTV series
2009 Satisfaction EricTV series
2011 Killing Time Supreme Court JudgeTV miniseries
2013Australia on TrialJustice DowlingTV miniseries
2013 Better Man TV miniseries
2015PawnoTony Robinson
2015Crime and PunishmentSutherland
1996-2012 Neighbours VariousTV series
2017 The Doctor Blake Mysteries Alexandru DraghiciTV series
2021 Superwog 2 rolesTV series
2021 New Gold Mountain GregorTV miniseries
In productionBunchieAlfredo CoglioneTV series

Theatre

As actor

YearTitleRoleTypeRef.
Oedipus Parade Theatre, Sydney [9]
Birds of a Feather Playhouse, Perth [7]
Hoddle's Remarkable Handcraft [7]
The Cherry Orchard [7]
1970Cat Among the PigeonsEmile / Man Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC [13]
The Caucasian Chalk Circle [13]
The Devils Bontemps [13]
1971 The Man Who Shot the Albatross Lieutenant Minchin Princess Theatre, Melbourne with MTC [14]
All’s Well That Ends Well MTC [7]
Galileo [7]
King Lear [7]
The Recruiting Officer [7]
Coralie Lansdowne Says No Nimrod, Sydney [7]
Season at Sarsparilla Old Tote Theatre, Sydney [7]
On the Blindside Ensemble Theatre, Sydney [7]
The Sunshine Boys Tour [7]
1988 Bedroom Farce Nick Twelfth Night Theatre, Brisbane, Glen St Theatre, Sydney [7] [15]
1990–1991 Siren RobAustralian national tour [16]

As director

YearTitleRoleTypeRef.
1993Hot TapsDirector Riverside Theatres Parramatta [13]
6 O’Clock HighDirector [14]
Blokes Like HimDirector [14]
Solo ActDirector [14]
Macbeth Director [14]
Tess of the d'Urbervilles Director [14]
Dark of the MoonDirector [14]
The Removalists Director [14]
Dodge CityDirectorParramatta RSL Club [14]

References

  1. 1 2 "Neighbours: The Perfect Blend | John Orcsik" . Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  2. ↑ "John Orcsik". National Film and Sound Archive .
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Australian TV and Film Acting with John Orcsik". IHeartRadio . 15 January 2024.
  4. 1 2 Bergmeier-Varian, Emma (26 November 2015). "John Orcsik back in Perth to uncover talent". The West Australian .
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "How Georgiou stays a jump ahead". TV Times . 25 November 1978.
  6. 1 2
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Bedroom Farce". Theatregold. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Cop Shop". www.memorabletv.com. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Actor Focus: John Orcsik". www.cinemaaustralia.com.au. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  10. ↑ "The Australian Film & Television Academy". www.tafta.com.au. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  11. ↑ "Controversial Title Belies Honest, Everywoman Play". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  12. ↑ Giles, Nigel (March 2021). NUMBER 96: AUSTRALIAN TV's MOST NOTORIOUS ADDRESS". Melbourne Books. ISBN   9781925556001.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "John Orcsik". Theatricalia. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Man Who Shot the Albatross, The (1971)". Theatre Heritage. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  15. ↑ "Bedroom Farce" (PDF). The Trust Vol.12 No.11. December 1988. p. 11.
  16. ↑ "Siren". Theatregold. Retrieved 6 October 2025.

Notes

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