Frank Holden
Encyclopedia
Frank Holden, also known as Frankie J. Holden, (born Peter Brian 18 December 1952), is an Australian singer and actor. In the 1970s, he fronted, Ol' 55
which had a hit with "On the Prowl" from their debut album, Take It Greasy
which peaked at number three on the Australian Kent Music Report
Albums Chart in 1976. For Return Home
Holden was nominated for Best Actor in a Lead Role at the 1990 AFI Awards.
Ol' 55
, which also included Wilbur Wilde
and Jimmy Manzie
. In the early 2000s, Holden re-emerged on the music scene with the Ol' Skydaddies, a band featuring members from Ol' 55
, Daddy Cool
and Skyhooks.
(1982–1983) and in the first season of the ABC children's program Round the Twist
(1989).
From 1991 until 1993, he starred in A Country Practice
, and in 1992 starred in the short-lived Late for School. He then had a role in Police Rescue
(1993–1996) and in 1994, he was in another children's program, Sky Trackers
.
From 2000 until 2002, he was in ABC1
's Something in the Air.
In 2008, Holden was in two Channel Nine
dramas - Underbelly
and in The Strip.
, co-featuring Julia Morris
and Denise Drysdale
.
In 2009, Holden co-presented, alongside with his wife Michelle, "Discover Downunder", a half-hour Australia-based travelling/caravanning program for the Nine Network. In 2010, he co-hosts "What's Up Down Under" on Channel Seven. This show is similar to Discover Downunder.
two years later. He has four children; three girls with his second wife, and another girl from his third marriage.
Holden currently resides on the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales Australia and is still performing around Australia as a successful entertainer.
Frankie J Holden has a star in Caloundra's "Walk of Stars" between Red Symons and Daryl Somers.
Ol' 55
Ol' 55 was an Australian band specialising in retro, 1950s-era Rock 'n' Roll. They formed as Fanis in 1972 in Sutherland, Sydney, New South Wales . Drummer Geoff Plummer was working with Glenn A. Baker at the NSW Department of Media and invited Baker to hear his part-time band, including Pat...
which had a hit with "On the Prowl" from their debut album, Take It Greasy
Take It Greasy
Take It Greasy was the first album to be released by Australian 50's retro band Ol' 55. The album sold very well in Australia, reaching number 3 on the national charts and was awarded a platinum record...
which peaked at number three on the Australian Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
Albums Chart in 1976. For Return Home
Return Home
Return Home is a 1990 Australian drama film directed by Ray Argall. Argall won the AFI Award for Best Director in 1990 and Frankie J. Holden was nominated for Best Actor in a Lead Role.-Cast:*Dennis Coard as Noel*Frankie J...
Holden was nominated for Best Actor in a Lead Role at the 1990 AFI Awards.
Singing career
During the 1970s Holden was the frontman for the Australian retro-rock bandRock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
Ol' 55
Ol' 55
Ol' 55 was an Australian band specialising in retro, 1950s-era Rock 'n' Roll. They formed as Fanis in 1972 in Sutherland, Sydney, New South Wales . Drummer Geoff Plummer was working with Glenn A. Baker at the NSW Department of Media and invited Baker to hear his part-time band, including Pat...
, which also included Wilbur Wilde
Wilbur Wilde
Wilbur Wilde is an Australian saxophonist. He rose to prominence with the bands Ol' 55, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons...
and Jimmy Manzie
Jimmy Manzie
James "Jimmy/Jim" William Manzie is an Australian musician and songwriter for a variety of bands including rock revival band Ol' 55 , pop groups The Breakers and The Fives before turning to solo work, production and composing for film/television scores and soundtracks...
. In the early 2000s, Holden re-emerged on the music scene with the Ol' Skydaddies, a band featuring members from Ol' 55
Ol' 55
Ol' 55 was an Australian band specialising in retro, 1950s-era Rock 'n' Roll. They formed as Fanis in 1972 in Sutherland, Sydney, New South Wales . Drummer Geoff Plummer was working with Glenn A. Baker at the NSW Department of Media and invited Baker to hear his part-time band, including Pat...
