Wendy Blacklock
Encyclopedia
Wendy Blacklock was an Australia-based theatre and television actor best known for her long-running role of Edith "Mummy" MacDonald in the 1970s television soap opera Number 96
.
Blacklock's acting career began on the stage and she spent two years in England acting in repertory theatre. She returned to Australia and had a solid career in the theatre which included stage tours of Australia and New Zealand; she was also a regular cast member of the satirical revues staged at Sydney's Phillip Street Theatre
in the 1960s. Prior to the role in Number 96 she had played in theatrical productions of Don's Party
and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and made a few guest appearances in Australian television drama series.
The role in Number 96 began in January 1974. At that time the show was Australia's highest-rated television program and Blacklock's character, dizzy housewife Edie – otherwise known as "Mummy" – along with Edie's regimented husband Reg (Mike Dorsey
) and their adopted daughter Marilyn (Frances Hargreaves
), became popular and enduring comedy characters in the series. In late 1976 there were plans to spin off the characters of Mummy and Daddy into a new situation comedy series titled Mummy and Me and starring Blacklock and Dorsey, but the proposed series was not picked up by the network and the characters remained in Number 96. Blacklock played in the series continuously until it ended in August 1977 and was in fact the final person shown in the closing scene of the last episode.
During 1977 Blacklock appeared occasionally as a panellist on game show Graham Kennedy
's Blankety Blanks
. In the late 1970s she and her main Number 96 co-star Mike Dorsey created a stage show based on their Number 96 characters which toured clubs in New South Wales
.
Number 96 (TV series)
Number 96 was a popular Australian soap opera set in a Sydney apartment block. Don Cash and Bill Harmon produced the series for Network Ten, which requested a Coronation Street-type serial, and specifically one that explored adult subjects...
.
Blacklock's acting career began on the stage and she spent two years in England acting in repertory theatre. She returned to Australia and had a solid career in the theatre which included stage tours of Australia and New Zealand; she was also a regular cast member of the satirical revues staged at Sydney's Phillip Street Theatre
Phillip Street Theatre
The Phillip Street Theatre was a popular and influential Sydney theatre and theatrical company of the 1950s and 1960s that became well known for its intimate satirical revue productions.-History:...
in the 1960s. Prior to the role in Number 96 she had played in theatrical productions of Don's Party
Don's Party
Don's Party is a 1971 play by David Williamson set during the 1969 Australian federal election. The film based on the play was entered into the 27th Berlin International Film Festival.-Plot:...
and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and made a few guest appearances in Australian television drama series.
The role in Number 96 began in January 1974. At that time the show was Australia's highest-rated television program and Blacklock's character, dizzy housewife Edie – otherwise known as "Mummy" – along with Edie's regimented husband Reg (Mike Dorsey
Mike Dorsey
Mike Dorsey was an English theatre and television actor. He rose to fame in Australia and is best known for his long-running role of Reginald "Daddy " MacDonald in the 1970s television soap opera Number 96....
) and their adopted daughter Marilyn (Frances Hargreaves
Frances Hargreaves
Frances Hargreaves born 1954, a South-African-born actor who became famous in Australia in the 1970s through her long running role of Marilyn McDonald in soap opera Number 96....
), became popular and enduring comedy characters in the series. In late 1976 there were plans to spin off the characters of Mummy and Daddy into a new situation comedy series titled Mummy and Me and starring Blacklock and Dorsey, but the proposed series was not picked up by the network and the characters remained in Number 96. Blacklock played in the series continuously until it ended in August 1977 and was in fact the final person shown in the closing scene of the last episode.
During 1977 Blacklock appeared occasionally as a panellist on game show Graham Kennedy
Graham Kennedy
Graham Cyril Kennedy, AO was an Australian radio, television and film performer, often called Gra Gra and The King of Australian television.-Childhood:...
's Blankety Blanks
Blankety 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...
. In the late 1970s she and her main Number 96 co-star Mike Dorsey created a stage show based on their Number 96 characters which toured clubs in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.