Johnny Lockwood
{{Short description|English-Australian actor}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Johnny Lockwood
| image = Royal Air Force- Italy, the Balkans and South-east Europe, 1942-1945. CNA2292.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Lockwood first from left of tailboard
| birth_name = John Sidney LockwoodRoy Hudd and Philip Hindin, Roy Hudd's Cavalcade of Variety Acts, Robson Books, 1998, {{ISBN|1-86105-206-5}}, p.105
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1920|12|7}}
| birth_place = West Ham, Essex, England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|4|25|1920|12|7|df=y}}
| death_place = Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
| othername =
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|variety entertainer|comedian}}
| known_for =
| years_active = 1934–2002
| spouse =
| domesticpartner =
| children = Joanna Lockwood
}}
John Sidney Lockwood (7 December 1920{{spaced ndash}}25 April 2013{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/number-96-star-johnny-lockwood-dead-at-92/story-e6freuy9-1226629518233|title=Number 96's 'Aldo' dies|publisher=|date=2013-04-25}}) was a British variety entertainer, comedian and actor, who also became notable in Australia after emigrating to that country.
Lockwood born in West Ham, Essex (now East London) and worked in radio, theatre, television and film. He became well known for his role in the satirical television comedy The Mavis Bramston Show and the Australian television soap opera Number 96 playing bumbling Hungarian Jewish deli proprietor Aldo Godolfus from 1972 until 1975, a central cast member opposite Philippa Baker who would play his future wife Roma and naive rebellious teenage daughter Rose (played by Vivienne Garrett).
The comedy of much of the duo of Aldo and Roma stemmed from both being European immigrants (Aldo from Hungary, And Roma from Russia), who had trouble understanding the local language.
Although Aldo was essentially a comedy character, prior to Number 96, Lockwood had not performed in drama and was primarily a stand-up comic.{{cite book |last1=Giles |first1=Nigel |title="Number 96: Australia Most Notorious Address"| publisher=Melbourne Books |date=March 2021 |isbn=9781925556001|url=https://www.bookfinder.com/book/9781925556001/}}
He had a small role in film Moulin Rouge! and several other features.
Biography
=Early career=
Lockwood was born as one of four children to William and Annie Lockwood, he had always wanted to perform on stage. He's dad died when he was 9 in 1929 and his mother died in 1933, hence he was orphaned at age 12, and at 14 applied for a job as a dancer in a touring show.
He continued to develop his talents and by 18 was performing as a variety entertainer after given a contract by impresario Jack Hylton as a comedian.Atterton, Margot. (Ed.) The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Australian Showbiz, Sunshine Books, 1984. {{ISBN|0-86777-057-0}} p 137 He was a member of the charitable entertainment fraternity, the Grand Order of Water Rats.{{cite web|url=http://www.gowr.co.uk/all-water-rats/v/46|title=Biography of a Water Rat|publisher=}}
His entertainment career was briefly put on hold, as World War II intervened and Lockwood joined the Royal Air Force in 1942 whilst continuing to perform with ENSA and was honourably discharged in 1944 after which returned to performing, working in vaudeville, pantomime, radio and television. In 1949 he performed in the Royal Command Performance at the London Coliseum. During the performance he tripped and fell, suffering a bloody nose. His quip to the audience was "Well, they told me you wanted blood tonight" was widely reported by the press.{{cite book |last1=Atterton |first1=Margot |title=THE ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF AUSTRALIAN SHOWBIZ |publisher=Sunshine Books |date=1984 | page=137| isbn=0867770570| url=https://www.bookfinder.com/book/0867770570/}}
=Theatre, television and film=
A prominent member of theatre, Lockwood came to Australia in 1957 for a ten-week run with the Tivoli Theatre circuit, however after that job finished he remained in Australia for five years. and appeared in a stage production opposite Bobby Limb.{{cite web|url=https://www.nowtolove.com.au/lifestyle/books/number-96-together-again-29244|title=Number 96 together again|date=25 July 2010 }} He returned to his native UK to play Fagin in a production of Lionel Bart's Oliver! at the New Theatre but then he returned permanently to Australia.
