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Vale: Bill Kerr

Veteran actor Bill Kerr, best known for movies including Gallipoli and Dusty, has died aged 92.

2014-08-30_0235Veteran actor Bill Kerr, best known for movies including Gallipoli, Razorback and Dusty, has died aged 92.

Kerr died at his home in Perth, according to WA Today.

Kerr had a long list of credits in film, television and theatre, both in Australia and overseas,

The World War II veteran, was born in South Africa and grew up in Wagga Wagga before he settled in Perth in his later life. He initially found fame in radio dramas and on London’s West End, and appeared in the 1955 war film The Dam Busters.

Other films include The Shiralee, The Wrong Arm of the Law, Doctor in Distress, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Gallipoli, The Pirate Movie, The Year of Living Dangerously, Dusty, Razorback, The Lighthorsemen, Kokoda Crescent, Over the Hill, Let’s Get Skase and Southern Cross.

But there were plenty of TV credits:

Citizen James, Ghost Squad, Garry Halliday, Benny Hill, Father Dear Father in Australia, Glenview High, The Young Doctors, 1915, Return to Eden, A Fortunate Life, ANZACs, Sons and Daughters, Bushfire Moon, The Heroes, The New Adventures of Black Beauty, The River Kings, Snowy, Ship to Shore, Minty, Changi and The Shark Net.

Kerr also played a role in rediscovered episodes of Doctor Who from 1967, opposite Patrick Troughton.

Even the BBC has noted his passing, including appearances in Hancock’s Half Hour and 1960s TV drama Compact.

Perth film producer Paul Barron said, “He was a true gentleman, and was very gracious and good to the kids on these shows. He had no pretentions but he was truly an actor of world standard.”

Son Wilton Kerr told ABC, “The most generous, happy, loving man … different to the gruff-voiced man you’ll find in the roles that he would play.

“Generous with his affection, just his life, general positivity, if I could be half the man he is, I’d be a very happy guy.”

4 Responses

  1. Bill Kerr was still working at 92. We recorded a series of classic poems with him last year for YouTube. This is his last performance a recital of The Highwayman Comes Riding. Enjoy.
    youtu.be/VgIkT8LuZlE?list=PLsbY2mIFnFPoKgigABjY6eRc765CZhseI

  2. My first encounter with Bill Kerr was listening to ABC Radio broadcasts of Hancock’s Half Hour. Do we know what his last appearance on screen was?

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