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Line 9: Line 9:
|birth_place= [[Lord Howe Island]], [[New South Wales]], Australia
|birth_place= [[Lord Howe Island]], [[New South Wales]], Australia
|death_date= {{death date and age|2020|05|09|1939|9|9|df=yes}}
|death_date= {{death date and age|2020|05|09|1939|9|9|df=yes}}
|death_place=
|death_place= Sydney, Australia
|education= [[Newington College]]<br>[[University of Sydney]]
|education= [[Newington College]]<br>[[University of Sydney]]
|occupation= Actor
|occupation= Actor
Line 15: Line 15:
|parents=
|parents=
|children= [[Nicholas Gledhill]]
|children= [[Nicholas Gledhill]]
|nationality= [[Australia]]n
|nationality= Australian
|website=
|website=
}}
}}


'''Arthur Dignam''' (9 September 1939 – 9 May 2020) was an Australian stage and screen actor.
'''Arthur Dignam''' (9 September 1939 – 9 May 2020) was an Australian actor.


==Biography==
==Early life==
Dignam was born on [[Lord Howe Island]].<ref>{{IMDb name|0226583}}</ref> He attended [[Newington College]] in [[Sydney]] as a boarder in 1955 and 1956<ref>Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp. 52</ref> and then the [[University of Sydney]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sydney.edu.au/alumni-giving.html|title=Alumni & giving|website=The University of Sydney|language=en-AU|access-date=2018-12-28}}</ref>
Dignam was born on [[Lord Howe Island]].<ref>{{IMDb name|0226583}}</ref> He attended [[Newington College]] in [[Sydney]] as a boarder in 1955 and 1956<ref>Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp. 52</ref> and then the [[University of Sydney]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sydney.edu.au/alumni-giving.html|title=Alumni & giving|website=The University of Sydney|language=en-AU|access-date=2018-12-28}}</ref>


==Career==
He has been best known for one of his early roles, that of Brother Francine in [[Fred Schepisi]]'s ''[[The Devil's Playground (1976 film)|The Devil's Playground]]'' (1976).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/10/30/movies/the-devil-s-playground.html|title='The Devil's Playground'|last=Canby|first=Vincent|date=1981-10-30|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-12-28|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> While he has worked mainly in film and television, he also worked in theatre, including musical theatre. He played [[Pontius Pilate]] in the Australian production of ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'' in 1972–73, and appears on the [[Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Australian Cast Recording)|original Australian cast recording]].{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}
He was best known for one of his early roles, that of Brother Francine in [[Fred Schepisi]]'s ''[[The Devil's Playground (1976 film)|The Devil's Playground]]'' (1976).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/10/30/movies/the-devil-s-playground.html|title='The Devil's Playground'|last=Canby|first=Vincent|date=1981-10-30|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-12-28|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> While he worked mainly in film and television, he also worked in theatre, including musical theatre. He played [[Pontius Pilate]] in the Australian production of ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'' in 1972–73, and appears on the [[Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Australian Cast Recording)|original Australian cast recording]].<ref name="Original Program">Original Program</ref>


During 1980, Dignam was part of ''A Shakespeare Company'',<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KCpEhrdarIMC&dq=Arthur+Dignam+Shakespeare+Company&pg=PA157|title=Theatre Australia (un)limited: Australian Theatre Since the 1950s|last=Milne|first=Geoffrey|date=2004|publisher=Rodopi|isbn=9789042009301|language=en}}</ref> funded by a one-off grant from the [[Australia Council]], and worked with actors [[Ruth Cracknell]], [[Ron Haddrick]] and others on two texts for six months and then presented them at the [[Seymour Centre]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19801111&id=Sv9jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=N-cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3975,4511798|title=The Sydney Morning Herald - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=2018-12-28}}</ref>
During 1980, Dignam was part of ''A Shakespeare Company'',<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KCpEhrdarIMC&dq=Arthur+Dignam+Shakespeare+Company&pg=PA157|title=Theatre Australia (un)limited: Australian Theatre Since the 1950s|last=Milne|first=Geoffrey|date=2004|publisher=Rodopi|isbn=9789042009301|language=en}}</ref> funded by a one-off grant from the [[Australia Council]], and worked with actors [[Ruth Cracknell]], [[Ron Haddrick]] and others on two texts for six months and then presented them at the [[Seymour Centre]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19801111&id=Sv9jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=N-cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3975,4511798|title=The Sydney Morning Herald – Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=2018-12-28}}</ref>


==Personal life==
Dignam died on 9 May 2020, at the age of 80.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vale: Arthur Dignam {{!}} TV Tonight|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2020/05/vale-arthur-dignam.html/|last=Knox|first=David|date=2020-05-12|website=TV Tonight|language=en-AU|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref>
His son together with Bobbie Gledhill – actor [[Nicholas Gledhill]] was born in Sydney in 1975.


