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Tim Robertson
Tim Robertson
Tim Robertson
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Tim Robertson (1944 – c. 2 January 2026) was an Australian actor and writer.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Robertson was born in Braintree, Essex, England, in 1944. He relocated to Australia in 1952.

He was a graduate of the University of Western Australia (1965).[1] After graduating, he taught drama at various institutions including Antioch College in the US (1967-1968) and Flinders University in Adelaide (1969-1972) where he also began adapting and directing plays.[1][2]

In 1972, he joined the Australian Performing Group at the Pram Factory in Melbourne, where he wrote, acted and directed plays.[1]

Career

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Robertson made his first onscreen appearance in 1974 on the television series Rush. The same year he also featured in the cult Ozploitation horror film The Cars That Ate Paris.

He is known for his role as Arthur West in the 1976 award-winning drama miniseries Power Without Glory. From 1983 to 1984, he played various roles in the comedy series Australia You're Standing In It. He then appeared in the 1987 Kennedy Miller miniseries Vietnam alongside Nicole Kidman in one of her early roles. From 1991 to 1992, Robertson had a regular role as Jack Taylor in the risqué soap opera Chances. He also appeared in two roles in police procedural crime drama series Stingers from 1999 to 2003.

Robertson had numerous television guest roles in series such as Matlock Police, Homicide, Rush, Division 4, Bluey, The Sullivans, Skyways, Cop Shop, Young Ramsay, Special Squad, Carson's Law, Prisoner, Rafferty's Rules, Round the Twist, Neighbours, The Flying Doctors, Ocean Girl, Halifax f.p., Snowy River: The McGregor Saga, CrashBurn and Last Man Standing.

He also starred in several miniseries including Tandarra (1976), Against the Wind (1978), Scales of Justice (1983), The Heroes (1989) and All the Rivers Run II (1990).

Robertson appeared in numerous films throughout his career. Early films included Petersen (1974) with Jack Thompson, football comedy The Great MacArthy (1975), Fred Schepisi's The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978), John Duigan’s Dimboola (1979) and biographical drama Phar Lap (1983).

He appeared in the 1987 coming-of-age John Duigan film The Year My Voice Broke starring Ben Mendelsohn and Noah Taylor. The following year he was in Evil Angels opposite Meryl Streep and Sam Neill. He appeared opposite Mendelsohn again in the 1990 hit comedy The Big Steal and the 1997 drama Amy. He was then in the 1999 film Holy Smoke with Kate Winslet and Harvey Keitel.

Later films included 2001 comedies He Died with a Felafel in His Hand alongside Noah Taylor and The Man Who Sued God opposite Billy Connolly and Judy Davis, the 2010 drama Matching Jack, the 2011 film The Eye of the Storm opposite Geoffrey Rush and the 2014 Angus Sampson comedy The Mule.

In 2001, he published a history of the Pram Factory.[3]

On 2 January 2026, it was announced that Robertson had died at the age of 81.[4]

Filmography

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Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1974 The Cars That Ate Paris Les
1974 Petersen 3rd Bikie
1975 The Great MacArthy Herb
1975 Pure S Cop
1978 The Irishman Bill Bryant
1978 The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith Healey
1979 Dimboola Father O'Shea
1979 The Last of the Knucklemen Man in Bar
1980 Buckley’s Chance William Buckley Short film
1983 Phar Lap Policeman at Stables
1983 Distinguished Guests Professor Wiseman Short film
1984 The Bark is Worse than the Byte Short film
1985 Wrong World Psychiatrist
1985 Bliss Alex Duval
1985 Jenny Kissed Me Sergeant Blake
1985 Niel Lynne Detective
1986 Kangaroo O'Neill
1987 Going Sane Owen Owen
1987 The Year My Voice Broke Bob Leishman
1987 Bachelor Girl Grant
1987 The Time Guardian Sergeant McCarthy
1987 With Time to Kill Jack Keane
1988 Evil Angels (aka A Cry in the Dark) Wallace
1990 Father George Coleman
1990 Aya Willy
1990 The Big Steal Desmond Johnson
1990 Beyond My Reach Burroughs
1994 Ebbtide Realtor
1997 Amy Dr Pascoe
1999 Holy Smoke Gilbert Barron
2001 He Died with a Felafel in His Hand Melbourne Detective 1
2001 The Man Who Sued God Judge
2002 Black and White Mr Kjng
2006 Riot or Revolution: Eureka Stockade 1854 Douglas Huyghue Documentary film
2010 Matching Jack Professor Langley
2011 The Eye of the Storm Dr Treweek
2011 The First Interview Nadar Short film
2014 The Mule Judge Irving

