Robert Coleby

Last updated

Robert Coleby
Born
Robert Taylor

1947 (age 7576)
Ipswich, Suffolk, England
OccupationActor
SpouseLena Coleby
Children

Robert Coleby (born 1947) is a British actor who has spent most of his career in Australia. Active since the 1970s, he has over 70 film and television credits to his name. Coleby has acted on stage in numerous productions for the Queensland Theatre Company in Brisbane.

Contents

Early life

In his late teens, Robert lived in Edington, Somerset and went to Dr Morgan's School in Bridgwater. At that time he was influenced by the beat generation, novelist Jack Kerouac and singer/songwriter Bob Dylan and performed with acoustic guitar at folk music clubs in Bridgwater and Taunton. He enjoyed hitch-hiking in Europe during the school holidays, and worked in the peat fields near Shapwick to fund his travels.

Early career

Coleby's real name is Robert Taylor. Since there was already a famous actor of that name, Equity rules required that he choose another.

Coleby's earliest screen role was in 1970, playing the role of Fortinbras in a TV version of Hamlet in the long-running US series Hallmark Hall of Fame, followed by a role as a hitchhiker in the 1971 US motion picture The Last Run which starred George C. Scott. [1] During the next several years, he appeared in a number of TV productions in the UK, including five episodes of the 1973 children's series Pollyanna. Moving to Sydney, Australia in 1975, he made his debut on Australian TV appearing in an episode of the TV period drama Rush in 1976. [1] [2] [3] Over the next two decades, Coleby became a regular face on Australian TV; he was a cast regular on several TV series including the roles; Dr Barrett in The Young Doctors in 1977; pilot Barry Drummond on Chopper Squad (1977–79); RAN officer Lt Fisher in Patrol Boat (1979–83); Reverend Lonsdale in the mini-series Anzacs (1985); and, businessman Tom Barsby in the short-lived soap opera, Paradise Beach (1993–94). [1]

Later career

Coleby played Richard Craig in several episodes of the Australian medical drama All Saints between 1998 and 2004, and appeared as William Maplewhite in two episodes of The Lost World in 2001 and 2002. In 2005 he portrayed Rock Hudson in the fictionalised American television movie/docudrama Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure , based on the creation and behind the scenes production of the 1980s prime time soap opera Dynasty . [4] [5] Coleby played Alexander Preston in the 2006 American telenovela Monarch Cove , and Howard Webb in a 2006 episode of the Australian drama McLeod's Daughters . He later played Paul Devers in the 2007 American miniseries The Starter Wife .

In 2009 Coleby appeared as "Urquart" in two episodes of the British television series Heartbeat ("Thursday's Children" and "The Middle of Somewhere") both of which were set in Australia.

More recent theatre work includes the title role in the Queensland Theatre Company's 2007 production of the Henrik Ibsen play John Gabriel Borkman . [6] In 2011, Coleby appeared in an episode of Terra Nova , titled "Proof", as Professor Ken Horton. [7] He also appeared in WWE Studios The Marine 2 , which was inspired by the 2001 Dos Palmas kidnappings. [8]

