Ray Meagher
Encyclopedia
Ray Meagher surname pronouned "Marr" , is a veteran Australian character actor
. He has appeared regularly in Australian film and television since the mid 1970s, and is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, as Alf Stewart
on Home and Away
, having played the role since the first episode in 1988. He is the only original actor still with the series as of 2011. Meagher won the Gold Logie Award
for his role in Home and Away in 2010.
from the age of nine. He became a keen sportsman at high school, Marist College Ashgrove
in Brisbane
, representing the school at a number of sports including rugby union
, a sport which he ultimately played at state level.
, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith
, Newsfront
, My Brilliant Career
and The Shiralee
He also had a cameo in the 1979 war comedy The Odd Angry Shot.
programme Around Folk. His first regular acting work on television was in the soap opera Number 96
, briefly appearing as the character Fred Shrimpton in 1977. Subsequent television acting roles included three different roles as various villains including Geoff Butler in Prisoner
between 1980 and 1986, and two different guest starring roles in A Country Practice
. He also had substantial roles in several 1980s miniseries
, including A Fortunate Life
.
Meagher joined the cast of soap opera
Home and Away
in 1988 and as of 2011, he remains in the role of Alf Stewart. Meagher holds a Guinness World Record as the longest-serving actor in an Australian serial for his role of Alf.
In September 2009, Meagher was the third-highest paid personality on Australian television, behind Eddie McGuire
and Rove McManus
.
Meagher won the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
at the 2010 Logie Awards. He was also nominated for "Most Popular Actor".
. From 30 September 2010, he took over the role of Bob in the West End production of Priscilla until March 2011. In June 2011, it was announced that Meagher would be returning to the West End production from October.
Meagher regularly travels to the United Kingdom to take part in the traditional Christmas pantomime
s. In December 2008, he played Abanazar in a production of Aladdin
at the Anvil Theatre in Basingstoke
and in 2009 he performed as Captain Hook in Peter Pan
at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells
.
page was condemned as an insult to sexual assault victims as well as a smear on Ray Meagher's name. It led to calls for the social networking site to be more closely monitored.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. He has appeared regularly in Australian film and television since the mid 1970s, and is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, as Alf Stewart
Alf Stewart
Alfred Douglas "Alf" Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Ray Meagher. The character debuted on-screen during the serial's pilot episode on 17 January 1988...
on 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...
, having played the role since the first episode in 1988. He is the only original actor still with the series as of 2011. Meagher won the Gold Logie Award
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
The Gold Logie Award has been awarded annually to the Most Popular Personality on Australian Television at the TV Week Logie Awards since 1960...
for his role in Home and Away in 2010.
Early life
Meagher was born and raised on a sheep and cattle station in Queensland, before attending a boarding school on the Gold CoastGold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
from the age of nine. He became a keen sportsman at high school, Marist College Ashgrove
Marist College Ashgrove
Marist College Ashgrove is a Roman Catholic day and boarding school for boys, located in Ashgrove, a northern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, representing the school at a number of sports including rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, a sport which he ultimately played at state level.
Film
His early film roles included appearances Breaker MorantBreaker Morant (film)
Breaker Morant is a 1980 Australian film about the court martial of Breaker Morant, directed by Bruce Beresford and starring British actor Edward Woodward as Harry "Breaker" Morant...
, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith is a 1972 Booker Prize-nominated novel by Thomas Keneally, and a 1978 Australian film of the same name directed by Fred Schepisi. The novel is based on the life of bushranger Jimmy Governor....
, Newsfront
Newsfront
Newsfront is a 1978 Australian drama film starring Bill Hunter, Wendy Hughes, and Bryan Brown, directed by Phillip Noyce. The screenplay is written by David Elfick, Bob Ellis, Philippe Mora, and Phillip Noyce. The original music score is composed by William Motzing...
, My Brilliant Career
My Brilliant Career (film)
My Brilliant Career is a 1979 Australian drama film directed by Gillian Armstrong and based on the book of the same name by Miles Franklin....
and The Shiralee
The Shiralee (1987 film)
The Shiralee is a 1987 Australian TV film directed by George Ogilvie, based on the novel of the same name by D'Arcy Niland.-External links:*...
He also had a cameo in the 1979 war comedy The Odd Angry Shot.
Television
He first appeared on television as host of the folk musicFolk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
programme Around Folk. His first regular acting work on television was in the soap opera 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...
, briefly appearing as the character Fred Shrimpton in 1977. Subsequent television acting roles included three different roles as various villains including Geoff Butler in 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...
between 1980 and 1986, and two different guest starring roles 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,...
. He also had substantial roles in several 1980s miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
, including A Fortunate Life
A Fortunate Life
A Fortunate Life is an autobiographical novel written by Albert Facey and was published in 1981 and tells the complete story of his life. It chronicles his early life in Western Australia, his experiences as a private during the Gallipoli campaign of World War I and his return to civilian life...