==Family==
==Death==
Dignam died of a heart attack on 9 May 2020, in Sydney at the age of 80.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vale: Arthur Dignam {{!}} TV Tonight|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2020/05/vale-arthur-dignam.html/|last=Knox|first=David|date=2020-05-12|website=TV Tonight|language=en-AU|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref>
His son is actor [[Nicholas Gledhill]].


==Theatre credits==
==Theatre==

*''[[The Trojan Women|The Women of Troy]]'', [[Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne|Merlyn Theatre]], Southbank, VIC, 6 November 2008
===As actor===
*''The Women of Troy'', [[The Wharf Theatre|Wharf 1]], Sydney, NSW, 16 September 2008
{|class="wikitable"
*''[[Julius Caesar (play)|Julius Caesar]]'', Wharf 1, Sydney, NSW, 28 June 2005
! Year
*''The Governor's Family'', [[Belvoir St Theatre]] Surry Hills, NSW, 1 May 1997
! Title
*''Sixteen Words for Water'', [[The Hole in the Wall Theatre|Subiaco Theatre Centre]], Subiaco, WA, 27 July 1994
! Role
*''Mesmerized'', [[Griffin Theatre Company|Stables Theatre]], Darlinghurst, NSW, 8 April 1993
! Venue / Company
*''[[Life of Galileo]]'', [[Nimrod Theatre Company|Nimrod Upstairs]], Surry Hills, NSW, 27 June 1979
|-
*''[[Hedda Gabler]]'', [[SGIO Theatre]], Brisbane, QLD, 18 April 1979
| 1961 || ''[['Tis Pity She's a Whore]]'' || || [[University of Sydney]]
*''Pandora's Cross'', Paris Theatre, Sydney, NSW, 29 July 1978
|-
*''[[Ned Kelly (musical)|Ned Kelly]]'', [[Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney|Her Majesty's Theatre (1960-2001)]], Sydney, NSW, 4 February 1978
| 1962 || ''[[The Dumb Waiter]]'' and ''[[A Slight Ache]]'' || Gus / Edward || [[The Hole in the Wall Theatre|Old Dolphin Theatre, Perth]] & [[University of Sydney]]
*''Ned Kelly'', [[Adelaide Festival Centre|Festival Theatre]], Adelaide, SA, 30 December 1977
|-
*''[[Big Toys]]'', [[Old Tote Theatre Company|Parade Theatre]], Kensington, NSW, 27 July 1977
| 1962 || ''[[Coriolanus]]'' || || [[University of Sydney]]
*''[[Waiting For Godot]]'', Octagon Theatre, Crawley, WA, 13 November 1975
|-
*''Scapin'', Recording Hall, Sydney, NSW, 7 March 1975
| 1963 || ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' || [[Romeo]] || [[University of Sydney]]
*''[[Berenice (play)|Berenice]]'', Recording Hall, Sydney, NSW, 1975
|-
*''[[The Rocky Horror Show]]'', New Art Cinema, Glebe, NSW, 19 April 1974
| 1966 || ''[[The Royal Hunt of the Sun]]''|| || [[University of Adelaide]]
*''[[The Threepenny Opera]]'', [[Sydney Opera House|Drama Theatre]], Sydney, NSW, 25 September 1973
|-
*''[[Kabul]]'', Parade Theatre, Kensington, NSW, 31 May 1973
*''[[Hamlet]]'', Nimrod Street Theatre, Darlinghurst, NSW, 23 March 1973
| 1968 || ''[[War and Peace]]'' || || [[New Theatre, Sydney]] with [[Melbourne Theatre Company]]
|-
*''[[Julius Caesar (play)|Julius Caesar]]'', [[UNSW Venues|Sir John Clancy Auditorium]], Kensington, NSW, 28 June 1972
| 1969 || ''[[Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead]]'' || Guildenstern || [[University of Western Australia|Octagon Theatre, Perth]]
*''[[The Good Woman of Setzuan|The Good Man of Setzuan]]'', Parade Theatre, Kensington, NSW, 14 April 1972
|-
*''[[Trelawny of the Wells]]'', Parade Theatre, Kensington, NSW, 28 January 1972
| 1969 || ''[[The Man of Mode]]'' || || [[University of Western Australia|Octagon Theatre, Perth]]
*''An Evening of Victorian Music Hall'', [[Paddington Town Hall]] (No 2 Hall), Paddington, NSW, 26 March 1971
|-
