Dennis Miller

Dennis Miller (1937 – 2 October 2022) was an Australian stage, television and film actor, best known for his roles in TV movies and series.

Early life Miller was born in Hobart, Tasmania in 1937. His family had no background in show business and had a church background on both sides. His great-grandfather built the first church in Bordertown, South Australia in the 1800s. After the production proved popular, it was filmed for television and was broadcast on 5 October 1963, the night of the VFL Grand Final. He later appeared in a 1974 miniseries adaptation of the play, this time playing the role of Moola Barnes.

Another early role was as Hughie in the televised play The One Day of the Year (1962).

Miller also had notable roles in serials such as The Flying Doctors, Stingers and A Country Practice. In 1990, he had a starring role in children's series Elly & Jools as Fergus Finian 'Feral' O'Farrell. Additionally, he appeared in several miniseries including Scales of Justice (1983) with Bill Hunter, The Cowra Breakout (1984), Colour in the Creek (1985), The Dirtwater Dynasty (1988), and Kangaroo Palace (1997).

Miller appeared in numerous films, both theatrically-released and made-for-TV, including The Last of the Knucklemen (1979) alongside Steve Bisley and Michael Caton and The Everlasting Secret Family (1988) with Mark Lee. Other film credits included Stir (1980) opposite Bryan Brown, Hoodwink (1981) with Judy Davis and Geoffrey Rush, Starstruck (1982), Heatwave (1982), Buddies (1983) with Colin Friels, and Emerald City (1988) opposite Nicole Kidman in an early role.

He also had a role in 1988 biopic A Cry in the Dark (aka Evil Angels), opposite Meryl Streep and Sam Neill, which depicted the real life story of the disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain and the legal trial that followed.

Personal life and death Miller was married to actress Elspeth Ballantyne from 1968 to 1977. Both had leading roles in the long-running series Bellbird. They have two sons together – Matthew and Tobias.

Miller retired from the industry in 2000. He died from undisclosed causes on 2 October 2022.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre Year Title Role Type Ref.1958 Cupid Rampant National Theatre, Launceston with Old Nick Company Tartuffe Playhouse, Hobart with Hobart Repertory Theatre Society Visit to a Small Planet Conrad Mayberry A Taste of Honey Assistant Stage Manager 1961 The Mystery of a Hansom Cab Calton / Assistant Stage Manager University of Melbourne, Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with Union Theatre Rep Co The Lady's Not for Burning Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with Union Theatre Rep Co The Season at Sarsaparilla Ron Suddards 1963 Richard II 1963–1964 And the Big Men Fly Achilles Jones Russell St Theatre, Melbourne, Arts Theatre, Adelaide, VIC country tour with Union Theatre Rep Co Hamlet Fransisco, Player, Fortinbras Love Rides the Rails or Will the Mail Train Run Tonight? Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with Union Theatre Rep Co 1968 The Fire on the Snow Evans UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney Wait Until Dark Mike St Martins Theatre, Melbourne 1969 This Story of Yours Johnson 1970 Only an Orphan Girl or A Soul Redeemed 1972 A Midsummer Night's Dream Scotch College, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company Brumby Innes Brumby Innes Pram Factory, Melbourne with APG 1974 Annie Storey St Martins Theatre, Melbourne with MTC 1976 A Man for All Seasons Playhouse Perth with National Theatre A Handful of Friends Mark The Last of the Knucklemen Horse Habeas Corpus Mr Shanks Arsenic and Old Lace Mortimer Brewster 1976–1977 Ashes Colin Harding Greenroom Theatre, Perth with National Theatre 1977 The Miser Master Jacques Playhouse Perth with National Theatre The Department Hans Otherwise Engaged Simon Hench Treats Dave Yesterday's News Terry Greenroom Theatre, Perth 1983 Gossip from the Forest Marshall Foch Sydney Opera House with STC