.
Meagher joined the cast of soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
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...
in 1988 and as of 2011, he remains in the role of Alf Stewart. Meagher holds a Guinness World Record as the longest-serving actor in an Australian serial for his role of Alf.
In September 2009, Meagher was the third-highest paid personality on Australian television, behind Eddie McGuire
Eddie McGuire
Edward Joseph "Eddie" McGuire AM is an Australian television presenter and businessman known for his long association with Australian rules football and the Channel 9 television network....
and Rove McManus
Rove McManus
John Henry Michael "Rove" McManus is an Australian comedian, television presenter, producer and media personality. He was the host of the self-titled variety show Rove, and is the owner of the production company Roving Enterprises...
.
Meagher won the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
The Gold Logie Award has been awarded annually to the Most Popular Personality on Australian Television at the TV Week Logie Awards since 1960...
at the 2010 Logie Awards. He was also nominated for "Most Popular Actor".
Stage
In 2007, Meagher took over the role of Bob the mechanic in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, taking over from Bill HunterBill Hunter (actor)
William John "Bill" Hunter was an Australian actor of film, stage and television. He appeared in more than 60 films and won two Australian Film Institute Awards.-Early life:Hunter was a son of William and Francie Hunter...
. From 30 September 2010, he took over the role of Bob in the West End production of Priscilla until March 2011. In June 2011, it was announced that Meagher would be returning to the West End production from October.
Meagher regularly travels to the United Kingdom to take part in the traditional Christmas pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
s. In December 2008, he played Abanazar in a production of Aladdin
Aladdin
Aladdin is a Middle Eastern folk tale. It is one of the tales in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights , and one of the most famous, although it was actually added to the collection by Antoine Galland ....
at the Anvil Theatre in Basingstoke
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is southwest of London, northeast of Southampton, southwest of Reading and northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of...
and in 2009 he performed as Captain Hook in Peter Pan
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in west Kent, England, about south-east of central London by road, by rail. The town is close to the border of the county of East Sussex...
.
Facebook incident
The misappropriation of the name, Alf Stewart, in an Australian FacebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page was condemned as an insult to sexual assault victims as well as a smear on Ray Meagher's name. It led to calls for the social networking site to be more closely monitored.
Filmography
- Home and Away: Hearts DividedHome and Away: Hearts DividedHome and Away: Hearts Divided is an exclusive-to-video and DVD special of Australia's most popular soap Home and Away. It was released on 29 October 2003 and is hosted by Home and Away star Rebecca Cartwright. It contains two episodes that aired on TV: Turn Back the Night and Fallout plus the...
(2003) (V) .... Alf StewartAlf StewartAlfred Douglas "Alf" Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Ray Meagher. The character debuted on-screen during the serial's pilot episode on 17 January 1988... - Home and Away: Secrets and the CityHome and Away: Secrets and the CityHome and Away: Secrets and the City is an exclusive-to-video and DVD special of Australia's most popular soap opera Home and Away. In 2002 it was only released on video and a year later it received a DVD release. It is hosted by Home and Away star Tammin Sursok...
(2002) (V) .... Alf StewartAlf StewartAlfred Douglas "Alf" Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Ray Meagher. The character debuted on-screen during the serial's pilot episode on 17 January 1988... - Luigi's Ladies (1989) .... Lance
- Home and AwayHome and AwayHome 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...
(1988) TV Series .... Alf Stewart (1988-) - True Believers (1988) (mini) TV Series .... Tom Burke
- Spit MacPhee (1988) (mini) TV Series .... Frank Arbuckle
- Vietnam (1988) small role as army sergeant
- The ShiraleeThe Shiralee (1987 film)The Shiralee is a 1987 Australian TV film directed by George Ogilvie, based on the novel of the same name by D'Arcy Niland.-External links:*...
(1987) (mini) TV Series .... Polkadot - The Place at the CoastThe Place at the CoastThe Place at the Coast is a 1987 Australian drama film directed by George Ogilvie and starring John Hargreaves. It is based on the novel of the same name by Jane Hyde.-Plot:...
(1987) .... Uncle Doug - Dark Age (1987) .... Rex Garret
- The Great Bookie Robbery (1986) (mini) TV Series .... Bob Temple
- Short Changed (1986) .... Marshall
- Land of Hope (1986) TV Series
- The Blue Lightning (1986) (TV) .... Hale
- Five Times DizzyFive Times DizzyFive Times Dizzy is a children's novel by Australian author Nadia Wheatley It was first published in 1982. In 1986 it became an Australian children's television series. The book is about the comedy and drama of a Greek Australian family in a multi-cultural neighbourhood of inner-city Sydney...
(1986) TV Series - PrisonerPrisoner (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...
