Desmond Tester
Encyclopedia
Desmond Tester was an English and Australian film actor and television actor, host
and executive. He was born in London, England. Among his most notable roles was that of the ill-fated boy Stevie in the Alfred Hitchcock
film Sabotage
(1936).
Tester made his first stage appearance at the age of 12, receiving positive reviews from London critics. He was known more as a child actor in film in his native England. Tester's characters often met with doomed fates, in such early films as Carol Reed
's Midshipman Easy
(1935), Tudor Rose
(1936), The Stars Look Down
(1939), and Sabotage. He also appeared in The Drum
(1938).
After World War II, he embarked in careers in radio, theater and television. As television broadcasting began in Australia, Tester soon found work with Channel Nine
's What's My Line and in a variety of children's programs including Kaper Kops with Reg Gorman
and Rod Hull
. He spent fifteen years at Channel Nine, taking charge of children's programming, and became more involved behind the scenes in production and publicity. He later moved to Reg Grundy Productions
, eventually leaving the industry entirely due to a dislike of the overall management culture.
In 1974 he revived his stage acting career. He also had occasional minor roles in various films, such as Barry McKenzie Holds His Own
(1974) and The Wild Duck
(1983).
Tester died in Sydney on 31 December 2002.
The last 29 years of his life was spent in leafy Lindfield on Sydney's North Shore with his partner Valerie Jones.
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
and executive. He was born in London, England. Among his most notable roles was that of the ill-fated boy Stevie in the Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
film Sabotage
Sabotage (film)
Sabotage, also released as The Woman Alone, is a 1936 British thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It is based on Joseph Conrad's novel The Secret Agent...
(1936).
Tester made his first stage appearance at the age of 12, receiving positive reviews from London critics. He was known more as a child actor in film in his native England. Tester's characters often met with doomed fates, in such early films as Carol Reed
Carol Reed
Sir Carol Reed was an English film director best known for Odd Man Out , The Fallen Idol , The Third Man and Oliver!...
's Midshipman Easy
Midshipman Easy
Midshipman Easy is a 1935 British adventure film directed by Carol Reed and starring Hughie Green, Margaret Lockwood and Harry Tate. A young man runs away from home, joins the navy and goes to sea in the 1790s. He rescues a captive woman from a Spanish ship and battles pirates and smugglers...
(1935), Tudor Rose
Tudor Rose (film)
Tudor Rose is a 1936 British film starring Cedric Hardwicke and Nova Pilbeam and directed by Robert Stevenson....
(1936), The Stars Look Down
The Stars Look Down (film)
The Stars Look Down is a 1940 British film based on A. J. Cronin's novel of the same title, initially published in 1935, which chronicles various injustices in a mining community in North East England. The film, co-scripted by Cronin and directed by Carol Reed, stars Michael Redgrave as Davey...
(1939), and Sabotage. He also appeared in The Drum
The Drum (1938 film)
The Drum is a 1938 British Technicolor film from the book by A. E. W. Mason. The film was directed by Zoltan Korda and produced by Alexander Korda...
(1938).
After World War II, he embarked in careers in radio, theater and television. As television broadcasting began in Australia, Tester soon found work with Channel Nine
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
's What's My Line and in a variety of children's programs including Kaper Kops with Reg Gorman
Reg Gorman
Reg Gorman is an Australian actor and comedian who shot to fame playing the role of Jack the barman in popular Crawfords' soap, The Sullivans. He stayed with the series for its entire six year run.-External links:...
and Rod Hull
Rod Hull
Rodney Stephen Hull , better known as Rod Hull, was a popular entertainer on British television in the 1970s and 1980s. He rarely appeared without Emu, a mute, highly aggressive arm-length puppet of the flightless emu bird...
. He spent fifteen years at Channel Nine, taking charge of children's programming, and became more involved behind the scenes in production and publicity. He later moved to Reg Grundy Productions
Reg Grundy Productions
Reg Grundy Productions was the American wing of the worldwide television production company Grundy Worldwide, which was founded by Australian television producer Reg Grundy. Reg Grundy Productions was responsible for the production of two highly-successful daytime game shows on NBC during the...
, eventually leaving the industry entirely due to a dislike of the overall management culture.
In 1974 he revived his stage acting career. He also had occasional minor roles in various films, such as Barry McKenzie Holds His Own
Barry McKenzie Holds His Own
Barry McKenzie Holds His Own is the 1974 sequel to the 1972 Australian comedy film The Adventures of Barry McKenzie.Returning from the original film is Barry Crocker in the title role, as well as Barry Humphries in the role of Barry's aunt, Dame Edna. Also returning in the director's chair is Bruce...
(1974) and The Wild Duck
The Wild Duck
The Wild Duck is an 1884 play by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen.-Plot:The first act opens with a dinner party hosted by Håkon Werle, a wealthy merchant and industrialist. The gathering is attended by his son, Gregers Werle, who has just returned to his father's home following a self-imposed...
(1983).
Tester died in Sydney on 31 December 2002.
Personal life
Tester was married to Evelyn Stuart and had five children – Jolyon (deceased), Dermot, Giles, Toby and Simon and five grandchildren – Sally, Daisy, Sam, Georgia and Max.The last 29 years of his life was spent in leafy Lindfield on Sydney's North Shore with his partner Valerie Jones.