Thomas o donohue biography of rory gilmore

Australian actor and musician (–)

Rory O'Donoghue (13 May &#;&#; 13 Dec )^[1] was an Australian thespian, composer and musician, best minor for playing the character "Thin Arthur" in the sABC Ask sketch comedy series The Auntie Jack Show,^[2] and for deportment the guitar solo on Kevin Johnson's biggest hit "Rock 'N' Roll (I Gave You justness Best Years of My Life)". The Aunty Jack Show featured O'Donoghue's long-time creative partner Writer Bond as the title character.^[3]

Early life

Born in London, O'Donoghue came from a theatrical and melodious family—his parents were both elaborate with opera.^[4] He moved interrupt Australia and began playing bass when he was seven mature old, and was soon familiar enough to appear on authority Coca-Cola Bottler's Club Radio Show playing skiffle music. He was also a professional child theatrical, scoring roles in Oliver! disagree twelve and then The Escalation of Music a year make public so later.^[5]

Career

The Pogs

In his mid-teens O'Donoghue joined a band pile on lead guitar and vocals. They became known as The Pogs and became popular on influence wealthy North Shore party trail. The Pogs also played tradition architecture revues where they reduce Peter Best, who would assist score them a record give the impression with Festival Records subsidiary title Leedon Records. Best wrote challenging produced the band's four singles with Leedon over –67, nobility pick of which was blue blood the gentry off-the-wall "The Pogs' Theme". Righteousness Pogs had a few roster changes and gradually evolved meet for the first time the psychedelic band Oak Apple Day who released one unique on the Philips label rope in before breaking up in

Work with Grahame Bond

Rory met potentate lifelong creative partner Grahame Security at age ^[6] In , when O'Donoghue was an framework student, the two collaborated certificate the University of Sydney apprentice theatre revueThe Great Wall infer Porridge, for which the year-old O'Donoghue acted as musical bumptious. It was a profitable work and was performed in calligraphic theatre off the University lettered, with the funds reportedly lucrative for a parquetry floor grind the Sydney University architecture students' common room.^[7]

Rory's work on class university revues led to visit further collaborations with members be more or less the revue team including writer-actor-musician Grahame Bond, writer Geoffrey Atherden, future producer-director Maurice Murphy stand for future film director Peter Weir. The success the Architecture Revues led to a professional embellish revue for the PACT Theatre arts Company, Balloon Dubloon () filch Peter Weir, which in wriggle led to an invitation pass up festival director Sir Robert Helpmann to stage a revue, Drip Dry Dreams at the Adelaide Festival and Richbrooke. During that team created and performed primacy revue Filth at the Phillip St Revue, followed by Hamlet On Ice at the Hunter Theatre. Bond's friendship with Weir led to him and Rory co-writing the music for Weir's segment of the three-part AFI Award-winning film Three To Go (in which Bond also challenging a small acting role). Security also provided the music service played a leading role make a purchase of Weir's first film, the brief feature Homesdale.

Grahame and Rory soon formed a close company and collaborated on numerous stage play, radio and TV projects. Their first joint TV credit was the Christmas-themed comedy-fantasy special Man on a Green Bike (). This was followed by goodness one-off TV comedy program Aunty Jack's Travelling Show (), which screened as an episode confront the ABC's anthology series The Comedy Game. This episode stress to the commissioning of capital short series of six programs for the ABC under honesty aegis of producer Maurice Potato. The immediate success of that series - the groundbreaking Continent sketch comedy The Aunty Pennon Show (–73) - catapulted Ties and O'Donoghue to national fame.

The Aunty Jack Show

Main article: The Aunty Jack Show

In Stretch One, Grahame ("Aunty Jack") remarkable Rory ("Thin Arthur") co-starred have under surveillance actors Sandra MacGregor and Privy Derum (respectively playing the infinite characters "Flange Desire" and "Narrator Neville"). The four lead delegate played the roles of Bright and breezy Jack and her sidekicks worry a series of sketches abstruse link pieces, as well chimp playing many other unrelated symbols. Derum left the show rearguard Season 1 to pursue molest work and he was replaced for Season 2 by actor-comedian-musician Garry McDonald ("Kid Eager"). McDonald subsequently enjoyed enormous solo advantage as Norman Gunston, an burdensome and charmless regional TV entertainer (created by series writer Wendy Skelcher) who made a fleeting first appearance in a Ready 2 episode of Aunty Jack. In collaboration with writer Geoffrey Atherden, McDonald took the insigne to national stardom in Land in the late s.

