Vale: Patrick Edgeworth

Veteran screenwriter, playwright, actor, and producer Patrick Edgeworth, whose credits include Matlock Police, Cash & Co., BMX Bandits and Georgy Girl has died, aged 90.

Writing an obituary for the Australian Writers’ Guild, Mark Poole noted British-born Edgeworth travelled to Australia to attend his brother, Ron’s, marriage to Judith Durham of The Seekers.

He decided to stay and began acting and then writing at Crawford Productions in the 1970s, becaming known for colonial dramas Cash and Company and Tandarra he made with Russell Hagg.

Wriitng credits included Homicide, Matlock Police (including acting roles), Special Squad, Chances, Ship to Shore, Blue Heelers, State Coroner, Newlyweds and Neighbours.

He wrote the screenplay which became the 2017 film Bad Blood, co-written by director David Pulbrook.

Possibly he is best known for BMX Bandits which starred a 16-year-old Nicole Kidman in her first major role.

In theatre, he wrote Boswell for the Defence which saw Leo McKern in the leading role in London’s West End and Australia. He later wrote the musical, Georgy Girl, in 2015, which told the story of The Seekers.

Performer Gary Files recalled, “So many of us who worked with Patrick grew very fond of him and his approach to people, and the profession itself. His sensible approach kept many a production intact. This was most apparent with his musical Georgy Girl, a combination of his love of music and his brother Ron’s marriage to Judith Durham of the famous group, The Seekers. I had the impression that it was Patrick’s salute to both the group and Ron and Judy. Patrick sat in on all the rehearsals and was always on hand to make changes to the book when needed. The cast and Judy loved him for it.”

Edgeworth was also active within the Australian Writers’ Guild, especially serving as a judge for the AWGIE Awards. Right to the end he was actively developing a TV version of his play Boswell for the Defence.