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{{short description|Canadian-Australian actor and singer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox actor
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2011}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tom Burlinson
| name = Tom Burlinson
| image = Tom Burlinson (2018).jpg
| image = Replace this image male.svg <!-- [[Freely licenced]] images only. NO SCREEN CAPTURES. Please do not put a fair-use image here, it will be deleted - see [[WP:NONFREE]] -->
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1956|2|14}}
| birthname =
| birth_place = [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada
| birthdate = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1956|2|14}}
| occupation = Actor
| birthplace = [[Toronto]], [[Canada]]
| yearsactive = 1977–present
| othername =
| spouse = Mandy Carnie (1996–present)
| occupation =
| children = 3
|education = [[National Institute of Dramatic Art]] ([[Bachelor of Fine Arts|BFA]])
| yearsactive =
| spouse =
| website = [http://www.tomburlinson.com.au Official website]
| domesticpartner =
| website =
}}
}}


'''Tom Burlinson''' (born 14 February 1956) is an [[Australia]]n actor and singer, and has sung in concerts on stage as [[Frank Sinatra]].
'''Tom Burlinson''' (born 14 February 1956) is a Canadian-born Australian actor and singer.


==Early life==
Burlinson was born in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]. He appeared as Jim Craig ("The Man") in both the 1982 Australian movie "''[[The Man from Snowy River (1982 film)|The Man from Snowy River]]''", and its 1988 sequel "''[[The Man from Snowy River II]]''", which has the [[United States]] title of "''Return to Snowy River''" and the [[United Kingdom|British]] title of "''The Untamed''".
{{BLP sources section|date=June 2013}}


Tom Burlinson was born in [[Toronto]], Canada, the son of Antony T. Burlinson (born 1923, in [[Greenwich]], Middlesex) and Angela Schofield (born 1926, in [[Bury St Edmunds]], Suffolk), who had migrated to Canada after World War II. The family moved to [[New Jersey]], United States, in 1958. In 1962 the family returned to Britain because of Antony's job. In 1965, the family moved again, this time to Australia. After six months his parents divorced and his mother and two younger sisters returned to Britain, leaving Burlinson with his father and his older sister, Susan.<ref name="TomBurlinson.info">{{cite web |title=www.TomBurlinson.info The Official Fan Site |last=Taylor |first=Karina |date=2013-11-03 |url=http://tomburlinson.homestead.com/ |access-date=2024-02-11}}</ref>
He also portrayed [[horse trainer]] [[Tommy Woodcock|Aaron Treve (Tommy) Woodcock]] in the [[biopic]] [[Phar Lap (film)|Phar Lap: Heart of a Nation]]. This film was the story of the [[New Zealand]] born Australian champion [[racehorse]] [[Phar Lap]] who campaigned successfully in the [[United States]] before dying under mysterious circumstances at stables in [[California]].

Burlinson's first public appearance as an actor was as Colonel Pickering in Mosman Primary School's production of ''[[My Fair Lady]]''. Moving to [[Bayview, New South Wales|Bayview]], he attended [[Pittwater High School]] on [[Sydney]]'s [[Northern Beaches]] and was the [[school captain]] in his final year.{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}}

Burlinson's father wanted him to become a lawyer, but because a friend was accepted into the [[National Institute of Dramatic Art]] (NIDA), he decided to [[audition]] and to his surprise he was accepted into the 1974 class, graduating in 1976.

==Career==

After working for the [[Queensland Theatre Company]] and [[Twelfth Night Theatre]] in [[Brisbane]] in 1977, he started appearing on Australian TV. By the beginning of 1979, he began playing Mickey Pratt in the teen-oriented Australian [[soap opera]] ''[[The Restless Years]]'', a role which lasted 16 months. In 1978, he appeared as Charlie in the [[Old Tote Theatre Company]] production of ''[[Da (play)|Da]]'' and as Jud Templeton in the play ''[[Tribute (play)|Tribute]]'' in 1979. In 1980, he played Hughie in the [[Anzac Day]] play ''[[The One Day of the Year]]''. He also featured in the TV police drama ''[[Cop Shop]]'' in 1980–81 and in ''[[Skyways (TV series)|Skyways]]''.{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}}

