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Don Barker (actor)

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This article is about the Australian actor. For others, see Don Barker (disambiguation).

Don Barker
Born1938/1939 (aged 85-87)[1]
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
OccupationActor
Years active1960–2022
Known for
Notable workRabbit-Proof Fence

Don Barker (born 1938/1939)[1] is an Australian former actor, who has appeared in films, television, theatre and radio. He is known for his roles in Homicide as Detective Sergeant Harry White, and Prisoner as Psychologist Bill Jackson.[2]

Early life

[edit]

Barker was born in Adelaide, and attended Brighton's Sacred Heart College. At the time, he had not yet developed an interest in acting.[3]

Career

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Barker began his career in 1960 in the theatre.[4] His first professional acting role was in Patrick White's The Season at Sarsaparilla in 1963.[3] From 1968 until 1973, he was a member of the former South Australian Theatre Company (now the State Theatre Company of South Australia) and appeared in their productions of The Heiress, The Alchemist, Born Yesterday and David Williamson's Jugglers Three.[3]

In 1977, he founded The Stage Company, together with John Noble, among others.[5] He performed in several of their productions, including Errol Flynn's Great Big Adventure Book for Boys, The Fall Guy, The Sound of Silence, The Death of George Reeves, Gone with Hardy, The Perfectionist, Travelling North, Gulls, The Harlequin Shuffle and Sons of Cain.[4]

He has taken part in over 110 stage productions up until 2008, including as a director.[4]

Barker has also appeared in numerous television series from the late 1960s. He is best known for his role in the police procedural series Homicide as Detective Sergeant Harry White, which he reprised in an episode of Bluey.[2] He replaced George Mallaby[6] as part of the final detective line up.[7] From 1977 to 1982 he starred as Bill Williams in soap opera The Restless Years.

He had recurring roles in The Sullivans, All the Rivers Run[8] and The New Adventures of Black Beauty, as well as several miniseries including Ben Hall, Against the Wind,[3], The Last Outlaw, I Can Jump Puddles,[9] The Far Country,[10] The Mild Colonial Boy and Sun on the Stubble (aka The Valley Between).[11] He had a recurring guest role in the prison drama Prisoner as psychologist Bill Jackson,[2] reprising the role once more in the 1980 TV movie The Franky Doyle Story. The character was written out after being murdered during a prison riot.[12]

His guest credits include Division 4,[13] Matlock Police,[13] Boney,[14] Ryan, Certain Women, Cop Shop,[15] The Box,[3][16] Bellamy, Bluey, Chopper Squad, The Flying Doctors,[17] Rafferty's Rules,[18] Mother and Son,[19], A Country Practice,[20], Blue Heelers,[21] McLeod's Daughters[22] and City Homicide.[2]

He has appeared in a number of feature films including murder mystery Weekend of Shadows (1978),[3] sports biopic Dawn! (1979),[3] war drama Gallipoli (1981),[13] alongside Mel Gibson, fantasy drama Playing Beattie Bow (1986)[23] and political satire A Sting in the Tale (1989).[24] He had small parts in action thriller Heaven's Burning (1997), alongside Russell Crowe, horror film Cut (2000), with Molly Ringwald[25] and political drama Black and White (2002) with Robert Carlyle, Colin Friels and Ben Mendelsohn. He also featured in the AFI Award-winning drama Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002),[13] (based on the 1996 book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington Garimara), opposite Kenneth Branagh.

Additionally, Barker is well known for his appearances in a number of television commercials, including the 1970s campaign for South Australian-based Coopers Brewery, promoting the stout and lemonade mix known as a portagaf.[26]

Personal life

[edit]

Barker is an avid South Adelaide Football Club fan in the SANFL.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Film

[edit]
Title Year Role Type
1975 Solo Flight Feature film
1978 Weekend of Shadows O'Dowd Feature film
1979 Dawn! Doctor Biopic
1981 Gallipoli N.C.O at Ball Feature film
Revenge Short film
1984 Pete's Pigs: A Journey Through an Intensive Piggery Presenter Short film
1986 Fair Game Frank Feature film
Playing Beatie Bow Samuel Bow Feature film
1987 The Time Guardian Undertaker Feature film
From Bulldust to Bitumen Narrator Video short
1989 A Sting in the Tale Prime Minister Feature film
1990 Struck by Lightning Mr. Jeffries Feature film
1991 Sweet Talker Sgt. Watts Feature film
1995 The Life of Harry Dare Sergeant Feature film
1997 Heaven's Burning Drinker Feature film
1999 In a Savage Land Barman Feature film
2000 Cut Original Producer Feature film
2002 Rabbit-Proof Fence Mr. Paul Evans Feature film
Black and White Ceduna Magistrate Feature film
2006 Modern Love Feature film
2007 Lucky Miles Pub Regular #1 Feature film
2019 The Battle for Mr. Jericho Gerald Feature film

