Vale: Gary Down

Actor / director Gary Down, who had a long career on stage, film & TV, has died, aged 80.

He passed away on July 23rd at Castlemaine Hospital surrounded by loved ones.

Amongst his TV credits were Home & Away as Nigel Taggart in 1989 plus Prisoner as Des Williams and several roles on Neighbours.

There were appearances on Blue Heelers, Rafferty Rules, The Secret Life of Us, Police Rescue, A Country Practice, GP, The Fast Lane, Carson’s Law, Cop Shop, Bluey, Division 4, Homicide, Matlock Police, Ryan.

Films included Strange Bedfellows, Alvin Purple, Ground Zero, and Backstage.

Born in Auckland, he worked with the Southern Comedy Players and then the Union Theatre Repertory Company in Melbourne.

He had an extensive theatre career as actor and director from 1966 – 2008 with the Melbourne Theatre Company, HIT Productions, The Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust, The Production Company, Arts Victoria, Tasmanian Theatre Company and more. In 1990 he was Artistic Director for the New England Theatre Company.