In 1981, Burlinson had his career break when he was given the main role in the biggest Australian film production ever, which was to be shot the next year, ''[[The Man from Snowy River (1982 film)|The Man from Snowy River]]'', as Jim Craig ("The Man"). He had only a few short weeks to learn how to ride a horse and discovered he had somewhat of a natural ability and affinity with horses. ''Snowy River'' was filmed and released in Australia in 1982, quickly becoming the highest-grossing Australian film ever at that time, bringing Burlinson to stardom.

In his next film, Burlinson portrayed [[horse trainer]] [[Tommy Woodcock]] in ''[[Phar Lap (film)|Phar Lap: Heart of a Nation]]''.<ref name="Thomas">{{cite web |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |title=Canadian-Born Actor Tom Burlinson Takes Australian Limelight in Film |last=Thomas |first=Bob |date=1984-08-03 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EXIeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=M2kEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6679,3175270&dq=tom+burlinson&hl=en |access-date=2024-02-11}}</ref> This film was another hit and confirmed Burlinson as a major star in the Australian film industry.

In 1985, Burlinson was cast by Dutch director [[Paul Verhoeven]] for a role in his first English-speaking film, the cult film ''[[Flesh and Blood (1985 film)|Flesh and Blood]]''.

In 1986, Burlinson played the main role as yuppy windsurfer in the main modern day comedy romance ''[[Windrider]]'' alongside teen actress [[Nicole Kidman]] in her first adult role. The film was a modest hit in Australia.

In 1987, Burlinson was given his first role in a science fiction movie, ''[[The Time Guardian]]'', in which he played the main role, Ballard, a visitor from another world, opposite Hollywood stars [[Dean Stockwell]] and [[Carrie Fisher]]. In 1988 he starred in the long-waited sequel to ''[[The Man from Snowy River II]]'', which has the United States' title of ''Return to Snowy River'' and the UK title of ''The Untamed''.

From then onwards, Burlinson focused on historical productions, including the highly acclaimed 1988 [[LWT]] mini-series ''[[Piece of Cake (TV series)|Piece of Cake]]'', set in England in 1939 and based on the 1983 [[Piece of Cake (novel)|novel of the same name]] by [[Derek Robinson (novelist)|Derek Robinson]] and the Canadian Western drama film ''[[The Legend of Kootenai Brown]]'' retitled ''Showdown at Williams Creek'' in the United States, set in pioneer North America.

He also does stage work, musicals and concerts as well as assisting charities.

Apart from his acting career, he is also a singer. A life-long love of the music of [[Frank Sinatra]] led Burlinson to compose an ode to the singer. He appeared on TV in 1990 on [[Ray Martin (television presenter)|Ray Martin]]'s ''[[Midday (Australian TV program)|Midday Show]]'' to nervously debut his singing voice to the Australian public with the song he had written, "The Man in the Hat".<ref name="ABC">{{cite web |title=Weekends Performer - Tom Burlinson |website=ABC Local |date=2008-04-20 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/04/20/2221650.htm |access-date=2024-02-11}}</ref>
The following year [[Tina Sinatra]] cast Burlinson as the voice of the young Sinatra in a miniseries she produced on her father's life, the [[Golden Globe Award]]-winning ''[[Sinatra (miniseries)|Sinatra]]''. With new doors now open to him, Burlinson auditioned for several musicals.

[[File:Tom Burlinson.jpg|thumb|upright|Burlinson, 1993]]

Burlinson returned to the stage in ''[[How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (musical)|How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying]]'' in 1992. He starred with some of Australia's most notable stage performers, [[Noel Ferrier]], [[June Bronhill]] and Jackie Love. In 1996 he had stage roles with the [[Sydney Theatre Company]], starring as Franklin in ''[[Merrily We Roll Along (musical)|Merrily We Roll Along]]'' and as Ricky in ''[[Miracle City]]''.

