Gordon Piper

Gordon Stephen Piper (3 June 1932 – 19 September 2004) was an Australian film, television actor and theatre director and scriptwriter.

Early life

Piper was born on his parents' dairy farm in Cheltenham, New South Wales. He began performing as a child, singing soprano for the Sydney Boys' Choir and making his radio debut with a choir on 2CF.^[1]

Acting career

Piper began acting in radio plays, and later branched out to touring variety acts which toured local pubs and clubs. He worked as a television extra for several years, before taking to the stage for a theatre career. Notable roles in the 1970s included a long-running stint in the play Dimboola, and a role as a bartender in the film My Brilliant Career.^[1]

Piper is best known for his long-term role as plumber Bob Hatfield in the television soap A Country Practice appearing from episode 4 of that series in 1981 until 1992, becoming one of the longest serving actors in an Australian drama series, until he was written out of the series with co-star Syd Heylen as the producers wanted to concentrate on a younger cast and an updated formula. The decision was later regretted and co-star Brian Wenzel agreed in an interview in TV Week that the two actors were a large part of the series' comedic storylines. 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.

Personal life

Piper's wife Judith died in 1981 and he 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.^[1]

In 1999, Piper was charged with the sexual molestation of an 11-year-old girl who attended his house to help him unpack boxes.^[2] Piper however always maintained his innocence and was subsequently acquitted of the charges.^[3]

Death

He died from a cardiac arrest in Sydney on 19 September 2004 at the age of 72. An obituary in The Australian newspaper stated that he was a good bloke on and off screen.^[3]

References

External links

• Gordon Piper tribute website
• Gordon Piper at the Internet Movie Database