*''[[Doctor Faustus (play)|Doctor Faustus]]'', Southern Highlands Festival Theatre, Mittagong, NSW, 23 February 1971
| 1970 || ''The Pope's Wedding'' || || [[The Hole in the Wall Theatre|Old Dolphin Theatre, Perth]]
*''[[The Recruiting Officer]]'', Southern Highlands Festival Theatre, Mittagong, NSW, 5 February 1971
|-
*''[[Macbeth]]'', Nimrod Street Theatre, Darlinghurst, NSW, 1971
| 1970 || ''[[You Can't Take It with You (play)|You Can't Take It with You]]'' || || [[The Hole in the Wall Theatre|Hole in the Wall Theatre, Perth]]
*''[[Hadrian VII]]'', Octagon Theatre, Crawley, WA, 25 September 1970
|-
*''[[You Can't Take It with You (play)|You Can't Take It with You]]'', [[The Hole in the Wall Theatre]], Leederville, WA, 1970
| 1970 || ''The Haunted House'' / ''[[Black Comedy (play)|Black Comedy]]'' || Callidamates / Brindsley Miller || [[University of Western Australia|Octagon Theatre, Perth]]
*''[[Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead]]'', Octagon Theatre, Crawley, WA, 18 September 1969
|-
*''[[War and Peace]]'', New Theatre, Darlinghurst, NSW, 21 September 1968
*''[[The Royal Hunt of the Sun]]'', [[Bonython Hall]], The University of Adelaide, SA, 14 March 1966
| 1970 || ''[[Twelfth Night|Twelfth Night, or What You Will]]'' || [[Orsino (Twelfth Night)|Orsino]] || [[University of Western Australia|Octagon Theatre, Perth]]
|-
*''Victimes du Devoir'', [[University of Melbourne Student Union|Union Theatre]], Parkville, VIC, 5 September 1964
| 1970 || ''[[Othello]]'' || Cassio || [[University of Western Australia|Octagon Theatre, Perth]]
*''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'', Union Theatre, Camperdown, NSW, 18 April 1963
|-
*''[[The Dumb Waiter]] & [[A Slight Ache]]'', Union Theatre, Camperdown, NSW, 5 July 1962
| 1970 || ''Brecht on Brecht'' || || [[The Hole in the Wall Theatre|Old Dolphin Theatre, Perth]]
*''[[Coriolanus]]'', Union Theatre, Camperdown, NSW, 4 April 1962
|-
*''[['Tis Pity She's a Whore]]'', Wallace Theatre, Camperdown, NSW, 23 June 1961<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/225405|title=AusStage|website=www.ausstage.edu.au|access-date=2018-12-28}}</ref>
| 1970 || ''[[The Seagull]]'' || || [[University of Western Australia|Octagon Theatre, Perth]]
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Hadrian the Seventh]]'' || || [[University of Western Australia|Octagon Theatre, Perth]]
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Narrow Road to the Deep North]]'' || || [[The Hole in the Wall Theatre|Old Dolphin Theatre, Perth]]
|-
| 1970 || ''[[What the Butler Saw (play)|What the Butler Saw]]'' || || [[The Playhouse Theatre (Perth)|Playhouse Theatre, Perth]]
|-
| 1971 || ''[[The Recruiting Officer]]'' || || Southern Highlands Festival Theatre
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Doctor Faustus (play)|Doctor Faustus]]'' || || Southern Highlands Festival Theatre
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Macbeth]]'' || || [[Nimrod Theatre Company|Nimrod Street Theatre]]
|-
| 1971 || ''An Evening of Victorian Music Hall'' || || [[Paddington Town Hall]] with [[Nimrod Theatre Company]]
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Trelawny of the 'Wells']]'' || || [[University of New South Wales|UNSW]] with [[Old Tote Theatre Company|Old Tote Theatre]]
|-
| 1972 || ''[[The Good Woman of Setzuan|The Good Man of Setzuan]]'' || || [[University of New South Wales|UNSW]] with [[Old Tote Theatre Company|Old Tote Theatre]]
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'' || [[Pontius Pilate]] || [[Capitol Theatre, Sydney]]