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1974 Matlock Police Peter Gibson 1 episode
1974 Marion Reg Dargie Miniseries, 1 episode
1974 Homicide Engineer 1 episode
1974 Rush Constable Colvin 1 episode
1975 Division 4 Ambulance Driver 1 episode
1975 Cash and Company Reed 1 episode
1976 Tandarra Storekeeper Miniseries, 1 episode
1976 The Professional Touch TV movie
1976 Power Without Glory Arthur West Miniseries, 14 episodes
1977 Bluey Paul Hendy 1 episode
1978 Catspaw Instructor
1978 Against the Wind Holt Miniseries, 2 episodes
1978 The Tea Ladies 8 episodes
1978 The Sullivans Slicker 4 episodes
1979 Skyways Bert Dyer 1 episode
1979 Cop Shop Hedley Barrett 1 episode
1979 The Dolebludgers Mr Price TV movie
1980 Young Ramsay Russell Scott 1 episode
1980 Locusts and Wild Honey Reverend Charles Miniseries, 3 episodes
1983 Home Tom 3 episodes
1983 Scales of Justice Detective Sergeant Mick Miles Miniseries, 2 episodes
1984 The Last Bastion Admiral Ernest King Miniseries, 3 episodes
1984 Special Squad Roberts Episode 2: "The Expert"
1984 Carson's Law Det Sgt Brent 2 episodes
1983–1984 Australia You're Standing In It Various 16 episodes
1985 A Thousand Skies Jack Lang Miniseries, 1 episode
1979–1995 Prisoner Various roles 9 episodes
1986 Pokerface Huck Miniseries, 3 episodes
1986 Vietnam Pascoe Miniseries, 3 episodes
1988 Rafferty's Rules Mervyn Starkey 1 episode
1988 The Clean Machine Dr Michael Millius TV movie
1989 The Heroes Colonel Mott Miniseries
1989 Round the Twist Mr Henderson 1 episode
1989 Bodysurfer Rex Lang Miniseries, 2 episodes
1989 Neighbours Gordon Davies 4 episodes
1990 All the Rivers Run II Blackwell Miniseries, 2 episodes
1990 Police Crop: The Winchester Conspiracy Detective Sergeant Brian Lockwood TV movie
1990 Skirts Harrison 1 episode
1989; 1990 The Flying Doctors Dan Jackson / Bernie Gallagher 2 episodes
1991 Strangers Father TV movie
1991 Boys from the Bush Bobby 1 episode
1991–1992 Chances Jack Taylor Episodes 1-90
1993 Time Trax Joe the Sheriff 1 episode
1994 Ocean Girl Blunt 1 episode
1995 Halifax f.p. Joe Mandle Episode: "Hard Corps"
1995 Snowy River: The McGregor Saga Trooper John Clarke 1 episode
1997 Kangaroo Palace Charles Reid TV movie
1999 Thunderstone General Cardell 2 episodes
2001 Beastmaster Solon 1 episode
2001 Shock Jock Dr Arnold Kipax 1 episode
2002 Bootleg Prime Minister Tom Turner Miniseries, 3 episodes
1999–2003 Stingers Fergus McCallum / George Tyndall / Sgt Noel Harrison 3 episodes
2003 CrashBurn John 2 episodes
2005 Last Man Standing Bride's Dad 1 episode

Theatre

[edit]

