John Meillon
John Meillon, OBE (/ˈmɛljən/ MEL-yon; 1 May 1934 – 11 August 1989),[1] was an Australian character actor known for dramatic as well as comedy roles. He portrayed Walter Reilly in the films Crocodile Dundee and Crocodile Dundee II. He also voiced advertisements for Victoria Bitter beer.[2] He appeared in several Australian New Wave films including Wake in Fright and The Cars That Ate Paris.
John Meillon | |
|---|---|
 Meillon in They're a Weird Mob (1966) | |
| Born | 1 May 1934 Mosman, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 11 August 1989 (aged 55) Neutral Bay, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1959–1988 |
| Spouse(s) | June Salter (1958–71; divorced); 1 child Bunny Gibson (1972–89; his death); 1 child |
| Children | 2 |
Biography
Meillon was born in Mosman, New South Wales. His younger brother was director Bob Meillon (1943–2012).[3]
Meillon began his acting career at the age of eleven in the ABC's radio serial Stumpy, and made his first stage appearance the following year. He joined the John Alden Shakespeare Touring Company when he was sixteen.
He appeared in a number of early Australian TV plays.[4]
Like many actors of his generation from 1959 to 1965, he worked in England,[5] but while working in Britain he consciously steered away from Australian roles.[6] Meillon claimed that he learned discipline while working in theatre, and that television was not a good medium for training.[7]
Meillon had a recurring role in the television series My Name's McGooley, What's Yours?. In 1968 he featured in the spin off, Rita and Wally. He featured in two episodes of Skippy in 1968 and 1969, appearing as "Nimble Norris". In 1976, he won the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his role of 'Casey' in the film The Fourth Wish (1976).
With his rich baritone, Meillon was used extensively in voice-over work— most famously in his work as the Victoria Bitter narrator who says "you can get it any old how".[8]
Meillon married Australian actress June Salter in 1958 and they had one son, John Meillon, Jr. Meillon and Salter were divorced in 1971. Meillon married actress Bunny Gibson on 5 April 1972; they also had a son.[9]
In 1977, Meillon released the single "Tap Tap"/"Picture Show Man", which peaked at number 80 on the Australian singles chart.[10]
Meillon was appointed an OBE in the 1979 Queen's Birthday Honours, for service to theatre.[11]
In June 1980, Meillon's favourite pub, The Oaks at Neutral Bay, opened The John Meillon OBE Bar in his honour.[12] He continued to frequent the bar over the following decade, including visiting in the week before his death from cirrhosis. His body was found in his home at Neutral Bay on 11 August 1989.[13][14][15] Meillon was posthumously awarded the Raymond Longford Lifetime Achievement Award.[16]
Filmography
Film
| Production | Year | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959: | On the Beach | Ralph Swain (ashore in San Francisco) | Feature film |
| 1960 | The Sundowners | Bluey Brown | Feature film |
| 1961 | The Long and the Short and the Tall | Private "Smudge" Smith | Feature film |
| 1961 | Watch It, Sailor! | Albert Tufnell | Feature film |
| 1961 | Offbeat | Johnny Remick | Feature film |
| 1962 | The Valiant | Bedford | Feature film |
| 1962 | Operation Snatch | Medical Officer | Feature film |
| 1962 | Billy Budd | Neil Kincaid | Feature film |
| 1962 | The Longest Day | RAdm. Alan G. Kirk (uncredited) | Feature film |
| 1963 | Cairo | Willy | Feature film |
| 1963 | The Running Man | Jim Jerome | Feature film |
| 1964 | 633 Squadron | Flight Lt. Gillibrand | Feature film |
| 1964 | Guns at Batasi | Sergeant 'Aussie' Drake | Feature film |
| 1965 | Dead Man's Chest | Johnnie Gordon | |
| 1966 | They're a Weird Mob | Dennis | Feature film |
| 1971 | Wake in Fright (aka Outback) | Charlie | Feature film |
| 1971 | Walkabout | Man (the father) | Feature film |
| 1972 | Sunstruck (aka Education of Stanley Adams) | Mick Cassidy | Feature film |
| 1974 | The Dove | Tim | Feature film |
