Adrian Wright

{{Short description|English-Australian actor}}

{{for|the English musician, and member of The Human League|Philip Adrian Wright}}

{{more citations needed|date=October 2010}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}

{{Use Australian English|date=September 2016}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Adrian Wright

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1947|07|01}}

| birth_place = Maidenhead, England

| death_date = 28 November 2015 (aged 68)

| spouse = Abigail

}}

Adrian Wright (1 July 1947 – 28 November 2015) was an English-Australian actor known for his roles in the 1970s children's television series Freewheelers{{cite book|year=1970|author=TV Times staff|title=Who's Who on Television|publisher=Independent Television Publications}} and the Australian serial Prisoner in which he played male nurse Neil Murray.

Early life

Wright was born in Maidenhead, England, to Matvyn and Kay Wright. He was one of four brothers, including Martyn, Gareth and Gavyn.{{cite web|url= https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/tributes/notice/death-notices/wright-adrian-kay/3933728/ |title= Death notice for WRIGHT, Adrian Kay |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |date=26 December 2015}} His father Matvyn was an artist and animator, best known for illustrating the British Andy Pandy children's books. His brother Gavyn is a violinist and orchestra leader who has worked with artists including Elton John, Tina Turner and Simply Red.

Career

Wright first appeared as an actor in repertory theatres in England and Wales. He subsequently moved to Australia where he continued his career.

He appeared as Mike Hobbs in the British children's television series Freewheelers from 1979 to 1982, and was known for his role in the Australian prison drama series Prisoner from 1979 to 1982, in which he played male nurse Neil Murray, after having previously played a minor guest role as a policeman; Detective Graham Lang in episodes 10-12. He also played the recurring role of Phillip Garrick in Carson's Law in 1984. Later in his career, he played Lieutenant Jean Morlais in all 22 episodes of Tales of the South Seas from 1998 to 2000.

He also had guest roles in many prominent television series throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including Division 4, Homicide, Bluey, Chopper Squad, Skyways, Bellamy, Cop Shop, Five Mile Creek and Mission: Impossible. In the 1990s he guested in Janus, Halifax f.p. and Snowy River: The McGregor Saga. He also appeared in several miniseries including Tandarra (1976), Against the Wind (1978), Water Under the Bridge and The Last Outlaw (both 1980), 1915 (1982) and All the Rivers Run (1983).

Wright's most notable film credits include thriller End Play (1975), mystery Summerfield (1977) both of which he appeared in alongside John Waters, World War I film The Lighthorsemen (1987), thriller Gross Misconduct (1993) alongside Naomi Watts and sci-fi comedy horror Body Melt (also 1993).

Wright performed in the theatre with productions for Russell Street Theatre, St Martins Theatre and La Mama, including Travesties, Of Mice and Men and Othello. He also performed in ABC Radio plays.{{cite web|url= https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/430505 |title= Adrian Wright |publisher= AusStage}}

Personal life and death

Wright was married to Australian actress and singer Abigail until his death.

In 2011, Today Tonight reported that Abigail and Wright were living as squatters in a derelict church. The following evening, A Current Affair correctly reported that they had in fact been living there temporarily, with permission, while their home that had been damaged in the 2011 floods was being rebuilt.

Wright died on 28 November 2015.

Filmography

=Film=

class=wikitable

! Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1975End PlayAndrew Gifford
1977SummerfieldPeter Flynn
1980Fatness, Foods and FadsVarious charactersShort film
1980Energy, Food and ExerciseVarious charactersShort film
1981The SurvivorGoodwin
1986Sky PiratesValentine
1987The LighthorsemenLawson
1990What the Moon SawKurt
1990Friday on My Mind
1992Come Rain or Shine
1993My Forgotten Man (ask Flynn)Harold Watts
1993Gross MisconductKenneth Carter
1993Body MeltThompson Noble
1995The Final StageThe Man

=Television=

class=wikitable

! Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1968ITV PlayhouseRonnie1 episode: "Premiere: Foxhole in Bayswater"
1969Judge DeeDemon1 episode
1971JamieLt. Pascoe1 episode
1972The BefriendersLarry1 episode
1972DoomwatchDavid1 episode
1970–1972FreewheelersMike Hobbs52 episodes
1974Village HallAndy1 episode
1975Division 4Dick1 episode
1975–1976HomicideVarious characters4 episodes
1976Andra
1976TandarraPaddy FlynnMiniseries, 1 episode
1977BlueyGeoff Eastman / Alan Palmer2 episodes
1978Chopper SquadTony Cochran1 episode
1978Against the WindLieutenant BurkeMiniseries, 3 episodes
1979SkywaysTom Davies3 episodes
1980Water Under the BridgeLeading ManMiniseries, 1 episode
1980The Last OutlawConstable FitzpatrickMiniseries, 4 episodes
1981Holiday IslandLindsay Todd1 episode
1981BellamyTerry1 episode
1981The Homicide SquadTeddy CarmichaelTV movie
1978–1982Cop Shop8 roles17 episodes
19821915Oliver MelroseMiniseries, 4 episodes
1979–1982PrisonerGraham Lang / Neil Murray17 episodes
1983All the Rivers RunAlastair RayburnMiniseries, 4 episodes
1984Carson's LawPhillip Garrick23 episodes
1985Five Mile CreekThe Innkeeper1 episode
1988; 1990Mission: ImpossibleDon Regehr / Captain Hamidou2 episodes
1989Space KnightsSir Cuthbert Cosmos (voice)1 episode
1992CluedoCharles Letan1 episode
1995JanusAlex Robbins1 episode
1995Halifax f.p.David OnslowSeason 1, episode 2
1995Snowy River: The McGregor SagaJohn Hardy1 episode
1998–2000Tales of the South SeasLt. Jean Morlais22 episodes

Theatre

Radio

class=wikitable

! Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1979Paradise DisdainedStinaslasABC Radio Melbourne
1979Kind Hearts and CoronetsHallwardABC Radio Melbourne
1979CymbelinePosthumusABC Radio Melbourne

References

{{reflist}}