Australian movie stars born in 1949
Here are 12 famous actors from Australia were born in 1949:
Rick Springfield
Rick Springfield (August 23, 1949 South Wentworthville-) also known as Springfield, Rick, Richard Lewis Springthorpe, Rick Springthorpe, Richard Springthorpe or Rick is an Australian singer, songwriter, musician, actor, singer-songwriter, guitarist and author. He has two children, Liam Springthorpe and Joshua Springthorpe.
Springfield started his music career in the late 60s with the pop rock group The Zoot. He then pursued a solo career in the 70s and gained international success with hits such as "Jessie's Girl", "Don't Talk to Strangers" and "Love Somebody". He has released 18 studio albums to date, with his latest being "The Snake King" in 2018.
Apart from music, Springfield has also acted in both TV shows and movies. He is best known for his role as Dr. Noah Drake on the soap opera "General Hospital" and as a guest star on shows like "Californication" and "Supernatural". He has also written a memoir, "Late, Late at Night: A Memoir", which became a New York Times bestseller.
In addition to his music and acting career, Springfield is a philanthropist and advocates for mental health awareness. He has been open about his own struggles with depression and has worked with organizations like the Suicide Prevention Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) and the Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services to raise awareness about mental health issues.
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Red Symons
Red Symons (June 13, 1949 Brighton-) also known as Redmond Symons is an Australian actor, film score composer, presenter, musician, writer and guitarist. He has three children, Joel Symons, Samuel Symons and Raphael Symons.
Red Symons grew up in a musical family and started playing the piano at the age of six. He joined the band Skyhooks in the 1970s as a guitarist and songwriter, and they became one of Australia's most successful rock bands of that era. After the band's breakup, Symons pursued a solo career in music and released several albums.
In addition to his music career, Symons has also acted in a number of films and television shows, including the Australian drama series "The Henderson Kids" and the comedy film "Hey Hey It's Esther Blueburger." He has also composed film scores for movies such as "Going Down" and "He Died with a Felafel in His Hand."
Symons is perhaps best known as a presenter on Australian radio and television. He spent many years as a co-host on the popular music show "Countdown," and later went on to host his own radio show on ABC Radio Melbourne. He has also appeared as a guest on shows such as "Spicks and Specks" and "The Project."
Symons has had a long and varied career in the entertainment industry, and continues to be a much-loved figure in Australian media.
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Shane Bourne
Shane Bourne (November 24, 1949 Melbourne-) is an Australian actor, comedian and television presenter.
He is best known for his comedic roles in various Australian television shows, including "Hey Hey It's Saturday" and "The Comedy Company." Bourne has also appeared in several Australian films, including "Travelling North" and "All Men Are Liars."
In addition to his work in television and film, Bourne is also an accomplished stage actor, having performed in productions such as "The Producers" and "The Rocky Horror Show." He has also served as a host and presenter for various events and awards shows, such as the Logie Awards and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Bourne is widely regarded as one of Australia's most beloved entertainers, having won numerous awards for his work in comedy and television. He continues to be actively involved in the entertainment industry, both as a performer and as a mentor to aspiring comedians and actors.
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Ivar Kants
Ivar Kants (July 19, 1949 Adelaide-) a.k.a. Ivor Kants or Ivar Kantz is an Australian actor. He has one child, Sarah Kants.
Ivar Kants started his career in acting in the early 1970s, and his first major role was in the Australian television series "Matlock Police". He then appeared in several popular Australian television shows such as "Division 4", "Homicide", "The Sullivans", and "Prisoner".
Kants also made a few appearances in international productions, including the 1984 film "Razorback" and the 1994 mini-series "The Voyage of the Unicorn". In addition to acting, Kants has also directed, produced, and written for television.
He is known for his distinctive voice and has lent his vocal talents to several animated series, including "The New Adventures of Blinky Bill" and "The Adventures of Sam".
Kants has been nominated for several awards for his acting work, including an Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Telefeature or Mini-Series for his role in "The Damnation of Harvey McHugh".
In recent years, Kants has taken a step back from acting and has focused more on his art, exhibiting his paintings in galleries across Australia.
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Drew Forsythe
Drew Forsythe (August 23, 1949 Sydney-) is an Australian singer, actor, screenwriter and comedian. He has one child, Abe Forsythe.
Drew Forsythe is best known for his work as a writer and performer in the satirical revue show "The Wharf Revue". He has been a member of the show's core creative team since its inception in 2000, and has written and performed in countless productions over the years. In addition to his work in theater, Forsythe has also appeared in several Australian television shows, including "Water Rats" and "Blue Heelers". He has also lent his voice to various animated programs, such as "Blinky Bill". In 2019, Drew Forsythe was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his contributions to the arts.
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Lex Marinos
Lex Marinos (February 1, 1949 Wagga Wagga-) also known as Alexander Francis Marinos or Alexander Francis Marinos OAM is an Australian actor, writer, television director, film director and voice actor.
He is best known for his performances in Australian television shows, including "Kingswood Country" and "Here Come the Habibs!", as well as his extensive work in theater. Marinos was also a prominent voice actor in his early career, lending his voice to popular animated shows such as "The Adventures of Blinky Bill" and "Sailor Moon". He has been recognized with numerous awards for his contributions to the performing arts, including a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2016 for his services to the arts and the Greek community. In addition to his work on screen and stage, Marinos is a passionate advocate for multiculturalism and social justice, and has been involved in a number of community organizations throughout his career.