As actor

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1964 Doctor Faustus University of Melbourne
1972 Bastardy Pram Factory, Melbourne with APG
1972 He Can Swagger Sitting Down / The Joss Adams Show Pram Factory, Melbourne with APG
1972 A Night in Rio and Other Bummers Pram Factory, Melbourne with APG
1973 The Dragon Lady's Revenge Pram Factory, Melbourne with APG
1973 Dimboola Pram Factory, Melbourne with APG
1976 Knuckle Patrick Pram Factory, Melbourne with APG
1976 The Dudders Colonel Coop / Phil Furley Pram Factory, Melbourne with APG
1977 Ravages: Heels Over Head Cecil La Mama, Melbourne
1978 It's a Mad World, My Masters Pram Factory, Melbourne with APG
1978 No Room for Dreamers Chidley Canberra for Australian National Playwrights Conference
1980 Bremen Coffee Gottfried Melbourne Athenaeum with MTC
1980 Shakespeare the Sadist Bill Melbourne Athenaeum with MTC
1981 Upside Down at the Bottom of the World DH Lawrence Theatre 62, Adelaide with STCSA
1981 Teeth ‘n’ Smiles Saraffian Nimrod, Sydney
1984 The World Is Made of Glass Carl Jung St Martins Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Theatre Company
1985 Nine Little Australians! Season Two YMCA, Melbourne with MTC
1993 Picasso at the Lapin Agile Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Theatre Company
2004 The Frail Man Henry Frail Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Theatre Company
2006 Romeo and Juliet Playhouse, Melbourne, Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare
2007 Dimboola Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne

As director/playwright

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Year Title Role Notes
1973 Dimboola Director Chevron Hotel, Melbourne
1973 The Waltzing Matilda Pantomime Designer Pram Factory, Melbourne with APG
1974 The River Jordan Director Pram Factory, Melbourne with APG
1975 Mary Shelley and Her Monsters Playwright Pram Factory, Melbourne with APG
1976 Fiery Tales / Looney Tunes (The Lamentable Reign of King Charles the Last) Librettist Scott Theatre, Adelaide with New Opera South Australia for Adelaide Festival
1976 The Overcoat Director Pram Factory, Melbourne with APG
1977 Waiter, There's a Circus in My Soup Director The Last Laugh, Melbourne with Last Laugh Theatre Restaurant & New Circus Ensemble
1980 Tram Director Melbourne Comedy Cafe
1981 Wild Honey Writer National Theatre, Melbourne with Australian Contemporary Dance Company
1981 Squirts Writer Playhouse, Adelaide, Universal Theatre, Melbourne with STCSA
1982 Tristram Shandy Adaptor Nimrod, Sydney
1985 Mary Shelley and the Monsters Playwright Rocks Players Theatre, Sydney for Sydney Festival
1988 Manning Clark's History of Australia – The Musical Playwright Princess Theatre, Melbourne
1988 Tristram Shandy – Gent Adaptor Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with MTC for MICF
1994 Waltzing Matilda (with Tomato Sauce) Writer The Street Theatre, Acton, Canberra with Eureka! Theatre Company
1997 Mary Shelley and the Monsters Playwright Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne with La Mama

[5]

References

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[edit]
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Tim Robertson

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from Grokipedia
Tim Robertson was an English-born Australian actor, writer, and director known for his prolific five-decade career in Australian film, television, and theatre. He was particularly recognized for his performances in television series such as Power Without Glory, Chances, Prisoner, and Stingers, alongside supporting roles in films including The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Phar Lap, Holy Smoke, and He Died with a Felafel in His Hand. Born in 1944 in Braintree, Essex, England, Robertson moved to Australia in 1952 and established himself in Melbourne's theatre scene after graduating from the University of Western Australia in 1965. He joined the influential Australian Performing Group at the Pram Factory in 1972, where he acted, wrote, directed, and adapted works, contributing significantly to the development of Australian independent theatre. His career extended to numerous guest appearances across Australian television dramas, miniseries, and soap operas, as well as writing credits and libretto contributions, including lyrics for the 1988 musical Manning Clark’s History of Australia. Robertson retired from acting in 2014 and died c. 2 January 2026 in Sydney at the age of 81.

Early life and education

Childhood, immigration, and university studies

Tim Robertson was born in 1944 in Braintree, Essex, England. He relocated to Australia in 1952. After immigrating, he pursued higher education in Australia and graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1965.

Early teaching positions

After graduating from the University of Western Australia in 1965, Tim Robertson taught drama at various institutions, including Antioch College in the United States and Flinders University in Adelaide. It was during his time at Flinders University that he began adapting and directing plays, gaining practical experience in theatrical production and interpretation. These teaching positions represented his initial professional engagements in drama education, serving as a bridge between his academic training and his later full-time work in theatre. In 1972, he moved to Melbourne and joined the Australian Performing Group at the Pram Factory Theatre.

