Ray Meagher

Last updated

Ray Meagher
OAM
Ray Meagher.jpg
Born (1944-07-04) 4 July 1944 (age 80)
Roma, Queensland, Australia
OccupationActor
Years active1972–present
Spouse
Gilly Meagher
​
(m. 2010)​

Raymond Francis Meagher OAM (born 4 July 1944) is an Australian actor, who has appeared in Australian film and television since the mid-1970s. He is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, portraying Alf Stewart on Home and Away , having played the role since the first episode in 1988. Meagher won a Gold Logie Award for his role in Home and Away in 2010 and has currently played the role of Alf for over 36 years.

Contents

Early life

Meagher was born and raised on a sheep and cattle station in Queensland, before attending a boarding school on the Gold Coast from the age of nine. He became a keen sportsman at high school, Marist College Ashgrove in Brisbane, representing the school at a number of sports including rugby union, a sport which he ultimately played at state level. [1]

Meagher played at first five eighth for Queensland at senior level in the late 1960s, including playing against France. [2]

Career

Film

Meagher played Sergeant Drummond in the 1980 war drama Breaker Morant , which he said was one of his favourite roles. [3] His other film appearances include The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978), Newsfront (1978), My Brilliant Career (1979), The Shiralee (1987), [1] Mad Dog Morgan (1976), Money Movers (1978), The Odd Angry Shot (1979), The Earthling (1980), Hoodwink (1981), Runaway Island (1982), and The Fire in the Stone (1984). [3] He had a cameo in the 1979 war comedy The Odd Angry Shot . [3]

Television

Meagher first appeared on television as host of the late night ABC folk music programme Around Folk in June–August 1973. [3] His first regular acting work on television was in the soap opera Number 96 , briefly appearing as Fred Shrimpton in 1977. [4] Meagher became "a much in demand character actor", with his early television roles including Matlock Police , Ben Hall , Rush , Certain Women , Pig in a Poke , The Restless Years , Glenview High , The Oracle , Kingswood Country , Cop Shop , Skyways , Sporting Chance, Holiday Island , and Bellamy . [3] Subsequent television acting roles included three different roles as villains in Prisoner , including Geoff Butler between 1979 and 1980, Kurt Renner in 1984, and Ernest Craven in 1986. He also had two different guest starring roles in A Country Practice and substantial roles in several 1980s miniseries. [1]

In 1984, Meagher was cast in the Nine Network miniseries A Fortunate Life , based on Albert Facey's book of the same name. He plays the role of evil cattle-rustler Bad Bob. [3] Marie Ussher of TV Week observed that Meagher was often cast as the "baddie" or tough, ruthless characters in his early career. [3] He also appeared in an episode of Five Mile Creek as Irish bushranger Lightning Ridge. [3] Meagher won a Penguin Award for his starring role in Mail Order Bride (1984) for the ABC. He filmed the 12-part series Five Times Dizzy in Sydney in 1986. Meagher played The Red Headed Person, who was billed as "a tough standover man." [5] Meagher liked playing "heavy" characters, who showed their lighter sides. [5] While filming Five Times Dizzy, Meagher also flew back and forth to Melbourne to film miniseries The Great Bookie Robbery in which he plays Bob Temple. During the same period, he also made an appearance in A Country Practice as alcoholic, pub owner Wally, followed by a role in television film The Blue Lightning for America's CBS network. [5]

Meagher joined the cast of soap opera Home and Away in 1987 and has appeared in the role of Alf Stewart continuously since the first episode aired in January 1988. [4] Meagher holds a Guinness World Record as the longest-serving actor in an Australian serial. [6] Meagher also appeared in the 1988 children's series The True Story of Spit MacPhee , along with John Bach and Elspeth Ballantyne. [7]

In September 2009, Meagher was the third-highest paid personality on Australian television, behind Eddie McGuire and Rove McManus. [8]

Meagher won the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television at the 2010 Logie Awards, where he was also nominated for "Most Popular Actor". [9] Meagher subsequently won that Logie Award in 2018. [10]