Lockwood spent a year with television series Sunnyside Up, went to the US to perform in Las Vegas, and returned to Australia for a two-year run with classic comedy series The Mavis Bramston Show, and then played the lead role in Canterbury Tales. The role in Number 96 followed in 1972. Lockwood was an original cast member of the series; his character was specifically devised by writer David Sale (who also wrote for Bramston), as bumbling delicatessen proprietor Aldo Godolfus. Aldo was originally conceived as a Greek emigrant, but the character was later changed to a Hungarian Jew to suit the actor's dialect; his character soon wed his deli employee Roma Lubinsky (Philippa Baker) and the duo were developed as comedy characters, who became highly recognised figures in the serial. Aldo and Roma were famously and later regretfully killed off in a dramatic revamp of the series – during "the infamous bomb blast storyline" – in September 1975.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/veteran-actor-was-orphaned-by-11-began-life-on-stage-at-14-20130526-2n5md.html|title=JOHNNY LOCKWOOD|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald|author=Craig Blake|date=26 May 2013 }}
During the 1980s and 1990s, Lockwood made guest appearances in Australian drama series and soap operas. In 1985, he appeared in soap opera Neighbours as Daphne Lawrence's grandfather, Harry Henderson. He guest starred in two 1991 episodes of soap opera E Street. During this period he also acted in feature films.
He had a short theatre run in a Queensland production in the early 1980s portraying Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.
In the early 2000s Lockwood continued to make television and film guest appearances including roles in Moulin Rouge! and miniseries The Potato Factory. He also continued stage work with the Sydney Theatre Company.
Personal life
Anne Lockwood, Johnny Lockwood's wife since 1947, died in Sydney in 1976. After Johnny had gone to bed one evening she died after suffering a heart attack and falling from the balcony of their high-rise apartment at McMahon's Point. Some people speculated that she had committed suicide, something Johnny angrily denied.George, Carol. The Saddest Clown. Scene. 2–8 October 1976, page 7.
Lockwood married again in 1980. His daughter Joanna Lockwood, born in Hammersmith, London, England, is an actress, best known for her long-running role in television serial Cop Shop; she also appeared briefly in Number 96.
Lockwood died on 25 April 2013 at a nursing home in Coffs Harbour, aged 92.
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Type | |||
| 1968 | Anything Goes | ||
| 1969 | The Life and Times of Reverent Shotte | ||
| 1972 | Duffer | Hippie Guitarist | |
| 1974 | Number 96 | Aldo Godolfus | |
| 1977 | All at Sea | Rev Parslow / George Parsons | TV film |
| 1982 | Norman Loves Rose | Sam | Feature film |
| 1984 | Stanley (aka Stanley: Every Home Should Have One) | Flasher | Feature film |
| 2001 | Moulin Rouge! | Character Rake | Feature film |
| 2003 | The Rage in Placid Lake | Barber | Feature film |
=Television=
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Type | |||
| Sunnyside Up | TV series | ||
| 1967-68 | The Mavis Bramston Show | Various characters | TV series |
| 1971 | Spyforce | Ruben Nathan | TV series |
| 1972-75 | Number 96 | Aldo Godolfus | TV series |
| 1973 | The Evil Touch | TV series | |
| 1975 | The Norman Gunston Show | Checkout Chicks | TV series |
| 1978 | Tickled Pink | Rabbi | TV special |
| 1981 | Bellamy | Len Payne | TV series |
| 1982 | Kingswood Country | Tony Bertolucci | TV series |
| 1985-86 | Neighbours | Harry Henderson | TV series |
| 1987 | A Country Practice | Mickey O'Rourke | TV series |
| 1991 | E Street | Johnny Little | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2000 | The Potato Factory | Moses | TV miniseries |
| 2002 | Short Cuts | Hippy | TV series |
| 2003 | Pizza | Insurance | TV series |
Notes
External links
- {{IMDb name|516983|Johnny Lockwood}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lockwood, Johnny}}
Category:Male actors from Essex
Category:British emigrants to Australia
Category:English male film actors
Category:English male soap opera actors
Category:English male stage actors
Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II