Jump to content

Judi Farr

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Judi Farr
Born(1938-10-05)5 October 1938
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Died30 June 2023(2023-06-30) (aged 84)
Other namesJudy Farr
Occupation(s)Actress, director[1]
Years active1958[1]–2020[1]
TelevisionA Place to Call Home
Please Like Me
Grass Roots
Kingswood Country

Judith Mary Stuart Farr[2] AM (5 October 1938 – 30 June 2023), also credited as Judy Farr,[1] was an Australian actress of theatre, film and television, with a career spanning some seven decades, she was best known for several situation comedy roles on Australian television. Farr also appeared in Australian films such as December Boys and Walking on Water, for which she won an AFI award.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Born in Cairns in 1938, Farr was the first born child of Phyllis and Herbert 'Bert' Farr. Her father's death in Borneo during World War 2 prompted her mother to move the family to Bondi, Sydney, where Judi and her brother Michael, grew up by the beach in their grandmother’s unit.

At the age of nine Farr won an elocution competition, reciting William Shakespeare at Sydney Town Hall. She studied ballet for 10 years, quitting in her teen years. She attended Holy Cross School in Woollahra.

Farr enrolled in drama school for 3 months and soon after, joined The Colony Players, an amateur Sydney theatre group, and acted in Phillip Street Theatre satirical revues. At age 19, she had her lucky break at Genesian Theatre in The Skin of Our Teeth.[4]

Career

[edit]

Television

[edit]

Farr made her television debut in a 1962 live broadcast of The Taming of the Shrew on ABC TV.[5]

Farr became well known for her role of Rita in the situation comedy My Name's McGooley, What's Yours? (1967–1968).[6] She continued to play the character in that show's short-lived sequel series Rita and Wally in 1968.[6]

Later she played a similarly high-profile regular role in a successful sitcom, portraying dizzy wife Thelma in Kingswood Country starting in 1980. She left the series in 1982, and in the script Thelma was sent off on a world cruise. She later sent word she would not be returning to her husband and Farr did not return to the series.

Aside from these roles Farr had a long and busy career acting in dramatic roles in film and theatre, and television. She had guest roles in drama series, television movies and miniseries. Television roles of the 1970s included guest spots on dramas including the Crawford Productions police shows, and a recurring role in soap opera Number 96 in 1974 and 1975, playing in comedy storylines. Later guest appearances include roles in A Country Practice, All Saints and CrashBurn.

Farr was also known for playing Aunt Peg in Please Like Me.

Film roles

[edit]

Her first film role was a brief appearance in They're a Weird Mob (1966). Later films include Fatty Finn (1980), The Year My Voice Broke (1987), Flirting (1991) and Oscar and Lucinda (1997). Her film and television roles of the 2000s include Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars (2004) TV movie, The Alice (2004) TV movie, Thunderstruck (2004), Go Big (2004) TV movie, Walking on Water (2002) and Changi (2001) (miniseries).

Theatre work

[edit]

She toured nationally and internationally with Cloudstreet and has worked for all major theatre companies in productions which include Death of a Salesman, Lettice and Lovage (opposite June Salter) and Angels in America.

Honours & awards

[edit]

Farr was awarded the 1992 Theatre Critics Award for her stage role in Women of Troy and was the winner of the 2002 AFI Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 2002 film Walking on Water.

She received a 2016 Sydney Theatre Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sydney Theatre Awards.

Farr was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for "significant service to the performing arts as an actor" in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours.[7]

Personal life

[edit]

In 1963, Farr married Derry Macgillicuddy, after meeting him while performing together in a Genesian Theatre production. The couple had three children – Sean, Sarah and Bridie.[8]

Illness & death

[edit]

Farr retired from the industry in 2015, after a cancer battle. She had been diagnosed with a squamous cell carcinoma in her parotid gland, during her time working on the A Place to Call Home. The operation to remove it resulted in unilateral facial disfigurement, which was cause for several reconstructive surgeries. Judi had a stroke in 2016.[9]