Stage

In 2007, Meagher took over the role of Bob the mechanic in Priscilla Queen of the Desert from Bill Hunter. [11] From 30 September 2010, he took over the role of Bob in the West End production of Priscilla until March 2011. [12] In June 2011, it was announced that Meagher would be returning to the West End production from October. [13] He then rejoined the show for its New Zealand tour in 2016. [14]

Meagher regularly travels to the United Kingdom to take part in the traditional Christmas pantomimes. In December 2008, he played Abanazar in a production of Aladdin at the Anvil Theatre in Basingstoke and in 2009 he performed as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Royal Tunbridge Wells. [15] [16]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978 The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith Dud Edmonds
1978 Newsfront Len's Second Brother
1979 The Odd Angry Shot Range Corporal
1979 My Brilliant Career Mailman
1979 The Journalist Senior Investigator
1980 Breaker Morant Sgt. Maj. Drummond
1980Mystery IslandPoliceman
1980A Piece of CakeDuty SarglantShort film
1981 Hoodwink Shaw
1983 On the Run Joe Thompson
1984On the LooseRussell Leech
1984The Fire in the StoneDosh
1985 Relatives Herb Taylor
1985 Bootleg Lawker
1986 Short Changed Marshall
1987 Dark Age Rex Garret
1987 The Place at the Coast Uncle Doug
1989 Luigi's Ladies Lance

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1973Around FolkHost
1973 Matlock Police Kurt FisherEpisode: "By Hook or by Crook"
1976 Do I Have to Kill My Child? DesTV film
1977 Number 96 Fred ShrimptonSeason 6
1978 Glenview High PolicemanEpisode: "Accident"
1978 Run From the Morning
1978 Because He's My Friend KevinTV film
1979 Skyways Sergeant MurphyEpisode: "The Crated Crim"
1979 Top Mates Miniseries
1979–80; 1984; 1986 Prisoner Geoff Butler / Ernest Craven / Kurt RennerSeason 1–2
28 episodes
1981Sporting Chance
1981 Holiday Island
1982–86 A Country Practice Wally Stanley / Trev Bennett / Tom Skilton6 episodes
1982 Mystery at Castle House StakovichTV film
1982 Runaway Island TV film
1983 The Weekly's War Frank Packer Miniseries
1983 The Disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain Mr. LoweTV film
1984 Five Mile Creek Lightning RidgeEpisode: "The Hangman's Noose"
1984 Kingswood Country Keith Mitchell / Bank Manager2 episodes
1984 Mail Order Bride KevinTV film
1985 A Fortunate Life Bad BobMiniseries.
Episode: "Starting Out (1897–1905)"
1985 Mother and Son GeoffEpisode: "The Card Game"
1985 Colour in the Creek Clarrie8 episodes
1986 Land of Hope Miniseries
1986 Five Times Dizzy The Red Headed Person
1986 The Great Bookie Robbery Bob TempleMiniseries
1986 The Blue Lightning HaleTV film
1987 The Shiralee PolkadotTV film
1988 True Believers Tom BurkeMiniseries
1988The True Story of Spit MacPheeFrank ArbuckleMiniseries
1988VietnamArmy SergeantMiniseries
1988 Spit MacPhee Frank Arbuckle
1988–present Home and Away Alf Stewart Series regular
2002 Home and Away: Secrets and the City Alf StewartVideo special
2003 Home and Away: Hearts Divided Alf StewartVideo special

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
1975The Floating World Nimrod Theatre Company
2007 Priscilla Queen of the Desert Bob the mechanic Regent Theatre, Melbourne
2008AladdinAbanazar Anvil Theatre in Basingstoke
2009 Peter Pan Captain Hook Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
2010-11 Priscilla Queen of the Desert Bob the mechanic West End of London
2016 Priscilla Queen of the Desert Bob the mechanicNew Zealand tour

