George Mallaby
Encyclopedia
George Mallaby was a British-born actor, best known for his roles in Australian television.
He was married twice, the first time in 1968.
He suffered his first stroke in 1992, and subsequently used a wheelchair. He died of complications from another stroke in 2004. He was survived by his widow Lenice, sons Luke and Guy, and daughter Kirsti from his first marriage.
, but soon obtained TV roles in Melbourne.
He played Detective Peter Barnes in the crime series Homicide in episodes 131 to 395 from 1967 to 1973, representing roughly half the series run. Along with Alwyn Kurts
, Leonard Teale
and Norman Yemm
, Mallaby was part of what is often considered "the consummate Homicide cast". He also wrote scripts for the series.
His role in Homicide was followed by stints in The Box
(as Paul Donovan), Cop Shop
(as Detective Senior Sergeant Glenn Taylor) and Prisoner
(as social worker Paul Reid). And, as for Homicide, he also worked on scripts for Prisoner and Matlock Police
. He said of scriptwriting that "writing requires a mood. It might be called a creative mood, I suppose. Unfortunately for those close to me, the mood often seems to come around 4 am. I get a spasm of creativity and just have to jump out of bed and start writing".
Mallaby also acted in mini-series including Power Without Glory
, Sword of Honour and All the Way. He acted in feature films such as Tim Burstall
's Eliza Fraser
(1976), Petersen
, and End Play.
During the late 1970s he returned to Britain. There he made appearances in various television series including Secret Army
, Survivors
and The Professionals
, and appeared as a submarine crew member in James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me
(1977).
His last regular role was as Colonel Mustard in Cluedo
, the "game show-comedy-mystery series.
Life
Mallaby was born in Hartlepool, England, and came to Australia with his parents when he was 16. His father was a policeman. Mallaby's first jobs were signwriting and crayfishing.He was married twice, the first time in 1968.
He suffered his first stroke in 1992, and subsequently used a wheelchair. He died of complications from another stroke in 2004. He was survived by his widow Lenice, sons Luke and Guy, and daughter Kirsti from his first marriage.
Career
Mallaby made his acting debut at the Adelaide Festival of ArtsAdelaide Festival of Arts
The Adelaide Festival of Arts is an arts festival held biennially in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Although locally considered to be one of the world's greatest celebrations of the arts, that is internationally renowned and the pre-eminent cultural event in Australia, it is actually...
, but soon obtained TV roles in Melbourne.
He played Detective Peter Barnes in the crime series Homicide in episodes 131 to 395 from 1967 to 1973, representing roughly half the series run. Along with Alwyn Kurts
Alwyn Kurts
Alwyn Kurts, also known as Alwyn Kurtis, was an Australian drama and comedy actor.Kurts originally worked as a war correspondent, before moving onto radio with his program "Raising a Husband" on radio station 3XY....
, Leonard Teale
Leonard Teale
Leonard Teale AO , born Leonard George Thiele in Brisbane, was a well-known Australian actor of radio, television and films....
and Norman Yemm
Norman Yemm
Norman Yemm is an Australian actor who is probably best known for his long-running role as Norm Baker in the television drama The Sullivans....
, Mallaby was part of what is often considered "the consummate Homicide cast". He also wrote scripts for the series.
His role in Homicide was followed by stints in The Box
The Box (TV series)
The Box was an Australian soap opera than ran on Network Ten from February 1974 until 1977.The Box was produced by Crawford Productions who at the time was having great success producing police procedural television series in Australia...
(as Paul Donovan), Cop Shop
Cop Shop
Cop Shop was an Australian police drama television series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday operations of both the uniformed police officers and the plain-clothes detectives of the fictional Riverside Police Station....
(as Detective Senior Sergeant Glenn Taylor) and Prisoner
Prisoner (TV series)
Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...
(as social worker Paul Reid). And, as for Homicide, he also worked on scripts for Prisoner and Matlock Police
Matlock Police
Matlock Police was an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the 0-10 Network between 1971 and 1975....
. He said of scriptwriting that "writing requires a mood. It might be called a creative mood, I suppose. Unfortunately for those close to me, the mood often seems to come around 4 am. I get a spasm of creativity and just have to jump out of bed and start writing".
Mallaby also acted in mini-series including Power Without Glory
Power Without Glory
Power Without Glory is a 1950 novel written by Australian writer Frank Hardy. It was later adapted into a mini-series by the Australian Broadcasting Commission .- Publication :...
, Sword of Honour and All the Way. He acted in feature films such as Tim Burstall
Tim Burstall
Tim Burstall was an Australian film director, writer and producer, best known for the motion picture Alvin Purple....
's Eliza Fraser
Eliza Fraser (film)
Eliza Fraser is a 1976 Australian bawdy adventure drama film, directed by Tim Burstall and starring Susannah York, Trevor Howard, Noel Ferrier and John Castle. The screenplay was written by David Williamson....
(1976), Petersen
Petersen (film)
Petersen is a 1974 Australian drama film directed by Tim Burstall. Tony Petersen , a retired australian rules football star, enrolls at university to study for an arts degree...
, and End Play.
During the late 1970s he returned to Britain. There he made appearances in various television series including Secret Army
Secret Army (TV series)
Secret Army is a television drama series made by the BBC and the Belgian national broadcaster BRT created by Gerard Glaister. The series chronicled the history of a Belgian resistance movement during the Second World War dedicated to returning Allied airmen, usually having been shot down by the...
, Survivors
Survivors
Survivors is a British post-apocalyptic fiction television series devised by Terry Nation and produced by Terence Dudley at the BBC from 1975 to 1977...
and The Professionals
The Professionals (TV series)
The Professionals was a British crime-action television drama series produced by Avengers Mk1 Productions and London Weekend Television that aired on the ITV network from 1977 to 1983. In all, 57 episodes were produced, filmed between 1977 and 1981. It starred Martin Shaw, Lewis Collins and Gordon...
, and appeared as a submarine crew member in James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me
The Spy Who Loved Me (film)
The Spy Who Loved Me is a spy film, the tenth film in the James Bond series, and the third to star Roger Moore as the fictional secret agent James Bond. It was directed by Lewis Gilbert and the screenplay was written by Christopher Wood and Richard Maibaum...
(1977).
His last regular role was as Colonel Mustard in Cluedo
Cluedo (Australian game show)
Cluedo was an Australian television game show based on the board game of the same name. It was presented by Ian McFadyen.-Format:The studio audience had to pick the culprit using a dial system by which they could select who they thought was guilty...
, the "game show-comedy-mystery series.