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Julius Caesar (play)|Julius Caesar]]'' || || [[University of New South Wales|UNSW]] with [[Old Tote Theatre Company|Old Tote Theatre]]
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Hamlet]]'' || || [[Nimrod Theatre Company|Nimrod Street Theatre]] & [[Canberra Theatre Centre|Playhouse, Canberra]]
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Kabul]]'' || || [[University of New South Wales|UNSW]] with [[Old Tote Theatre Company|Old Tote Theatre]]
|-
| 1973 || ''[[The Threepenny Opera]]'' || || [[Sydney Opera House]] with [[Old Tote Theatre Company|Old Tote Theatre]]
|-
| 1974 || ''[[Antony and Cleopatra]]'' || [[Mark Antony|Antony]] || New Fortune Theatre for [[Perth Festival]]
|-
| 1974 || ''[[The Rocky Horror Show]]'' || Narrator || New Art Cinema, Sydney
|-
| 1975 || ''[[Berenice (play)|Berenice]]'' || || [[Sydney Opera House]] with [[Old Tote Theatre Company|Old Tote Theatre]]
|-
| 1975 || ''Scapin'' || || [[Sydney Opera House]] with [[Old Tote Theatre Company|Old Tote Theatre]]
|-
| 1975 || ''[[Waiting for Godot]]'' || || [[University of Western Australia|Octagon Theatre, Perth]]
|-
| 1975 || ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' || [[Potiphar]] / [[Simeon (Gospel of Luke)|Simeon]] || [[Seymour Centre]]
|-
| 1976 || ''T.Zee'' || The Beast || [[Royal Court Theatre|Royal Court Theatre, London]]
|-
| 1977 || ''[[Big Toys]]'' || Ritchie Bousanquet || [[University of NSW|UNSW]], [[Comedy Theatre, Melbourne]] & [[Canberra Theatre Centre|Canberra Theatre]] with [[Old Tote Theatre Company|Old Tote Theatre]]
|-
| 1977–78 || ''[[Ned Kelly (musical)|Ned Kelly]]'' || Superintendent Hare || [[Adelaide Festival Centre]] & [[Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney]]
|-
| 1978 || ''[[Pandora's Cross]]'' || The Goose || [[Paris Theatre, Sydney]]
|-
| 1979 || ''[[The Lady of the Camellias]]'' || Baron de Varville || [[Sydney Opera House]] with [[Sydney Theatre Company]]
|-
| 1979 || ''[[Hedda Gabler]]'' || Judge Brack || [[SGIO Theatre]] with [[Queensland Theatre|QTC]] (left before opening night)
|-
| 1979 || ''[[Life of Galileo]]'' || Cardinal Barberini || [[Nimrod Theatre Company|Nimrod Upstairs]]
|-
| 1980 || ''[[The Two Gentlemen of Verona]]'' || Launce / Lucetta / Host / Outlaw || [[Seymour Centre]]
|-
| 1980 || ''[[Measure for Measure]]'' || Duke of Vienna || [[Seymour Centre]]
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Hedda Gabler]]'' || || [[Wharf Theatre]] with [[Sydney Theatre Company]]
|-
| 1993 || ''Mesmerized'' || || [[Griffin Theatre Company|Stables Theatre]]
|-
| 1993–94 || ''The Temple'' || Sir Thomas Burchett / Henry / Freddie Arrow || [[Wharf Theatre]] with [[Sydney Theatre Company]]
|-
| 1994 || ''[[The Crucible]]'' || Judge Hathorn || [[His Majesty's Theatre, Perth]], [[Riverside Theatres Parramatta]], [[Monash University]]
|-
| 1994 || ''Sixteen Words for Water'' || || [[The Hole in the Wall Theatre|Subiaco Theatre Centre]]
|-
| 1997 || ''The Governor's Family'' || || [[Belvoir St Theatre]]
|-
| 2005 || ''[[Julius Caesar (play)|Julius Caesar]]'' || [[Julius Caesar]] || [[Wharf Theatre|Wharf Theatre, Sydney]] with [[Sydney Theatre Company]]
|-
| 2008 || ''[[The Trojan Women|The Women of Troy]]'' || [[Menelaus]] || [[Wharf Theatre|Wharf Theatre, Sydney]] with [[Sydney Theatre Company]] & [[Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne|Merlyn Theatre]]
|}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/225405|title=AusStage|website=www.ausstage.edu.au|access-date=2018-12-28}}</ref>

