Syd Heylen
Encyclopedia
Syd Heylen was an Australian actor, comedian, and variety performer who often performed in a traditional vaudeville type style.
He remains best known for his role as Vernon "Cookie" Locke, a chef and barman in the Australian television series A Country Practice
, which he played from 1982 until end in 1993. He was rarely seen without his trademark chef or akubura hat throughout the series run. He was written out of the series alongside other older co-star Gordon Piper (who played a mate of Cookie's) as the producers wanted to concentrate on a younger cast and updated formula. The series creator James Davern would later regret dropping "Cookie and Bob," as they were two of the show's central characters who provided many of the comedy scenes,between the more dramatic storylines.
Heylen was also well known during the 1960s as a regular performer on the HSV 7 variety show Sunnyside Up
as "Sydney from Sydney". He teamed with other comics such as Honest John Gilbert presenting comedy sketches in between the musical items.
In mid 1975 he acted in soap opera The Box
playing a fast-talking television sportscaster
. In 1980 Heylen was a regular cast member in the short lived serial Arcade
. He played Walter Blair, the owner of Aristocrat, a dry cleaning establishment in the shopping mall (Arcade) of the title.
Heylen played a minor role in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
as Curmudgeon.
In the 1980s he released a number of albums containing songs such as "Who's Sorry Now" (to which the D-Generation quipped "anyone who bought the album".)
His son Syd Heylen Junior is also a well known entertainer. Syd Heylen was a patron and performer for the Variety Club, where he was awarded as The First National Treasure.
He remains best known for his role as Vernon "Cookie" Locke, a chef and barman in the Australian television series 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,...
, which he played from 1982 until end in 1993. He was rarely seen without his trademark chef or akubura hat throughout the series run. He was written out of the series alongside other older co-star Gordon Piper (who played a mate of Cookie's) as the producers wanted to concentrate on a younger cast and updated formula. The series creator James Davern would later regret dropping "Cookie and Bob," as they were two of the show's central characters who provided many of the comedy scenes,between the more dramatic storylines.
Heylen was also well known during the 1960s as a regular performer on the HSV 7 variety show Sunnyside Up
Sunnyside Up
Sunnyside Up was a weekly variety program produced at HSV-7 Melbourne, during the late 1950s and early 1960s.The program was hosted by Bill Collins, with comedy by Syd Heylen , Honest John Gilbert, Syd Hollister, Maurie Fields and Val Jellay...
as "Sydney from Sydney". He teamed with other comics such as Honest John Gilbert presenting comedy sketches in between the musical items.
In mid 1975 he acted in soap opera The Box
The Box (TV series)
The Box was an Australian soap opera than ran on Network Ten from February 1974 until 1977.The Box was produced by Crawford Productions who at the time was having great success producing police procedural television series in Australia...
playing a fast-talking television sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
. In 1980 Heylen was a regular cast member in the short lived serial Arcade
Arcade (TV series)
Arcade is an Australian television soap opera shown in 1980 that became one of the biggest flops in the history of Australian television. It aired on Network Ten with the premiere episode shown on Sunday, 20 January 1980. The series then ran five nights a week, Mondays to Fridays, as a 30 minute...
. He played Walter Blair, the owner of Aristocrat, a dry cleaning establishment in the shopping mall (Arcade) of the title.
Heylen played a minor role in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
Mad Max 2 is a 1981 Australian post-apocalyptic action film directed by George Miller. The film is the second installment in the Mad Max film series, with Mel Gibson starring as Max Rockatansky...
as Curmudgeon.
In the 1980s he released a number of albums containing songs such as "Who's Sorry Now" (to which the D-Generation quipped "anyone who bought the album".)
His son Syd Heylen Junior is also a well known entertainer. Syd Heylen was a patron and performer for the Variety Club, where he was awarded as The First National Treasure.