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryWorkResultRef
1984 Penguin Awards Best ActorMail Order BrideWon [17]
2008 Digital Spy Soap Awards Most Popular ActorHome and AwayNominated [18]
2004 Inside Soap Awards Best ActorNominated [19]
2006Best ActorNominated [20]
Funniest StarNominated
2018Best Daytime StarWon [21]
2019Best Daytime StarNominated [22]
2020Best Daytime StarNominated [23]
2010 Logie Awards Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Won [24]
Most Popular Actor Nominated
2012 Most Popular ActorNominated [25]
2018 Most Popular ActorWon [26]
2019 Most Popular ActorNominated [27]
2022 Most Popular Personality on Australian TelevisionNominated [28]
Most Popular ActorNominated
2023 Most Popular ActorNominated [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ada Nicodemou</span> Australian actress (born 1977)

Ada Nicodemou is an Australian actress of Greek Cypriot descent. She began her acting career in 1994 in TV serial Heartbreak High as Katerina Ioannou. She also starred in Police Rescue and Breakers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alf Stewart</span> Fictional character from Home and Away

Alfred James "Alf" Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Ray Meagher. Alf was created as one of the show's eighteen original characters. Meagher auditioned for the role of Tom Fletcher, before being cast as Alf. He made his first appearance during the pilot episode broadcast on 17 January 1988. As of 2017, Meagher is the sole remaining original cast member and he holds a Guinness World Record for being the longest-serving actor in an Australian serial. For his portrayal of Alf, Meagher won the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flynn Saunders</span> Soap opera character

Flynn Saunders is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Martin Dingle-Wall from 2001 until 2002 and by Joel McIlroy from 2003 to 2006. He first appeared in the episode broadcast on 13 July 2001 and died on 13 February 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dieter Brummer</span> Australian actor (1976–2021)

Dieter Kirk Brummer was an Australian actor. He was best known for his roles in television soap operas, including playing Shane Parrish in Home and Away from 1992 to 1996 and Troy Miller in Neighbours from 2011 to 2012. He also starred in crime drama Underbelly: The Golden Mile, after having a smaller role in the previous series

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ailsa Stewart</span> Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away

Ailsa Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, played by Judy Nunn. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 17 January 1988. Ailsa was married to Alf Stewart and had a son Duncan. When Nunn decided to leave to devote more time with her novels, she was one of only four original cast members. The role of Ailsa was briefly played by theatre star Nancye Hayes whilst Nunn was taking leave due to illness in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martha MacKenzie</span> Fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away

Martha MacKenzie is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Jodi Gordon. Martha made her first on-screen appearance on 8 September 1988. She was originally played by Burcin Kapkin. In 2005, the character returned to Home and Away, played by Jodi Gordon. Gordon was a model and she took acting lessons before auditioning for the role. Gordon won a Logie Award for "Most Popular New Female Talent" in 2006 and she earned several more award nominations for her portrayal of Martha. Martha returned on screen on 30 March 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gypsy Nash</span> Fictional character

Gypsy Nash is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Kimberley Cooper. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 18 February 1998. Gypsy and her on-screen family the Nashes were introduced to fill the void of Debra Lawrance's departure as Pippa Ross, to form the main family at the caravan park home, often described as "the centre of Summer Bay". Cooper quit the serial in 2001 and last appeared on 15 February 2002. Cooper has won two awards for her portrayal of Gypsy and is often referred to as a "sex symbol" of the serial. In June 2011, it was announced that Cooper had reprised her role as Gypsy. She returned on 9 September 2011 and departed on 13 October 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Parrish</span> Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away

Shane Parrish is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Dieter Brummer. He made his first on-screen appearance on 28 May 1992 and he departed on 13 March 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameron Welsh</span> Australian actor, writer, producer and director

Cameron Welsh is an Australian actor, writer, producer and director, best known for his role as Mitch McColl on Australian soap opera Home and Away from 1999 until 2001; he then went on to become the series producer from 2007 until 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esther Anderson (Australian actress)</span> Australian actress and model (born 1979)

Esther Jackie Anderson is an Australian actress and model, best known for her role as Charlie Buckton on the Australian soap opera Home and Away from 2008 until 2012. She was nominated for two Gold Logie Awards in 2010 and 2012. After leaving Home and Away, Anderson starred in the NBC television drama Siberia and was a contestant on The Celebrity Apprentice Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Peacocke</span> Australian actor (born 1981)

