Tony Bonner
Encyclopedia
Tony Bonner is an Australian television, film and stage actor and singer. Bonner became famous in the 1960s children's television series Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
, later moving on to lead roles in the dramas Cop Shop
and Skyways
.
, a northern beach suburb of Sydney. His grandfather, James Bonner, was a former Mayor of Manly and founding President of the Manly Life Saving Club. His father, Frederick Bonner, was a musical comedy actor at Her Majesty's Theatre in Sydney.
After leaving school he started work for a company supplying mannequin
s and other equipment for window dressing. He also worked part time in his father's theatre as a wardrobe attendant, fostering his interest in acting.
.
Bonner went on to appear in many Crawford Productions
television series including The Box
, Matlock Police
, Division 4
, Cop Shop
, Skyways
and Carson's Law
.
In 1970/71 he had a guest role in one episode of the UK-based ITC television series "The Persuaders" starring Tony Curtis
and Roger Moore
.
Notable film roles include Eyewitness
(1970) and The Man from Snowy River (1982). He also twice portrayed Australian World War I soldier Murray Bourchier
, to whom he bears a remarkable likeness, in the 1987 film The Lighthorsemen
and a 1993 episode of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
.
Bonner also does advertising work, such as the part of veteran burger naming expert Ken Thomas in a 2007 McDonald's
ad campaign.
In September 2008 he sued Fauna Productions Pty Ltd, the production company for Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
, seeking residuals
from merchandising and DVD sales.
song "Wine and Women" in 1968. He later appeared with Barry Gibb
on an episode of Bandstand. Later in his career Bonner appeared in several stage musicals including Annie Get Your Gun
and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
.
of several charities including The Smith Family
and the Wesley Mission
suicide prevention program. He has also served on the board of the Variety Club
and is Publicity Officer and past President of the Manly Life Saving Club.
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo is an Australian television series for children created by John McCallum, produced from 1966–1968, telling the adventures of a young boy and his intelligent pet kangaroo, in the Waratah National Park in Duffys Forest, near Sydney, New South Wales.Ninety-one 30-minute...
, later moving on to lead roles in the dramas 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....
and Skyways
Skyways (TV series)
Skyways is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network.The series, which aired from 1979 to 1981, was set at the fictional Pacific International Airport and dealt with the lives of the pilots, airline staff and management team who worked there.Skyways was...
.
Early life
Bonner was born in ManlyManly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
, a northern beach suburb of Sydney. His grandfather, James Bonner, was a former Mayor of Manly and founding President of the Manly Life Saving Club. His father, Frederick Bonner, was a musical comedy actor at Her Majesty's Theatre in Sydney.
After leaving school he started work for a company supplying mannequin
Mannequin
A mannequin is an often articulated doll used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, and others especially to display or fit clothing...
s and other equipment for window dressing. He also worked part time in his father's theatre as a wardrobe attendant, fostering his interest in acting.
Acting career
Bonner's first professional stage acting job was in 1961, aged 18. His first major role was as helicopter pilot Jerry King on the television series SkippySkippy the Bush Kangaroo
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo is an Australian television series for children created by John McCallum, produced from 1966–1968, telling the adventures of a young boy and his intelligent pet kangaroo, in the Waratah National Park in Duffys Forest, near Sydney, New South Wales.Ninety-one 30-minute...
.
Bonner went on to appear in many 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:...
television series including 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...
, 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....
, 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....
, 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....
, Skyways
Skyways (TV series)
Skyways is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network.The series, which aired from 1979 to 1981, was set at the fictional Pacific International Airport and dealt with the lives of the pilots, airline staff and management team who worked there.Skyways was...
and Carson's Law
Carson's Law
Carson's Law is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Ten Network between 1983 and 1984. The series was a period piece set in the 1920s and starred Lorraine Bayly as progressive solicitor Jennifer Carson...
.
In 1970/71 he had a guest role in one episode of the UK-based ITC television series "The Persuaders" starring Tony Curtis
Tony Curtis
Tony Curtis was an American film actor whose career spanned six decades, but had his greatest popularity during the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in over 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama...
and Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Sir Roger George Moore KBE , is an English actor, perhaps best known for portraying British secret agent James Bond in seven films from 1973 to 1985. He also portrayed Simon Templar in the long-running British television series The Saint.-Early life:Moore was born in Stockwell, London...
.
Notable film roles include Eyewitness
Eyewitness (1970 film)
Eyewitness is a 1970 British drama film directed by John Hough.-Cast:* Mark Lester as Ziggy* Lionel Jeffries as Grandpa* Susan George as Pippa* Jeremy Kemp as Inspector Galleria* Peter Vaughan as Paul Grazzini* Tony Bonner as Tom Jones...
(1970) and The Man from Snowy River (1982). He also twice portrayed Australian World War I soldier Murray Bourchier
Murray William James Bourchier
Brigadier Sir Murray William James Bourchier CMG DSO VD MLA was an Australian soldier and former Deputy Premier of Victoria from April 1935 until June 1936.-Early life:...
, to whom he bears a remarkable likeness, in the 1987 film The Lighthorsemen
The Lighthorsemen (film)
The Lighthorsemen is a 1987 Australian feature film about the men of a World War I light horse unit involved in the 1917 Battle of Beersheeba...
and a 1993 episode of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles is an American television series that aired on ABC from March 4, 1992, to July 24, 1993. The series explores the childhood and youth of the fictional character Indiana Jones and primarily stars Sean Patrick Flanery and Corey Carrier as the title character, with...
.
Bonner also does advertising work, such as the part of veteran burger naming expert Ken Thomas in a 2007 McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
ad campaign.
In September 2008 he sued Fauna Productions Pty Ltd, the production company for Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo is an Australian television series for children created by John McCallum, produced from 1966–1968, telling the adventures of a young boy and his intelligent pet kangaroo, in the Waratah National Park in Duffys Forest, near Sydney, New South Wales.Ninety-one 30-minute...
, seeking residuals
Residual (entertainment industry)
A residual is a payment made to the creator of performance art for subsequent showings or screenings of the work. A typical use is in the payment of residuals for television reruns. The word is often used in the plural form.-Radio and television:The residual system started in U.S. network radio...
from merchandising and DVD sales.
Musical career
Bonner recorded a cover version of the Bee GeesBee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
song "Wine and Women" in 1968. He later appeared with Barry Gibb
Barry Gibb
Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE , is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed The Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major...
on an episode of Bandstand. Later in his career Bonner appeared in several stage musicals including Annie Get Your Gun
Annie Get Your Gun (musical)
Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music written by Irving Berlin and a book by Herbert Fields and his sister Dorothy Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley , who was a sharpshooter from Ohio, and her husband, Frank Butler.The 1946 Broadway production...
and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same name....
.
Charity work
Bonner is patronPatronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
of several charities including The Smith Family
The Smith Family
The Smith Family is an Australian, independent non-profit children's charity committed to unlocking opportunities for disadvantaged children and their families to participate more fully in society, using education as the key.-The Smith Family history:...
and the Wesley Mission
Wesley Mission
Wesley Mission is a name used by several Uniting Church congregations which are a part the Uniting Missions Network of UnitingCare Australia. Wesley Missions grew out of the inner city missions of the pre-union Methodist Church of Australasia...
suicide prevention program. He has also served on the board of the Variety Club
Variety, the Children's Charity
Variety, the Children's Charity is an organisation founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 10, 1927, when a group of eleven men involved in show business set up a social club which they named the "Variety Club". On Christmas Eve 1928, a small baby was left on the steps the Sheridan Square...
and is Publicity Officer and past President of the Manly Life Saving Club.