Television

[edit]
Title Year Role Type
1970–1971 Division 4 Bill Anderson / Hugo Smith / Stan Robbins 3 episodes
1971–1972 Matlock Police Jimmy Nolan / Maurie Hicks / Sam Gil 3 episodes
1972 Boney Alec Bryce 1 episode
1973 Ryan Steve Roberts 1 episode
1964–1975 Certain Women Norm Coburn 3 episodes
1967–1976 Homicide Det. Sgt. Harry White 119 episodes
1975 Ben Hall Terry Delaney Miniseries, 2 episodes
1976 The Box Johnny Masters 1 episode
1977 Bluey Det. Sgt. Harry White 1 episode
The Sullivans Neville Godway 8 episodes
1977–1982 The Restless Years Bill Williams 617 episodes
1978 Chopper Squad Cliff Jackson 1 episode
Against the Wind Captain Abbott Miniseries, 4 episodes
The Sound of Love Harry Taylor TV movie
1978–1984 Cop Shop Warwick Morgan / Alan Brooks 7 episodes
1979 Prisoner Bill Jackson 3 episodes
Taxi Greg Day TV movie
1980 The Franky Doyle Story Bill Jackson TV movie
The Last Outlaw Publican Miniseries, 4 episodes
1981 I Can Jump Puddles Mr. Tucker Miniseries, 2 episodes
Bellamy Baker Miniseries, 1 episode
1982 Holiday Island Rafferty 1 episode
1983 All the Rivers Run George Blakeny 5 episodes
The Fire in the Stone Harry TV movie
1985 Robbery Under Arms Wilson TV movie
1986; 1990 The Flying Doctors Frank Kent / Rex Sewell 2 episodes
1987 The Far Country Tom Armitage Miniseries, 2 episodes
1989 Rafferty's Rules Frederich Guilda 1 episode
1990 Shadows of the Heart George Farrell Miniseries, 2 episodes
Howard, the Mild Colonial Boy Kevin Miniseries, 6 episodes
1991 Eggshells Jerry Rose
The River Kings Pastor Beckman Miniseries, 1 episode
1992 Ultraman: Towards the Future Johnson Miniseries, 1 episode
Mother and Son Butcher 1 episode
1992–1993 The New Adventures of Black Beauty Dr. Arthur Osbourne 5 episodes
1993 A Country Practice Stan Laski 2 episodes
1994 The Battlers Publican Miniseries
1996 Sun on the Stubble Uncle Gus Miniseries, 6 episodes
1997; 2006 Blue Heelers Jack Buckley / Lorne Coleman 2 episodes
1999 Chuck Finn Mr. Smith 1 episode
2005 McLeod's Daughters Bob MacKenzie 1 episode
2008 City Homicide Christopher Spotswood 1 episode

Theatre

[edit]

