Henri Szeps
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Henri Szeps OAM, born 2 October 1943, is an Australian actor best known for his role as Robert Beare in the ABC situation comedy series Mother and Son.
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[edit] Early life
Szeps was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, in a World War II refugee camp. He grew up in foster families in Switzerland, in French orphanages, and in Paris, and migrated to Australia when he was 8 years old. He gained degrees in Science and Electrical Engineering at the University of Sydney, during this time he studied acting at the Ensemble Theatre.
[edit] Acting Career
In the late 1960s and in early 1970 he had a very successful career in Australian television, as well as appearing in four premieres of David Williamson's plays. In 1971 he went to the United Kingdom where he worked on various stage productions, television shows and films. In the mid 1970s he returned to Australia and starred in various television shows including Number 96, Kingswood Country, Skippy and Homicide.
In 1983 he rose to fame throughout Australia as the despicable dentist Robert Beare in Mother and Son where he starred alongside Ruth Cracknell and Garry McDonald. In 1983 he won a Ruby Slipper (best children's film) award for directing Run Rebecca Run. In 1985 he won a Penguin Award for Best Actor in the 1985 mini-series Palace Of Dreams. He played Harold Holt in the 1987 mini-series Vietnam. Throughout the 80s and 90s he appeared in various television shows such as A Country Practice, Stingers and All Saints.
He later had a one-man travelling show called I'm Not a Dentist.
Today Szeps occasionally gives acting courses at the Actors Centre in Sydney and the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).
[edit] Personal life
He is married to actress Mary Ann Severne and has two children named Amos and Josh. In one Mother and Son episode Amos played a cameo role as a patient named Sean.
In 2001, Szeps was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the arts, and to the community.
