Grant Tilly
Encyclopedia
Grant Tilly is a New Zealand
actor
, writer
, and artist.
, Australia
in 1937, moving with his family to New Zealand at one month of age. He was educated in Wellington
, taking art at Wellington technical College in the early 1950s. He then attended both Wellington Teachers' College and Dunedin Teachers' College
, specialising in arts and crafts teaching.
Tilly was awarded an overseas bursary and studied children's drama in England during the early 1960s. On his return to New Zealand he tutored drama and became senior acting tutor at QEII Drama School, a post he held until the 1980s. His acting career also led to roles at both Downstage Theatre
and Circa Theatre, where he was also a theatre designer and director.
Tilly has had roles in 28 film or television series since 1972. He made his screen acting debut in 1972 when he portrayed the minor role of a doctor in Gone Up North for a While; his most recently portrayal was as an Old Man in the short film Roof Rattling in 2010. Tilly's most notable roles have been as male lead in the films Middle Age Spread
(as Colin) and Carry Me Back (as Arthur). He also had a notable supporting role as Collector in Race for the Yankee Zephyr
. His television appearances include recurring roles as Inspector Englebretsen in Shark in the Park
(1990), Sir Gerald Salisbury in Mirror, Mirror (1995), and Ken Walker in The Strip
(2002–03).
Grant has supplemented his acting career by working as an illustrator and writer for the Evening Post. His “Drawing On History” articles focussed on the changing face of Wellington’s urban landscape.
In 2002 Tilly donated his time and skill to design a flexible and innovative 90-seat performance space for Stagecraft Theatre (a non-professional theatre company in Wellington New Zealand). This design was constructed by Accent Architects and Mainzeal Construction with the work completed in March 2003.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, and artist.
Biography
Tilly was born in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1937, moving with his family to New Zealand at one month of age. He was educated in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, taking art at Wellington technical College in the early 1950s. He then attended both Wellington Teachers' College and Dunedin Teachers' College
Dunedin College of Education
The University of Otago College of Education is a teacher-training facility in Dunedin, New Zealand, run as part of the University of Otago since 2007. Formerly called Dunedin College of Education , the college was founded in 1876, and has the longest continuous history of teacher education in New...
, specialising in arts and crafts teaching.
Tilly was awarded an overseas bursary and studied children's drama in England during the early 1960s. On his return to New Zealand he tutored drama and became senior acting tutor at QEII Drama School, a post he held until the 1980s. His acting career also led to roles at both Downstage Theatre
Downstage Theatre
The Downstage Theatre is a theatre in Wellington, New Zealand, and the country's longest running professional theatre, established in 1964.The founders at the inaugural meeting in the Wellington Public Library on 15 May 1964 were actors Peter Bland, Tim Elliott and Martyn Sanderson, with...
and Circa Theatre, where he was also a theatre designer and director.
Tilly has had roles in 28 film or television series since 1972. He made his screen acting debut in 1972 when he portrayed the minor role of a doctor in Gone Up North for a While; his most recently portrayal was as an Old Man in the short film Roof Rattling in 2010. Tilly's most notable roles have been as male lead in the films Middle Age Spread
Middle Age Spread
Middle Age Spread is a 1979 film adaptation of the Roger Hall play of the same title.-Cast and characters:* Grant Tilly – Colin* Donna Akersten – Judy* Dorothy McKegg – Elizabeth* Bridget Armstrong – Isobel* Bevan Wilson – Robert* Peter Sumner – Reg...
(as Colin) and Carry Me Back (as Arthur). He also had a notable supporting role as Collector in Race for the Yankee Zephyr
Race for the Yankee Zephyr
Race for the Yankee Zephyr is a 1981 New Zealand supense-action-thriller film directed by David Hemmings and starring Ken Wahl, Lesley Ann Warren, George Peppard and Donald Pleasence.-Plot:...
. His television appearances include recurring roles as Inspector Englebretsen in Shark in the Park
Shark in the Park
Shark in the Park wasa New Zealand television drama series. A police procedural, it revolved around the professional and private lives of a group of officers at a Wellington police station under the command of Inspector Brian "Sharky" Finn...
(1990), Sir Gerald Salisbury in Mirror, Mirror (1995), and Ken Walker in The Strip
The Strip (NZ TV series)
The Strip is the story of corporate lawyer Melissa Walker, who decides her life needs a new direction and quits her job after finding her husband in bed with his male lover...
(2002–03).
Grant has supplemented his acting career by working as an illustrator and writer for the Evening Post. His “Drawing On History” articles focussed on the changing face of Wellington’s urban landscape.