| 1974 | The Cars That Ate Paris | The Mayor | Feature film |
| 1975 | Sidecar Racers | Ocker | Feature film |
| 1975 | Inn of the Damned | George Parr | Feature film |
| 1975 | Ride a Wild Pony | Charles Quayle | Feature film |
| 1976 | The Fourth Wish | Casey | Feature film |
| 1977 | The Picture Show Man | Maurice 'Pop' Pym | Feature film |
| 1978 | Bit Part | Tommy | TV film |
| 1978 | Shimmering Light | TV film | |
| 1982 | Heatwave | Freddie Dwyer | Feature film |
| 1983 | The Wild Duck | Old Ackland | Feature film |
| 1984 | The Camel Boy | Voice | Animated feature film |
| 1986 | Crocodile Dundee | Walter Reilly | Feature film |
| 1986 | The Blue Lightning | Feature film | |
| 1987 | Bullseye | Merritt | Feature film |
| 1987 | Frenchman's Farm | Bill Dolan | Feature film |
| 1988 | The Everlasting Secret Family | The Judge | Feature film |
| 1988 | Crocodile Dundee II | Walter Reilly | Feature film |
Television
| Production | Year | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Edgar Wallace Mysteries | Ross Williams | TV series, episode: "Death Trap'" |
| 1965 | Out of the Unknown | Dr. Sheffield | TV series, episode: "Sucker Bait" |
| 1966-68 | My Name's McGooley, What's Yours? | Wally Stiller | TV series |
| 1969-70 | Skippy | Nimble Norris | TV series |
| 1972 | Lane End | Ray Dunlop | TV series |
| 1974 | The Fourth Wish | James Casey | TV miniseries |
| 1976 | Arena | Bernie Gold | TV miniseries |
| 1976 | The Outsiders | TV series | |
| 1983 | Scales of Justice | Barnes | TV miniseries |
| 1983 | The Dismissal | Sir John Kerr | TV miniseries |
| 1985 | The Dunera Boys | Brig. Templeton | TV miniseries |
Discography
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [10] | ||
| 1967 | "Hot Pie and Tomato Sauce" | - |
| 1977 | "Tap Tap"/"Picture Show Man" (with John Ewart) | 80 |
| 1987 | "The One That Got Away" (with Tommy Moeller) | - |
References
- Giles, Nigel, "Meillon, John (1934–1989)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 26 September 2015
- Sinclair, Lara (13 June 2009). "Victoria Bitter douses 'hard-earned thirst' slogan". The Australian. Archived from the original on 16 June 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
- "Bob Meillon dies; one of the great characters of the tv industry". mumbrella.com.au. 5 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- Vagg, Stephen (7 November 2020). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: A Tongue of Silver". Filmink.
- Yates, Kerry (29 July 1964). "He proposes to his wife eight times a week". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. p. 15. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- O'Neill, Josephine (3 May 1964). "The actor who won't be typed". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 44. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
- Owen, Wendy (7 September 1975). "Top actor just acts the part". The Age. p. 2. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
- Hornery, Andrew; Malkin, Bonnie, eds. (15 October 2004). "Rest in peace". The Age. Fairfax Media.
- "John Meillon, Outback Character in "Crocodile Dundee" Movies, Dies at 55". AP NEWS. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 196. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "Meillon, John: Order of the British Empire - Officer (Civil)", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 2 April 2015
- "John Mellion – now they name a pub after him". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 July 1980. p. 53. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
- "John Meillon farewelled". The Canberra Times. 17 August 1989. p. 5.
- "John Meillon dead at 55". The Canberra Times. 12 August 1989. p. 1.
- "Obituary: John Meillon: a rare genius for character". The Canberra Times. 12 August 1989. p. 2.
- "AACTA LONGFORD LYELL AWARD" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
External links
- John Meillon at IMDb.
- John Meillon profile, AusStage.edu.au; accessed 27 December 2015.
- John Meillon profile, National Film and Sound Archive; accessed 27 December 2015.