In 1998, Burlinson created ''Frank – The Sinatra Story in Song'' which opened at the [[Seymour Centre]] in Sydney before going to other major cities. Sinatra himself died just two weeks before the opening night. From 1998 to 2003 Burlinson toured Australia regularly and also took the show to corporate events. In 2001 the show's name was changed to ''Frank – A Life in Song''. In 2002 he took the show to his native Toronto, Canada.

Burlinson's versatility has also been featured in appearances on TV's ''[[Carols by Candlelight]]'' in 1999 and 2002. He had also had a role on the [[ABC (Australian TV channel)|ABC]] doctor drama ''[[G.P.]]'' and hosted a season of the [[Nine Network]] TV show ''Animal Hospital''.

Burlinson provided Sinatra's singing voice in the 2003 Australian movie ''[[The Night We Called It a Day (film)|The Night We Called It a Day]]''.<ref name="Stratton">{{cite web |last=Stratton |first=David |authorlink=David Stratton |title=The Night We Called it a Day |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=2003-08-14 |url=https://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/the-night-we-called-it-a-day-1200539980/ |access-date=2024-02-11}}</ref>

Burlinson returned to the world of theatre in April 2004 in the lead role of Leo Bloom in [[Mel Brooks]]' musical ''[[The Producers (musical)|The Producers]]''. He co-starred with [[Reg Livermore]], [[Bert Newton]] and [[Chloe Dallimore]].

For three years Burlinson was a judge on ''[[Australia's Got Talent]]'' alongside [[Red Symons]] and [[Dannii Minogue]].<ref name="Idato">{{cite web |last=Idato |first=Michael |title=Kyle Sandilands returns to television |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2010-02-04 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/kyle-sandilands-returns-to-television-20100204-gdtv8z.html |access-date=2024-02-11}}</ref>

In 2010, he played a featured role in the movie ''[[The Cup (2011 film)|The Cup]]'', directed by [[Simon Wincer]], who had directed ''Phar Lap''.

Burlinson has continued to produce and star in his own musical shows celebrating the music of Frank Sinatra and other vocal stars including ''Now We're Swinging!'' which toured around Australia. He also co-starred in the concert performances of "[[Young at Heart (Frank Sinatra song)|Young at Heart]]" (2017) and "Swing That Music" (2018) at major venues around Australia.

In 2019, Burlinson played the role of lawyer Billy Flynn in the stage musical 'Chicago' in Sydney and Brisbane.

