Trevor Kent
Encyclopedia
Trevor Kent was an Australian theatre and television actor who achieved a level of public recognition in the 1980s.
Kent initially worked as a primary-school teacher, teaching for three years in Nambour
and Buderim in Queensland while acting in amateur theatre groups. Kent moved to Sydney to train as an actor with the Independent Drama School
in the early 1960s, supporting himself during this time with teaching.
In Sydney he understudied the role of Rolfe in the Tivoli Theatre's production of The Sound of Music, and acted in Beckett and Oh Dad Poor Dad Momma's Locked You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad with the Independent. After two years in Sydney he emigrated to the UK. He spent ten years there, during which time he worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company
. On returning to Sydney in 1974, Kent played Frank'N'Furter in a stage production of The Rocky Horror Show
.
Several appearances on Australian television followed, including roles in Rush, The Sullivans
, Cop Shop
and Carson's Law
. He moved to Melbourne in 1984 and in 1984–1985 appeared in television soap opera Prisoner
as the villainous Frank Burke for several months.
Kent, who was gay, learned he was HIV positive in the mid 1980s and at that time volunteered as a care-taker for people living with HIV and AIDS. He was public about his HIV status and directed two theatre productions for Out Theatre Company that addressed HIV and AIDS. One of these, Unnatural Acts, toured pubs, theatres and colleges in Melbourne and Sydney.
Kent continued to work with the theatre group until a few weeks before his death in 1989. His final acting appearance was a scene with Meryl Streep
in the film A Cry in the Dark
(1988).
Kent initially worked as a primary-school teacher, teaching for three years in Nambour
Nambour, Queensland
The area now known as Nambour, was first settled in 1870. The town was then called Petrie's Creek. In 1890 the Maroochy Divisional Board was established...
and Buderim in Queensland while acting in amateur theatre groups. Kent moved to Sydney to train as an actor with the Independent Drama School
Independent Theatre
The Independent Theatre was a dramatic society founded in 1930 by Doris Fitton , and was also the name given to the building it occupied from 1938. It was named for London's Independent Theatre Society founded by J. T...
in the early 1960s, supporting himself during this time with teaching.
In Sydney he understudied the role of Rolfe in the Tivoli Theatre's production of The Sound of Music, and acted in Beckett and Oh Dad Poor Dad Momma's Locked You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad with the Independent. After two years in Sydney he emigrated to the UK. He spent ten years there, during which time he worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
. On returning to Sydney in 1974, Kent played Frank'N'Furter in a stage production of The Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Show is a long-running British horror comedy stage musical, which opened in London on 19 June 1973. It was written by Richard O'Brien, produced and directed by Jim Sharman. It came eighth in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the "Nation's Number One Essential Musicals"...
.
Several appearances on Australian television followed, including roles in Rush, 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...
, 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 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...
. He moved to Melbourne in 1984 and in 1984–1985 appeared in television soap opera 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...
as the villainous Frank Burke for several months.
Kent, who was gay, learned he was HIV positive in the mid 1980s and at that time volunteered as a care-taker for people living with HIV and AIDS. He was public about his HIV status and directed two theatre productions for Out Theatre Company that addressed HIV and AIDS. One of these, Unnatural Acts, toured pubs, theatres and colleges in Melbourne and Sydney.
Kent continued to work with the theatre group until a few weeks before his death in 1989. His final acting appearance was a scene with Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep
Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress who has worked in theatre, television and film.Streep made her professional stage debut in 1971's The Playboy of Seville, before her screen debut in the television movie The Deadliest Season in 1977. In that same year, she made her film debut with...
in the film A Cry in the Dark
A Cry in the Dark
Evil Angels is a 1988 Australian film directed by Fred Schepisi. The screenplay by Schepisi and Robert Caswell is based on John Bryson's 1985 book Evil Angels, the title under which the film was released in Australia...
(1988).