Robert Coleby (born 1947) is a British actor who has spent most of his career in Australia. Active since the 1970s, he has over 70 film and television credits to his name. Coleby has acted on stage in numerous productions for the Queensland Theatre Company in Brisbane.
Early life
In his late teens, Robert lived in Edington, Somerset and went to Dr Morgan's School in Bridgwater. At that time he was influenced by the Beat Generation, novelist Jack Kerouac and singer/songwriter Bob Dylan and performed with acoustic guitar at folk music clubs in Bridgwater and Taunton. He enjoyed hitch-hiking in Europe during the school holidays, and worked in the peat fields near Shapwick to fund his travels.
Early career Coleby's real name is Robert Taylor. Since there was already a famous actor of that name, Equity rules required that he choose another.
Coleby's earliest screen role was in 1970, playing the role of Fortinbras in a TV version of Hamlet in the long-running US series Hallmark Hall of Fame, followed by a role as a hitchhiker in the 1971 US motion picture The Last Run which starred George C. Scott. During the next several years, he appeared in a number of TV productions in the UK, including five episodes of the 1973 children's series Pollyanna. Moving to Sydney, Australia in 1975, he made his debut on Australian TV appearing in an episode of the TV period drama Rush in 1976.Susan Borham, Edited by. "ACTOR TO SELL BEACH HIDEAWAY - INSIDE SYDNEY." Sydney Morning Herald, The (Australia), Late ed., sec. News and Features, 2 Oct. 1993, p. 15. NewsBank: Access World News, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/11BCB072CDD058B0. Retrieved 15 June 2021.Cleveland, Sam. "Recognisable face of Mr Forgotten." Gold Coast Bulletin, The (Australia), B - Main ed., sec. Focus, 24 Mar. 2007, p. 137. NewsBank: Access World News, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/1181A6AA2502D698. Retrieved 15 June 2021. Over the next two decades, Coleby became a regular face on Australian TV; he was a cast regular on several TV series including the roles; Dr Barrett in The Young Doctors in 1977; pilot Barry Drummond on Chopper Squad (1977–79); RAN officer Lt Fisher in Patrol Boat (1979–83); Reverend Lonsdale in the mini-series Anzacs (1985); and, businessman Tom Barsby in the short-lived soap opera, Paradise Beach (1993–94).
Later career Coleby played Richard Craig in several episodes of the Australian medical drama All Saints between 1998 and 2004, and appeared as William Maplewhite in two episodes of The Lost World in 2001 and 2002. In 2005 he portrayed Rock Hudson in the fictionalised American television movie/docudrama Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure, based on the creation and behind the scenes production of the 1980s prime time soap opera Dynasty. Coleby played Alexander Preston in the 2006 American telenovela Monarch Cove, and Howard Webb in a 2006 episode of the Australian drama McLeod's Daughters. He later played Paul Devers in the 2007 American miniseries The Starter Wife.
In 2009 Coleby appeared as "Urquart" in two episodes of the British television series Heartbeat ("Thursday's Children" and "The Middle of Somewhere") both of which were set in Australia.
More recent theatre work includes the title role in the Queensland Theatre Company's 2007 production of the Henrik Ibsen play John Gabriel Borkman. In 2011, Coleby appeared in an episode of Terra Nova, titled "Proof", as Professor Ken Horton. He also appeared in WWE Studios The Marine 2, which was inspired by the 2001 Dos Palmas kidnappings.
