Ben Gannon

Bernard Norman Gannon (23 September 1952 – 4 January 2007), known as Ben Gannon, was an Australian film, television and stage producer.

Early life and education Born Bernard Norman Gannon in Maffra in Victoria's Gippsland, his father was a land surveyor and farmer. After forming his own production company, View Films, he produced two mini-series Shout! The Story of Johnny O'Keefe (starring Terry Serio) and Shadow of the Cobra (starring Rachel Ward and Art Malik).

Believing that there was a stage musical in the life and compositions of the Australian songwriter/performer Peter Allen after being alerted to him by Stephen MacLean, he commissioned a book to be written by Nick Enright, based on MacLean's earlier biography. Enright's version was published as Peter Allen: The Boy From Oz. He first produced a documentary of the same name for ABC Television, which aired in 1995.

In 1998 Gannon co-produced with London producer Robert Fox, Australia's highest-grossing theatre production The Boy from Oz, based on Enright's book and directed by Gale Edwards – which was successfully presented on Broadway, receiving a 2004 Tony Award nomination for Best Musical, and winning the Tony for Best Male Performer in a Musical for its star, Hugh Jackman. He had been treated for cancer in 2003.

Television Year Title Credit Type 1989 Shadow of the Cobra Producer TV miniseries, 2 episodes 1986 Shout! The Story of Johnny O'Keefe Producer TV miniseries, 2 episodes 1994–96 Heartbreak High Creator / Executive producer / producer TV series, 178 episodes 1994–96 Heartbreak High Writer TV series, 15 episodes 1995 Peter Allen: The Boy from Oz Co-producer TV documentary film 1996 The South Bank Show Producer TV series, 1 episode 1997–99 Wildside Creator / Executive producer TV series, 40 episodes 2001 Head Start Executive producer / producer TV miniseries

Theatre Year Title Role Venue / Co. Jesus Christ Superstar Stage manager Harry M. Miller Attractions Hair Company manager West End, London 1998 The Boy from Oz Co-producer Australian tour & Broadway