Stuart Wagstaff
Encyclopedia
Stuart Wagstaff AM is an Australia
n television and stage entertainer.
, England
, and grew up on a farm with his parents and two older sisters. His father was very strict and emotionally abusive, and he received little affection from his mother. However, his mother frequently took Stuart and his sisters to see plays and pantomime, generating an early interest in the theatre. At the age of 11 he was sexually abused
by a farm hand.
as an apprentice aircraft mechanic in the Fleet Air Arm
, and served at naval air stations and on aircraft carriers until the end of the war, but considered himself to be a poor mechanic. He frequently volunteered for ships' concert parties to further his interest in acting.
Repertory
as an assistant stage manager, occasionally taking small roles in plays. He then joined Whitley
Repertory
where he took part in up to 48 plays plus four weeks of pantomime
each year, as well as a few West End appearances and some film and television.
production Not in the Book. In 1959, J C Williamson's put him into the original My Fair Lady
production, with which he was associated for the next four and a half years, the last two and half playing Professor Henry Higgins, through all the Australian and New Zealand capital cities. Following this he took over the male lead in the stage musical The Sound of Music
.
play "Seagulls Over Sorrento
". Other dramatic appearances included three episodes of the drama series "Whiplash
" (1960), the ABC play "Concord Of Sweet Sounds" (1963), and episodes of the ABC's historical serial "The Hungry Ones" (1963).
In 1964 he appeared as the host of the Channel 7
variety show Studio 'A' and in 1965 he replaced the ailing Eric Baume
as the "Beast" on the Channel 7 daytime show, Beauty and the Beast
. This production was to establish him as one of Australia's firm television favourites. During this two and a half year period with Beauty and the Beast, he also appeared in leading roles in several stage productions including There's a Girl in My Soup, Present Laughter, Private Lives, several theatre restaurant revues, presented ATN-7
's news program "The Wagstaff Report" (1965), and a 1966 episode of the drama series "Homicide".
In 1968 he became host of a major "Tonight" show on the Seven Network and later transferred to the Nine Network
to become one of the regular hosts of In Melbourne Tonight
. During the following three years he hosted several shows on the Nine Network, including The Sound of Music and a regular late night interview show.
cigarettes, with the memorable tagline "When only the best will do ... and isn't that all the time?".
On 23 January 2003 Chris Beck of The Age
interviewed Wagstaff:
"By his own account he is a workman-like actor who has been largely ignored for film and television roles because, he says, "I did 116 Benson and Hedges commercials and I was very heavily identified. It was irritating because I love movies."
People often ask me if I have any regrets about doing those commercials because I think a lot of people - young, impressionable people - might have taken up smoking as a result. And I suppose I have regrets about that. But...we didn't know then. So, I can't have regrets about something I didn't know.
The "Non Smokers' Movement of Australia" website (issue 18, May–June 1997) wrote:
Smoking Frontman Expresses Late Regrets
Stuart Wagstaff, who made a career from 116 Benson and Hedges commercials spanning two decades has disclosed he regretted his lucrative liaison with the tobacco industry. He is quoted as saying, "One thing that concerns me deeply in the light of what we know today is that I might have been instrumental in people starting smoking. The company policy was that the ads were intended to make people who accept smoking change brands but, of course, people must have indeed have started as a result of it. And that I regret. [...] Cigarettes (sic) advertising on TV was banned in Australia in September 1976, but in April 1997 Wagstaff revealed that the company kept paying him "for nothing" until 1993—17 years later. "They believed whenever a group of people saw me they thought, subliminally, Benson & Hedges. So they kept me on the payroll. I didn't argue."
, plus seven seasons as the host/presenter on the ABC's Stuart Wagstaff's World Playhouse.
Apart from television he is active in his first love, the theatre. In late 1979 Stuart appeared again as Professor Higgins in My Fair Lady and a successful national tour followed, in which production he was also co-producer. About this time he also produced Sydney and Melbourne seasons of the American stage comedy Father's Day
. In 1981 Stuart toured as the Narrator in the highly successful Rocky Horror Show
starring Daniel Abineri
and repeated that with a second tour a few years later, which also featured Russell Crowe
.