Theatre career

Pram Factory and Australian Performing Group involvement

Tim Robertson joined the Australian Performing Group (APG) in 1972, establishing himself as a key member of the collective at its primary venue, the Pram Factory in Carlton, Melbourne, where he remained active until 1979. In this role, he worked as an actor, director, and occasional writer, contributing to the group's distinctive approach to alternative theatre that emphasized new Australian writing, experimental forms, and democratic processes. Among his early contributions was his performance as Knocka, the groom's father, in the APG's 1973 production of Jack Hibberd's Dimboola, a satirical comedy that exemplified the group's focus on irreverent, locally rooted storytelling. The Australian Performing Group at the Pram Factory emerged as a central force in 1970s Australian theatre, fostering innovative and radical work that helped shape a national dramatic voice through collective creation and the promotion of emerging playwrights. The venue and ensemble became synonymous with the era's countercultural energy in Melbourne, influencing the broader landscape of live performance. In 2001, Robertson published The Pram Factory: The Australian Performing Group Recollected, a personal memoir and the first extended history of the group, drawing on his direct experience to document its practices, productions, and enduring place in Australian cultural history.

Acting, directing, and playwriting credits

Tim Robertson's theatre career extended well beyond his formative years with the Australian Performing Group, encompassing significant contributions as an actor, director, playwright, and adaptor across various Australian companies and venues. His playwriting and adaptation work included original pieces and literary adaptations that often explored historical, literary, and fantastical themes. He wrote Mary Shelley and Her Monsters in 1975, which received revivals including one in 1997 at Carlton Courthouse, and adapted Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy for productions in 1982 at Nimrod Upstairs and in 1988 at Russell Street Theatre. In 1988, he provided the book and lyrics for Manning Clark's History of Australia – The Musical at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne. His directing credits featured The Overcoat in 1976 at the Pram Factory Front Theatre, an adaptation of Nikolai Gogol's story, and later included The Frail Man in 2004 at the CUB Malthouse. As an actor, Robertson delivered notable performances in several productions. He appeared in No Room for Dreamers (1978) in Canberra and Upside Down at the Bottom of the World (1981) at Theatre 62 in Hilton, South Australia. He portrayed Carl Jung in The World Is Made of Glass (1984) at St Martins Theatre in South Yarra. He played a role in Picasso at the Lapin Agile (1993) at the Beckett Theatre in the CUB Malthouse. Later in his career, he performed in Romeo and Juliet (2006) in productions at the Playhouse in Melbourne and the Drama Theatre at the Sydney Opera House, in collaboration with the Bell Shakespeare Company. These roles demonstrated his versatility across dramatic and comedic works in Australian professional theatre.

Film career

Debut and early roles

Tim Robertson began his screen career in 1974 with supporting roles in two Australian films. He made his debut as Les in Peter Weir's The Cars That Ate Paris and also appeared as a bikie in Petersen. The Cars That Ate Paris, a horror comedy about a rural town that engineers car accidents for profit, is recognized as a key early influence on the Ozploitation genre of low-budget Australian exploitation films. In 1978, Robertson played Healey in Fred Schepisi's The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, a critically regarded drama depicting racial conflict and violence in early 20th-century Australia. He continued taking character parts through the 1980s, including Policeman at Stables in the 1983 racehorse biopic Phar Lap. In 1987, he portrayed Bob Leishman in John Duigan's coming-of-age drama The Year My Voice Broke. The following year, Robertson appeared as Wallace in Evil Angels (released internationally as A Cry in the Dark), a dramatization of the Lindy Chamberlain trial starring Meryl Streep and Sam Neill. These early film roles established Robertson as a dependable supporting actor in the Australian New Wave era, often in prestige or genre productions.

Later notable film appearances

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Tim Robertson continued to appear in supporting roles in Australian feature films. He played Desmond Johnson in the comedy The Big Steal (1990). In 1999, he portrayed Gilbert Barron in Jane Campion's Holy Smoke, starring alongside Kate Winslet and Harvey Keitel. Robertson had two film roles in 2001, appearing as Melbourne Detective 1 in He Died with a Felafel in His Hand and as a judge in The Man Who Sued God. After a period with fewer screen appearances, he returned in 2011 as Dr. Treweek in The Eye of the Storm. His final credited film role was as Judge Irving in The Mule (2014), marking his retirement from acting that year. During this era, he also continued making frequent guest appearances in Australian television series.

