Vale: George Whaley

Australian director, actor, playwright, and teacher George Whaley, who held executive positions a NIDA and AFTRS has died, aged 85.

George Whaley was NIDA’s Head of Acting from 1976 to 1981, teaching actors such as Mel Gibson, Judy Davis, Colin Friels, Hugo Weaving, Philip Quast, Steve Bisley, Tom Burlinson, Linda Cropper, Penny Cook, Anne Tenney, Heather Mitchell and Di Smith. He became a directing consultant for the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and was later AFTRS Head of Directing until 2002.

Among other career highlights, he wrote and directed the miniseries Harp in the South and Poor Man’s Orange and the feature Dad and Dave: On Our Selection.

Acting credits included Consider Your Verdict, Homicide, Matlock Police, Bellamy, Bodyline, Rafferty’s Rules, The Flying Doctors, A Country Practice, Bligh, GP, Mother & Son, All Saints, Dirt Game, The Gods of Wheat Street, Stork, Bliss and Turtle Beach.

He had a string of stage credits, co-founded Theatre ACT (Canberra), was founding Director of University Theatre at Melbourne University, and Resident Director at the Old Tote in Sydney.

Source: NIDA