Vincent Ball

Last updated

Vincent Ball
OAM
Born (1923-12-04) 4 December 1923 (age 101)
Wee Waa, New South Wales, Australia
Education Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupations
  • Actor
  • writer
  • soldier
Years active1949–2003; 2015
Known for [1]
Notable work
[1]
Spouse
Doreen Harrop
(m. 1949)
Military career
AllegianceFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Service / branch Royal Australian Air Force
Years of service1942–1945
Rank Flying Officer
Battles / wars Second World War

Vincent Martin Ball, OAM (born 4 December 1923) is an Australian retired actor of film, theatre and radio active in the industry for nearly 55 years (with a brief return) firstly in Britain starting in the late 1940s and then his native Australia. Ball, a Royal Air Force military veteran, has also authored a number of books. [2]

Contents

Ball is best known for film roles in British and Australian films and television films, including A Town Like Alice , Breaker Morant , Phar Lap , Muriel's Wedding and The Man Who Sued God . [1]

Ball appeared in numerous television roles, primarily in cameo guest roles, but had recurring roles in serials including the British serial Crossroads , Rush , The Young Doctors , A Country Practice and Home and Away . [1]

Ball cited film stars Virginia McKenna and Chips Rafferty and Australian actor Ray Meagher as among his co-stars and friends in the entertainment industry. [1]

Ball also worked variously in theatre, including Shakespeare, with productions of Henry IV, Part 1 and Romeo and Juliet and a musical based on Charles Dickens famous novel Great Expectations . [3]

In 2003, Ball retired, but briefly returned to television in 2014. [1] He turned 100 in December 2023. [4]

Early life and marriage

Vincent Martin Ball was born in the town of Wee Waa, New South Wales, on 4 December 1923, [5] one of eight children [6] to a father who worked as a linesman on the New South Wales Government Railways. Ball said he wanted to be an actor from an early age, particularly a "cowboy in the movies", as he loved going to the movies as a youngster and seeing Western stars like Tom Mix. [6]

Ball married Sydney actress Doreen Harrop in 1949, she was also his elocution teacher and taught speech therapies. They had three children and reside at Chittaway Point, a suburb on the Central Coast of New South Wales. [5] [7]

Military service

Ball left his job with the Australian division of the now defunct British firm General Electric Company after the Second World War broke out and, after military training in Canada, became a wireless air gunner with the Royal Australian Air Force, serving in Britain. [6]

After the war, he returned to Australia and his old job, To correct his accent, which had by then morphed into part Canadian, part Cockney and part Australian, he took lessons in elocution and became interested in amateur dramatics.

Professional career

Acting profession in Britain

Ball then from Sydney was working as an accountant in 1949, but decided he wanted to enter showbiz, so he set out writing letters asking for auditions. One was to the film studio the Rank Organisation which, impressed with his enthusiasm, told him to come to England and they would give him a screen test for a part in the 1949 British film version of The Blue Lagoon . By the time he got to England, production was under way, but he got a job as stand-in for Donald Houston in an underwater fight with an octopus. [8] [9] [5] He was then cast as Jack Warner's son in Smiling Irish Eyes, ( Talk of a Million ). [10]

He was working as a bricklayer, when he then won a scholarship to study drama at Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. [11] Having moved to Stowting, Kent, he appeared in supporting and uncredited film roles in the UK for the next two and a half decades. He was a juvenile lead in the TV films Rain Before Seven, Barnet's Folly and Nitro, before moving into slightly larger parts in films such as A Town Like Alice , Robbery Under Arms , Sea of Sand , and Danger Within . In 1969, he played Cecil Carpenter in Where Eagles Dare , alongside Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood. [12]

His television credits in Britain include Gym Teacher, Jenkins, Compact , Man in a Suitcase , The Troubleshooters , Dixon of Dock Green , and a recurring role on the long-running UK soap opera Crossroads . [13] [14]

Acting career in Australia

Ball who was then living in Canterbury, Kent, [6] returned to Australia in 1973. [15] He was soon very busy acting in films, theatre and television. [16]

Ball is best known for his work in Australian films and television series, including film roles in Breaker Morant , Phar Lap and Muriel's Wedding . [17] His credits in Australian television serials include Cop Shop , The Sullivans , The Young Doctors , The Flying Doctors , Grass Roots and All Saints . [1] His many roles in Australian mini-series or made-for-television films include Against the Wind , and the epic Anzacs .

