John Orcsik
Encyclopedia
John Orcsik is an Australian actor of Hungarian descent.
In the early 1970s he appeared in soap opera Bellbird
, and played various guest roles in the Crawford Productions
police dramas Homicide, Division 4
and Matlock Police
. He had a role in top-rated television serial Number 96
in 1972, and subsequently reprised that role in the feature-film version of the serial filmed in December 1973. He later reappeared in that series late in its run, briefly playing a different character and this time credited as John Crosik. He also appeared in the film Petersen
(1974), and played a brief role in action film The Man from Hong Kong
(1975).
After roles in other Crawford Productions programs Bluey
(1976), and The Sullivans
, and an appearance in Chopper Squad
(1978), in 1978 he joined new Crawfords Productions police series Cop Shop
early in its run as the new detective, and quickly became one of the show's most popular cast members. He continued in the role until the end of the series in December 1983. He had married his Cop Shop co-star Paula Duncan
in June 1982. They have since divorced although have subsequently worked together in fundraising activities, and later acted together in Paradise Beach
. He is in a relashionship with another woman and has been for 10 years, they now live in the casey area and own many horses and animals.
After Cop Shop ended Orcsik worked as a television scriptwriter, contributing several scripts to the series Prisoner
. He also continued acting and through the 1980s played several roles in television movies and miniseries, including Harvest of Hate (1979), The Hijacking of the Achille Lauro (1989), Displaced Persons (1984), Dadah Is Death
(1988), Kokoda Crescent (1989). Other roles of the 1980s include an appearance in television series Mission: Impossible
(1988), and the film The Edge of Power (1987). With his swarthy, Mediterranean appearance, Orcsik was cast as Middle Eastern characters in many of these productions.
He also had roles in such Australian television series such as The Zoo Family (1985), Home and Away
(1992), Paradise Beach (1993), Pacific Drive
(1996), and Medivac
(1997).
Orcsik's more recent acting appearances include a cameo role as a doctor in miniseries The Day of the Roses
(1998), a recurring role in serial Neighbours
(1999–2002), roles in Stingers
(2000), Blue Heelers
(2002), MDA
(2002), The Saddle Club
(2003), Always Greener
(2002 and 2003), and Scooter: Secret Agent
(2005).
In the early 1970s he appeared in soap opera Bellbird
Bellbird (TV series)
Bellbird was an Australian soap opera set in a small Victorian rural township. The series was produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation at its Ripponlea TV studios in Elsternwick, Melbourne, Victoria. The series was produced between 28 August 1967 and December 1977...
, and played various guest roles in the Crawford Productions
Crawford Productions
Crawford Productions is an Australian television production company founded by Hector Crawford; the present incarnation of the company, Crawfords Australia, is now a subsidiary of the WIN television corporation.-History:...
police dramas Homicide, Division 4
Division 4
Division 4 was an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the Nine Network between 1969 and 1975 for 300 episodes....
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 had a role in top-rated television serial Number 96
Number 96 (TV series)
Number 96 was a popular Australian soap opera set in a Sydney apartment block. Don Cash and Bill Harmon produced the series for Network Ten, which requested a Coronation Street-type serial, and specifically one that explored adult subjects...
in 1972, and subsequently reprised that role in the feature-film version of the serial filmed in December 1973. He later reappeared in that series late in its run, briefly playing a different character and this time credited as John Crosik. He also appeared in the film 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...
(1974), and played a brief role in action film The Man from Hong Kong
The Man from Hong Kong
The Man from Hong Kong, known in the U.S.A. as The Dragon Flies is a 1975 action film that was the first Australian-Hong Kong co-production being filmed in both nations. The film was also the first Australian martial arts film. It was produced by Raymond Chow and John Fraser, directed by Brian...
(1975).
After roles in other Crawford Productions programs Bluey
Bluey
Bluey is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network in 1976.The series was another crime TV series from Crawford Productions, but was different from previous series - Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police - in that it focused on a single detective rather than...
(1976), and The Sullivans
The Sullivans
The Sullivans is an Australian drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran from 1976 until 1983. The series told the story of an average middle-classMelbourne family and the effect World War II had on their lives...