, A Country Practice
, All Saints
, Stuart appeared often on The Midday Show and appearances on Good Morning Australia
. He has made several appearances on Channel 7 Perth's
Telethon. The late 1980s and the 1990s have seen Wagstaff on stage with Sydney seasons and subsequent tours of Noises Off (again), Black Comedy, The Winslow Boy, Lend Me A Tenor and in Gershwin's musical, Crazy For You. Wagstaff also appeared in the role of Old Cookson in the spectacular theatrical production of Pan at the Capitol Theatre. Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Oliver sees Wagstaff returning to the stage in the role of Mr Brownlow.
(AM) for "service to the community, particularly through the Channel 7
Perth
Telethon Trust by raising funds for charities that support children's medical research"
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...
n television and stage entertainer.
Early life
Wagstaff was born in Great Durnford, WiltshireWiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and grew up on a farm with his parents and two older sisters. His father was very strict and emotionally abusive, and he received little affection from his mother. However, his mother frequently took Stuart and his sisters to see plays and pantomime, generating an early interest in the theatre. At the age of 11 he was sexually abused
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
by a farm hand.
War Service
In September 1940, at the insistence of his father, he joined the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as an apprentice aircraft mechanic in the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
, and served at naval air stations and on aircraft carriers until the end of the war, but considered himself to be a poor mechanic. He frequently volunteered for ships' concert parties to further his interest in acting.
Post-war
After the war he joined the WindsorWindsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
Repertory
Repertory
Repertory or rep, also called stock in the United States, is a term used in Western theatre and opera.A repertory theatre can be a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation...
as an assistant stage manager, occasionally taking small roles in plays. He then joined Whitley
Whitley, Berkshire
Whitley is a suburb of Reading in the English county of Berkshire.-Geography:Whitley, commonly known as one of the larger suburbs of Reading, is bounded to the north and east by a ridge of high ground carrying the road to Shinfield, to the west by the valleys of the River Kennet and the Foudry...
Repertory
Repertory
Repertory or rep, also called stock in the United States, is a term used in Western theatre and opera.A repertory theatre can be a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation...
where he took part in up to 48 plays plus four weeks of pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
each year, as well as a few West End appearances and some film and television.
The 1950s
Wagstaff first came to Australia in 1958 to appear in the J. C. WilliamsonJ. C. Williamson
James Cassius Williamson was an American actor and later Australia's foremost theatrical manager, founding J. C. Williamson Ltd....
production Not in the Book. In 1959, J C Williamson's put him into the original My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe...
production, with which he was associated for the next four and a half years, the last two and half playing Professor Henry Higgins, through all the Australian and New Zealand capital cities. Following this he took over the male lead in the stage musical The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
.
The 1960s: Television
Wagstaff's early Australia television appearances consisted of commercials, and a role in the 1960 Crawford ProductionsCrawford Productions
Crawford Productions is an Australian television production company founded by Hector Crawford; the present incarnation of the company, Crawfords Australia, is now a subsidiary of the WIN television corporation.-History:...
play "Seagulls Over Sorrento
Seagulls Over Sorrento
Seagulls Over Sorrento is a 1954 British wartime drama film made by the Boulting Brothers based on the play of the same name by Hugh Hastings. The film stars Gene Kelly and was one of three made by Kelly in Europe over an 18 month period in order to make use of frozen MGM funds...
". Other dramatic appearances included three episodes of the drama series "Whiplash
Whiplash
Whiplash may refer to:* The long flexible part of a whip* Whiplash , an injury-Film and television:* Whiplash , a 1948 American film noir* Whiplash , a Hong Kong film starring Cheng Pei-pei...
" (1960), the ABC play "Concord Of Sweet Sounds" (1963), and episodes of the ABC's historical serial "The Hungry Ones" (1963).
