George Spartels

Early life Spartels was born in Carlton, Melbourne

He undertook his education in Melbourne and was a talented swimmer and football player, but without the height required to play professionally, he turned to acting. While studying at Teacher's College, he honed his acting skills, appearing in amateur theatre productions. He released several albums for children, as 'George from Playschool' which included songs such as "Surfing with the Seagulls" (1993) and "Return of the Spangled Drongo" (1999).

Depiction in art Spartels' photoportrait, by Ivan Gaal, is in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery.

Personal life Spartels was married to first wife, Sue. He then married actress Elizabeth Alexander in 1984, with whom he shares two daughters. Both of his daughters featured in the music video for his single "Busy Baby Bubby". Spartels and Alexander divorced in 2006. Spartels married for a third time in April 2013 to wife Mary, and they resided together in Sydney. They were divorced in 2017, after which time he returned to Melbourne.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Type 1977 Out of It Tony Short film 1978 Blue Fin Con Feature film 1985 Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome Blackfinger Feature film 1988 Computer Ghosts Pi Wratich TV movie 1989 Action Replay TV movie 1992 Seeing Red Mark Feature film 1999 Kick Jack Grant Feature film 2023 The Adventures of Wolfdogg and Redridinghood Narrator Short film

Television Year Title Role Type 1971-75 Matlock Police Danny Porter, Willie Bennett, Walters, Frank Clark, Bob TV series, 5 episodes 1972-75 Division 4 Harry, Terry Hughes, Gino Napoli, Youth1 TV series, 4 episodes 1971-76 Homicide John Smith, Russell Knight, Simon Littlewood, Nick Pappas, Peter Fletcher, Anton Palades, Mechanic TV series, 7 episodes 1974 This Love Affair TV series, 1 episode 1976 Solo One Harry Thomas TV series, 1 episode Bellbird TV series 1976 The Bluestone Boys TV series 1976-77 Bluey Steve Berry, Wilson TV series, 2 episodes 1977 Bobby Dazzler George TV series, 3 episodes 1977 Hotel Story TV series 1978 Father, Dear Father in Australia George TV series, 1 episode 1978-89 Cop Shop Claudio Gustino, Chris Murray, Fergus TV series, 3 episodes 1979 Chopper Squad Man in hang glider TV series, 1 episode 1979-80 Prisoner Herbie TV series, 5 episodes 1981 Punishment David 'Robbo' Roberts TV series 1984 Sweet and Sour Nick Poulopolous TV series, 18 episodes 1985-99 Play School Presenter TV series 1986 The Great Bookie Robbery Jaffa Davis TV miniseries, 3 episodes 1990 Rafferty's Rules Stefan Bosnjack TV series, 1 episode 1991 All Together Now Georgie Leonard TV series, 1 episode 1992-93 Neighbours Benito Alessi TV series, 47 episodes 1997 Fallen Angels Dan Playhard TV series, 1 episode 2002-06 All Saints The Professor, Craig Watts, Peter Talbot TV series, 3 episodes 2009 City Homicide Frank Scarsdale TV series, 1 episode 2009-12 Packed to the Rafters Theo Karandonis, Carbo's father TV series, 4 episodes

Theatre Year Title Role Type Ref. 1971 Godspell Alternative Playbox Theatre, Melbourne 1973 The Two Gentlemen of Verona Speed J. C. Williamson's 1979 P.S. Your Cat Is Dead Vito (Lead) Festival Centre Trust 1983 Variations: Chamber Music for Nine Players and Six Instruments Steve Nimrod Theatre Company, Sydney Vocations Ross State Theatre of South Australia 1988 Capricornia Peter Differ / Charles Kit Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney & tour 1998 Romeo and Juliet Mercutio South Australian Theatre Company 2008 Scorched Various Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney with Company B 2014 The Last Confession Cardinal Lorscheider / Eugênio Sales Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, Toronto & Australia tour with Tinderbox 2022 Bad Machine Theo Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre

Awards and nominations Year Nominated work Award Category Result 1993ARIA Music Awards George from Play School Best Children's Album 1998 Let's Go Out 2001 George Meets The Orchestra