Personal life

Coleby is married to Lena Coleby; their children are Australian actors Anja Coleby and Conrad Coleby.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1970 Hallmark Hall of Fame: Hamlet FortinbrasTV movie
1971 The Last Run Hitch HikerFeature film
1979 The Plumber Brian CowperTV movie
1980 Coralie Landsdowne Says No PaulTV movie
1983 Now and Forever Ian ClarkeFeature film
1985 The Adventures of Robin Hood George Lonsdale (voice)Animated TV movie
1985 Archer EtienneTV movie
1986 The Blue Lightning NinianTV movie
1986IvanhoeRobin Hood (voice)Animated TV movie
1986 Hector's Bunyip George BaileyTV movie
1987 Great Expectations: The Untold Story RogerTV movie
1988 Prisoner of Zenda Voice roleAnimated film
Sebastian and the Sparrow Peter ThornburyFeature film
1995 In Pursuit of Honor James ShattuckTV movie
1996 Little White Lies KuhlTV movie
1996 The Phantom Captain Phillip HortonFeature film
1998 The Real Macaw Mr. St. JohnFeature film
1999 The Lost World William Maple-WhiteTV movie
1999 Chameleon II: Death Match BranfordTV movie
2001 Curse of the Talisman Muesum CuratorTV movie
2001 Walk the Talk Pastor BobFeature film
2002 The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course Dr. WeinbergerFeature film
2003TemptedLawyerTV movie
2003 Mermaids DirectorTV movie
2005 Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure Rock Hudson TV movie
2006 The Marine BraunFeature film
2009 The Marine 2 Darren ConnerFeature film
2010 Bad Behaviour CliveFeature film
2013 Tracks PopFeature film
CoughGeorgeShort film
2015 StalkHer Dr. Jacob WeeksFeature film
2017 Don't Tell John BowersFeature film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1970 Saturday Night Theatre Fortinbras1 episode
1971 Take Three Girls DennisTV series, 1 episode
1973 The Adventures of Black Beauty HarryTV series, 1 episode
1973 New Scotland Yard Geoff GrantTV series, 1 episode
1973 Pollyanna Timothy5 episodes
1974 John Halifax John HalifaxTV series, 5 episodes
1974 The Protectors AntonTV series, 1 episode
1974Death or Glory BoySergeant Potter1 episode
1974 Skiboy Jean NoelTV series, 6 episodes
1974King LearEdgar6 episodes
1975 Quiller HilbergTV series, 1 episode
1976 Rush Andy CurranTV series, 1 episode
1976–77 The Young Doctors Paul BarrettTV series, 101 episodes
1978 Case for the Defence JohnTV series, 1 episode
1977–79 Chopper Squad Barry DrummondTV series, 27 episodes
1980 Timelapse Douglas HardyTV series
1981 Punishment Christopher LangTV series
1981 Levkas Man Paul GerrardTV miniseries, 6 episodes
1981 Cop Shop Harry WilsonTV series, 2 episodes
1981 Bellamy Peter KelsoTV series, 1 episode
1981Sporting Chance1 episode
1983 For the Term of His Natural Life John RexTV miniseries, 3 episodes
1979–83 Patrol Boat Lieutenant Charles FisherTV series, 27 episodes
1983 Carson's Law Richard KrugerTV series, 8 episodes
1984 Five Mile Creek Oliver HamiltonTV series, 1 episode
1984SinglesJack Howard1 episode
1985 Special Squad TV series, 1 episode
1985 Anzacs Rev. George LonsdaleTV miniseries, 5 episodes
1984-85 A Country Practice Paul / TonyTV series, 4 episodes
1986 The Fast Lane DwyerTV series, 1 episode
1987FrontierMajor Nunn3 episodes
1987 Rafferty's Rules David AndrewsTV series, 1 episode
1988 Australians Raymond LongfordTV series, 1 episode
1989 This Man... This Woman Neil ClarkeTV miniseries, 2 episodes
1989 The Flying Doctors Alex PotterTV series, 1 episode
1989 Mission Impossible Grigor CaronTV series, 1 episode
1989 Inside Running TV series, 6 episodes
1990 E.A.R.T.H. Force Frederick WinterTV series, 1 episode
1989-92 Tanamera - Lion of Singapore BonnardTV series, 7 episodes
1992 The Adventures of Skippy Uncle JerryTV series, 1 episode
1993 E Street Conrad VargasTV series, 2 episodes
Marlin Bay TV series
1993–94 Paradise Beach Tom BarsbyTV series, 254 episodes
1995 Fire Larry DempseyTV series, 1 episode
1995 Space: Above and Beyond Jonathan OvermeyerTV series, 1 episode
1997 Medivac BruceTV series, 1 episode
1997-98 Flipper Steve / AndrewTV series, 2 episodes
1998 The Day of the Roses Station OfficerTV miniseries, 2 episodes
1999 Stingers Terry DarzingerTV series, 1 episode
1999-02 The Lost World Dr William Maple WhiteTV series, 4 episodes
2000 Tales of the South Seas TV series, 1 episode
2001 Outriders JansenTV series, 3 episodes
2003Fat Cow MotelElridgeTV series, 1 episode
2001–04 All Saints Professor Richard CraigTV series, 5 episodes
2004 Through My Eyes TV miniseries, 2 episodes
2006 McLeod's Daughters Howard WebbTV series, 1 episode
2006 Monarch Cove Alexander PrestonTelenovela, 14 episodes
2007 The Starter Wife Paul DeversTV miniseries, 1 episode
2008 City Homicide AlistairTV series, 1 episode
2009 Sea Patrol Lang CalwellTV series, 1 episode
2009 Heartbeat UrquartTV series, 2 episodes: "Thursday's Children" & "The Middle of Somewhere"
2011 Terra Nova Ken HortonTV series, 1 episode: "Proof"
2015 House of Hancock [9] Frank RinehartTV miniseries, episode #1.1
2015–17 A Place to Call Home [10] Douglas GoddardTV series, 22 episodes
2020 The End RichardTV series, 1 episode
2022 Darby and Joan AscherTV miniseries, 1 episode
2023 Queen of Oz [11] BernardTV series, 6 episodes