, Daddy Cool
Daddy Cool (band)
Daddy Cool is an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in 1970 with the original line-up of Wayne Duncan , Ross Hannaford , Ross Wilson and Gary Young . Their debut single "Eagle Rock" was released in May 1971 and stayed at number 1 on the Australian singles chart for ten weeks...
and Skyhooks.
Actor
In the 1980s, Holden starred in Channel Ten's drama series PrisonerPrisoner (TV series)
Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...
(1982–1983) and in the first season of the ABC children's program Round the Twist
Round the Twist
Round the Twist is a Logie Award-winning Australian children's television series about three children and their widowed father who live in a lighthouse and become involved in many magical adventures....
(1989).
From 1991 until 1993, he starred in A Country Practice
A Country Practice
A Country Practice is an Australian television drama series. One of the longest-running of its kind, produced by James Davern of JNP Productions, it ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was produced in ATN-7's production facility at Epping,...
, and in 1992 starred in the short-lived Late for School. He then had a role in Police Rescue
Police Rescue
Police Rescue was an Australian television series which originally aired on ABC TV between 1989 and 1996. It was produced by ABC and Southern Star Xanadu in association with the BBC....
(1993–1996) and in 1994, he was in another children's program, Sky Trackers
Sky Trackers
Sky Trackers was a television series created by Tony Morphett, and produced by Patricia Edgar and Margot McDonald for the Australian Children's Television Foundation...
.
From 2000 until 2002, he was in ABC1
ABC1
ABC1 was a United Kingdom based television channel from Disney using the branding of the Disney owned American network, ABC.The channel initially launched exclusively on the British digital terrestrial television platform Freeview on 27 September 2004. On 10 December 2004 it was launched on...
's Something in the Air.
In 2008, Holden was in two Channel Nine
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
dramas - Underbelly
Underbelly (TV series)
Underbelly is a 13-part Australian television mini-series that retells the real events of the 1995–2004 gangland war in Melbourne, and is the first series in the larger Underbelly Franchise. It depicts the key players in Melbourne's criminal underworld, including the Carlton Crew and their rival,...
and in The Strip.
Presenter
From 1996 until 1999, Holden was the host of the revamped Monday evening variety show In Melbourne TonightIn Melbourne Tonight
In Melbourne Tonight, also known as "IMT", was a highly popular nightly variety television show produced at GTV-9 Melbourne from 6 May 1957 to 1970....
, co-featuring Julia Morris
Julia Morris
Julia Morris is an Australian writer, comedian, actress, television presenter and television producer who has worked extensively in Australian and British television and radio. She has toured widely with her solo stand-up comedy shows. In Australia, she is best known as one of the stars of the...
and Denise Drysdale
Denise Drysdale
Denise Anne Christina Drysdale, is an Australian television personality and comedian. She is often affectionately called Ding-Dong.-Childhood:...
.
In 2009, Holden co-presented, alongside with his wife Michelle, "Discover Downunder", a half-hour Australia-based travelling/caravanning program for the Nine Network. In 2010, he co-hosts "What's Up Down Under" on Channel Seven. This show is similar to Discover Downunder.
Film
Frankie J. Holden has starred in films as recent as 2007 with Clubland, his most recent film directed by Cherie Nowlan and written by Keith Thompson.Personal life
His married his first wife Leigh Hunter in the mid seventies, and they divorced in the early eighties. His second wife, dancer Melda Rees, died in 1997 from cancer. Holden married actress Michelle PettigroveMichelle Pettigrove
Michelle Pettigrove is an Australian actress, well known for her role as Kate Bryant in the long-running rural soap opera A Country Practice.She has also appeared in several other series, including Blue Heelers and Home and Away....
two years later. He has four children; three girls with his second wife, and another girl from his third marriage.
Holden currently resides on the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales Australia and is still performing around Australia as a successful entertainer.
Popular culture
A caricature of Frank Holden appears in the animation Hyper Parsnip Bitches by animator Paul Robertson.Frankie J Holden has a star in Caloundra's "Walk of Stars" between Red Symons and Daryl Somers.