Jack Thompson (actor)

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For other persons of the same name, see Jack Thompson.
Jack Thompson

Born John Hadley Payne
August 31, 1940 (1940-08-31) (age 67)
Manly, New South Wales,
Australia
Years active 1969 - present
Spouse(s) Leona King

Jack Thompson AM (born August 31, 1940) is an Australian actor and one of the major figures of Australian cinema. He was educated at the University of Queensland, before embarking on his acting career. In 2002 he was made honorary member of the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS). He is best known as a lead actor in several acclaimed Australian films including popular classics Sunday Too Far Away (1975), The Man from Snowy River (1982) and Breaker Morant (1980). He won Cannes and AFI acting awards for the latter film. He was the recipient of a Living Legend Award at the 2005 Inside Film Awards.

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[edit] Acting career & celebrity

Thompson's fist significant role was as part of the cast of soap opera Motel (1968). He then took the lead role in spy drama series Spyforce (1971). He quickly moved into feature film lead roles, winning roles in many popular and acclaimed Australian films. He has also acted in television miniseries.

Thompson has emerged as a popular celebrity. He was the first nude male centrefold in Cleo magazine in 1972. He has also acted in many television commercials, including the famous advertisement for Claytons non-alcoholic mixer.


[edit] Personal life

Born John Hadley Pain in Manly, a suburb of Sydney, Thompson was educated at Sydney Boys High School. Thompson was 4 years old when his mother died, leaving his father, a merchant seaman, unable to care for him and his brother, David. He was sent to a boarding school by his father and was subsequently adopted by John and Pat Thompson and changed his surname afterwards.[1] The film reviewer, Peter Thompson, is his adopted brother.[2] Thompson's eldest son, Patrick Thompson, featured on and later hosted Seven Network's Ground Force.

Thompson featured in the first episode of the Australian version of Who Do You Think You Are?, which was televised on 13 January 2008 on SBS, with Thompson discovering that his Great Grandfather was Captain Thomas Pain, and his Great Great Uncle was Alfred Lee, a prominent figure in Sydney society, who donated the journal of Joseph Banks, from Captain Cook's navigation to Australia in 1770s, to the Mitchell Library in Sydney.[3]

Thompson has got two sons, Patrick and Billy.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Awards

Thompson was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia on 9 June, 1986 for his service to the Australian film industry,[4] and served as an UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jack Thompson interview on Enough Rope, 30 May 2005. Enough Rope transcript. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  2. ^ Jack Thompson on film :: ABC Tasmania
  3. ^ Episode featuring Jack Thompson. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  4. ^ Mr John Hadley (Jack) THOMPSON. Australian Honours List. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved on 2006-03-26.

[edit] External links

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