==Filmography==

===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Type
|-
| 1981
| ''Revenge''
|
| Short film
|-
| 1982
| data-sort-value="Man from Snowy River, The" | ''[[The Man from Snowy River (1982 film)|The Man from Snowy River]]''
| Jim Craig
| Feature film
|-
| 1983
| ''[[Phar Lap (film)|Phar Lap: Heart of a Nation]]''
| Tommy Woodcock
| Feature film
|-
| 1985
| ''[[Flesh and Blood (1985 film)|Flesh and Blood]]''
| Steven
| Feature film
|-
| 1985
| ''[[20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1985 film)|20,000 Leagues Under the Sea]]''
| Ned Land (voice)
| Animated TV movie
|-
| 1986
| ''[[Windrider]]''
| Stewart 'P.C.' Simpson
| Feature film
|-
| 1986
| data-sort-value="Hunchback of Notre-Dame, The" | ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1986 film)|The Hunchback of Notre-Dame]]''
| Quasimodo (voice)
| Animated TV movie
|-
| 1986
| ''[[King Solomon's Mines (1986 film)|King Solomon's Mines]]''
| Sir Henry Curtis (voice)
| Animated TV movie
|-
| 1986
| ''[[Kidnapped (1986 film)|Kidnapped]]''
| Alan Breck (voice)
| Animated TV movie
|-
| 1987
| data-sort-value="Time Guardian, The" | ''[[The Time Guardian]]''
| Ballard
| Feature film
|-
| 1988
| data-sort-value="Man from Snowy River II, The" | ''[[The Man from Snowy River II]]''
| Jim Craig
| Feature film
|-
| 1991
| data-sort-value="Legend of Kootenai Brown, The" | ''[[The Legend of Kootenai Brown]]''
| Kootenai Brown
| Feature film
|-
| 1992
| ''Landslide''
| Howard Matterson
|
|-
| 1995
| data-sort-value="Way to Dusty Death, The" | ''[[The Way to Dusty Death (film)|The Way to Dusty Death]]''
| Ike Jethou
| TV movie
|-
| 2003
| data-sort-value="Night We Called It a Day, The" | ''[[The Night We Called It a Day (film)|The Night We Called It a Day]]''
| Frank Sinatra (singing voice)
| Feature film
|-
| 2011
| data-sort-value="Cup, The" | ''[[The Cup (2011 film)|The Cup]]''
| Dave Phillips
| Feature film
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Type
|-
| 1977
| ''[[Kirby's Company]]''
|
| TV series
|-
| 1978
| ''[[Cop Shop]]''
| Ken
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 1978–1979
| data-sort-value="Restless Years, The" | ''[[The Restless Years]]''
| Mickey Pratt
| TV series, 56 episodes
|-
| 1978
| ''[[Glenview High]]''
| Robbie's Dream Man
| TV series, episode: "After the Loving"
|-
| 1978
| ''Yes, What?''
|
|
|-
| 1979
| ''[[Skyways (TV series)|Skyways]]''
| Jim Backwell
| TV series, episode: "Deborah Loves Jim"
|-
| 1985
| ''Fragments of Terror''
| John
| Segment: "Revenge"
|-
| 1988
| ''[[Piece of Cake (TV series)|Piece of Cake]]''
| 'Fanny' Barton
| TV miniseries, 5 episodes
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Sinatra (miniseries)|Sinatra]]''
| Frank Sinatra (singing voice)
| TV miniseries, 2 episodes
|-
| 1995
| data-sort-value="Way to Dusty Death, The" | ''[[The Way to Dusty Death]]''
| Ike Jethou
| TV miniseries
|-
| 1995
| ''[[G.P.]]''
| Andy Drake
| TV series, episode: "Rhythm & Blues"
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Animal Hospital]]''
| Host
| TV series
|-
| 2007–09
| ''[[Australia's Got Talent|Australia’s Got Talent]]''
| Judge
| TV series
|}

===Games===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Type
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Oz: The Magical Adventure]]''
| [[Scarecrow (Oz)|Scarecrow]] / [[Wizard of Oz (character)|Oz]]
| PC game
|}

