Hubbry Logo
Garth MeadeGarth MeadeMain
Open search
Garth Meade
Community hub
Garth Meade
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Garth Meade
Garth Meade
Garth Meade
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Garth Meade (born 1925, Johannesburg, South Africa, died 2002 Sydney) was a South African and later Australian actor and comedian, best known for his roles on television series and mini-series. He also worked numerously in cabaret and the club circuit.

Key Information

Biography

[edit]

Meade, was born in Johannesburg, and studied classical guitar, at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He began his performing career touring many major cities in the UK and Ireland. Meade and his wife, actress Elaine Lee, emigrated to Australia in 1970. He wrote and starred in the show High Noon at 8.40 in Sydney.[1] His wife had planned to act solely as housewife upon their move to Australia but soon followed her yearnings and returned to acting. In 1972 she was cast as fashion designer Vera Collins an original cast member of evening soap opera Number 96. The series became a huge hit and Lee's fame quickly eclipsed that of her husband. The marriage ended in 1976. [citation needed] Meade also appeared in Number 96 in later years.

In 1980, Meade was a regular in the new serial Arcade created by several of the creative team who had been behind Number 96. Meade played Norman Pendleton, the owner of the Health Studio in the shopping mall of the title. The series was a major ratings flop cancelled after six weeks on air. Meade also played roles in comedy feature films Les Patterson Saves the World (1987) and The Return of Captain Invincible (1983), and in television miniseries Poor Man's Orange (1987).[2] Meade died on 23 January 2002 at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital after a short battle with cancer, aged 77. He is survived by his daughter Amanda Meade a journalist at Guardian Australia.

Filmography

[edit]

Films (selected)

[edit]
Title Year Role
The Dove 1974 South African Customs Officer
The Return of Captain Invincible 1983 Polish Salesman
Molly 1983 Singing professor
Les Patterson Saves the World 1987 Mustafa Toul

Telemovies and serials (selected)

[edit]
Title Year Role
This Is the Henry Hall Show (TV series) 1957 2 episodes as himself
Vera Lynn Presents (TV series) 1960 1 episode as himself
Number 96 (TV series) 1977 Manuel (8 episodes)
Arcade (TV series) 1980 Norman Pendleton (35 episodes)
Home Sweet Home (TV series) 1981 Giovannino Macari
Poor Man's Orange (TV miniseries) 1987 The Kidger (Part 1 and Part 2)
The Clean Machine (TV movie) 1988 Imad Hamoudi

Notes

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Garth Meade

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Garth Meade (1925–2002) was a South African-born actor and comedian known for his work in theatre, cabaret, television series, and film across South Africa and Australia. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Meade began his career in the 1950s with appearances in South African theatre, including starring roles in the revue Bottoms Up and the play For Love or Money. In 1970, he emigrated to Australia with his wife, actress Elaine Lee, and became a staple of the Sydney club circuit and cabaret scene while continuing to perform in theatre. His Australian career included stage productions such as The Tempest, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Blood Knot, alongside television roles in series like Number 96 and Arcade, and film appearances in The Return of Captain Invincible and Les Patterson Saves the World. Meade remained active in performance through the 1980s and died in 2002.

Early life

Birth and background

Garth Meade was born in 1925 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He held South African nationality by birth.

Education and early career

Garth Meade studied classical guitar at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He began his theatre career in South Africa in the 1950s.

Career in South Africa

Theatre performances

Garth Meade established himself as a notable comedian in South African theatre during the mid-20th century, participating in revue productions that showcased his comedic skills. In 1956, he starred in Stanley Nathan’s revue Bottoms Up, which opened on 21 November at the Feather Market Hall in Port Elizabeth. In 1960, Meade appeared in Adam Leslie’s satirical revue For Love or Money, serving as the inaugural production at the Playhouse Theatre in Johannesburg under the direction of Michael Finlayson. The cast also included Adam Leslie, Joan Blake, and Olive King. These appearances represented key highlights of his South African stage work before his emigration to Australia in 1970.

Emigration to Australia

Relocation and new beginnings

In 1970, Garth Meade emigrated to Australia with his wife, the actress Elaine Lee. The couple relocated following their marriage earlier that year. Upon settling in Sydney, Meade began performing regularly on the local club circuit and in cabaret, marking the start of his Australian entertainment career. This shift followed his established work in South African theatre and represented a new phase in his professional life.

Australian career

Cabaret and stage work

Garth Meade performed regularly on the Sydney club circuit and in cabaret venues following his arrival in Australia in 1970. This work allowed him to continue his established career in live entertainment while adapting to the local scene. He starred in the musical revue High Noon at 8.40 in Sydney. The show featured additional cast members including Revan Davies, Einhe Eckstein, and Colleen Cook, with performances scheduled Monday to Saturday.

Television roles

Garth Meade established a presence in Australian television during the late 1970s and 1980s with recurring and guest roles in drama series and miniseries. He made his Australian television debut in the long-running soap opera Number 96 (1977), portraying Manuel in eight episodes. His most extensive television commitment came in the 1980 series Arcade, where he played the recurring character Norman Pendleton across 35 episodes. Meade followed this with a guest appearance as Giovannnino Macari in one episode of Home Sweet Home in 1981. Later in the decade, he appeared in the miniseries Poor Man's Orange (1987), taking the role of The Kidger in two episodes. These credits represent the core of his documented television work in Australia.

Film appearances

Garth Meade has appeared in several feature films and television movies, typically in supporting character roles across a variety of genres including adventure, comedy, and drama. He made his film debut as the South African Customs Official in the 1974 adventure drama The Dove. In 1983, Meade took on two roles: the Polish Salesman in the satirical superhero film The Return of Captain Invincible and the Singing Professor in the Australian drama Molly. He later portrayed Mustafa Toul in the 1987 comedy Les Patterson Saves the World. In 1988, Meade appeared in two Australian television movies, playing Imad Hamoudi in The Clean Machine and Malik in Sands of the Bedouin.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Garth Meade was married to South African actress Elaine Lee, with whom he emigrated to Australia in 1970. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1976. Garth Meade had one daughter, Amanda Meade, who later became a prominent Australian journalist and media commentator. Elaine Lee was Amanda's stepmother.
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.