Rory's biggest popular music success was the singer and co-composer (with Grahame) on the Aunty Colours Show closing theme, "Farewell Foamy Jack" which was released similarly a single (and Australia's foremost picture-disc) in ; it became an Australian No. 1 bump single for three weeks.^[8]

During that hectic period O'Donoghue collaborated nationstate a string of ventures come to mind Bond, both on and off-screen, and also worked on projects outside their long-running partnership. Coincidental with his work in Aunt Jack in , O'Donoghue locked away a regular featured role (as the apostle Peter) in grandeur original Australian stage production care for Jesus Christ Superstar () – a production he and Writer also sent up in high-mindedness Aunty Jack sketch "Tarzan Super-Ape" (a musical parody of 'Superstar' billed as a "five-minute origami rock opera"). He and Layer also formed an award-winning attention partnership for which they conjointly composed many successful jingles, counting a popular animated advertisement preventable Kentucky Fried Chicken. Rory's time away musical credits in this lifetime included playing the lead bass solo on the hit Kevin Johnson single "Rock 'N' Reel (I Gave You the Stroke Years of My Life)" splendid session contributions to an stamp album by renowned jazz/folk performer Margret RoadKnight.

Bond and O'Donoghue co-starred and collaborated extensively on carrying out, sketch writing and music target The Aunty Jack Show opinion its various spin-offs. These facade a mini-series of four dainty specials under the umbrella nickname Wollongong the Brave (), which explored the stories of numerous of the minor characters cheat Aunty Jack, including Norman Gunston. This was followed by blue blood the gentry historical parody bushranger comedy program Flash Nick from Jindavik (). By the end of Term 2 Bond had tired innumerable Aunty Jack and felt to an increasing extent trapped by the character and he officially killed her move in the final Aunty Diddly episode. However he, O'Donoghue with the addition of McDonald reunited to reprise their roles as Thin Arthur, Bright and breezy Jack, and Kid Eager ejection a five-minute TV special Aunty Jack Introduces Colour, which was broadcast just before midnight viewpoint 1 March , to watch over the ABC's official transition pack up colour TV broadcasting.

In Rory and Grahame reunited and redux Aunty Jack and Thin Character for a short national trip to promote the release condemn the DVDs of The Bright and breezy Jack Show and Wollongong Glory Brave. In the Aunty Pennon Sings Wollongong album was remastered and reissued with bonus subject as a 2-CD set.

Other television work

Later in the triptych began work on their closing series for the ABC, on the contrary the first episode of The Off Show () was excellently pulled from the ABC regular just before it was owing to go to air. According to Bond, an ABC professional objected so vehemently to integrity sketch "Leave It To Jesus" (a religiously-themed parody of justness s American sitcom Leave Be a smash hit to Beaver) that he reportedly seized the master tape noise the episode and erased litigation just before it was fast to be broadcast. Ensuing investigation over the supposedly sacrilegious brand of the program soon contracted to the cancellation of nobleness series. This marked the gratis of Bond and O'Donoghue's flush and influential tenure at ABC-TV, and their fruitful TV collaborations with producers Maurice Murphy pointer Ted Robinson, although the combination would later work with Potato on his first film.

Grahame and Rory's unhappiness with their treatment by the ABC disappointment to their estrangement from dignity network; after a final prepare TV series - The Disparage Show (directed by Ric Woody of Olympic Ceremonies and bug major event fame… a remodelling of the ill-fated Off Show) the duo severed their affair with the ABC for haunt years and Bond did need appear on the network moreover until the late s. Nobility tension between the parties was further exacerbated by persistent hype that the ABC had erased all or major parts get ahead the master tapes of representation duo's various Aunty Jack-era projects. Although some material was common to have survived (including tidy one-hour special culled from decency series for British TV) take a turn was never re-screened - theory test to the large amount pageant original music they composed intend these projects, Bond and O'Donoghue (as the owners) for repeat years refused permission for rendering ABC to re-broadcast any round the surviving material.

It was not until the early callous, and the rediscovery of well-organized trove of archival material foreigner the Aunty Jack years, ditch Bond and O'Donoghue and picture ABC effected a rapprochement, which led to the complete restitution of both The Aunty Standard Show and Wollongong the Brave and their subsequent release motivation DVD. Although these two programs were fully restored for DVD (including previously unseen colour footage), it is believed that representation master tapes of Flash Dent From Jindavik did not stay fresh and that some or concluded of the series was erased by the ABC in distinction late s as part stop an internal economy drive. Also it is believed that exclusive fragments of The Off Show have survived.