==Stage==

===As actor===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Type
|-
| 1975 || ''[[Three Sisters (play)|Three Sisters]]'' || Prozorov || [[National Institute of Dramatic Art|NIDA Theatre]]
|-
| 1976 || ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' || || Newcastle, [[National Institute of Dramatic Art|NIDA Theatre]]
|-
| 1977 || ''For Years I Couldn't Wear My Black'' || Reginald || [[SGIO Theatre]]
|-
| 1977 || ''[[The Adventures of Tom Sawyer|Tom Sawyer]]'' || Tom Sawyer || [[Twelfth Night Theatre]]
|-
| 1977 || ''[[Dangerous Corner]]'' || Gordon Whitehouse || [[Twelfth Night Theatre]]
|-
| 1977 || ''[[The Merchant of Venice]]'' || Solanio || [[SGIO Theatre]]
|-
| 1978 || ''[[Da (play)|Da]]'' || Charlie (then) || [[University of New South Wales|UNSW]] [[National Institute of Dramatic Art|Parade Theatre]] with [[Old Tote Theatre Company]]
|-
| 1979 || ''[[Tribute (play)|Tribute]]'' || Jud Templeton || [[Theatre Royal, Sydney]], [[Newcastle Civic Theatre]], [[Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane]]
|-
| 1980 || ''[[The Duck Variations|Duck Variations]]'' || Ermil Varec || [[Stables Theatre, Sydney|Stables Theatre]]
|-
| 1980 || ''[[The One Day of the Year]]'' || Hughie Cook || Playhouse, Adelaide
|-
| 1980 || ''Winter in America'' || || [[Stables Theatre, Sydney|Stables Theatre]]
|-
| 1993 || ''[[How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (musical)|How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying]]'' || J. Pierrepont Finch|| [[University of Sydney]], [[Sydney Lyric|Lyric Theatre Sydney]], [[His Majesty's Theatre, Perth]]
|-
| 1994 || ''The Bard on Broadway'' || || The Regent Hotel, Kingsford
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Miracle City]]'' || Pastor Ricky Truswell || [[Wharf Theatre]] with [[Sydney Theatre Company|STC]]
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Merrily We Roll Along (play)|Merrily We Roll Along]]'' || Franklin || [[University of Sydney]] with [[Sydney Theatre Company|STC]]
|-
| 1998 || ''Frank: The Sinatra Story in Song'' || Singer / Narrator || [[Seymour Centre]], [[Comedy Theatre, Melbourne]], [[Adelaide Festival Centre|Festival Theatre, Adelaide]], [[Capitol Theatre, Sydney]], [[Queensland Performing Arts Centre|Lyric Theatre, Brisbane]], [[The Star, Sydney|Star City Sydney]]
|-
| 1999, 2002 || ''[[Carols by Candlelight]]'' || Singer || [[Sidney Myer Music Bowl]]
|-
| 2003 || ''The Spirit of Christmas'' || Singer || [[Queensland Performing Arts Centre|Concert Hall, Brisbane]]
|-
| 2004-05 || ''[[The Producers (musical)|The Producers]]'' || Leopold Bloom || [[Princess Theatre (Melbourne)|Princess Theatre, Melbourne]], [[Queensland Performing Arts Centre|Lyric Theatre, Brisbane]], [[Sydney Lyric|Lyric Theatre, Sydney]]
|-
| 2008 || ''Frank - A Life in Song'' || Singer / Narrator || [[Sydney Opera House]]
|-
| 2011 || ''Swing Time'' || Singer || Palm Beach Golf Club
|-
| 2013 || ''Now We're Swingin''' || Singer || [[Adelaide Festival Centre|Dunstan Playhouse]]
|-
| 2013 || ''Frank - A Life in Song'' || Singer / Narrator || Lismore City Hall
|-
| 2016 || ''Sinatra at the Sands'' || Singer || [[Adelaide Festival Centre|Festival Theatre, Adelaide]]
|-
| 2016 || ''The Last Galah'' || Singer || [[Adelaide Festival Centre|Festival Theatre, Adelaide]]
|-
| 2017 || ''Young at Heart'' || Singer || [[Sydney Opera House]]
|-
| 2019 || ''[[Chicago (play)|Chicago]]'' || [[Billy Flynn (Chicago)|Billy Flynn]] || [[Capitol Theatre, Sydney|Capitol Theatre Sydney]], [[Queensland Performing Arts Centre|Lyric Theatre, Brisbane]]
|-
| 2019 || ''Great American Songbook'' || Singer || [[The Star Gold Coast]]
|-
| 2020 || ''Swingin' the Great Standards'' || Singer || [[Adelaide Festival Centre|Dunstan Playhouse]]
|}

===As crew ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Type
|-
| 1998 || ''Frank: The Sinatra Story in Song'' || Devisor / producer || [[Seymour Centre]], [[Comedy Theatre, Melbourne]], [[Adelaide Festival Centre|Festival Theatre, Adelaide]], [[Capitol Theatre, Sydney]], [[Queensland Performing Arts Centre|Lyric Theatre, Brisbane]], [[The Star, Sydney|Star City Sydney]]<ref name="AusStage">{{cite web |title=AusStage: Tom Burlinson |website=AusStage |date=2020-04-16 |url=https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/6403 |access-date=2024-02-11}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{imdb name|0001979}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.tomburlinson.com.au Tom Burlinson Official Website]
* {{Official|http://www.tomburlinson.com.au}}
* {{IMDb name|0001979}}
*[http://www.tomburlinson.homestead.com Tom Burlinson Official Fan Site]