(1986) TV Series .... Ernest Craven - Bootleg (1985) .... Lawker
- A Fortunate LifeA Fortunate LifeA Fortunate Life is an autobiographical novel written by Albert Facey and was published in 1981 and tells the complete story of his life. It chronicles his early life in Western Australia, his experiences as a private during the Gallipoli campaign of World War I and his return to civilian life...
(1985) (mini) TV Series .... Bad Bob (part I: 'Starting Out' (1897–1905)) - Relatives (1985) .... Herb Taylor
- The Fire in the Stone (1984) .... Dosh
- Kingswood CountryKingswood CountryKingswood Country is an Australian sitcom that screened from 1980 to 1984 on the Seven Network. The series started on 30 January 1980 and was a spin-off from a sketch on comedy program The Naked Vicar Show that had featured Ross Higgins as a blustering bigot...
(1984) 2 episodes .... Character unknown - Mail Order Bride (1984) (TV) .... Kevin
- Mother and SonMother and SonMother and Son is a Logie Award-winning Australian television sitcom produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 16 January 1984 until 21 March 1994. The show stars Ruth Cracknell, Garry McDonald, Henri Szeps and Judy Morris...
(1984) .... Small appearance as house guest in episode titled 'The Card Game' - PrisonerPrisoner (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...
(1984) TV Series .... Kurt Renner - On the Loose (1984) .... Russell Leech
- On the Run (1983) .... Joe Thompson
- Who Killed Baby Azaria?Who Killed Baby Azaria?Who Killed Baby Azaria? is a 1983 Australian TV docudrama about the disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain. It was written by Frank Moorhouse and directed by Michael Thornhill.-Plot introduction:...
(1983) (TV) .... Mr. Lowe - The Mystery at Castle House (1982) .... Stakovich
- PrisonerPrisoner (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...
(1982) TV Series .... Geoff Butler - Holiday Island (1981) TV Series
- Sporting ChanceSporting ChanceSporting Chance is a science fiction novel, written by Elizabeth Moon. Published in 1994, it is the second novel in the Familias Regnant fictional universe, and the second in the Heris Serrano trilogy...
(1981) TV Series - HoodwinkHoodwink (1981 film)Hoodwink is a 1981 Australian thriller film directed by Claude Whatham and written by Ken Quinnell. It stars John Hargreaves and Judy Davis. The film is based on the true story of a well-publicized Australian con artist...
(1981) .... Shaw - Breaker MorantBreaker Morant (film)Breaker Morant is a 1980 Australian film about the court martial of Breaker Morant, directed by Bruce Beresford and starring British actor Edward Woodward as Harry "Breaker" Morant...
(1980) .... Sgt. Maj. Drummond (witness for the prosecution) - Mystery Island (Australian TV series) (1980) .... Policeman
- A Piece of CakeA Piece of CakeA Piece of Cake is a 1948 British fantasy comedy film directed by John Irwin and starring the husband and wife team of Cyril Fletcher and Betty Astell as well as Laurence Naismith and Jon Pertwee.-Plot:...
(1980) (TV) .... Duty Sarglant - PrisonerPrisoner (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...
(1979) TV Series .... Geoff Butler (1979–1980)/Kurt Renner (1984)/Ernest Craven (1986) - My Brilliant CareerMy Brilliant Career (film)My Brilliant Career is a 1979 Australian drama film directed by Gillian Armstrong and based on the book of the same name by Miles Franklin....
(1979) .... Mailman - The Odd Angry ShotThe Odd Angry ShotBased on the novel of the same name by William L. Nagle, The Odd Angry Shot is a film following the experience of Australian soldiers during the Vietnam War...
(1979) .... Range corporal - The JournalistThe JournalistThe Journalist is a 1967 Soviet film, a romance-drama. It was produced by one of the most reputable Russian directors Sergei Gerasimov who also wrote a screenplay. The film stars Galina Polskikh and Yuri N.Vasiliev and tells a story of love between a successful Moscow journalist and a girl in a...
(1979) .... Senior Investigator - Top Mates (1979) TV Series
- NewsfrontNewsfrontNewsfront is a 1978 Australian drama film starring Bill Hunter, Wendy Hughes, and Bryan Brown, directed by Phillip Noyce. The screenplay is written by David Elfick, Bob Ellis, Philippe Mora, and Phillip Noyce. The original music score is composed by William Motzing...
(1978) .... Len's Second Brother - The Chant of Jimmie BlacksmithThe Chant of Jimmie BlacksmithThe Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith is a 1972 Booker Prize-nominated novel by Thomas Keneally, and a 1978 Australian film of the same name directed by Fred Schepisi. The novel is based on the life of bushranger Jimmy Governor....
(1978) .... Dud Edmonds - Because He's My Friend (1978) (TV) .... Kevin
- Run From the Morning (1978) TV Series
- Number 96Number 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...
(1972) TV Series .... Fred Shrimpton (1977)