===As producer===
{|class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Venue / Company
|-
| 1964 || ''Victimes du Devoir'' || Producer || [[University of Melbourne]]
|}


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
{{Div col}}
*''Lend Me Your Stable'' (1962)
*''[[Libido (1973 film)|Libido]]'' (1973) - Father Burn (segment "Priest, The")
*''[[Petersen (film)|Petersen]]'' (1974) - Prof. Charles Kent
*''[[Between Wars]]'' (1974)<ref>[http://www.ozmovies.com.au/movie/galleries/photos/between-wars Oz Movies]</ref> - Peter Avante
*''[[The Devil's Playground (1976 film)|The Devil's Playground]]'' (1976)<ref name=idol/> - Brother Francine
*''[[Summer of Secrets (film)|Summer of Secrets]]'' (1976) - Doctor Beverley Adams
*''[[The Duellists]]'' (1977) - Captain with Eyepatch
*''[[The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (film)|The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith]]'' (1978) - Man in Butcher Shop
*''[[Cathy's Child]]'' (1979) - Minister
*''[[Grendel Grendel Grendel]]'' (1981) - The Dragon / Beowulf (voice)
*''[[Strange Behavior]]'' (1981) - Dr. Le Sange / Nagel
*''[[Duet for Four]]'' (1982) - Doug Quincey
*''[[We of the Never Never (film)|We of the Never Never]]'' (1982) - Aeneas Gunn
*''[[The Return of Captain Invincible]]'' (1983) - Lawyer
*''[[The Wild Duck (film)|The Wild Duck]]'' (1983) - Gregory
*''[[The Schippan Mystery]]'' (1984) - [[Josiah Symon|Sir Josiah Symon]]
*''[[Burke & Wills]]'' (1985) - Sir [[William Foster Stawell|William Stawell]]
*''[[Comrades (1986 film)|Comrades]]'' (1986) - Fop
*''[[The Right Hand Man (film)|The Right Hand Man]]'' (1987) - Dr. Redbridge
*''Those Dear Departed'' (1987) - Producer
*''[[The Everlasting Secret Family]]'' (1988)<ref name=idol>Michael Ferguson and Michael S. Ferguson {{google books|R4f--vTO9LIC|Idol Worship: A Shameless Celebration of Male Beauty in the Movies|page=215}}</ref> - The Senator
*''[[The Dreaming (1988 film)|The Dreaming]]'' (1988) - Professor Bernard Thornton
*''[[Edens Lost]]'' (1989, TV Movie) - Heath
*''[[Isabelle Eberhardt (film)|Isabelle Eberhardt]]'' (1991) - Cauvet
*''[[The Nostradamus Kid]]'' (1993) - Pastor Anderson
*''[[Dating the Enemy]]'' (1996) - Dr. Kamins
*''[[Paradise Road (1997 film)|Paradise Road]]'' (1997) - Mr. Pike
*''[[Oscar and Lucinda (film)|Oscar and Lucinda]]'' (1997)
*''[[Gods and Monsters (film)|Gods and Monsters]]'' (1998) - [[Ernest Thesiger]] (uncredited)
*''[[Moulin Rouge!]]'' (2001) - Christian's Father
*''[[Beneath Clouds]]'' (2002) - Old Man in pub / Mercedes driver
*''The Libertine'' (2006, Short) - Man
*''[[Australia (2008 film)|Australia]]'' (2008) - Father Benedict
*''[[The Tree (2010 film)|The Tree]]'' (2010) - Uncle Jack
*''[[The Great Gatsby (2013 film)|The Great Gatsby]]'' (2013) - (uncredited)
{{div col end}}