In 2002 Tilly donated his time and skill to design a flexible and innovative 90-seat performance space for Stagecraft Theatre (a non-professional theatre company in Wellington New Zealand). This design was constructed by Accent Architects and Mainzeal Construction with the work completed in March 2003.
Filmography and television appearances
- Gone Up North for a While (1972)
- The Les Deverett Variety Hour (1978)
- Skin Deep (1978)
- Middle Age SpreadMiddle Age SpreadMiddle Age Spread is a 1979 film adaptation of the Roger Hall play of the same title.-Cast and characters:* Grant Tilly – Colin* Donna Akersten – Judy* Dorothy McKegg – Elizabeth* Bridget Armstrong – Isobel* Bevan Wilson – Robert* Peter Sumner – Reg...
(1979) - Beyond Reasonable DoubtBeyond reasonable doubtBeyond a reasonable doubt refers to the legal principle of reasonable doubt, the standard of proof required in most criminal cases.Beyond Reasonable Doubt may also refer to:...
(1980) - Race for the Yankee ZephyrRace for the Yankee ZephyrRace for the Yankee Zephyr is a 1981 New Zealand supense-action-thriller film directed by David Hemmings and starring Ken Wahl, Lesley Ann Warren, George Peppard and Donald Pleasence.-Plot:...
(1981) - Carry Me Back (1982)
- Nate and HayesNate and HayesNate and Hayes, also known as Savage Islands , is a 1983 swashbuckling adventure film set in the South Pacific in the late 19th century...
(1983) - Other Halves (1984)
- Dangerous Orphans (1985)
- Cuckoo Land (1986)
- Warm Nights on a Slow Moving TrainWarm Nights on a Slow Moving TrainWarm Nights on a Slow Moving Train is a 1988 Australian film directed by Bob Ellis. Nominated at the AFI Awards in the Best Achievement in Cinematography category....
(1988) - The Ray Bradbury Theatre (1989)
- The Returning (1990)
- Shark in the ParkShark in the ParkShark in the Park wasa New Zealand television drama series. A police procedural, it revolved around the professional and private lives of a group of officers at a Wellington police station under the command of Inspector Brian "Sharky" Finn...
(1990) - Alex (1992)
- Flight of the Albatross (1995)
- Mirror, Mirror (1995)
- Brilliant LiesBrilliant LiesBrilliant Lies is an Australian film released in 1996, produced by Bayside Pictures and Beyond Films.Directed by Richard Franklin.Produced by Sue Farrelly, Kim McKillop and Richard Franklin....
(1996) - Every Woman's Dream (1996)
- Hercules: The Legendary JourneysHercules: The Legendary JourneysHercules: The Legendary Journeys is a television series, filmed in New Zealand and the United States. It was produced from 1995, and was very loosely based on the tales of the classical Greek culture hero Heracles...
(1997) - The ChosenThe ChosenThe Chosen may refer to:*The Chosen , a novel by Ricardo Pinto*The Chosen , a novel by Chaim Potok**The Chosen , a 1981 film based on Potok's novel*The Chosen , a novel by L. J. Smith...
(1998) - The Legend of William TellThe Legend of William TellThe Legend of William Tell is a 16-part television fantasy/drama series produced in 1998 by Cloud 9 Productions in New Zealand. The basic premise of the series — a crossbow-wielding rebel defies a corrupt governor — and the name of the title character were adopted from the traditional story, but...
(1998) - Dark KnightDark KnightThe Dark Knight is a common nickname for the DC Comics superhero Batman and may refer to:* The Dark Knight , a 2008 film by Christopher Nolan** The Dark Knight ** The Dark Knight , a cancelled video game...
(2000) - TurangawaewaeTurangawaewaeTurangawaewae Marae is a very significant marae of the Māori people of New Zealand and is the headquarters for the Māori King Movement...
(2002) - The StripThe Strip (NZ TV series)The Strip is the story of corporate lawyer Melissa Walker, who decides her life needs a new direction and quits her job after finding her husband in bed with his male lover...
(2002–03) - 30 Days of Night30 Days of Night30 Days of Night is a three-issue horror comic book mini-series written by Steve Niles, illustrated by Ben Templesmith, and published by IDW Publishing in 2002. All three parties co-own the property....
(2007) - Roof Rattling (2010)
External links
- "Grant Tilly: A career on screen and stage" NZonscreen. 29 March 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
- "Grant Tilly: biography" at South Coast Gallery.