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985 Arms and the Man Nimrod Theatre Company
1987 Tartuffe Nimrod Theatre Company
1987 The Winter's Tale Nimrod Theatre Company
2006 John Gabriel Borkman Borkman Queensland Theatre Company

Related Research Articles

Darnell Williams is a British-born soap opera actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Jesse Hubbard on the ABC soap opera All My Children from 1981 to 1988, and from 2008 to 2011, a role which has earned him two Daytime Emmy Awards.

Martha Conrad Quinn is an American actress and radio and television personality, best known as one of the original video jockeys on MTV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Brady</span> American politician (born 1945)

Robert A. Brady is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district from 1998 to 2019. He was the ranking Democrat and Chairman of the United States House Committee on House Administration from 2007 to 2019. He has served as Chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic Party for more than 35 years and is a registered lobbyist for NBC Universal and Independence Blue Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Bisley</span> Australian actor (born 1951)

Steve Bisley is an Australian writer, film and television actor. He is best known for his roles in the films Mad Max (1979) and The Great Gatsby (2013). On television, some of his better-known roles include Detective Sergeant Jack Christey on Water Rats and Jim Knight on Doctor Doctor.

Edward Francis Jemison, Jr. is an American film and television actor. He is known for his roles as Livingston Dell in the Ocean's film trilogy and Mickey Duka in The Punisher, as well as the television series Hung, iZombie and Chicago Med.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conrad Coleby</span> Australian actor and photographer

Conrad Julius Coleby is an Australian actor and photographer, whose roles have included Scott Zinenko on the medical drama All Saints, for which he was nominated for a Logie Award, counsellor Adam Wilde in headLand, Roman Harris in Home and Away, and Dylan Mulholland in Sea Patrol. In 2017, he began playing Matthew Goddard in A Place To Call Home, and he joined the cast of Neighbours in the recurring role of Vance Abernethy in 2019.

Tiriel Mora is an Australian television and film actor.

Alexandra "Ally" Fowler is an Australian actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Angela Hamilton in Sons and Daughters (1982–84) and Zoe Davis in Neighbours (1986); both series were produced by the Grundy Organisation, and in 1985, she was cast in another Grundy serial, Possession, just before that series was cancelled.

David Roberts is an Australian actor who has appeared in television, film and theatre.

Virginia Gay is an Australian actress, writer and director, mostly known for her work on the Australian TV dramas Winners & Losers, and All Saints.

Steve Le Marquand is an Australian-born actor, known both locally and internationally for his film and stage work.

