| Gordon Stephen Piper | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gordon Stephen Piper 3 June 1932 Cheltenham, Sydney, Australia |
| Died | 19 September 2004 (aged 72) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Resting place | Cremated |
| Occupation | Television Actor,Producer,Writer. |
| Spouse | Judith |
Gordon Piper (3 June 1932 – 19 September 2004) was an Australian film and television actor and theatre director. Piper was born in Sydney.
He is best known for his long-term role as plumber Robert Menzies "Bob" Hatfield in the television series A Country Practice from 1981 until 1992 when he was written out of the series with co-star Syd Heylen. Other television roles included Homicide, The Dark Room and Hector's Bunyip
Piper served as the associate director of the Arts Council of New South Wales. He was also a founding member of P.A.C.T. (Producers, Actors, Composers and Talents), one of the best known actors' studios in Sydney. Gordon and Leonard Teale produced "Fill ins" for ABC TV prior to the widespread broadcasting of music videos. His wife Judith died in 1981 and Gordon wrote and directed an episode of A Country Practice in dedication to her and her story. Gordon's daughter Kerrin-Gai and son Kim both live in Australia.
Piper suffered from diabetes, which affected his circulation and eventually resulted in the amputation of both his legs. In 1999, Piper was charged with the sexual molestation of an 11-year-old girl who attended his house to help him unpack boxes following the first amputatation.[1] Piper always maintained his innocence and was subsequently acquitted of the charges.[2]
He died from a cardiac arrest in Sydney on 19 September 2004. Gordon resided in the New South Wales suburb of Penrith in Sydney