In 1964 he appeared as the host of the Channel 7
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
variety show Studio 'A' and in 1965 he replaced the ailing Eric Baume
Eric Baume
Eric Baume OBE was an Australian based journalist, radio presenter, actor and talk show host.Eric Baume was born Frederick Ehrenfried Baume in Auckland New Zealand in 1900. He moved to Sydney in the early 1920s and worked for as editor for several papers...
as the "Beast" on the Channel 7 daytime show, Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (talk show)
Beauty and the Beast is an Australian panel television show that has appeared in numerous versions since the early days of Australian television. The first version began in 1963 on the Seven Network with host Eric Baume as the "Beast". Baume was later replaced by presenters including John Laws,...
. This production was to establish him as one of Australia's firm television favourites. During this two and a half year period with Beauty and the Beast, he also appeared in leading roles in several stage productions including There's a Girl in My Soup, Present Laughter, Private Lives, several theatre restaurant revues, presented ATN-7
ATN-7
ATN is the Sydney flagship television station of the Seven Network in Australia. The licence, issued to a company named Amalgamated Television Services, a subsidiary of Fairfax, was one of the first four licences to be issued for commercial television stations in Australia...
's news program "The Wagstaff Report" (1965), and a 1966 episode of the drama series "Homicide".
In 1968 he became host of a major "Tonight" show on the Seven Network and later transferred to the Nine Network
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...
to become one of the regular hosts of In Melbourne Tonight
In 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....
. During the following three years he hosted several shows on the Nine Network, including The Sound of Music and a regular late night interview show.
Tobacco advertising
Wagstaff's suave style - today it would be called "cool" - led to his advertising Benson & HedgesBenson & Hedges
Benson & Hedges is a British brand of cigarettes owned by the Gallaher Group, which became a subsidiary of Japan Tobacco in 2007. They are registered in Old Bond Street in London, and are manufactured in Lisnafillen, Ballymena, Northern Ireland for the UK and Irish markets.-History:Benson & Hedges...
cigarettes, with the memorable tagline "When only the best will do ... and isn't that all the time?".
On 23 January 2003 Chris Beck of The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
interviewed Wagstaff:
"By his own account he is a workman-like actor who has been largely ignored for film and television roles because, he says, "I did 116 Benson and Hedges commercials and I was very heavily identified. It was irritating because I love movies."
People often ask me if I have any regrets about doing those commercials because I think a lot of people - young, impressionable people - might have taken up smoking as a result. And I suppose I have regrets about that. But...we didn't know then. So, I can't have regrets about something I didn't know.
The "Non Smokers' Movement of Australia" website (issue 18, May–June 1997) wrote:
Smoking Frontman Expresses Late Regrets
Stuart Wagstaff, who made a career from 116 Benson and Hedges commercials spanning two decades has disclosed he regretted his lucrative liaison with the tobacco industry. He is quoted as saying, "One thing that concerns me deeply in the light of what we know today is that I might have been instrumental in people starting smoking. The company policy was that the ads were intended to make people who accept smoking change brands but, of course, people must have indeed have started as a result of it. And that I regret. [...] Cigarettes (sic) advertising on TV was banned in Australia in September 1976, but in April 1997 Wagstaff revealed that the company kept paying him "for nothing" until 1993—17 years later. "They believed whenever a group of people saw me they thought, subliminally, Benson & Hedges. So they kept me on the payroll. I didn't argue."
The 1970s
After a 3 year stint in Hollywood, working in film and television, he returned to Australia in 1975 and was immediately kept busy with TV appearances all over the country, including being a regular panellist on Channel 9's Celebrity Squares, then two years as permanent panellist on Channel 0/10's Blankety BlanksBlankety Blanks
Blankety Blanks was a popular Australian game show based on the American game show Match Game. It was hosted by Graham Kennedy on Network Ten. It ran from 1977-1978.Regular panelists were Ugly Dave Gray, Noeline Brown, Carol Raye and Stuart Wagstaff...