Stephen Peacocke is an Australian actor, who appeared in theatre productions and portrayed minor roles in television dramas and films, including Suburban Mayhem and All Saints. Peacocke rose to prominence for his portrayal as Darryl Braxton on the television soap opera Home and Away, (2011–2016). For his role, he won the Logie Award for Most Popular Actor on two occasions and is regarded as one of the show's most popular characters.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Home and Away: Ray Meagher Archived 30 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine , Yahoo!7.
  2. ↑ "Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson star struck by Home and Away veteran". The New Zealand Herald. 6 October 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ussher, Marie (8 September 1984). "Bob's as bad as they come". TV Week . p. 79.
  4. 1 2 Duck, Siobhan (30 July 2008). "Home and Away's Ray Meagher OK with career character". The Courier-Mail . Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 Ussher, Marie (15 February 1986). "Ray's heavy workload". TV Week . p. 49.
  6. ↑ Fife-Yeomans, Janet (19 December 2009). "Shadows fall on Home And Away – behind the scenes at Australia's most troubled soap opera". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney.
  7. ↑ Zachariah, Amanda (19 September 1987). "Elspeth's lucky break". TV Week . p. 73.
  8. ↑ Clune, Richard (13 September 2009). "Flamin' heck! Alf Stewart's worth a quid". Sunday Mail (Adelaide).
  9. ↑ "2010 Logie Awards: Full List of Winners". Perth Now . 2 May 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  10. ↑ Lilly, Alex (1 July 2018). "Logies 2018: Ray Meagher dedicates his win to his late Home and Away co-star, Cornelia Frances". TV Week . Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  11. ↑ "Culture: Slurs and slingbacks". The Sydney Morning Herald . 30 April 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  12. ↑ "Meagher taking Home and Away break". RTÉ TEN . Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  13. ↑ "Ray swaps the Bay for UK". Holy Soap . Channel 5. 24 June 2011. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  14. ↑ Andrew Whiteside (14 October 2016). "Priscilla the Musical hits Auckland". Archived from the original on 22 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  15. ↑ Margrave, Lauren (24 December 2008). "Aussie soap star crosses the globe for panto". Get Hampshire. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  16. ↑ Baynes, Valkerie (21 December 2009). "Light relief for Home and Away Meagher". Ninemsn. Archived from the original on 1 May 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  17. ↑ "Mail Order Bride (1984)". Australian Screen Online . Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  18. ↑ Green, Kris (21 March 2008). "Digital Spy Soap Awards 2008: The Winners". Digital Spy . Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  19. ↑ "Vote in the Inside Soap 2004 Awards". Inside Soap . No. 33. 14–24 August 2004. pp. 49–52.
  20. ↑ "Vote in the 2006 Inside Soap awards". Inside Soap . No. 27. 8–14 July 2006. pp. 50–52.
  21. ↑ Dainty, Sophie (22 October 2018). "Coronation Street triumphs at Inside Soap Awards 2018 with Best Soap prize". Digital Spy . Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  22. ↑ Harp, Justin (1 July 2019). "Inside Soap Awards 2019 longlist revealed - which Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks stars are up?". Digital Spy . Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  23. ↑ "The Inside Soap Awards 2020". Inside Soap . No. 38. 19–25 September 2020. pp. 51–54.
  24. ↑ "2010 Logie Awards: Full List of Winners". Perth Now. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  25. ↑ Byrnes, Holly (18 March 2012). "Karl Stefanovic nominated to win back-to-back Gold Logies as Australian television awards announced". Herald Sun . Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  26. ↑ Knox, David (1 July 2018). "60th Logie Awards: winners". TV Tonight . Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  27. ↑ Burke, Tina (26 May 2019). "The full list of nominees for the 2019 TV WEEK Logie Awards". TV Week . Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  28. ↑ Knox, David (19 June 2022). "Logie Awards 2022: winners". TV Tonight . Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  29. ↑ Estera, Christine (31 July 2023). "All the winners from the 2023 Logie Awards revealed". news.com.au . Retrieved 30 July 2023.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Gold Logie Award
Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
2010
for Home and Away 		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.