Liz Harris
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth "Liz" Harris is a retired Australian stage and television actress who appeared on a number of popular television series and films from the mid-1960s up until her retirement in 1993. She is best known for her role as Lisa in the 1960s children's television series
Adventure Island
but also playing recurring characters Sally Dempster in Prisoner Cell Block H and Clover Owen-Jones in A Country Practice
in her later career. She was also the wife of longtime Australian television and radio star Leonard Teale
.
in 1962. From 1962 to 1966 she co-hosted "Video Village", with Danny Webb, on Channel 7. She was then cast in the children's television series
The Magic Circle Club and made several guest appearances on Homicide between 1965-66. She also starred in a second children's series, Adventure Island
(1967) with co-star Ernie Bourne
(replacing original host Nancy Cato
who had been injured during production), in what became her breakout role as the series heroine Lisa, and Hunter
(1968). In July 1968, she also performed at St. Martin's Theatre with Charles Chilton
, Joan Littlewood
and Ted Allen
in a London Theatre Workshop stage production of Oh What a Lovely War
. On December 18, 1968, Harris married television and radio actor Leonard Teale
(who had four children).
She took an absence from television acting for several years but made brief appearances on The 40s in Swing Time (1973), Alvin Purple
(1976) and King's Men
(1979). In 1982, she was cast as Sally Dempster in the cult soap opera Prisoner Cell Block H. Although she appeared on the series briefly, Harris had a memorable role as an alcoholic wife of a businessman. She is eventually sent to prison for running over her husband and attempted suicide after it was revealed that she was physically abusive
to her young daughter.
She also appeared on Sons and Daughters
and A Country Practice
that same year. Her recurring role as Clover Owen-Jones in the latter series would continue on and off for the next nine years. Harris continued to make television appearances during the 1980s with supporting roles in television films Skin Deep (1983), Shout! The Story of Johnny O'Keefe (1985) and the television series Relative Merits in 1987. Her final television appearance was in G.P. in 1993.
In January 2004, she appeared at a special book signing and screening of Lisa Milner's Fighting Films with Michael Craig
and Jack Thompson
. Her attendance was in honor of her late husband Leonard Teale who worked with the film company as a voice actor during the 1950s.
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
Adventure Island
Adventure Island (TV series)
Adventure Island is an Australian television series for children which screened on the ABC from 11 September 1967 to 22 December 1972 . It was jointly created by Godfrey Philipp, who produced the series, and actor-writer John Michael Howson, who also co-starred in the show...
but also playing recurring characters Sally Dempster in Prisoner Cell Block H and Clover Owen-Jones in A Country Practice
A Country Practice
A Country Practice is an Australian television drama series. One of the longest-running of its kind, produced by James Davern of JNP Productions, it ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was produced in ATN-7's production facility at Epping,...
in her later career. She was also the wife of longtime Australian television and radio star Leonard Teale
Leonard Teale
Leonard Teale AO , born Leonard George Thiele in Brisbane, was a well-known Australian actor of radio, television and films....
.
Biography
Elizabeth Harris made her television acting debut on Consider Your VerdictConsider Your Verdict
Consider Your Verdict is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network originally screening from February 1961 through to June 1964. It was based on a radio series with the same name broadcast on 3DB in Melbourne from 1958 to 1960.The television series was...
in 1962. From 1962 to 1966 she co-hosted "Video Village", with Danny Webb, on Channel 7. She was then cast in the children's television series
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
The Magic Circle Club and made several guest appearances on Homicide between 1965-66. She also starred in a second children's series, Adventure Island
Adventure Island (TV series)
Adventure Island is an Australian television series for children which screened on the ABC from 11 September 1967 to 22 December 1972 . It was jointly created by Godfrey Philipp, who produced the series, and actor-writer John Michael Howson, who also co-starred in the show...
(1967) with co-star Ernie Bourne
Ernie Bourne
Ernest Alfred "Ernie" Bourne was an English-born Australian actor, best known for his regular roles on television....