, plus seven seasons as the host/presenter on the ABC's Stuart Wagstaff's World Playhouse.
Apart from television he is active in his first love, the theatre. In late 1979 Stuart appeared again as Professor Higgins in My Fair Lady and a successful national tour followed, in which production he was also co-producer. About this time he also produced Sydney and Melbourne seasons of the American stage comedy Father's Day
Father's Day
Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Many countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June but it is also celebrated widely on other days...
. In 1981 Stuart toured as the Narrator in the highly successful Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Show is a long-running British horror comedy stage musical, which opened in London on 19 June 1973. It was written by Richard O'Brien, produced and directed by Jim Sharman. It came eighth in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the "Nation's Number One Essential Musicals"...
starring Daniel Abineri
Daniel Abineri
Daniel Abineri is an English actor, songwriter and playwright, famous for writing the book, music and lyrics for the controversial musical Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom....
and repeated that with a second tour a few years later, which also featured Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a...
.
The 1980s: Australian Theatre
1982 saw the production of Noises Off and this too, with Stuart in the lead, had a very successful national tour. In 1983 he played the lead in Blithe Spirit at Marian Street Theatre in Sydney and then went on to host the Midday Movie and Friday Night Movies on the Seven Network for two years.The late 1980s and today
Television guest roles in the 1990s included appearances in GP, Rafferty's RulesRafferty's Rules
Rafferty's Rules was an Australian television drama series which ran from 1987 to 1990 on the Seven Network.The producers of the series were Posie Graeme-Evans , and Denis Phelen. The directors were Graham Thorburn, Mike Smith and Russell Webb...
, 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,...
, All Saints
All Saints (TV series)
All Saints is an Australian medical drama which first screened on the Seven Network. The series debuted on 24 February 1998 and concluded its run on 27 October 2009...
, Stuart appeared often on The Midday Show and appearances on Good Morning Australia
Good Morning Australia
Good Morning Australia from Network Ten was the name of two different programs. This article is for Bert Newton's morning program, not to be confused with the breakfast news program of the same name....
. He has made several appearances on Channel 7 Perth's
TVW
TVW can mean:*TVW, a Seven Network owned station in Perth, Western Australia*TVW, a public affairs network in the state of Washington*"tvw", the false branding callsign of WISC-TV's digital subchannel and Madison, Wisconsin's MyNetworkTV affiliate...
Telethon. The late 1980s and the 1990s have seen Wagstaff on stage with Sydney seasons and subsequent tours of Noises Off (again), Black Comedy, The Winslow Boy, Lend Me A Tenor and in Gershwin's musical, Crazy For You. Wagstaff also appeared in the role of Old Cookson in the spectacular theatrical production of Pan at the Capitol Theatre. Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Oliver sees Wagstaff returning to the stage in the role of Mr Brownlow.
Honours
On 26 January 1998 Wagstaff was created a Member of the Order of AustraliaOrder of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AM) for "service to the community, particularly through the Channel 7
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
Telethon Trust by raising funds for charities that support children's medical research"
In character
- The JournalistThe JournalistThe Journalist is a 1967 Soviet film, a romance-drama. It was produced by one of the most reputable Russian directors Sergei Gerasimov who also wrote a screenplay. The film stars Galina Polskikh and Yuri N.Vasiliev and tells a story of love between a successful Moscow journalist and a girl in a...
(1979) .... Courtney Lewers - Bit PartBit partA bit part is a supporting acting role with at least one line of dialogue . In British television, bit parts are referred to as under sixes...
(1978) (TV) .... Uncredited - All at Sea (1977) (TV) .... Mr. Arthur Pickering
- The Dick Emery Show in Australia (1977) TV Series .... Various Characters
- Is There Anybody There? (1975) (TV) .... Uncredited
- For Pete's SakeFor Pete's Sake (film)For Pete's Sake is a 1974 American screwball comedy film directed by Peter Yates. The screenplay by Stanley Shapiro and Maurice Richlin chronicles the misadventures of a Brooklyn housewife...
