Tom Oliver

Oliver was born in Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, England and started appearing in amateur theatricals as an adolescent in Britain before pursuing a career as a jockey.{{cite web|url=http://perfectblend.net/features/interview-oliver.htm |title=Neighbours: The Perfect Blend | Interview: Tom Oliver |publisher=The Perfect Blend |date=21 March 2009 |access-date=7 November 2012}} However, he failed to gain an apprenticeship owing to his size.

He joined the Merchant Navy at 16 and travelled the world, eventually settling in Sydney in 1956. Whilst in the British Forces, he worked on the Pacific Nuclear Testing Base, Christmas Island and so is a member of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/neighbours/whoswho/characterbiogs/index.shtml?content/_lou/page3|title=BBC – Neighbours – Who's who Page 3|date=15 April 2005|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050415140025/http://www.bbc.co.uk/neighbours/whoswho/characterbiogs/index.shtml?content/_lou/page3|archive-date=15 April 2005|access-date=8 December 2019}}

While in Australia, Oliver found work as a stockman, spending three years in this job, working his way around the country. He subsequently returned to the UK before beginning an overland trek across Asia to return to Australia. However, the journey was halted by illness and Oliver returned to Britain where he contacted Albert Finney who was then planning to produce the film Ned Kelly in Australia in 1963. Finney gave him a letter of introduction to an agency in Sydney and Oliver emigrated in 1963, later becoming an Australian citizen. He frequently visits Fareham, Hampshire to see his old friends.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/neighbours/whoswho/characterbiogs/index.shtml?/neighbours/whoswho/characterbiogs/content/_lou/page5|title=BBC – Neighbours – Who's who Page 5|date=21 March 2005|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050321100647/http://www.bbc.co.uk/neighbours/whoswho/characterbiogs/index.shtml?/neighbours/whoswho/characterbiogs/content/_lou/page5|archive-date=21 March 2005|access-date=8 December 2019}}

Oliver became a busy theatre and television actor in Australia. He had many guest starring roles on Australian drama series, appearing frequently in the top-rated Crawford Productions police dramas Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police, and in Crawford's adventure series Hunter (1967). He played Clarry in The Shifting Heart.{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|access-date=9 August 2024|date=7 June 2021|title=Forgotten Australian TV Plays: The Shifting Heart|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-tv-plays-the-shifting-heart/}}

Oliver was then cast in serial Bellbird, playing the role of Tom Grey from 1969 to 1971, and appeared in the 1971 film Nickel Queen, directed by John McCallum. After this he returned to television guest roles for Crawfords, and other companies.Atterton, Margot. (Ed.) The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Australian Showbiz, Sunshine Books, 1984. {{ISBN|0-86777-057-0}} p 170 He also appeared in several British TV series at the beginning of the 70's, such as Paul Temple, Thirty-Minute Theatre, and also played two roles in the Gerry Anderson series UFO – a doctor in the episode entitled "Confetti Check A-OK" as well as a SHADO technician in the episode entitled "The Sound of Silence".

Oliver also worked for a time as a presenter on Play School{{Cite web|url=http://perfectblend.net/features/interview-oliver.htm|title=Neighbours: The Perfect Blend {{!}} Interview: Tom Oliver|website=perfectblend.net|access-date=2 July 2018}} in 1967.

In 1972 he joined the cast of fledgling soap opera Number 96 playing the role of Janie Somers' new beau, Jack Sellars. Back-slapping rough diamond Jack, nicknamed 'Jolly Jack Sellars' was intended as a guest character to appear for a run of just three weeks, but the makers of the show were impressed with his performance and the character was made into an ongoing lead regular in the serial. Oliver became one of the Number 96{{'}}s most popular cast members.

In late 1973, along with much of the show's regular cast, he reprised his television role in a feature film spinoff of the serial, also called Number 96. Oliver stayed in the role in the series for more than two years, finally electing to leave in mid-1974. He quickly returned to guest starring roles on television and film roles of varying sizes. He briefly returned to Number 96 in the same role in September 1975.