Television career

Major miniseries and regular roles

Tim Robertson's television career featured several prominent regular and recurring roles in Australian miniseries and series, showcasing his versatility in drama, comedy, and soap opera formats. His portrayal of Arthur West in the 1976 miniseries Power Without Glory marked one of his most widely recognized television performances, with appearances across 14 episodes of the sprawling family saga adapted from Frank Hardy's novel. The role earned him significant attention during the era of prestige Australian Broadcasting Corporation productions. In the early 1980s, Robertson took on various characters in the sketch comedy series Australia You're Standing In It, broadcast on ABC from 1983 to 1984, contributing to 16 episodes of the satirical program. This engagement highlighted his comedic timing alongside his dramatic credentials. Robertson's longest-running television commitment was as Jack Taylor in the Nine Network soap opera Chances from 1991 to 1992, where he appeared in 90 episodes of the series. This substantial regular role represented one of his most extensive on-screen presences in a continuing drama format. He also had numerous guest and multiple-role appearances in other Australian television productions.

Guest and multiple-role appearances

Tim Robertson was a prolific guest performer on Australian television, frequently appearing in multiple episodes of the same series or portraying different characters across various shows, showcasing his versatility as a character actor. He appeared in nine episodes of Prisoner (1979–1986) in various roles, including Ron Crosby, David Malone, and Woodridge. He also played three different characters across three episodes of Stingers (1998–2004). Robertson was a frequent guest star in numerous Australian police procedurals and dramas, including Matlock Police (1971), Homicide (1964), Division 4, Cop Shop, Rafferty's Rules, Round the Twist, Neighbours, The Flying Doctors, Ocean Girl, Halifax f.p., and Snowy River: The McGregor Saga. He also made appearances in several miniseries, such as Vietnam (1987) as Pascoe in three episodes, The Heroes (1990), and A Thousand Skies (1985). These guest and multiple-role credits complemented his broader television work, highlighting his enduring presence in Australian episodic drama.

Writing, directing, and publishing

Theatrical writing and librettos

Tim Robertson contributed to Australian theatre as a playwright, adaptor, and librettist, creating works that often drew from historical and literary sources. His original play Mary Shelley and Her Monsters premiered at the Pram Factory Front Theatre in Carlton, Victoria, on 25 March 1975, where he served as playwright. The work was later revived at the Rocks Players Theatre in Leichhardt, New South Wales, on 11 January 1985, and again at the Carlton Courthouse in Carlton, Victoria, on 30 April 1997. Robertson adapted Tristram Shandy – Gent for the stage, with productions at Nimrod Upstairs in Surry Hills, New South Wales, beginning 25 August 1982, and at the Russell Street Theatre in Melbourne, Victoria, on 9 March 1988. He also provided the book and lyrics as librettist for Manning Clark's History of Australia – The Musical, which premiered at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne on 16 January 1988.

Directing credits and historical publishing

Tim Robertson engaged in directing during his involvement with the Australian Performing Group at the Pram Factory in Melbourne during the 1970s. One documented directing credit from this era is the production of The Overcoat, which he directed for the group. This adaptation of Nikolai Gogol's short story opened at the Pram Factory Front Theatre in Carlton, Victoria, on 9 September 1976. Later in his career, Robertson made a significant contribution to Australian theatre historiography through publishing. In 2001, he authored The Pram Factory: The Australian Performing Group Recollected, released by Melbourne University Press. The book offers a first-hand, idiosyncratic chronicle of the Pram Factory's role as the venue for a rough-and-ready Australian theatre revival in 1970s Carlton, amid a milieu of sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll. It details the characters, kitchen politics, lifestyle, and modus operandi of this unique theatre collective, which was formed by ordinary people yet produced an extraordinary institution whose influence persists in Australia's theatre, film, and television industries.

Death

Final years and passing

Tim Robertson retired from screen acting in 2014, concluding decades of contributions to Australian film, television, and theatre. In his final years, he experienced a period of declining health. His death in Sydney, New South Wales, at the age of 81 was announced around 2 January 2026. Australian media and industry figures remembered him as a prolific actor, director, and writer whose work spanned stage and screen. Tributes highlighted his memorable performances in television series such as Chances, Power Without Glory, Prisoner, and Stingers, underscoring his lasting impact on Australian entertainment. Colleagues described him as an "amazing talent" and "actor's actor" who brought depth and professionalism to his roles.
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