===Television===
===Film===
{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Type
|-
|-
| 1962
| ''Lend Me Your Stable''
|
|
|-
| 1973
| ''[[Libido (1973 film)|Libido]]''
| Father Burn
| Feature film, segment: ''The Priest''
|-
| 1974
| ''[[Petersen (film)|Petersen]]''
| Prof. Charles Kent
| Feature film
|-
| 1974
| ''[[Between Wars]]''
| Peter Avante
| Feature film [http://www.ozmovies.com.au/movie/galleries/photos/between-wars Oz Movies]
|-
| 1976
| ''[[The Devil's Playground (1976 film)|The Devil's Playground]]''
| Brother Francine
| Feature film<ref name=idol/>
|-
| 1976
| ''[[Summer of Secrets (film)|Summer of Secrets]]''
| Doctor Beverley Adams
| Feature film
|-
| 1977
| ''[[The Duellists]]''
| Captain with Eyepatch
| Feature film
|-
| 1978
| ''[[The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (film)|The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith]]''
| Man in Butcher Shop
| Feature film
|-
| 1979
| ''[[Cathy's Child]]''
| Minister
| Feature film
|-
| 1981
| ''[[Grendel Grendel Grendel]]''
| The Dragon / Beowulf (voice)
| Animated film
|-
| 1981
| ''[[Strange Behavior]]''
| Dr. Le Sange / Nagel
| Feature film
|-
| 1982
| ''[[Duet for Four]]''
| Doug Quincey
| Feature film
|-
| 1982
| ''[[We of the Never Never (film)|We of the Never Never]]''
| Aeneas Gunn
| Feature film
|-
| 1983
| ''[[The Return of Captain Invincible]]''
| Lawyer
| Feature film
|-
| 1983
| ''[[The Wild Duck (film)|The Wild Duck]]''
| Gregory
| Feature film
|-
| 1984
| ''[[The Schippan Mystery]]''
| [[Josiah Symon|Sir Josiah Symon]]
| TV film
|-
| 1985
| ''[[Burke & Wills]]''
| Sir [[William Foster Stawell|William Stawell]]
| Feature film
|-
| 1986
| ''[[Comrades (1986 film)|Comrades]]''
| Fop
| Feature film
|-
| 1987
| ''[[The Right Hand Man (film)|The Right Hand Man]]''
| Dr. Redbridge
| Feature film
|-
| 1987
| ''[[Those Dear Departed]]'' (aka ''Ghosts Can Do It!'')
| Producer
| Feature film
|-
| 1988
| ''[[The Everlasting Secret Family]]''
| The Senator
| Feature film<ref name=idol>Michael Ferguson and Michael S. Ferguson {{google books|R4f—vTO9LIC|Idol Worship: A Shameless Celebration of Male Beauty in the Movies|page=215}}</ref>
|-
| 1988
| ''[[The Dreaming (1988 film)|The Dreaming]]''
| Professor Bernard Thornton
| Feature film
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Isabelle Eberhardt (film)|Isabelle Eberhardt]]''
| Cauvet
| Feature film
|-
| 1993
| ''[[The Nostradamus Kid]]''
| Pastor Anderson
| Feature film
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Dating the Enemy]]''
| Dr. Kamins
| Feature film
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Paradise Road (1997 film)|Paradise Road]]''
| Mr. Pike
| Feature film
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Oscar and Lucinda (film)|Oscar and Lucinda]]''
|
| Feature film
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Gods and Monsters (film)|Gods and Monsters]]''
| [[Ernest Thesiger]] (uncredited)
| Feature film
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Moulin Rouge!]]''
| Christian's Father
| Feature film
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Beneath Clouds]]''
| Old Man in pub / Mercedes driver
| Feature film
|-
| 2006
| ''The Libertine''
| Man
| Short film
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Australia (2008 film)|Australia]]''
| Father Benedict
| Feature film
|-
| 2010
| ''[[The Tree (2010 film)|The Tree]]''
| Uncle Jack
| Feature film
|-
| 2013
| ''[[The Great Gatsby (2013 film)|The Great Gatsby]]''
| Uncredited
| Feature film
|-
| 2017
| ''7 from Etheria''
| Old Kurt Gödel
| Anthology film (segment: "Gödel Incomplete")
|}

===Television===
{|class="wikitable"
! Year
! Year
! Title
! Title
! Role
! Role
! Type
! Type
|-
| 1976
| ''[[The New Avengers (TV series)|The New Avengers]]''
| Dr Graham
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 1979
| ''[[Water Under the Bridge (miniseries)|Water Under the Bridge]]''
| Maynard Dickens
| TV miniseries, 2 episodes
|-
| 1981
| ''[[Tickled Pink]]''
|
| TV series
|-
|-
| 1983
| 1983
| ''[[The Dismissal (miniseries)|The Dismissal]]''
| ''[[The Dismissal (miniseries)|The Dismissal]]''
| [[Eric Robinson (Australian politician)|Eric Robinson]]
| [[Eric Robinson (Australian politician)|Eric Robinson]]
| TV miniseries, 2 episodes
| TV Miniseries
|-
| 1984
| ''[[Five Mile Creek]]''
| Arthur Archer
| TV series
|-
| 1984
| ''[[Special Squad (Australian TV series)|Special Squad]]''
| Grayson
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 1984
| ''[[Bodyline (miniseries)|Bodyline]]''
| [[Malcolm Jardine|Mr Jardine]] (Douglas Jardine's father)
| TV miniseries
|-
| 1987
| ''[[The StoryTeller (TV series)|The Storyteller: Greek Myths]]''
| King Acrisius
| TV series, episode: ''Perseus and the Gorgon''
|-
|-
| 1989
| 1989
| ''[[Shadow of the Cobra]]''
| ''[[Shadow of the Cobra]]''
| Gupta
| Gupta
| TV miniseries, 2 episodes
| TV Miniseries
|-
| 1989
| ''[[Edens Lost]]''
| Heath
| TV miniseries
|-
| 1992
| ''[[The Flying Doctors]]''
| Royce Phelan DC
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]''
| Geoffrey Evans
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 1994–95
| ''[[Escape from Jupiter]]''
| Professor Ingosol
| TV series, 13 episodes
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Pacific Drive (TV series)|Pacific Drive]]''
| Marcus (theatrical agent)
| TV series
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Heartbreak High]]''
| Athol Pike
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 2001
| ''[[All Saints (TV series)|All Saints]]''
| Father Francis Tyler
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Australia (2008 film)|Faraway Downs]]''
| Father Benedict
| TV miniseries, 1 episode
|}
|}


Latest revision as of 17:05, 28 October 2024

Arthur Dignam
Born(1939-09-09)9 September 1939
Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia
Died9 May 2020(2020-05-09) (aged 80)
Sydney, Australia
NationalityAustralian
EducationNewington College
University of Sydney
OccupationActor
ChildrenNicholas Gledhill

Arthur Dignam (9 September 1939 – 9 May 2020) was an Australian actor.

