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Jon Finlayson

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Jon Finlayson
Born
Jon Douglas Finlayson

(1938-03-23)23 March 1938
Coburg, Victoria, Australia
Died12 September 2012(2012-09-12) (aged 74)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • screenwriter
  • producer
  • director
  • singer
Years active1946–2012

Jon Douglas Finlayson (23 March 1938 – 12 September 2012) was an Australian stage and screen character actor, radio performer, writer, director, producer and singer[1][2] He was known for his roles in the films Lonely Hearts (1982) and The Magic Show (1983).

He was also well-known from his numerous television roles, such as Colonel Archibald Spencer in Zoo Family (1985) and as James Gleeson in Snowy River: The McGregor Saga (1995–1996). He wrote sketches for The Mavis Bramston Show.[3] He was noted for his hospitality as well as his 'Sunday Soirees' in the Melbourne show business community.[4]

Finlayson directed, produced, and co-wrote (with Gary Down) The Glitter Sisters.[2]

Early life

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Jon Finlayson was born in Coburg, Victoria to Clorine and Ron Finlayson. When he was about age 8 the family moved to Burwood where he attended Hartwell Primary School and Camberwell High School.[2][5] His performing career began at about the same time when he toured Australia with the Australian Boys' Choir as a soprano.[5]

Death

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Finlayson died of prostate cancer[4] aged 74, on 12 September 2012 at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne[5]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1973 Alvin Purple Liz's Lawyer Feature film
1974 Alvin Rides Again The Magician Feature film
1975 The Great Macarthy Vincent Feature film
1976 The Sentimental Bloke Minor role Feature film
1982 Lonely Hearts George Feature film
1983 The Magic Show Van Zyskin (replaced "Ron Moody" at short notice) Film[6]
1984 My First Wife Bernard Feature film
1984 Melvin, Son of Alvin Burnbaum Feature film
1988 Evil Angels Professor Boettcher Feature film
1990 A Kink in the Picasso Lionel Feature film
1996 The Inner Sanctuary Archbishop Clarke (final film role)

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1974 Division 4 Denver Philips / Wayne Fraser 3 episodes
1985 Zoo Family Colonel Archibald Spencer 26 episodes
1986 Neighbours Brian Hanson 2 episodes
1995-96 Snowy River: The McGregor Saga James Gleeson 28 episodes

References

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  1. ^ "Finlayson, Jon ( -2012)". TROVE NLA.
  2. ^ a b c "Jon Finlayson Actor, writer, director, producer and singer". Camberwell High School Ex Students Society. 13 March 2013. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  3. ^ Knox, David."Vale: Jon Finlayson" TV Tonight. 13 September 2012
  4. ^ a b "Vale Jon Finlayson" Melbourne Observer. 19 September 2012. Part C. Pages 37-52:
  5. ^ a b c Schepisi, Alexandra (4 October 2012). "Versatile actor, singer and raconteur". The Age. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  6. ^ "Jon Fonlayson-Trivia". IMDB.com
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