In 2014, aged 91, he came out of retirement briefly to play a Second World War veteran named Tom Knight, in the Australian soap opera Home and Away , whom series regular Alf Stewart (played by Ray Meagher) meets in hospital. The scenes went to air during April 2015, just before Anzac Day. [18]

Publications (selected)

TitleYear/ReleasePublisherISBN
Words of Silence21 May 2008DoctorZed Publishing ISBN   9780646983837
The Ivory Starr Collection12 October 2008Xlibris ISBN   9781436358224
The Cathedral Tree06 May 2013Equilibrium Books ISBN   9781921456848
Patrick Downs31 July 2013Equilibrium Books ISBN   9781921456855
Regency Rebel01 March 2014Equilibrium Books (Rockingham, Australia ISBN   9781921456909
Buck Jones: Where are You01 September 2014Equilibrium Books ISBN   9780992435806 (also available audio CD)

[2]

National honours

Ball was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2016 Australia Day Honours. [19]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1949 Warning to Wantons FootmanUncredited
Stop Press Girl Herofeaturing in "cinema sequence"
Poet's Pub StaceyUncredited
The Interrupted Journey First Workman
1950 Come Dance with Me Secretary
1951 Talk of a Million Jack Murnahan
Encore Young Husbandsegment : "Winter Cruise"
1952 Made in Heaven Man at PartyUncredited
1953 The Drayton Case Henley's AssistantShort film
1954 The Dark Stairway Sergeant GiffordShort film
Imposter's GoldLeonard HughesTV film
Dangerous Voyage John Drew
Devil's Point Williams
The Black Rider Ted Lintott
1955Barnet's FollyRichard BarnetTV film
NitroJeffTV film
John and Julie Digger
The Stolen Airliner Flight Sergeant Watkins
Stolen Time Johnson
The Blue Peter Digger
1956 A Town Like Alice Ben
The Secret of the Forest Mr. Lawson
The Long Arm P.C. at Hospitaluncredited
Reach for the Sky Thelma's cousinuncredited
The Baby and the Battleship Second Sailor at Danceuncredited
The Battle of the River Plate Barnes – HMS Achillesuncredited
1957 Face in the Night Bob Meredith
Robbery Under Arms George Storefield
1958 Blood of the Vampire John Pierre
Sea of Sand Sergeant Nesbitt
1959 Danger Within Captain Pat Foster
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll Dowd
1960 Identity Unknown Ken
Dead Lucky Mike Billings
Dentist in the Chair Michaels
1961 Feet of Clay David Kyle
Very Important Person Higginsuncredited
Nearly a Nasty Accident Sergeant at Crybwyth
Highway to Battle Ransome
A Matter of WHO Dr. Blake
Middle Course Cliff Wilton
1962 The Slaughter of St Teresa's Day Horrie DarcelTV film
Carry On Cruising Jenkins
1963 The Mouse on the Moon Pilot
Echo of Diana Bill Vernon
1967 Follow That Camel Ship's Officer
1968 Nobody Runs Forever Australian Policemanuncredited
Where Eagles Dare Carpenter
1969 Oh! What a Lovely War Australian Soldier
1971 Not Tonight, Darling Alex
Clinic Exclusive Bernard Wilcox
1974 The Spiral Bureau TV film
Lindsay's Boy Jim LindsayTV film
1975 Games for Parents and Other Children TV film
1976 Arena Bill ScottTV film
Deathcheaters Commander Carson
1978 The Irishman Bailey Clark
Bit Part SherryTV film
1979 Demolition AinsleyTV film
1980 Breaker Morant Colonel Hamilton
1981 Alison's Birthday Dr. Jeremy Lyall
1982 The Highest Honor Lieutenant Commander Hubert Marsham
..Deadline.. Prime MinisterTV film
1983 Phar Lap Lachlan McKinnon
1986 Whose Baby? Robert Monahan, K.C.TV film
Double Sculls StuartTV film
1987 The Year My Voice Broke Headmaster
Hot Ice Harry RomanoTV film
1988 The Boardroom Jonathon HuttTV film
1990 Call Me Mr. Brown Captain Richie
1991 The Private War of Lucinda Smith Colonel FosterTV film
1993 Love in Limbo Cyril Williams
Frauds Judge
Butterfly Island Sergeant Pat ConnollyTV film
1994 Sirens Bishop of Sydney
Muriel's Wedding Priest
1997 Paradise Road Mr. Dickson
2001 The Man Who Sued God Cardinal
2002 Black and White Chief Justice Napier
2003 The Night We Called It a Day Rex Hooper