As actor

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1960 The Chiltern Hundreds Willard Hall, Adelaide with Therry Dramatic Society
The Murder Scream / Fumed Oak / A Florentine Tragedy / The Dear Departed
1961 The Importance of Being Earnest
Antigone
Journey's End
Hamlet Woodville High School, Adelaide with Shakespearean Drama Group
Someone Waiting Willard Hall, Adelaide with Therry Dramatic Society
1962 The Lady's Not for Burning
The Potting Shed
You Can't Take It With You
Where the Cross is Made Cross-roads
The Season at Sarsaparilla Ron Suddards Union Hall, Adelaide, Theatre Royal Sydney
1963 The Playboy of the Western World Willard Hall, Adelaide
1964 The Prisoner The Interrogator
Night on Bald Mountain Second Hiker Union Hall, Adelaide
The Middle Watch Willard Hall, Adelaide
1964–1965 Annual Drama Festival and Production Tourney The Bet, Novelist
1965 Toda-San Union Hall, Adelaide
1966 Jemmy Green in Australia / Off to the Diggings Union Hall, Adelaide, Shedley Theatre, Adelaide
The Affair Arts Theatre, Adelaide with Adelaide Repertory Theatre
1967 LUV Sheridan Theatre with Adelaide Theatre Group
The Homecoming Joey Adelaide Teachers College with South Australian Theatre Company
1968 Burke's Company
The Heiress Dr Austin Sloper
1969 The Audition / The Real Inspector Hound Scott Theatre, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company
Pacific Rape Captain Bligh Sheridan Theatre with Adelaide Theatre Group
The Caretaker Union Hall, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company
1970 Let's Get a Divorce Scott Theatre, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company
Semi-Detached
The Queen and the Rebels Scott Theatre, Adelaide & SA tour with South Australian Theatre Company
And the Big Men Fly Scott Theatre, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company
1971 The Boors Simon, a merchant Scotch College, Adelaide, Playhouse, Canberra, ANZ Bank, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company
Hadrian VII Scott College, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company
Little Murders
The Imaginary Invalid
The Patrick Pearse Motel
Robin and Marion The Horse/Wolf / A Musician University of Adelaide
1972 A Midsummer Night's Dream Scotch College, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company
The Playboy of the Western World Union Hall, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company
Butley
Jugglers Three
1973 A Certified Marriage Arts Theatre, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company
1977 Errol Flynn's Great Big Adventure Book for Boys Sheridan Theatre, Adelaide with The Stage Company
1978 Royal Royal Adelaide Showgrounds with South Australian Theatre Company
Richard III Lord Stanley Melbourne Athenaeum with MTC
The Beaux' Stratagem Bonniface
The Fall Guy Space Theatre, Adelaide with The Stage Company
1979 Summer of the Seventeenth Doll Roo SA tour with STCSA
The Sound of Silence Peter Cutler Balcony Theatre, Adelaide with The Stage Company
Baggy Green Skin Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
The Death of George Reeves Announcer / Hotel Manager / Moose Malloy / Big Arthur Harper / Judge Dalton / Robert Condon / William Bliss / Ambulance Person Space Theatre, Adelaide with The Stage Company
1980 Errol Flynn's Great Big Adventure Book for Boys
Gypsy Uncle Jocko / Herbie SGIO Theatre, Brisbane with QTC
Henry IV, Part 1 Falstaff University of Newcastle with Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1982 Brecht on Brecht Playhouse, Newcastle with Hunter Valley Theatre Co
Gone with Hardy Playhouse, Adelaide with The Stage Company
1983 The Perfectionist Space Theatre, Adelaide with The Stage Company
Travelling North
Gulls
1984 The Removalists Adelaide tour
1985 The Harlequin Shuffle Space Theatre, Adelaide with The Stage Company
Sons of Cain
1986 Pravda Harry Morrison / Mack Wellington / Leander Scroop / Ian Ape-Warden Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
Wild Honey Porfiry Semyonovich Glagolyev
1987 Shepherd on the Rocks Tom Teasdale / Puss / Percy Grice
The Winter's Tale Antigonus / Lord / Shepherd
Away Roy / The MC
1988 1841 Playhouse, Adelaide, Sydney Opera House with STCSA
King Lear Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
The Seagull Shamraev
A Dream Play Blind Man / Gent / Dean of Law
1990 The Comedy of Errors
Restoration Mr Hardache
1991 Julius Caesar Julius Caesar
Spring Awakening Rev Baldbelly / Dr Procrustes
The Removalists Sgt. Don Simmonds Space Theatre, Adelaide, Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STCSA & STC
King Golgrutha Staunch Roman Guard / Sam Penderbroke / Quentin the Archbishop Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1991–1992 Money and Friends Conrad Australian tour with MTC, STC, QTC & STCSA
1992 Tears of Blood Theatre 62, Adelaide with Bearly Together
1993 The School for Scandal Crabtree Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
Cosi Henry Space Theatre, Adelaide with Red Shed & STCSA
Under Milk Wood Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1994 And the Big Men Fly J.J. Forbes Theatre 62, Adelaide
1995 Haxby's Circus Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1996 Solstice The Amphitheatre, Adelaide with Magpie Theatre Co & STCSA
The Club Jack Riley Playhouse, Adelaide, National Theatre, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Hobart, SA & VIC tour with STCSA
The Torrents John Manson Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1998 The Department Playhouse, Adelaide, Playhouse, Canberra with STCSA
1999 The Wild Duck Haakon Werle Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
Twelfth Night Sir Toby Belch
2000 Sweet Road Frankie Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, Space Theatre, Adelaide with Playbox Theatre Company & STCSA
2001–2003 Certified Male Jarrad Australian tour with Art Cackle + Hoot
2002 The Merchant of Venice Antonio / Old Gobbo Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
2004 Death of a Salesman Charley
2005 The Government Inspector Mayor
2006 Uncle Vanya Serebryakov Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
2007 The Homecoming Holden St Theatres, Adelaide
2008 The Cripple of Inishmaan Doctor Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA

As director

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Year Title Role Notes
1962 Peter Pan and the Carnival Apprentice Director / Producer Willard Hall, Adelaide with Therry Dramatic Society
1963 The House by the Lake Director
1966 The Tower Director
1967 The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore Director Union Hall, Adelaide
1970 Frisch-Grass: Two Modern European Comedies Director Union Hall, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company
1978 Cheapside Director Adelaide tour with The Stage Company
1984 Translations Director Space Theatre, Adelaide
1993 The Heiress Director Royalty Theatre, Adelaide with Therry Dramatic Society
1994 Bondage Director Theatre 62, Adelaide
We've Got a Tent Director University of Adelaide
2005 Bondage Director Holden St Theatres, Adelaide

[4]

Radio

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1979 Britannicus ABC Radio Adelaide[4]
1979 Pope Joan Lives
1979 The Head Hunters

Audiobook narration

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Year Title Role Notes
2013 I Can Jump Puddles by Alan Marshall Narrator [27]
2013 My Story by General Peter Cosgrove Narrator [28]
2013 Henry Lawson by Henry Lawson Narrator [29]
2014 Snugglepot and Cuddlepie by May Gibbs Narrator [30]
2022 What I cook when nobody's watching by Poh Ling Yeow Narrator [31]

Awards

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Year Work Award Category Result
1980 Henry IV, Part 1 2nd Conda Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Won
[32]
2008 The Homecoming Adelaide Theatre Guide Curtain Call Awards Best Male Performance Won
[33]
2012 Don Barker Adelaide Critics Circle Lifetime Achievement Award Won
[34]

References

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  1. ^ a b Adelaide Critics Circle. "2012 - Don Barker".
  2. ^ a b c d "The beat goes on". The Age. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Don's key role in state drama". Hills Gazette. 4 July 1979.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Don Barker theatre credits". AusStage.
  5. ^ "John Noble rides on The Stage Company (1977-89) in Adelaide to long varied world career in film, TV and theatre". Adelaide AZ.
  6. ^ "383 – Homicide Part 2". Crawford Productions.
  7. ^ "Homicide Facts: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Homicide". National Film and Sound Archive.
  8. ^ "All the Rivers Run: cast". www.australiantelevision.net.
  9. ^ "I Can Jump Puddles: cast". www.australiantelevision.net.
  10. ^ "The Far Country". Screen Australia.
  11. ^ "The Valley Between". www.australiantelevision.net.
  12. ^ "The Prisoner Files". TV Times. 7–13 April 1979.
  13. ^ a b c d "House of Assembly". Parliament South Australia – Hansard Search. 15 October 2014.
  14. ^ "Boney: episode guide". www.australiantelevision.net.
  15. ^ "Cop Shop: episode guide". www.australiantelevision.net.
  16. ^ "The Box at 50". www.televisionau.com. 11 February 2024.
  17. ^ "The Flying Doctors: cast". www.australiantelevision.net.
  18. ^ "Rafferty's Rules: episode guide". www.australiantelevision.net.
  19. ^ "Mother and Son: episode guide". www.australiantelevision.net.
  20. ^ "A Country Practice: episode guide". www.australiantelevision.net.
  21. ^ "Blue Heelers: episode guide". www.australiantelevision.net.
  22. ^ "McLeod's Daughters: episode guide". www.australiantelevision.net.
  23. ^ "Playing Beatie Bow". Screen Australia.
  24. ^ "A Sting in the Tale". Screen Australia.
  25. ^ "Cut". AusLit.
  26. ^ "383 – Adelaide Remembers Nostalgia With Don Violi". The Adelaide Show Podcast. 19 September 2023.
  27. ^ "I Can Jump Puddles". Audible.
  28. ^ "My Story". Audible.
  29. ^ "Henry Lawson". Audible.
  30. ^ "Snugglepot and Cuddlepie". Google Play.
  31. ^ "What I cook when nobody's watching". City of Sydney Library Service].
  32. ^ "Previous Winners". CONDA.
  33. ^ "ATG "Curtain Call" Awards Winners 2008". www.theatreguide.com.au. 3 August 2008.
  34. ^ "Adelaide Critics Circle scans professional and amateur theatre and music, visual arts and lifetime achievements". www.adelaideaz.com.
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