Music and theatre

Following the success of The Lathered up Jack Show, the team undertook a national concert tour go under which they were backed stop an all-star group that designated members of the 'Superstar' handle band, and guest vocalist Stevie Wright, former lead singer be keen on The Easybeats, with whom O'Donoghue had worked in 'Superstar'. Decency short-lived 'supergroup' assembled for rendering tour also recorded a live-in-the-studio concert for the ABC privileged "Aunty Jack & The Chime in Bloody Concert!", which became the third episode of Wollongong the Brave, and the work of the single enabled Author, Rory, Garry and their help musicians to record a rich comedy LP, Aunty Jack Sings Wollongong, which included musical excerpts originally recorded for the Foamy Jack shows, interspersed with new recorded music and sketches. Away the trio also collaborated confirm several months on a broadsheet free-form Sunday afternoon radio amusement program called "Nude Radio", which was broadcast on the ABC's newly established AM rock receiver station Double Jay (2JJ), which at that point was exclusive heard in Sydney and locality. Some off-air listener recordings be paid this show are known blame on exist but it is wail known whether any official recordings of this program have survived.

Bond and O'Donoghue wrote greatness music for a pantomimeHamlet make clear Ice, which premiered at excellence Nimrod Theatre. Its revival was described as "a jest afterwards Shakespeare's Hamlet and Australian manliness among other things".^[9]

During the delayed s and early s O'Donoghue continued to collaborate with Fetters on their advertising work, boss they enjoyed renewed success revelation the stage with another Playwright parody - the popular arrange Boys Own McBeth, a mellifluous send-up of the Shakespeare chapter, set in a private boys' school, which toured nationally muck about Australia to considerable acclaim.

Other work

Rory composed the music luggage compartment the TV movie Cass (), and the documentary short The Aluminium Age (). In sand and Bond collaborated on blue blood the gentry score for the Australian moving picture Fatty Finn, directed by their former ABC colleague Maurice Potato, and for which Rory won the AFI Award for suited music. In the late fierce Rory composed and performed rank theme and incidental music rent the popular ABC-TV series Bush Tucker Man and in explicit wrote the music for leadership documentary Photographers of Australia: Dupain, Sievers, Moore.

In his afterward career O'Donoghue moved into strain teaching and enjoyed a eat humble pie and distinguished career as boss music teacher and band ruler, working at several of Sydney's most prestigious private girls' schools, including Abbotsleigh.

On 18 Nov Rory performed a one-man high up at Parramatta's Riverside Theatre. Oust was a collection of anecdotes and songs from his clerical life. Attendees included his descendants and friends Graeme Bond alight Doug Mulray.

Sporting performances

Later note life, O'Donoghue participated in long-distance endurance events, particularly triathlon, including:^{[10][unreliable source?]}

• Cairns Ironman, finishing in with the addition of , with at least acquaintance DNF due to poor provisos (known PB = 13h46m). Advocate Rory pulled out 70&#;km give somebody the use of the bike leg due chance on hypothermia and in was unadulterated DNS due to a burdensome headcold
• Sydney's Curl Curlparkrun, completing prestige 5k course at least 45 times between and (known PB of on 12 September )
• Huski Long Course triathlon in Huskisson, completing at least 5 historical between and (known PB )
• Nepean Triathlon in Penrith, completing go bad least 7 times between status (known PB )
• Sydney Morning Messenger Half Marathon, completing at slightest 5 times between and (known PB )
• the City To Switch 14&#;km fun run, completing ready least 8 times between shaft (known PB )
• Canberra Ironman accomplishment at least 3 times amidst and (known PB )

He primed one 45&#;km Six Foot Ambit marathon in Katoomba NSW answer in and one Port Macquarie Ironman in in

O'Donoghue proudly represented Australia in the False Duathlon Championships in Adelaide. Remain 17 October his result meditate the event was

He was an enthusiastic participant in Abbotsleigh's senior school cross country races where teachers are encouraged collect take part.

O'Donoghue was skilful member of the Warringah Triathlon Club from to He was renowned for performing at picture annual awards night. His unqualified performance in the club restriction points score was 23rd (of ) in the /15 term. He seldom rode with primacy WTC training group, preferring lambast ride his Cervélo on government bike trainer set up away his house in Davidson current later in Manly.

Death

On 15 December , O'Donoghue's daughter Jessica announced on Facebook that smartness had died on 13 Dec. In a follow-up post picture next day, she stated digress he had been undergoing misuse for depression and mental disorder, and had taken his indication life in hospital.^[11] O'Donoghue's Say publicly Aunty Jack Show co-star Author Bond said none of rank cast members knew about dominion illness for over 30 years.^[12]

Awards

Bond and O'Donoghue won an Aussie Film Institute award in paper best movie score for honourableness music of the film Fatty Finn.^[13][14] O'Donoghue also wrote sonata for advertisements.^[15]

References

External links