Michael Caton

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Michael Caton
Michael Caton (34097004866).jpg
Caton in 2017
Born (1943-07-21) 21 July 1943 (age 81)
Monto, Queensland, Australia
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, television presenter
Years active1969–present
SpouseHelen Esakoff

Michael Caton (born 21 July 1943) is an Australian actor, comedian and television host, best known for playing Uncle Harry in the Australian television series The Sullivans , Darryl Kerrigan in 1997's low-budget hit film The Castle , and Ted Taylor in the television series Packed to the Rafters .

Contents

Early life

Caton was born in Monto, Queensland, [1] was educated in Gympie at St Patrick's College, a Boarding School, where he had his first experience as an actor, and then grew up in Woolloongabba, Brisbane. [2]

Media career

Television

In 1976, Caton starred as Uncle Harry Sullivan in the long running Channel 9 war family drama The Sullivans.

Caton starred in the Australian drama series Five Mile Creek from 1983 until 1985. He then appeared in the risqué 1990s soap opera Chances (in 1991 and 1992).

Since 1999, Caton has hosted two lifestyle programs – Hot Property and Hot Auctions – on the Seven Network until 2009, and Channel Nine since 2010.

In 2005, he was a contestant on the third series of the Australian version of Dancing with the Stars .

He was in the Channel 7 dramedy Packed to the Rafters , playing Ted Taylor, father of Julie Rafter, and grandfather to all the grandchildren and their partners.

Caton works with the Queensland rugby league team as 'cultural ambassador', a role which he inherited from deceased long-time team manager Dick Turner. [3]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1969 Skippy Young Man1 episode (#3.83 El Toro)
1970 Division 4 Steve1 episode (#69 The Man from Lightning Ridge)
1970–74 Homicide Bruce Perkins / Ambrose2 episodes (#247 A Time for Grieving / No. 403 A Thing of the Past)
1974 Ryan Claude1 episode (#1.37 Goodbye Holly Beckett)
1976 King's Men Joey Oslow1 episode (#1.10 Public Enemy Number 1)
1976–77 The Sullivans Uncle Harry Sullivan737 episodes
Holiday Island Charlie WatsonTV series, 1 episode
1982–93 A Country Practice Max Grainger / Dwayne, Trev & Lennie Kerby / Clive Bradley / Malcolm Fellows8 episodes
1983 The Weekly's War Les HaylenTV miniseries
1983–85 Five Mile Creek Paddy Malone38 episodes
1987 The Flying Doctors Noel Farley1 episode (#2.22 Every Day a Gift)
1988 Home and Away Barry Davenport2 episodes (#1.61/#1.63)
1988 Hey Dad..! Chris Gordon1 episode (#2.33 VW for Sale)
1991 Chances Bill Anderson
1993 Paradise Beach Ken Hayden1 episode (#1.139)
1996 G.P. Michael Ree1 episode (#8.7 New Confusions)
1997 Heartbreak High Barney1 episode (#4.24)
1997 Blue Heelers Ken Norse1 episode (#4.6 Fowl Play)
1998 Wildside Brian Savini1 episode (#1.15)
1998 All Saints Bob Parkin6 episodes
1999 Stingers Benny1 episode (#1.11 Ten Feet Tall and Bullet Proof)
1999–current Hot Property / Hot AuctionsHimselfHost
1999 All-Star Squares SelfPanellist
2000 The Track Voice overTV documentary
2001 Always Greener Jack1 episode (#1.8 Dog Days)
2002 Dossa and Joe Joe Bailey6 episodes
2002–03 Bad Cop, Bad Cop Detective Sergeant Red Lilywhite8 episodes
2002 The Weakest Link SelfContestant – Celebrity Special episode
2003 The Fat Self1 episode (#6.16)
2005 Dancing with the Stars Self5 episodes, series 3
2006 How the Hell Did We Get Here? Self2 episodes
2008–2013 Packed to the Rafters Ted Taylor111 episodes
2018 Underbelly Files: Chopper Keith Read2 episodes
2021 Back to the Rafters Ted Taylor6 episodes

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
1972 Private Collection
1979 The Last of the Knucklemen Monk
1981 Hoodwink Shapley
1982 Fluteman Oswald Snaith
1982 Monkey Grip Clive
1986 Great Expectations, the Untold Story TravisTV movie
1988 The 13th Floor Dr Fletcher
1988 Joe Wilson Dave ReganTV mini-series
1990 The Paper Man Leonard WebbTV mini-series
1990 Shadows of the Heart Frank BarrettTV movie
1996 The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years Bill MastersTV movie
1997 The Castle Darryl Kerrigan
1998 Never Tell Me Never Max ShepherdTV movie
1998 13 Gantry Row Mr HobTV movie
1998 The Echo of Thunder Bill GadreyTV movie
1998 The Interview Barry Walls
2001 The Animal Dr Wilder
2004 Strange Bedfellows Ralph Williams
2015 Last Cab to Darwin Rex
2017 Three Summers Henry
2020 Rams Les

Stage

YearTitleRoleNotes
1971 Hair Melbourne
1972 Jesus Christ Superstar Priest
1973 The Tooth of Crime Nimrod Theatre Company
1982The StripperSheriff Lavers Sydney Theatre Company
2007–08 Priscilla Queen of the Desert - the Musical Bob

Discography

Caton, playing the role of a Priest, is part of the Chorus singing on the original Australian cast recording of Jesus Christ Superstar , 1972. [4] He is the major voice talking in the background on John Paul Young's 1975 hit "Yesterday's Hero". [4] [5] From Caton's role in the movie he sings on many tracks on Ed Kuepper – Last Cab to Darwin – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 2015. [4]

Accolades

Honours

Caton has been inducted into the Australian Film Walk of Fame in honour of his work in Australia's cinema and television industries. [6]

Caton's plaque at the Australian Film Walk of Fame, Ritz Cinema, Randwick, Sydney Film Walk of Fame Ritz Cinema Sydney 030.JPG
Caton's plaque at the Australian Film Walk of Fame, Ritz Cinema, Randwick, Sydney

Awards & nominations

YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResult
2007 Australian Film Institute Best Actor in a Television Drama The CastleNominated
2011 Logie Awards Logie Award for Most Popular Actor Packed to the RaftersWon
2016 AACTA Awards Best Lead ActorLast Cab to DarwinWon

Personal life

Caton is married to Helen Esakoff. His son Septimus narrates My Kitchen Rules and Robot Wars . [7]

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References

  1. People: Michael Caton, Dimensions (ABC TV), 29 August 2002.
  2. "Michael Caton and Jackie Trad discuss Woolloongabba 28 June 2016". State Library of Queensland. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2023.[ dead link ]
  3. Masters, Roy (9 July 2011). "Maroons follow Tosser's advice to the letter". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 "Michael Caton". Discogs. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  5. Apter, Jeff (2020). Friday on My Mind: the Life of George Young. Sydney: Allen and Unwin. pp. 161–162. ISBN   978-1-76087-510-7.
  6. "Putting on the Ritz". Southern Courier. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  7. Vagg, Stephen (18 August 2019). "Australian Movie Stars". Filmink.