*[http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=Number%3A357135;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=10 Tom Burlinson at the National Film and Sound Archive]
{{Authority control|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burlinson, Tom}}
[[Category:1956 births]]


[[Category:Australian male film actors]]
{{BD|1956||Burlinson, Tom}}
[[Category:Australian film actors]]
[[Category:Australian male singers]]
[[Category:Australian male singers]]
[[Category:Australian stage actors]]
[[Category:Australian male television actors]]
[[Category:Australian television actors]]
[[Category:Canadian emigrants]]
[[Category:People from Toronto]]
[[Category:Immigrants to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Immigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Immigrants to Australia]]


[[Category:Australian male stage actors]]
{{australia-singer-stub}}
[[Category:Australia's Got Talent]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:National Institute of Dramatic Art alumni]]
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of Australia]]
[[Category:Male actors from Toronto]]
[[Category:Musicians from Toronto]]

Latest revision as of 09:11, 16 July 2024

Tom Burlinson
Born (1956-02-14) 14 February 1956 (age 68)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
EducationNational Institute of Dramatic Art (BFA)
OccupationActor
Years active1977–present
SpouseMandy Carnie (1996–present)
Children3
WebsiteOfficial website

Tom Burlinson (born 14 February 1956) is a Canadian-born Australian actor and singer.

Early life

[edit]

Tom Burlinson was born in Toronto, Canada, the son of Antony T. Burlinson (born 1923, in Greenwich, Middlesex) and Angela Schofield (born 1926, in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk), who had migrated to Canada after World War II. The family moved to New Jersey, United States, in 1958. In 1962 the family returned to Britain because of Antony's job. In 1965, the family moved again, this time to Australia. After six months his parents divorced and his mother and two younger sisters returned to Britain, leaving Burlinson with his father and his older sister, Susan.[1]

Burlinson's first public appearance as an actor was as Colonel Pickering in Mosman Primary School's production of My Fair Lady. Moving to Bayview, he attended Pittwater High School on Sydney's Northern Beaches and was the school captain in his final year.[citation needed]

Burlinson's father wanted him to become a lawyer, but because a friend was accepted into the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), he decided to audition and to his surprise he was accepted into the 1974 class, graduating in 1976.

Career

[edit]

After working for the Queensland Theatre Company and Twelfth Night Theatre in Brisbane in 1977, he started appearing on Australian TV. By the beginning of 1979, he began playing Mickey Pratt in the teen-oriented Australian soap opera The Restless Years, a role which lasted 16 months. In 1978, he appeared as Charlie in the Old Tote Theatre Company production of Da and as Jud Templeton in the play Tribute in 1979. In 1980, he played Hughie in the Anzac Day play The One Day of the Year. He also featured in the TV police drama Cop Shop in 1980–81 and in Skyways.[citation needed]

In 1981, Burlinson had his career break when he was given the main role in the biggest Australian film production ever, which was to be shot the next year, The Man from Snowy River, as Jim Craig ("The Man"). He had only a few short weeks to learn how to ride a horse and discovered he had somewhat of a natural ability and affinity with horses. Snowy River was filmed and released in Australia in 1982, quickly becoming the highest-grossing Australian film ever at that time, bringing Burlinson to stardom.

In his next film, Burlinson portrayed horse trainer Tommy Woodcock in Phar Lap: Heart of a Nation.[2] This film was another hit and confirmed Burlinson as a major star in the Australian film industry.

In 1985, Burlinson was cast by Dutch director Paul Verhoeven for a role in his first English-speaking film, the cult film Flesh and Blood.

In 1986, Burlinson played the main role as yuppy windsurfer in the main modern day comedy romance Windrider alongside teen actress Nicole Kidman in her first adult role. The film was a modest hit in Australia.