Early life

[edit]

Dignam was born on Lord Howe Island.[1] He attended Newington College in Sydney as a boarder in 1955 and 1956[2] and then the University of Sydney.[3]

Career

[edit]

He was best known for one of his early roles, that of Brother Francine in Fred Schepisi's The Devil's Playground (1976).[4] While he worked mainly in film and television, he also worked in theatre, including musical theatre. He played Pontius Pilate in the Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar in 1972–73, and appears on the original Australian cast recording.[5]

During 1980, Dignam was part of A Shakespeare Company,[6] funded by a one-off grant from the Australia Council, and worked with actors Ruth Cracknell, Ron Haddrick and others on two texts for six months and then presented them at the Seymour Centre.[7]

Personal life

[edit]

His son together with Bobbie Gledhill – actor Nicholas Gledhill was born in Sydney in 1975.

Death

[edit]

Dignam died of a heart attack on 9 May 2020, in Sydney at the age of 80.[8]

Theatre

[edit]

As actor

[edit]
Year Title Role Venue / Company
1961 'Tis Pity She's a Whore University of Sydney
1962 The Dumb Waiter and A Slight Ache Gus / Edward Old Dolphin Theatre, Perth & University of Sydney
1962 Coriolanus University of Sydney
1963 Romeo and Juliet Romeo University of Sydney
1966 The Royal Hunt of the Sun University of Adelaide
1968 War and Peace New Theatre, Sydney with Melbourne Theatre Company
1969 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Guildenstern Octagon Theatre, Perth
1969 The Man of Mode Octagon Theatre, Perth
1970 The Pope's Wedding Old Dolphin Theatre, Perth
1970 You Can't Take It with You Hole in the Wall Theatre, Perth
1970 The Haunted House / Black Comedy Callidamates / Brindsley Miller Octagon Theatre, Perth
1970 Twelfth Night, or What You Will Orsino Octagon Theatre, Perth
1970 Othello Cassio Octagon Theatre, Perth
1970 Brecht on Brecht Old Dolphin Theatre, Perth
1970 The Seagull Octagon Theatre, Perth
1970 Hadrian the Seventh Octagon Theatre, Perth
1970 Narrow Road to the Deep North Old Dolphin Theatre, Perth
1970 What the Butler Saw Playhouse Theatre, Perth
1971 The Recruiting Officer Southern Highlands Festival Theatre
1971 Doctor Faustus Southern Highlands Festival Theatre
1971 Macbeth Nimrod Street Theatre
1971 An Evening of Victorian Music Hall Paddington Town Hall with Nimrod Theatre Company
1972 Trelawny of the 'Wells' UNSW with Old Tote Theatre
1972 The Good Man of Setzuan UNSW with Old Tote Theatre
1972 Jesus Christ Superstar Pontius Pilate Capitol Theatre, Sydney
1972 Julius Caesar UNSW with Old Tote Theatre
1973 Hamlet Nimrod Street Theatre & Playhouse, Canberra
1973 Kabul UNSW with Old Tote Theatre
1973 The Threepenny Opera Sydney Opera House with Old Tote Theatre
1974 Antony and Cleopatra Antony New Fortune Theatre for Perth Festival
1974 The Rocky Horror Show Narrator New Art Cinema, Sydney
1975 Berenice Sydney Opera House with Old Tote Theatre
1975 Scapin Sydney Opera House with Old Tote Theatre
1975 Waiting for Godot Octagon Theatre, Perth
1975 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Potiphar / Simeon Seymour Centre
1976 T.Zee The Beast Royal Court Theatre, London
1977 Big Toys Ritchie Bousanquet UNSW, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne & Canberra Theatre with Old Tote Theatre
1977–78 Ned Kelly Superintendent Hare Adelaide Festival Centre & Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney
1978 Pandora's Cross The Goose Paris Theatre, Sydney
1979 The Lady of the Camellias Baron de Varville Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company
1979 Hedda Gabler Judge Brack SGIO Theatre with QTC (left before opening night)
1979 Life of Galileo Cardinal Barberini Nimrod Upstairs
1980 The Two Gentlemen of Verona Launce / Lucetta / Host / Outlaw Seymour Centre
1980 Measure for Measure Duke of Vienna Seymour Centre
1986 Hedda Gabler Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company
1993 Mesmerized Stables Theatre
1993–94 The Temple Sir Thomas Burchett / Henry / Freddie Arrow Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company
1994 The Crucible Judge Hathorn His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Riverside Theatres Parramatta, Monash University
1994 Sixteen Words for Water Subiaco Theatre Centre
1997 The Governor's Family Belvoir St Theatre
2005 Julius Caesar Julius Caesar Wharf Theatre, Sydney with Sydney Theatre Company
2008 The Women of Troy Menelaus Wharf Theatre, Sydney with Sydney Theatre Company & Merlyn Theatre

