Graeme Blundell
Graeme Blundell | |
---|---|
Blundell at the 2015 Helpmann Awards | |
Born |
Melbourne, Australia | 7 August 1945
Years active | 1964–present |
Graeme Blundell (born 7 August 1945[1]) is an Australian actor, director, producer, writer and biographer.
Early years
Blundell was born in Melbourne; he grew up in Clifton Hill, a suburb of Melbourne. He was educated at University High School; Merrilands College, where he served as School Captain; and the University of Melbourne, where he studied Theatre and resided at Ormond College. He has a younger brother, Dennis, and two younger sisters, Margaret and Kathryn.[1]
Career
In his early years, Blundell worked at La Mama Theatre, The Pram Factory, Hoopla, the Playbox Theatre Company, and the Melbourne Theatre Company. He directed and acted in the premiere performance of Jack Hibberd's play Dimboola at La Mama. His first television appearance was as an uncredited extra in the debut episode of Homicide (1964). He is best known as playing the title character in the 1973 sex-comedy film Alvin Purple and its 1974 sequel, Alvin Purple Rides Again.[2]
He has written extensively in The Australian newspaper as well as writing biographies of Brett Whiteley (Brett Whiteley: An Unauthorised Life, 1996, with his then wife Margot Hilton), and Graham Kennedy (King, 2003).
In 2005, Blundell made a brief appearance in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith playing Ruwee Naberrie, the father of Padmé Amidala. He was also filmed in scenes for Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, but they were cut and appear only on the DVD release of the film.
Since March 2011, Blundell has hosted Sunday Night at the Movies with Graeme Blundell on Foxtel's Fox Classics channel.
Personal life
Blundell was married to author Margot Hilton.[1] He later married journalist Susan Kurosawa.[3]
Filmography
- 1971 Stork
- 1973 Alvin Purple
- 1974 Alvin Purple Rides Again
- 1974 The Box
- 1976 Don's Party
- 1976 Alvin Purple (TV series)
- 1978 Weekend of Shadows
- 1979 The Odd Angry Shot
- 1981 Pacific Banana
- 1981 Doctors and Nurses
- 1982 The Best of Friends
- 1983 Midnite Spares
- 1984 Foreplay
- 1984 Melvin, Son of Alvin
- 1986 Australian Dream
- 1987 The Year My Voice Broke
- 1987 Those Dear Departed
- 1994 Gino
- 1996 Idiot Box
- 1999 Looking for Alibrandi
- 2002 Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
- 2005 Richard, Formally known as Dick
- 2005 Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
- 2008 The Hollowmen
- 2009 In Her Skin
Writing
- Brett Whiteley: An Unauthorised Life, with Margot Hilton (Macmillan, 1996)
- King: The Life and Comedy of Graham Kennedy (Pan Macmillan, 2003)
- Australian Theatre: Backstage with Graeme Blundell (edited) (Oxford University Press, 1997)
- The Naked Truth: A Life in Parts (Hachette Australia, 2008)
References
- 1 2 3 "Graeme Blundell". Talking Heads. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
- ↑ Buckmaster, Luke (24 October 2014). "Alvin Purple rewatched – the raunchy heart of 1970s Ozploitation films". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
- ↑ Sullivan, Jane (20 October 2007). "Across a crowded room ...". The Age. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
External links
- Graeme Blundell at the National Film and Sound Archive
- Graeme Blundell at the Internet Movie Database