In 1987, Burlinson was given his first role in a science fiction movie, The Time Guardian, in which he played the main role, Ballard, a visitor from another world, opposite Hollywood stars Dean Stockwell and Carrie Fisher. In 1988 he starred in the long-waited sequel to The Man from Snowy River II, which has the United States' title of Return to Snowy River and the UK title of The Untamed.

From then onwards, Burlinson focused on historical productions, including the highly acclaimed 1988 LWT mini-series Piece of Cake, set in England in 1939 and based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Derek Robinson and the Canadian Western drama film The Legend of Kootenai Brown retitled Showdown at Williams Creek in the United States, set in pioneer North America.

He also does stage work, musicals and concerts as well as assisting charities.

Apart from his acting career, he is also a singer. A life-long love of the music of Frank Sinatra led Burlinson to compose an ode to the singer. He appeared on TV in 1990 on Ray Martin's Midday Show to nervously debut his singing voice to the Australian public with the song he had written, "The Man in the Hat".[3]

The following year Tina Sinatra cast Burlinson as the voice of the young Sinatra in a miniseries she produced on her father's life, the Golden Globe Award-winning Sinatra. With new doors now open to him, Burlinson auditioned for several musicals.

Burlinson, 1993

Burlinson returned to the stage in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in 1992. He starred with some of Australia's most notable stage performers, Noel Ferrier, June Bronhill and Jackie Love. In 1996 he had stage roles with the Sydney Theatre Company, starring as Franklin in Merrily We Roll Along and as Ricky in Miracle City.

In 1998, Burlinson created Frank – The Sinatra Story in Song which opened at the Seymour Centre in Sydney before going to other major cities. Sinatra himself died just two weeks before the opening night. From 1998 to 2003 Burlinson toured Australia regularly and also took the show to corporate events. In 2001 the show's name was changed to Frank – A Life in Song. In 2002 he took the show to his native Toronto, Canada.

Burlinson's versatility has also been featured in appearances on TV's Carols by Candlelight in 1999 and 2002. He had also had a role on the ABC doctor drama G.P. and hosted a season of the Nine Network TV show Animal Hospital.

Burlinson provided Sinatra's singing voice in the 2003 Australian movie The Night We Called It a Day.[4]

Burlinson returned to the world of theatre in April 2004 in the lead role of Leo Bloom in Mel Brooks' musical The Producers. He co-starred with Reg Livermore, Bert Newton and Chloe Dallimore.

For three years Burlinson was a judge on Australia's Got Talent alongside Red Symons and Dannii Minogue.[5]

In 2010, he played a featured role in the movie The Cup, directed by Simon Wincer, who had directed Phar Lap.

Burlinson has continued to produce and star in his own musical shows celebrating the music of Frank Sinatra and other vocal stars including Now We're Swinging! which toured around Australia. He also co-starred in the concert performances of "Young at Heart" (2017) and "Swing That Music" (2018) at major venues around Australia.

In 2019, Burlinson played the role of lawyer Billy Flynn in the stage musical 'Chicago' in Sydney and Brisbane.

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Type
1981 Revenge Short film
1982 The Man from Snowy River Jim Craig Feature film
1983 Phar Lap: Heart of a Nation Tommy Woodcock Feature film
1985 Flesh and Blood Steven Feature film
1985 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Ned Land (voice) Animated TV movie
1986 Windrider Stewart 'P.C.' Simpson Feature film
1986 The Hunchback of Notre-Dame Quasimodo (voice) Animated TV movie
1986 King Solomon's Mines Sir Henry Curtis (voice) Animated TV movie
1986 Kidnapped Alan Breck (voice) Animated TV movie
1987 The Time Guardian Ballard Feature film
1988 The Man from Snowy River II Jim Craig Feature film
1991 The Legend of Kootenai Brown Kootenai Brown Feature film
1992 Landslide Howard Matterson
1995 The Way to Dusty Death Ike Jethou TV movie
2003 The Night We Called It a Day Frank Sinatra (singing voice) Feature film
2011 The Cup Dave Phillips Feature film