Oliver's film roles included ABBA: The Movie (1977). His primary role in the film was as ABBA's gruff bodyguard; however, he additionally appeared in the film as a barman and as a chatty moustached taxi driver shown mainly from behind. Through the late 1970s and the 1980s, Oliver appeared in guest and regular roles in many Australian drama series and serials, including Prisoner, Holiday Island, Cop Shop, Sons and Daughters and A Country Practice. He also appeared in the acclaimed miniseries The Dismissal portraying Reg Withers.

Oliver also acted on the stage in numerous productions, appearing in such plays as The Knack, Cactus Flower, How the Other Half Loves and The Club.

Today Oliver is best known for his long-running role of Lou Carpenter in Neighbours. He first appeared for a handful of episodes as lovable rogue used-car salesman Lou, Madge Bishop's former flame, in 1988. In early 1992 the character was reintroduced to the series and was a key character until 2016. Oliver was written out of the show in 1996 but producers relented after numerous petitions from fans and he was quickly reintroduced. By 2009, he was the show's longest serving character, both in continuous and overall duration. From the 2009 season, Oliver reduced his role on Neighbours to a part-time regular member of the cast. Oliver appeared in a documentary special celebrating the show's 30th anniversary titled Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite, which aired in Australia and the UK in March 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2015/02/airdate-neighbours-30th-the-stars-reunite.html|title=Airdate: Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite|last=Knox|first=David|date=28 February 2015|publisher=TV Tonight|access-date=3 March 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s14/neighbours/news/a633173/neighbours-30th-anniversary-schedule-confirmed-by-channel-5.html|title=Neighbours 30th anniversary schedule confirmed by Channel 5|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|work=Digital Spy|date=4 March 2015|access-date=5 March 2015}} In 2015, it was announced that Oliver had cut back further on his role as Lou and would only appear from time to time as a guest. In October 2016 it was announced that Oliver had left the role after 24 years and his last appearance aired in December 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2016/10/tom-oliver-departing-neighbours.html|title=Tom Oliver departing Neighbours|last=Knox|first=David|publisher=TV Tonight|date=25 October 2016 }}

Lou did not feature in the series finale,{{cite news |last=Rodger |first=James |date=2022-07-30 |title=Every Neighbours star who was 'snubbed' in finale as fans left devastated |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/every-neighbours-star-who-snubbed-24628449 |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=BirminghamLive |language=en}} but there was still a reference to his character in the form of a lawyers' office called "T Oliver".{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Kathryn |date=2022-07-30 |title=Fans love Neighbours final's sweet nod to Lou Carpenter absence |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/fans-love-neighbours-finals-sweet-24629344 |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}} Executive producer Jason Herbison later revealed that he had personally called Oliver to inquire about returning for the final episode, but Oliver turned it down as he was "at a different point in his life now".{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a40782803/neighbours-jason-herbison-finale-mysteries/|title=Neighbours boss addresses finale mysteries|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=2 August 2022|work=Digital Spy}}

Oliver has been nominated for the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role three times.

During his run in Number 96, Oliver married fellow castmate Lynn Rainbow, who played Sonia Vansard, and opened a wine bar in Kensington, Sydney, named "Jack's Cellar".

Oliver has been married to his current wife Jan since 1985. Whilst acting on Neighbours, he owned a Maltese Shih Tzu called Lou. He is a keen gardener and mountain fisher.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/neighbours/whoswho/characterbiogs/index.shtml?/neighbours/whoswho/characterbiogs/content/_lou/page4|title=BBC – Neighbours – Who's who Page 4}}

Oliver has one daughter.http://greyhoundequality.org/ambassador.html

{{cite web|url=http://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/3389|title=Tom Oliver|work=AusStage database}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|id=0647016|name=Tom Oliver}}
• [https://www.angelfire.com/wa3/datigers57/lou.html Tom Oliver as Lou Carpenter]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oliver, Tom}}

Category:1938 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australian male film actors

Category:Australian male soap opera actors

Category:Australian male stage actors

Category:British Merchant Navy personnel

Category:Australian children's television presenters

Category:British children's television presenters

Category:British emigrants to Australia

Category:People from Chandler's Ford

Category:20th-century Australian male actors

Category:20th-century British male actors

Category:21st-century Australian male actors

Category:21st-century British male actors

Category:Naturalised citizens of Australia