Farr died of respiratory failure on 30th June 2023 after a long illness, at the age of 84.[2][10][11]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Type
1962 The Taming of the Shrew TV movie
1962 Family Album TV movie
1964 Split Level TV movie
1966 They're a Weird Mob Telephonist in Hotel (uncredited) Feature film
1979 Dawn! New Resident Feature film
1979 Just Out of Reach Mother Feature film
1980 Fatty Finn Mrs. Hogan Feature film
1982 Dingle and the Dip TV movie
1984 Who Killed Hannah Jane? Hannah Jane Peden TV movie
1985 Brides of the Gods Narrator Film documentary
1986 For Love Alone Aunt Bea Feature film
1986 Double Sculls Eilen Bayliss TV movie
1987 Right From Day One Herself Training film
1987 Go For It Role unknown Short film
1987 The Year My Voice Broke Sheila Embling Feature film
1991 Flirting Sheila Embling Feature film
1995 Mother's Requiem Mother Short film
1996 Turning April Mother Feature film
1997 Oscar and Lucinda Mrs. Smith Feature film
2000 My Mother My Son Mother Short film
2002 Walking on Water Margaret Feature film
2003 Page to Stage Herself - Performance Director TV film documentary
2004 Thunderstruck Mrs. Jones Feature film
2004 Go Big Marion Katz TV movie
2004 The Alice Lee TV movie
2006 Unfolding Florence: The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst Florence Broadhurst Feature film documentary
2006 Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America Mrs. Koppel TV movie
2007 December Boys Reverend Mother Feature film
2008 The Sound of Shadows Christina Short film

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Type
1964–65 Here's Dawn TV series
1966 The Interpretaris Alys - Computer TV miniseries, 6 episodes
1966–68 My Name's McGooley, What's Yours? Rita Stiller TV series, 88 episodes
1968 Rita and Wally Rita Stiller TV series, 8 episodes
1970 The Link Men Anna Seberg TV series, episode 11: "Somebody's Kid Is Missing"
1970, 1971 Division 4 Lillian Walker / Trish Carstairs TV series, 2 episodes
1972 A Nice Day at the Office Christine TV series, 1 episode
1972 Matlock Police Jill TV series, 1 episode
1973 The Comedy Game TV series, 1 episode: "The Engagement Party"
1973 The Evil Touch Anne Sullivan TV series, episode 6: "A Game of Hearts"
1974 Mac and Merle TV series, regular role
1974 The Fourth Wish TV miniseries, 1 episode
1974–75 Number 96 Alderman Mrs April Bullock TV series, 10 episodes
1975 Behind the Legend Harriet TV series, episode 5: "George Coppin"
1976 Alvin Purple Slater TV series, episode 4: "Hospitality"
1978 Father, Dear Father in Australia Aunty Tom TV series, episode 3: "The Floating Housekeeper"
1978 Tickled Pink Rachel Benson TV series, episode 2: "Relative Air Pollution"
1980–1982 Kingswood Country Thelma Bullpitt TV series, 59 episodes
1983 Scales of Justice Mary Miles TV miniseries, episode 2: "The Game"
1983 A Country Practice Faye Simpson TV series, 2 episodes
1983 Learned Friends TV series, 1 episode
1985 Double Sculls Ellen Bayliss TV film
1985 Winners Abbatoir Manager's Wife TV film series, 1 episode
1986 A Country Practice Norma Hammond TV series, 2 episodes
1986 Mother and Son Matron TV series, 1 episode
1987 Vietnam TV miniseries, 1 episode
1987 Melba Amy Davidson TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1988 Rafferty's Rules Rhonda White TV series, 1 episode
1988 Mike Willesee's Australians Ma (Mrs. Lyell) TV film series, episode 5: "Lottie Lyell"
1989 G.P. Joan TV series, 1 episode
1990 Come In Spinner Mrs. Gartred TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1991 Boys from the Bush Phyllis TV series, 1 episode
1991 A Country Practice Grace Mullens TV series, 1 episode
1991 E Street TV series, 1 episode
1994 G.P. Helen Kendall / Kathleen Sutton TV series, 2 episodes
1997 Medivac Arch's Mother TV series, 1 episode
1997 Murder Call Mrs. Parkins TV series, 1 episode
1999 All Saints Kathleen O'Hara TV series, 4 episodes
2000–03 Grass Roots Janice Corniglio TV series, 18 episodes
2000 Stingers Aunty Jan TV series, 1 episode
2001 Changi Older Joyce TV miniseries, 1 episode
2001 Water Rats Liz Cunio TV series, 1 episode
2003 CrashBurn Marg TV series, 1 episode
2004 Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars Scarran Doctor TV miniseries, 2 episodes
2011; 2012 Laid Nan / Pearl TV series, 2 episodes
2012 Jack Irish: Bad Debts Mrs. Bishop TV film, 1 episode
2013 Please Like Me Aunty Peg TV series, 4 episodes
2013 Twentysomething Marie TV series, 1 episode
2013 Camp Dorothy Jessup TV series, 1 episode
2013-15 A Place to Call Home Peg Moloney TV series, 7 episodes

