Bill Stalker
Encyclopedia
William Robert "Bill" Stalker (3 August 1948 – 28 November 1981) was a New Zealand actor, most famous for his roles in television.
Stalker. A keen motorcyclist and adventurer from an early age, he later attended the University of Canterbury
, where he began his career in theatre.
, where he performed with many popular New Zealand entertainers. He left the group after one tour in 1972, but returned in 1975 until the group disbanded in 1976.
After moving to Australia
in 1979, he joined the cast of the airport drama serial Skyways
as Peter Fanelli, head of airport security. Fanelli soon proved to be one of the show's most popular characters, and after Skyways ended in 1981, the character was quickly moved to the police serial Cop Shop
, with Fanelli now heading Riverside CIB as a Detective Sergeant.
. His pillion
passenger, then-girlfriend Catherine Wilkin
, suffered a fractured hip and leg injuries in the accident.
A dedication to Stalker was shown at the end of his final Cop Shop episode.
During his time in Blerta, he met singer Beaver
, with whom he had two daughters, Fritha and Kate Stalker. He is also survived by his other older children, Eleanor and Greg Carr, twins, who were adopted out as babies. He had been in the process of searching for the twins shortly before his death.
Early life
Stalker was born and grew up in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, the second of seven children to Robert and ZenaStalker. A keen motorcyclist and adventurer from an early age, he later attended the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
, where he began his career in theatre.
Career
One of his early acting roles was as a biker in the New Zealand television series Pukemanu, which also starred Ginette MacDonald. In 1971, he joined Bruno Lawrence's musical and theatrical co-operative BlertaBlerta
Blerta , was a New Zealand musical and theatrical co-operative active in the 1970s....
, where he performed with many popular New Zealand entertainers. He left the group after one tour in 1972, but returned in 1975 until the group disbanded in 1976.
After moving to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1979, he joined the cast of the airport drama serial Skyways
Skyways (TV series)
Skyways is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network.The series, which aired from 1979 to 1981, was set at the fictional Pacific International Airport and dealt with the lives of the pilots, airline staff and management team who worked there.Skyways was...
as Peter Fanelli, head of airport security. Fanelli soon proved to be one of the show's most popular characters, and after Skyways ended in 1981, the character was quickly moved to the police serial Cop Shop
Cop Shop
Cop Shop was an Australian police drama television series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday operations of both the uniformed police officers and the plain-clothes detectives of the fictional Riverside Police Station....
, with Fanelli now heading Riverside CIB as a Detective Sergeant.
Death
After nine months on the show, Stalker had tired of both working in serials and of playing Fanelli. He quit the show to explore various film offers. However, on 28 November 1981, during a weekend break between taping his final scenes for Cop Shop, he was killed when his motorcycle slid and collided with a car in wet weather in Toorak, VictoriaToorak, Victoria
Toorak is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 5 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district located on a rise on the south side of a bend in the Yarra River. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stonnington...
. His pillion
Pillion
A pillion is a mostly British English term for a secondary pad, cushion, or seat behind the main seat or saddle on a horse, motorcycle, bicycle or moped...
passenger, then-girlfriend Catherine Wilkin
Catherine Wilkin
Catherine Wilkin is an actor who has worked in New Zealand and Australia.Wilkin has acted in many Australian television shows, with a mix of guest and multi-episode recurring roles....
, suffered a fractured hip and leg injuries in the accident.
A dedication to Stalker was shown at the end of his final Cop Shop episode.
Personal life
Stalker was married to Donna Boyd-Wilson, but the couple later divorced.During his time in Blerta, he met singer Beaver
Beaver (singer)
Beverley Jean Morrison, better known as Beaver , was a New Zealand singer.She was a long running member of the ground-breaking Blerta musical and theatrical co-operative, and later of the similar troupe Red Mole. She played a small role in the 1985 movie Should I be Good, a New Zealand film based...
, with whom he had two daughters, Fritha and Kate Stalker. He is also survived by his other older children, Eleanor and Greg Carr, twins, who were adopted out as babies. He had been in the process of searching for the twins shortly before his death.