Personal life Coleby is married to Lena Coleby; their children are Australian actors Anja Coleby and Conrad Coleby.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes 1970 Hallmark Hall of Fame: Hamlet Fortinbras TV movie1971A Lizard in a Woman's SkinHarry Smith Feature film 1971The Last RunHitch Hiker Feature film 1979The PlumberBrian CowperTV movie1980Coralie Landsdowne Says NoPaulTV movie1983Now and ForeverIan Clarke Feature film1985The Adventures of Robin HoodGeorge Lonsdale (voice) Animated TV movie 1985ArcherEtienneTV movie1986The Blue LightningNinianTV movie1986IvanhoeRobin Hood (voice) Animated TV movie1986Hector's BunyipGeorge BaileyTV movie1987Great Expectations: The Untold StoryRogerTV movie1988Prisoner of Zenda Voice role Animated filmSebastian and the SparrowPeter Thornbury Feature film 1995In Pursuit of HonorJames ShattuckTV movie1996Little White LiesKuhlTV movie 1996 The Phantom Captain Phillip Horton Feature film 1998The Real MacawMr. St. John Feature film1999The Lost WorldWilliam Maple-WhiteTV movie1999Chameleon II: Death MatchBranfordTV movie2001Curse of the TalismanMuseum CuratorTV movie2001Walk the TalkPastor Bob Feature film2002The Crocodile Hunter: Collision CourseDr. Weinberger Feature film2003TemptedLawyerTV movie2003MermaidsDirectorTV movie2005Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure Rock HudsonTV movie2006The MarineBraun Feature film 2009 The Marine 2 Darren Conner Feature film 2010Bad BehaviourClive Feature film2013TracksPop Feature filmCoughGeorgeShort film2015StalkHerDr. Jacob Weeks Feature film2017 Don't TellJohn Bowers Feature film
Television +YearTitleRoleNotesRef1970Saturday Night TheatreFortinbras1 episode1971Take Three GirlsDennis TV series, 1 episode1973The Adventures of Black BeautyHarry TV series, 1 episode1973New Scotland YardGeoff Grant TV series, 1 episode1973PollyannaTimothy5 episodes1974John HalifaxJohn Halifax TV series, 5 episodes1974The ProtectorsAnton TV series, 1 episode1974Death or Glory BoySergeant Potter1 episode1974SkiboyJean Noel TV series, 6 episodes1974King LearEdgar6 episodes1975QuillerHilberg TV series, 1 episode1976RushAndy Curran TV series, 1 episode1976–77The Young DoctorsPaul Barrett TV series, 101 episodes1978Case for the DefenceJohn TV series, 1 episode1977–79Chopper SquadBarry Drummond TV series, 27 episodes1980TimelapseDouglas Hardy TV series1981PunishmentChristopher Lang TV series1981Levkas ManPaul Gerrard TV miniseries, 6 episodes1981Cop ShopHarry Wilson TV series, 2 episodes1981BellamyPeter Kelso TV series, 1 episode1981Sporting Chance1 episode1983For the Term of His Natural LifeJohn Rex TV miniseries, 3 episodes1979–83Patrol BoatLieutenant Charles Fisher TV series, 27 episodes1983Carson's LawRichard Kruger TV series, 8 episodes1984Five Mile CreekOliver Hamilton TV series, 1 episode1984SinglesJack Howard1 episode1985Special Squad TV series, 1 episode1985AnzacsRev. George Lonsdale TV miniseries, 5 episodes1984-85A Country PracticePaul / Tony TV series, 4 episodes1986The Fast LaneDwyer TV series, 1 episode1987FrontierMajor Nunn3 episodes1987Rafferty's RulesDavid Andrews TV series, 1 episode1988AustraliansRaymond Longford TV series, 1 episode1989This Man... This WomanNeil Clarke TV miniseries, 2 episodes1989The Flying DoctorsAlex Potter TV series, 1 episode1989Mission ImpossibleGrigor Caron TV series, 1 episode1989Inside Running TV series, 6 episodes1990E.A.R.T.H. ForceFrederick Winter TV series, 1 episode1989-92Tanamera - Lion of SingaporeBonnard TV series, 7 episodes1992The Adventures of SkippyUncle Jerry TV series, 1 episode1993E StreetConrad Vargas TV series, 2 episodes Marlin Bay TV series 1993–94Paradise BeachTom Barsby TV series, 254 episodes1995FireLarry Dempsey TV series, 1 episode1995Space: Above and BeyondJonathan Overmeyer TV series, 1 episode1997MedivacBruce TV series, 1 episode1997-98FlipperSteve / Andrew TV series, 2 episodes1998The Day of the RosesStation Officer TV miniseries, 2 episodes1999StingersTerry Darzinger TV series, 1 episode1999-02The Lost WorldDr William Maple White TV series, 4 episodes2000Tales of the South Seas TV series, 1 episode2001OutridersJansen TV series, 3 episodes2003Fat Cow MotelElridge TV series, 1 episode2001–04All SaintsProfessor Richard Craig TV series, 5 episodes2004Through My Eyes TV miniseries, 2 episodes2006McLeod's DaughtersHoward Webb TV series, 1 episode2006Monarch CoveAlexander Preston Telenovela, 14 episodes2007The Starter Wife Paul Devers TV miniseries, 1 episode2008City HomicideAlistair TV series, 1 episode2009Sea PatrolLang Calwell TV series, 1 episode2009HeartbeatUrquart TV series, 2 episodes: "Thursday's Children" & "The Middle of Somewhere"2011Terra NovaKen Horton TV series, 1 episode: "Proof"2015House of HancockFrank Rinehart TV miniseries, episode #1.12015–17A Place to Call Home Douglas Goddard TV series, 22 episodes2020The EndRichard TV series, 1 episode2022Darby and JoanAscher TV miniseries, 1 episode2023Queen of Oz Bernard TV series, 6 episodes
Theatre YearTitleRoleNotes 1985 Arms and the Man Nimrod Theatre Company 1987 Tartuffe Nimrod Theatre Company 1987 The Winter's Tale Nimrod Theatre Company 2006 John Gabriel Borkman Borkman Queensland Theatre Company
References
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