Television (as self)

[edit]
Year Title Role Type
1960 The Mobil-Limb Show Herself TV series, 1 episode
1965 The Mavis Bramston Show Herself - Various characters TV series
1979; 1983 The Mike Walsh Show Guest TV series, 3 episodes
1991 In Sydney Today Guest TV series, 1 episode
1994 Good Morning Australia Guest TV series, 1 episode
1994 The Mavis Bramston 30th Anniversary Special Herself TV special
1996, 2006 Where Are They Now? Herself TV series, 2 episodes
1998 Denise Guest TV series, 1 episode
2007 Good As Gold! Herself TV series, 1 episode

Theatre

[edit]

As actor

[edit]
Year Title Role Type
1958 The Skin of our Teeth Sabina Genesian Theatre, Sydney
1958 The Vigil Genesian Theatre, Sydney
1958 An Italian Straw Hat Genesian Theatre, Sydney
1959 Julius Caesar Genesian Theatre, Sydney
1959 Hey Diddle Diddle Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney
1960 Mistress Money Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney
1960 Charley’s Aunt Elizabethan Theatre, Sydney
1961 Only an Orphan Girl Genesian Theatre, Sydney
1961 Stop Press Phillip Theatre, Sydney
1961 Yes Please! Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney
1962 At It Again Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney
1962 Alice in Wonderland Phillip Theatre, Sydney
1963 Start Living Copenhagen Downstairs Revue, Sydney
1963 The Rage Copenhagen Downstairs Revue, Sydney
1963 Do You Mind! Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney
1964 Overruled St James' Hall, Sydney, Grace Bros Auditorium, Sydney
1965 Inadmissible Evidence UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney
1965 Village Wooing AMP Theatrette, Sydney
1965 An Evening With Noel Coward St James Playhouse, Sydney
1969 The Rivals UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney, SGIO Theatre, Brisbane, Playhouse, Canberra
1970 It's a Two Foot Six Inches Above the Ground World Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1971 Madly in Love AMP Theatrette, Sydney
1971 Filth Richbrooke Theatre, Sydney
1971 A Break in the Music Independent Theatre, Sydney
1971 Mixed Doubles Independent Theatre, Sydney
1972 Listen Closely Independent Theatre, Sydney
1973 I Remember Mama Independent Theatre, Sydney
1973 Kabul UNSW, Old Tote Theatre, Sydney
1975 Sonny Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1976 Habeas Corpus Lady Rumpers UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney, Theatre Royal, Sydney
1976 Rookery Nook Gertrude Twine UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney
1977 Going Bananas: Bananas / The Coroner's Report / The Flaw Nimrod Theatre, Sydney
1977 The Norman Conquests Sarah Seymour Centre, Sydney
1978 Miss Julie Christine Sydney Opera House
1978 Black Comedy Miss Furnival Sydney Opera House
1978 The Misanthrope Eliante Sydney Opera House
1978 The Night of the Iguana Hannah Jelkes Sydney Opera House
1979 Kookaburra Eileen Clare ABC Radio Sydney
1979 The Devil’s Disciple Mrs Dudgeon Sydney Opera House with STC
1980 Traitors Mother Dybenko / Nadezdah Nimrod Theatre, Sydney
1981 The Man from Mukinupin Edie Perkins Sydney Opera House with STC
1982 Death of a Salesman Linda Loman Seymour Centre, Sydney
1982 London Assurance Lady Gay Spanker Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
1983 Blithe Spirit Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
1983-84 84 Charing Cross Road Helene Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
1984 Salonika Enid Nimrod Theatre, Sydney
1984 Season’s Greetings Rachel Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
1985 Pack of Lies Barbara Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
1985-86 Brighton Beach Memoirs Kate His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
1987 When I Was a Girl I Used to Scream and Shout Wharf Theatre, Sydney
1987 Breaking the Silence Eugenia Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
1987-88 Away Gwen Sydney Opera House with STC
1988 Broadway Bound Kate Sydney Opera House
1988 Summer of the Seventeenth Doll & Away Emma / Gwen Pepsico Summerfare Festival, New York with STC
1989 A Family Affair Ustinya Northside Theatre, Sydney
1989 Curtains Katherine Northside Theatre, Sydney
1990 Wallflowering Peg Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney
1990 Noises Off Dotty Otley Glen Street Theatre, Sydney, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
1991 Sailor Beware! Edie Harnett Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
1992 The Sum of Us Joyce Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
1992 The Women of Troy Hecuba Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
Won 1992 Sydney Critics Award for Best Actress
1992 Lettice and Lovage Lettice Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane, Seymour Centre, Sydney
1992 The Heiress Mrs Lavinia Perriman Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
1993 Angels in America Hannah / Ethel / Rabbi / Henry Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
1993 The Human Behan Stables Theatre, Sydney
1993 The Visit Claire Sydney Opera House with STC
1994 A Winning Day Jane Q Theatre, Penrith
1994 The Sisters Rosensweig Sara Goode Playhouse, Melbourne, Monash University, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Geelong Arts Centre, Wharf Theatre, Sydney, Glen Street Theatre, Sydney, Canberra Theatre, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth with MTC
1995 The Chalk Garden Miss Madrigal Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
1995 The Last Yankee Karen Frick Cremorne Theatre with QTC
1996 Live Acts on Stage Eris Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company
1996 Archibald Prize - The Play Domain Theatre, Sydney
1996 The Queen and I The Queen Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Monash University, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Gold Coast Arts Centre, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Canberra Theatre, University of Sydney
1996 The Fire on the Snow Scott Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1997 Tartuffe Madame Pernelle / Grandma Sydney Opera House with STC
1997 After-Play Terry Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
1998-99 Cloudstreet Oriel Berth 9, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
1998 After The Ball Kate McCrae Sydney Opera House with STC
1998 Navigating Pam Shaw Sydney Opera House with STC
2000 Talking Heads Susan Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
2001 Quartet Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
2002 Wicked Sisters Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company
2002 Buried Child Halie Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney
2003 The Vagina Monologues University of Wollongong
2004 The Unlikely Prospect of Happiness Mary O'Sullivan Sydney Theatre with STC
2004-05 Parramatta Girls Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney
2005 Love Letters Melissa Gardner NIDA Parade Theatre, Sydney
2007 John Gabriel Borkman Ella Rentheim / Gunhild Borkman Bille Brown Studio, Brisbane with QTC
2007 Glorious Dorothy Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
2008 Boeing-Boeing Bertha Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Sydney
2008 The Pig Iron People Janette Sydney Opera House with STC
2009 The Taming of the Shrew Biondello Theatre Royal, Hobart, Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Mt Gambier, Chaffey Theatre, Renmark, Barossa Arts and Convention Centre, Northern Festival Centre, Port Pirie, Middleback Theatre, Whyalla, Nautilus Theatre, Port Lincoln, Canberra Theatre, Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare
2010 The Beauty Queen of Leenane Mag Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
2010 August: Osage County Alternate Violet STC
2011 Love, Loss and What I Wore Various roles Sydney Opera House
2013 A Murder Is Announced Miss Marple Sydney Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
2015 Seventeen Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney
2020 Escaped Alone Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney