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John Farnham
John Farnham (July 1, 1949 Dagenham-) also known as Johnny Farnham, John Earnham, John Peter Farnham, The Voice, Whispering Jack, John Peter Farnham AO or Farnsy is an Australian singer, singer-songwriter, musician and actor. He has two children, Robert Farnham and James Farnham.
Farnham is widely considered as one of Australia's most successful musical performers, having released 20 studio albums over the course of his career. He first rose to fame in the 1960s as a pop singer, before transitioning to more mature sounds in the 1970s and 1980s with hits like "Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)", "Age of Reason", and "You're the Voice".
Farnham's success has earned him multiple awards throughout his career, including multiple ARIA Awards, the highest honors in Australian music. In addition to his musical accomplishments, Farnham has also acted in various stage and screen productions, including roles in the Australian musicals "Charlie Girl" and "Jesus Christ Superstar".
Farnham's music has had a profound impact on Australian popular culture, with "You're the Voice" in particular becoming a national anthem of sorts. Farnham's enduring legacy has continued to influence Australian music even in the present day, with artists such as Daryl Braithwaite naming him as a major influence.
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Byron Kennedy
Byron Kennedy (August 18, 1949 Melbourne-July 17, 1983 Warragamba Dam) also known as Kennedy Miller, Byron Eric Kennedy or Bryon Kennedy was an Australian film producer, cinematographer, film editor, screenwriter and actor.
He is best known for co-producing the Mad Max series with George Miller, which was a critical and commercial success. Kennedy and Miller met while studying film in college and formed a creative partnership that lasted until the former's untimely death in a helicopter crash while scouting locations for a film. Along with Mad Max, Kennedy produced several other films including The Road Warrior, The Witches of Eastwick, and Dead Calm. He also worked as a cinematographer and film editor on various projects. Kennedy was posthumously inducted into the Australian Cinematographers Society Hall of Fame in 1990. His legacy in the film industry continues to inspire young filmmakers around the world.
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Jon English
Jon English (March 26, 1949 Hampstead-) also known as Jon A. English, Jonathan James "Jon" English, Jonathan James English or Jon is an Australian singer, actor, musician, writer, film score composer and comedian.
He was born in Hampstead, London, but migrated with his family to Australia at the age of 12. He started his career as a musician in the late 1960s, playing in various bands and establishing himself as one of the country's leading rock performers. English released his first solo album "Wine Dark Sea" in 1973 and became an overnight success.
In addition to his music career, English was also a prolific actor and performer, appearing in numerous stage productions, TV shows and films. He won critical acclaim and numerous awards for his roles in productions such as "Jesus Christ Superstar", "The Pirates of Penzance" and "The Mikado".
Throughout his career, English also wrote and composed music for various films, TV shows and stage productions, earning several accolades for his outstanding work in the field of film score composition. He was also a published author, having written two books based on his experiences as a touring musician.
English was a beloved and iconic figure in the Australian entertainment industry, and his contributions to music, theatre and film continue to influence generations of artists. He passed away in 2016, leaving behind a rich legacy of art and entertainment.
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John Duigan
John Duigan (June 19, 1949 Hartley Wintney-) also known as John Lawless Duigan is an Australian film director, screenwriter, actor and film producer.
He graduated from the University of Queensland with a degree in English in 1969. Duigan started his career in the film industry as an assistant director on the film "Barry McKenzie Holds His Own" (1974). He then went on to direct and write his own films such as "Summerfield" (1977), "Mouth to Mouth" (1978), and "The Year My Voice Broke" (1987), for which he won an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Director. He continued to direct successful films such as "Flirting" (1991), which starred Nicole Kidman and Thandie Newton, and "Sirens" (1993) starring Hugh Grant and Elle Macpherson. Duigan has also worked in television, directing episodes of shows such as "Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo" (2011) and "Top of the Lake" (2017).
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Paul Chubb
Paul Chubb (January 14, 1949 Arncliffe-June 9, 2002 Newcastle) otherwise known as Paul Dunford was an Australian actor.
He started his career in the late 1970s and appeared in numerous films, television shows, and stage productions. Chubb was best known for his roles in movies like "The Castle," "Moulin Rouge!" and "Praise." He was a regular on the Australian television show "Blue Heelers" and also appeared in shows like "Heartbreak High" and "The Saddle Club." Chubb was widely respected in the Australian acting community for his talent, dedication, and work ethic. He passed away in 2002 at the age of 53 due to complications from pancreatic cancer.
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Rory O'Donoghue
Rory O'Donoghue (May 13, 1949-) also known as Rory O'Donaghue is an Australian screenwriter, film score composer, actor, musician and composer.
He is best known for his roles in the Australian television series "The Aunty Jack Show" and for co-writing the show's theme song "Farewell Aunty Jack". In addition to his work in television, O'Donoghue also composed music for films such as "The Return of Captain Invincible" and "Bad Taste". He was a talented musician and played several instruments including the guitar, bass, drums, and piano. O'Donoghue passed away in 2017 at the age of 68.
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