, and an appearance in Chopper Squad
Chopper Squad
Chopper Squad is an Australian television series produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation for the 0-10 Network .The series was based around the work of a helicopter rescue team operating on Dee Why beach in Sydney...
(1978), in 1978 he joined new Crawfords Productions police series 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....
early in its run as the new detective, and quickly became one of the show's most popular cast members. He continued in the role until the end of the series in December 1983. He had married his Cop Shop co-star Paula Duncan
Paula Duncan
Paula Margaret Duncan is an Australian actress. She is prominent mainly in the genre of soap opera. Her sister is fellow soap actress Carmen Duncan....
in June 1982. They have since divorced although have subsequently worked together in fundraising activities, and later acted together in Paradise Beach
Paradise Beach
Paradise Beach is an Australian television series made by Village Roadshow Pictures. It is associated with New World Television for the Nine Network that aired between 1993 and 1994...
. He is in a relashionship with another woman and has been for 10 years, they now live in the casey area and own many horses and animals.
After Cop Shop ended Orcsik worked as a television scriptwriter, contributing several scripts to the series 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...
. He also continued acting and through the 1980s played several roles in television movies and miniseries, including Harvest of Hate (1979), The Hijacking of the Achille Lauro (1989), Displaced Persons (1984), Dadah Is Death
Dadah is Death
Dadah Is Death is a 1988 Australian film based on the executions of Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers in Malaysia in 1986.-Cast:*Julie Christie ... Barbara Barlow*Hugo Weaving ... Geoffrey Chambers*John Polson ... Kevin Barlow...
(1988), Kokoda Crescent (1989). Other roles of the 1980s include an appearance in television series Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible is an American television series which was created and initially produced by Bruce Geller. It chronicled the missions of a team of secret American government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force . The leader of the team was Jim Phelps, played by Peter Graves, except in...
(1988), and the film The Edge of Power (1987). With his swarthy, Mediterranean appearance, Orcsik was cast as Middle Eastern characters in many of these productions.
He also had roles in such Australian television series such as The Zoo Family (1985), Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
(1992), Paradise Beach (1993), Pacific Drive
Pacific Drive
Pacific Drive is an Australian television series made by Village Roadshow in association with New World International for the Nine Network between 1996 and 1997....
(1996), and Medivac
Medivac (TV series)
Medivac was an Australian television drama series that ran on Network Ten from 1996 to 1998. There were 48 episodes produced. Medivac is an abbreviation of the term medical evacuation...
(1997).
Orcsik's more recent acting appearances include a cameo role as a doctor in miniseries The Day of the Roses
The Day of the Roses
The Day of the Roses is a two part Australian television mini-series, a docu-drama directed by Peter Fisk, based on the events of the 1977 Granville railway disaster...
(1998), a recurring role in serial Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
(1999–2002), roles in Stingers
Stingers
Stingers was an Australian police drama television series. It ran for eight seasons on the Nine Network before it was canceled in late 2004 due to declining ratings and the late timeslot Channel Nine gave the program...
(2000), Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :...
(2002), MDA
MDA (TV series)
MDA is an Australian television series that aired between 2002 and 2005 on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation . It concerned the day-to-day operation of legal firm MDA, which specialised in medical defence.-Synopsis:...
(2002), The Saddle Club
The Saddle Club
The Saddle Club is a children's television series based on the books written by Bonnie Bryant and is an Australia/Canada co-production. Like the book series, the scripted live action series follows the lives of three teenage girls in training to compete in equestrian competitions at the fictional...
(2003), Always Greener
Always Greener
Always Greener was an Australian television drama/comedy series that aired on the Seven Network which followed the fortunes of two families, one from the city and the other from the country, when they decide to switch homes and start a new direction in life for themselves...
(2002 and 2003), and Scooter: Secret Agent
Scooter: Secret Agent
Scooter: Secret Agent is an Australian children's television program screened on Network Ten in 2005.-Plot Summary:Scooter is an extremely clumsy teenager who finds a computer belonging to the world's greatest Secret Agent...
(2005).