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Type
1977 Kirby's Company TV series
1978 Cop Shop Ken TV series, 1 episode
1978–1979 The Restless Years Mickey Pratt TV series, 56 episodes
1978 Glenview High Robbie's Dream Man TV series, episode: "After the Loving"
1978 Yes, What?
1979 Skyways Jim Backwell TV series, episode: "Deborah Loves Jim"
1985 Fragments of Terror John Segment: "Revenge"
1988 Piece of Cake 'Fanny' Barton TV miniseries, 5 episodes
1992 Sinatra Frank Sinatra (singing voice) TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1995 The Way to Dusty Death Ike Jethou TV miniseries
1995 G.P. Andy Drake TV series, episode: "Rhythm & Blues"
1997 Animal Hospital Host TV series
2007–09 Australia’s Got Talent Judge TV series

Games

[edit]
Year Title Role Type
2000 Oz: The Magical Adventure Scarecrow / Oz PC game

Stage

[edit]

As actor

[edit]
Year Title Role Type
1975 Three Sisters Prozorov NIDA Theatre
1976 A Midsummer Night's Dream Newcastle, NIDA Theatre
1977 For Years I Couldn't Wear My Black Reginald SGIO Theatre
1977 Tom Sawyer Tom Sawyer Twelfth Night Theatre
1977 Dangerous Corner Gordon Whitehouse Twelfth Night Theatre
1977 The Merchant of Venice Solanio SGIO Theatre
1978 Da Charlie (then) UNSW Parade Theatre with Old Tote Theatre Company
1979 Tribute Jud Templeton Theatre Royal, Sydney, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane
1980 Duck Variations Ermil Varec Stables Theatre
1980 The One Day of the Year Hughie Cook Playhouse, Adelaide
1980 Winter in America Stables Theatre
1993 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying J. Pierrepont Finch University of Sydney, Lyric Theatre Sydney, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth
1994 The Bard on Broadway The Regent Hotel, Kingsford
1996 Miracle City Pastor Ricky Truswell Wharf Theatre with STC
1996 Merrily We Roll Along Franklin University of Sydney with STC
1998 Frank: The Sinatra Story in Song Singer / Narrator Seymour Centre, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Festival Theatre, Adelaide, Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Star City Sydney
1999, 2002 Carols by Candlelight Singer Sidney Myer Music Bowl
2003 The Spirit of Christmas Singer Concert Hall, Brisbane
2004-05 The Producers Leopold Bloom Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Lyric Theatre, Sydney
2008 Frank - A Life in Song Singer / Narrator Sydney Opera House
2011 Swing Time Singer Palm Beach Golf Club
2013 Now We're Swingin' Singer Dunstan Playhouse
2013 Frank - A Life in Song Singer / Narrator Lismore City Hall
2016 Sinatra at the Sands Singer Festival Theatre, Adelaide
2016 The Last Galah Singer Festival Theatre, Adelaide
2017 Young at Heart Singer Sydney Opera House
2019 Chicago Billy Flynn Capitol Theatre Sydney, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane
2019 Great American Songbook Singer The Star Gold Coast
2020 Swingin' the Great Standards Singer Dunstan Playhouse

As crew

[edit]
Year Title Role Type
1998 Frank: The Sinatra Story in Song Devisor / producer Seymour Centre, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Festival Theatre, Adelaide, Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Star City Sydney[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Taylor, Karina (3 November 2013). "www.TomBurlinson.info The Official Fan Site". Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  2. ^ Thomas, Bob (3 August 1984). "Canadian-Born Actor Tom Burlinson Takes Australian Limelight in Film". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Weekends Performer - Tom Burlinson". ABC Local. 20 April 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  4. ^ Stratton, David (14 August 2003). "The Night We Called it a Day". Variety. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  5. ^ Idato, Michael (4 February 2010). "Kyle Sandilands returns to television". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  6. ^ "AusStage: Tom Burlinson". AusStage. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
[edit]
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