Leah Vandenberg is a New Zealand-born Australian theatre, television, and film actress. She has appeared in many well-known Australian productions, including the award-winning Netflix series The Letdown and SBS drama The Hunting. She received an ASTRA nomination for "Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor-Female" in the comedy series Stupid, Stupid Man. She is a presenter on the long-running ABC television program Play School, a role she maintains today.

<i>Tuckers Witch</i> American television series

Tucker's Witch is a comedy-detective series that aired on CBS television from October 6 to November 10, 1982, and again sporadically from March 31 to June 9, 1983. It stars Tim Matheson and Catherine Hicks as a charming married couple, Rick and Amanda Tucker, who own and operate a private detective agency in Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles. Amanda is a witch who possesses psychic and other powers that help the agency solve cases. However, as Amanda is often not in full control of her powers, her witchly exploits also often lead the couple into trouble.

Tony Barry was an Australian actor and activist best known for his television and film roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Rabiah</span> Australian film actor

Robert Rabiah is an Australian film actor best known for his roles as Hakim in Face to Face for which he was nominated for a AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Film and Best Actor at the Inside Film Awards, Bilal in Safe Harbour for which he was nominated at the Equity Ensemble Awards, Nick in Chopper, Dario Mancini in Fat Tony & Co., Spiro Politis on TV soap Neighbours, Mehmet in Deadline Gallipoli, Mohsen in Ali's Wedding, Paul `PK' Kallipolitis in Underbelly, and Sami Almasi in Secret City .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Arnold</span> Australian actor and author

Luke Arnold is an Australian actor and author, who is well-known for portraying John Silver in the Starz drama series Black Sails.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Gaden</span> Australian actor and director

John Stuart Gaden is an Australian actor and director known particularly for his stage career, although he has also made some film and television appearances.

Geraldine Hakewill is an Australian-raised actress, who as Geri is also a singer and songwriter. She acted as Chelsea Babbage in the Australian TV series Wanted for three seasons from 2016 to 2018 and Peregrine Fisher the titular character in Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries for two seasons from 2019 to 2021.

<i>Dynasty</i> (1981 TV series, season 7) US television series

The seventh season of Dynasty originally aired in the United States on ABC from September 24, 1986, through May 5, 1987. The series, created by Richard and Esther Shapiro and produced by Aaron Spelling, revolves around the Carringtons, a wealthy family residing in Denver, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacqueline Brennan</span> Australian actress

Jacqueline Brennan is an Australian stage, television and film actress with a career that has spanned over 30 years. Brennan has appeared in television, film, theatre and voice-over roles. Jacquie Brennan is known for her roles in Bullpitt!, The Hollowmen,and her most known role in Australian award-winning TV Drama Wentworth as Officer Linda 'Smiles' Miles.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Robert Coleby at IMDb
  2. Susan Borham, Edited by. "ACTOR TO SELL BEACH HIDEAWAY - INSIDE SYDNEY." Sydney Morning Herald, The (Australia), Late ed., sec. News and Features, 2 Oct. 1993, p. 15. NewsBank: Access World News, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/11BCB072CDD058B0. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  3. Cleveland, Sam. "Recognisable face of Mr Forgotten." Gold Coast Bulletin, The (Australia), B - Main ed., sec. Focus, 24 Mar. 2007, p. 137. NewsBank: Access World News, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/1181A6AA2502D698. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  4. "Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure: If You've Got It, Flaunt It: ABC Trumpets an 80s Hit". The New York Times. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
  5. "Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure: Credits". Der-denver-clan.de. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  6. "Superman object of hatred". The Courier-Mail . 31 March 2007. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  7. "Next on 'Terra Nova': "Proof"". TV Central. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  8. Unknown, Unknown (29 December 2009). "The Marine 2" on DVD and Blu-Ray now". wwe.com. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  9. https://tvtonight.com.au/2015/02/house-of-hancock.html
  10. https://tvtonight.com.au/2015/08/returning-a-place-to-call-home-2.html
  11. https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/06/queen-of-oz.html