(1974) .... Man in Chandelier Store ... aka July Pork Bellies - SunstruckSunstruckSunstruck is a 1972 British-Australian comedy film directed by James Gilbert and starring Harry Secombe, Maggie Fitzgibbon and John Meillon. A Welsh schoolteacher decides to emigrate to Australia for a better life but ends up working in a school in a dead-end town...
(1972) .... Uncredited - Seagulls Over SorrentoSeagulls Over SorrentoSeagulls Over Sorrento is a 1954 British wartime drama film made by the Boulting Brothers based on the play of the same name by Hugh Hastings. The film stars Gene Kelly and was one of three made by Kelly in Europe over an 18 month period in order to make use of frozen MGM funds...
(1960) (TV) .... Uncredited - A Night to Remember (1958) .... Uncredited
As himself
- Graham Kennedy: Farewell to the King (2005) (TV) .... Himself
- Blankety BlanksBlankety BlanksBlankety Blanks was a popular Australian game show based on the American game show Match Game. It was hosted by Graham Kennedy on Network Ten. It ran from 1977-1978.Regular panelists were Ugly Dave Gray, Noeline Brown, Carol Raye and Stuart Wagstaff...
(1977) TV Series .... Himself - Panelist - Name That TuneName That TuneName That Tune is a television game show that put two contestants against each other to test their knowledge of songs. Premiering in the United States on NBC Radio in 1952, the show was created and produced by Harry Salter and his wife Roberta....
(1975) TV Series .... Himself - In Melbourne TonightIn Melbourne TonightIn 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....
(1957) TV Series .... Himself (1970) - Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast (talk show)Beauty and the Beast is an Australian panel television show that has appeared in numerous versions since the early days of Australian television. The first version began in 1963 on the Seven Network with host Eric Baume as the "Beast". Baume was later replaced by presenters including John Laws,...
(1964) TV Series .... Himself (1966–1968)
Guest appearances
- All SaintsAll Saints (TV series)All Saints is an Australian medical drama which first screened on the Seven Network. The series debuted on 24 February 1998 and concluded its run on 27 October 2009...
playing "Reg Howard" in episode: "Revelations" (episode # 1.20) 30 June 1998 - Temperatures RisingTemperatures RisingTemperatures Rising is an American television situation comedy that ran from September 12, 1972 to August 29, 1974 on the ABC network.The network had a good deal of faith in the low-rated series, which went through three cast changes, two different formats, and two time slots during its...
playing "Thornton" in episode: "Healer Man" (episode # 2.18) 15 August 1974 - The Partridge FamilyThe Partridge FamilyThe Partridge Family is an American television sitcom about a widowed mother and her five children who embark on a music career. The series originally ran from September 25, 1970 until August 31, 1974, the last new episode airing on March 23, 1974, on the ABC network, as part of a Friday-night lineup...
playing "Head Waiter" in episode: "The Last of Howard" (episode # 4.7) 27 October 1973 - Homicide playing "Stanley Copeland" in episode: "Death Us Do Part" (episode 71) 26 July 1966
- WhiplashWhiplash (TV series)Whiplash is a British/Australian television series made by the Seven Network and ATV and ITC Entertainment. Filmed in 1959-60, the series was first broadcast September 1960 in the United Kingdom followed by Australia in February 1961 and had opening titles featuring the Australian locale and...
playing "Lieutenant Hoffman" in episode: "The Adelaide Arabs" (episode # 1.34) 14 October 1961 - Whiplash playing "Jimmy Quicksilver" in episode: "A Portrait of Gunpowder" (episode # 1.22) 22 July 1961
- Whiplash playing "Jimmy Quicksilver" in episode: "The Remittance Man" (episode # 1.11) 29 April 1961
External links
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0906193
- http://www.eservice.com.au/x/austrn/speaker548.html