As director

[edit]
Year Title Role Type
1984 Travelling North Director Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
1989 Jigsaws Director Q Theatre, Penrith
1990 Black Comedy Director Glen Street Theatre, Sydney
1990 Perfect Mismatch Director Glen Street Theatre, Sydney
1993 Absent Friends Director Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
1997 The Memory of Water Director Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
2001 The Gin Game Director Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
2001 Spurboard Director Performance Space, Wollongong

[12] [13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d AusStage. "Judi Farr".
  2. ^ a b "Judith Mary Stuart 'Judi' Farr Death Notice". Sydney Morning Herald. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Queen's Birthday Honours 2021: Judi Farr, Angela Bishop. | TV Tonight". 14 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Obituary: Australian actress Judi Farr shunned celebrity".
  5. ^ "Obituary: Australian actress Judi Farr shunned celebrity".
  6. ^ a b Moran, Peter John (1988). The Acanthaster phenomenon. Townsville, Qld.: Australian Institute of Marine Science. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.60630. ISBN 9780642132505.
  7. ^ "Ms Judi Farr". It's An Honour. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Obituary: Australian actress Judi Farr shunned celebrity".
  9. ^ https://medium.com/the-equity-magazine/the-quiet-achiever-fcf5b21a3d47 [bare URL]
  10. ^ Australian actor Judi Farr has died
  11. ^ "Obituary: Australian actress Judi Farr shunned celebrity".
  12. ^ "AusStage".
  13. ^ https://shanahan.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FARR-Judi-110418.pdf [bare URL PDF]
[edit]