(replacing original host Nancy Cato
Nancy Cato
Nancy Fotheringham Cato AM was an Australian writer who published more than twenty historical novels, biographies and volumes of poetry. Cato is also known for her work campaigning on environmental and conservation issues....
who had been injured during production), in what became her breakout role as the series heroine Lisa, and Hunter
Hunter (TV series)
Hunter is a police drama television series starring Fred Dryer as Sgt. Rick Hunter and Stepfanie Kramer as Sgt. Dee Dee McCall, which ran on NBC from 1984 to 1991. However, Kramer left after the sixth season to pursue other acting and musical opportunities. The seventh season saw Hunter partnered...
(1968). In July 1968, she also performed at St. Martin's Theatre with Charles Chilton
Charles Chilton
Charles Chilton MBE is a BBC radio presenter, a writer and a producer. Born in Bloomsbury in London, England, he never knew his father - who was killed during World War I - and when he was six his mother died as a result of having a botched abortion, so he was raised by his grandmother. He was...
, Joan Littlewood
Joan Littlewood
Joan Maud Littlewood was a British theatre director, noted for her work in developing the left-wing Theatre Workshop...
and Ted Allen
Ted Allen
Ted Allen is an American writer and television personality. He was the food and wine connoisseur on the American Bravo network's Emmy-winning television program Queer Eye. He now is the host of the prime-time series on Food Network Chopped, a culinary competition in which four chefs per episode...
in a London Theatre Workshop stage production of Oh What a Lovely War
Oh What a Lovely War
Oh What a Lovely War may refer to one of a number of fictional works:* Oh, What a Lovely War! - a stage musical created in 1963 by Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop...
. On December 18, 1968, Harris married television and radio actor Leonard Teale
Leonard Teale
Leonard Teale AO , born Leonard George Thiele in Brisbane, was a well-known Australian actor of radio, television and films....
(who had four children).
She took an absence from television acting for several years but made brief appearances on The 40s in Swing Time (1973), Alvin Purple
Alvin Purple
Alvin Purple was a 1973 Australian comedy film starring Graeme Blundell, written by Alan Hopgood and directed by Tim Burstall.It received largely negative reviews from local film critics. Despite this it was a major hit with Australian audiences...
(1976) and King's Men
King's Men
King's Men or Kingsmen may refer to:*The King's Men , Númenórean royalist faction in J. R. R. Tolkien's writings*The King's Men , English company of actors to whom William Shakespeare belonged*The Kingsmen, American rock group...
(1979). In 1982, she was cast as Sally Dempster in the cult soap opera Prisoner Cell Block H. Although she appeared on the series briefly, Harris had a memorable role as an alcoholic wife of a businessman. She is eventually sent to prison for running over her husband and attempted suicide after it was revealed that she was physically abusive
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
to her young daughter.
She also appeared on Sons and Daughters
Sons and Daughters (Australian TV series)
Sons and Daughters was a Logie Award winning Australian soap opera created by Reg Watson and produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation between 1981 and 1987. The first episode aired in December 1981, during the Christmas/New Year non-ratings period, and the official broadcast date of the final...
and A Country Practice
A Country Practice
A Country Practice is an Australian television drama series. One of the longest-running of its kind, produced by James Davern of JNP Productions, it ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was produced in ATN-7's production facility at Epping,...
that same year. Her recurring role as Clover Owen-Jones in the latter series would continue on and off for the next nine years. Harris continued to make television appearances during the 1980s with supporting roles in television films Skin Deep (1983), Shout! The Story of Johnny O'Keefe (1985) and the television series Relative Merits in 1987. Her final television appearance was in G.P. in 1993.
In January 2004, she appeared at a special book signing and screening of Lisa Milner's Fighting Films with Michael Craig
Michael Craig (actor)
Michael Craig is a British actor, known for his work in film and television in both the United Kingdom and Australia. Craig was born in Poona, Maharashtra, British India, the son of Donald Gregson, a captain in the 3rd Indian Cavalry. He came to England with his family when aged three, and went to...
and Jack Thompson
Jack Thompson (actor)
Jack Thompson, AM is an Australian actor and one of the major figures of Australian cinema. He was educated at University of Queensland, before embarking on his acting career. In 2002, he was made an honorary member of the Australian Cinematographers Society...
. Her attendance was in honor of her late husband Leonard Teale who worked with the film company as a voice actor during the 1950s.