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1952 BBC Sunday Night Theatre Young OfficerEpisode: "Holiday in Berlin"
1954George GrantEpisode: "Rain Before Seven"
Douglas Fairbanks Presents HarryEpisode: "The Wedding Veil"
1955 BBC Sunday Night Theatre LockeEpisode: "The Voices"
1957 Motive for Murder John BlackmoorMini-series
1958 White Hunter TrevorEpisode: "The Step-father"
1959 The Flying Doctor Jeff PetersenEpisode: "The Revelation"
1960 International Detective JoplinEpisode: "The Joplin Case"
No Man's IslandDenis BarkerMini-series
ITV Play of the Week MallowEpisode: "The Watching Eye"
1961 The Cheaters JessupEpisode: "An Obituary for a Champion"
Theatre 70 Martin WadeEpisode: "News From Jericho"
BBC Sunday-Night Play DiggerEpisode: "The Hasty Heart"
Deadline Midnight Keith DurrantRecurring role
1963Once Aboard the Luggar...Dennis BarkerEpisode: "The Girl Arrives"
Ghost Squad Father HugginsEpisode: "The Big Time"
The Plane Makers NelsonEpisode: "The Testing Time"
Zero One PilotEpisode: "The Stowaway"
1963–1965 Compact David RomeSeries regular
1966 Blue Light Episode: "Target, David March"
The Man in the MirrorAustin2 episodes
The Newcomers Mr. Mackie3 episodes
The Troubleshooters Captain GraingerEpisode: "Operation Saigon"
1966–1973 Crossroads: Kings Oak Kevin McArthurSeries regular
1967 Dixon of Dock Green AbelEpisode: "The Team"
1968KingEpisode: "Find the Lady"
Man in a Suitcase DalbyEpisode: "The Boston Square"
Z-Cars FosterEpisode: "Vigilance"
1969 Dixon of Dock Green Garry KendrickEpisode: "The Set-Up"
1970JenkinsEpisode: "Shadows"
Softly, Softly: Taskforce ScotlandEpisode: "Private Mischief"
1971 Play for Today SimpsonEpisode: "Traitor"
The Troubleshooters Reg WaltersEpisode: "A Touch of the Nelsons"
1972 Dixon of Dock Green Jack StevensEpisode: "Time Out"
1973 Harriet's Back in Town Kenneth Hammond4 episodes
The Dragon's OpponentCaptain McColmMini-series
1974 Silent Number NorrisEpisode: "Cecelia"
1975 Certain Women Horrie1 episode
Homicide Patrick O'BrienEpisode: "Snails for Dinner"
Ben Hall Sergeant GarlandSeries regular
Shannon's Mob AshbyEpisode: "There Was a Man"
1976 Silent Number WhiteEpisode: "Yesterday's Friends"
Rush Superintendent James KendallRecurring role
King's Men Episode: "Suffer Little Children"
The Sullivans Admiral Spencer
Bluey Muley PriceEpisode: "Speak to Me Only"
1977Kenneth GrangerEpisode: "A Political Animal"
The Outsiders Jack GowerEpisode: "Sophie's Mob"
1978 Cop Shop James Benedict2 episodes
Chopper Squad John WilliamsEpisode: "Something to Shout About"
Against the Wind Governor MacquarieEpisode: "The Windfall Summer"
1979 Cop Shop David Hammond2 episodes
Skyways Captain FitzgeraldEpisode: "The Legend"
A Place in the World Mini-series
The Young Doctors Kevin McAllister2 episodes
1980 Cop Shop Adrian Cummins1 episode
TimelapseBoyd MackielMini-series
1982 A Country Practice Bunny WilcoxEpisode: "Come Blow Your Horn"
1983 The Dismissal Justin O'Byrne1 episode
1984 The Last Bastion General SturdeeMini-series
Special Squad 2 episodes
Bodyline Lyons – Prime Minister of AustraliaMini-series
A Country Practice Keith FitzgeraldEpisode: "Moment of Truth"
1985 Anzacs Sir Rupert BarringtonMini-series
1987 Rafferty's Rules MathewEpisode: "Kids"
Vietnam Dave the SpookMini-series
1987–1993 A Country Practice Ted CampbellRecurring role
1988 The Dirtwater Dynasty Eastwick BankerMini-series
1989 Mission: Impossible PresenterEpisode: "The Golden Serpent"
Bangkok Hilton British AttacheMini-series
1990 The Flying Doctors Warren PriceEpisode: "Daddy's Girl"
The Paper Man Sir Evan MasonMini-series
1991 G.P. Dr. Thomas Radley3 episodes
1995 Blue Murder Dr. CumberlandMini-series
1998 Children's Hospital Keith CharringtonEpisode: "Home Truths"
2000 Grass Roots Monty ChesneyEpisode: "April to July"
2001 All Saints Bill Weiner2 episodes
2015 Home and Away Tom Knight (WWII veteran)2 episodes

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References

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  6. 1 2 3 4 ""Vince, Keep Your Face Away From the Camera"". The Australian Women's Weekly . Vol. 41, no. 23. Australia. 7 November 1973. p. 4. Retrieved 18 August 2020 via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Australians Abroad Spanish Journeys For Many Sydney Travellers". The Sunday Herald . Sydney, Australia. 6 November 1949 via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Irish Brogue Did It". The Sun . No. 2468. New South Wales, Australia. 6 August 1950. p. 59. Retrieved 18 August 2020 via National Library of Australia.
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  13. "Vincent Ball". aveleyman.com.
  14. "They were in Crossroads?". 3 April 2013.
  15. "Actor returns". The Canberra Times . Vol. 48, no. 13, 586. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 8 November 1973. p. 22. Retrieved 18 August 2020 via National Library of Australia.
  16. "WORK FLOODS IN FOR PRINCE VINCENT". The Australian Women's Weekly . Vol. 48, no. 17. Australia. 24 September 1980. p. 21 (Your TV Magazine). Retrieved 18 August 2020 via National Library of Australia. ,
  17. "Vincent Ball | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
  18. Alf not the sole veteran in Home and Away's Anzac storyline. News.com.au, 19 April 2015. Accessed 30 April 2015
  19. Collins, Terry (26 January 2016). "Australia Day 2016: Actor Vincent Ball reflects on fascinating movie career after receiving OAM honour". Central Coast Express Advocate.