[9]

As producer

[edit]
Year Title Role Venue / Company
1964 Victimes du Devoir Producer University of Melbourne

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Type
1962 Lend Me Your Stable
1973 Libido Father Burn Feature film, segment: The Priest
1974 Petersen Prof. Charles Kent Feature film
1974 Between Wars Peter Avante Feature film Oz Movies
1976 The Devil's Playground Brother Francine Feature film[10]
1976 Summer of Secrets Doctor Beverley Adams Feature film
1977 The Duellists Captain with Eyepatch Feature film
1978 The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith Man in Butcher Shop Feature film
1979 Cathy's Child Minister Feature film
1981 Grendel Grendel Grendel The Dragon / Beowulf (voice) Animated film
1981 Strange Behavior Dr. Le Sange / Nagel Feature film
1982 Duet for Four Doug Quincey Feature film
1982 We of the Never Never Aeneas Gunn Feature film
1983 The Return of Captain Invincible Lawyer Feature film
1983 The Wild Duck Gregory Feature film
1984 The Schippan Mystery Sir Josiah Symon TV film
1985 Burke & Wills Sir William Stawell Feature film
1986 Comrades Fop Feature film
1987 The Right Hand Man Dr. Redbridge Feature film
1987 Those Dear Departed (aka Ghosts Can Do It!) Producer Feature film
1988 The Everlasting Secret Family The Senator Feature film[10]
1988 The Dreaming Professor Bernard Thornton Feature film
1991 Isabelle Eberhardt Cauvet Feature film
1993 The Nostradamus Kid Pastor Anderson Feature film
1996 Dating the Enemy Dr. Kamins Feature film
1997 Paradise Road Mr. Pike Feature film
1997 Oscar and Lucinda Feature film
1998 Gods and Monsters Ernest Thesiger (uncredited) Feature film
2001 Moulin Rouge! Christian's Father Feature film
2002 Beneath Clouds Old Man in pub / Mercedes driver Feature film
2006 The Libertine Man Short film
2008 Australia Father Benedict Feature film
2010 The Tree Uncle Jack Feature film
2013 The Great Gatsby Uncredited Feature film
2017 7 from Etheria Old Kurt Gödel Anthology film (segment: "Gödel Incomplete")

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Type
1976 The New Avengers Dr Graham TV series, 1 episode
1979 Water Under the Bridge Maynard Dickens TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1981 Tickled Pink TV series
1983 The Dismissal Eric Robinson TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1984 Five Mile Creek Arthur Archer TV series
1984 Special Squad Grayson TV series, 1 episode
1984 Bodyline Mr Jardine (Douglas Jardine's father) TV miniseries
1987 The Storyteller: Greek Myths King Acrisius TV series, episode: Perseus and the Gorgon
1989 Shadow of the Cobra Gupta TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1989 Edens Lost Heath TV miniseries
1992 The Flying Doctors Royce Phelan DC TV series, 1 episode
1993 Minder Geoffrey Evans TV series, 1 episode
1994–95 Escape from Jupiter Professor Ingosol TV series, 13 episodes
1996 Pacific Drive Marcus (theatrical agent) TV series
1996 Heartbreak High Athol Pike TV series, 1 episode
2001 All Saints Father Francis Tyler TV series, 1 episode
2023 Faraway Downs Father Benedict TV miniseries, 1 episode

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Arthur Dignam at IMDb
  2. ^ Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp. 52
  3. ^ "Alumni & giving". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  4. ^ Canby, Vincent (30 October 1981). "'The Devil's Playground'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  5. ^ Original Program
  6. ^ Milne, Geoffrey (2004). Theatre Australia (un)limited: Australian Theatre Since the 1950s. Rodopi. ISBN 9789042009301.
  7. ^ "The Sydney Morning Herald – Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  8. ^ Knox, David (12 May 2020). "Vale: Arthur Dignam | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  9. ^ "AusStage". www.ausstage.edu.au. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  10. ^ a b Michael Ferguson and Michael S. Ferguson Idol Worship: A Shameless Celebration of Male Beauty in the Movies, p. 215, at Google Books
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