Joe Hasham

Joseph Christopher Hasham (born 4 September 1948, Tripoli, Lebanon) is a Lebanese-born Malaysian based artistic director, actor, director and writer, he is a former radio and TV actor who was previously based in Australia and in the 1970s became notable through his role of dependable and decent gay lawyer Don Finlayson in television soap opera Number 96.

He subsequently emigrated to Malaysia in 1984, where he has worked on stage, video post-production and as a theatre entrepreneur, writer and director and commercial producer alongside his wife Faridah Merican.

Career

Hasham was born on 4 September 1948, in Tripoli, north Lebanon, after arriving in Australia he graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1968

Hasham made several appearances in television series produced by Crawford Productions.

When Number 96 began in 1972, it was an instant hit. Original cast member Hasham became one of the most popular cast members, regarded as a sex symbol by many fans. He reprised the role in the feature film version of the serial, in which his character engaged in a gay kiss with the closeted Simon Carr (John Orcsik), although the shot was later cut from the film. Hasham continued to play the role until Number 96 ended in 1977.

Later in the show's run, a spin-off series focusing on Hasham's character switching to a career as a private investigator also failed to pan-out.

After the series ended, Hasham continued his acting career with roles where he was part of a television series ensemble. His most widely seen post-Number 96 acting performance in Australia was likely an ongoing role as villain, Ken Hansen, in soap opera The Young Doctors in 1979.

Through the early 1980s he presented a series of television advertisements for a television rental company called 'Electronic Sales and Rentals'.

During the run of the Number 96 Hasham released a pop-music album, although he was not able to successfully launch a career as a singer.

Emigration and career in Malaysia

Hasham emigrated to Malaysia in 1984.

Initially, he joined with kindred spirits to form a commercial production company, which grew rapidly… finishing their material in Australia became a burden, and it soon became obvious there was a market for a local ‘post’ production facility.

Launched as GHA Images Sdn Bhd (Goudie, Hasham & Aman) in partnership with Antah Holdings, late in 1987. Subsequently it was rebranded, and still operates today as APV (Asia-Pacific Videolab). Over the following decades of growth, APV has developed a reputation as one of the leading video post facilities in the region.

From that ‘foot in the door’ - into the Malaysian television and creative world, together with his actor wife Faridah Merican, he looked back to his roots and set up The Actors Studio actor training and theatre company in 1989. He is currently the Artistic Director of the company.

He and Merican are also responsible for the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) along with Living Arts Malaysia which aims to introduce theatre to young Malaysians. Hasham's production company JHA Productions is responsible for many of the commercials screened on Malaysian television.

Order of Australia

In 2009, Hasham was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) "for service to performing arts through The Actors Studio, Malaysia, and as an actor, writer, producer and director".

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Type 1971 3 to Go John Anthology film, segment: Toula 1974 Number 96 Don Finlayson Film adaptation

Television Year Title Role Type 1971 The Thursday Creek Mob Private Squizzy Taylor TV series 1971 Homicide Scott Martin TV series, 1 episode 1971 Matlock Police Johnny Marcellis / Nick Katsavakis TV series, 2 episodes 1971–1972 Division 4 Will Robinson / Barry Ward / Mud / Dave Brown / Lew Fletcher TV series, 5 episodes 1972–1977 Number 96 Don Finlayson TV series, 331 episodes 1974 This Afternoon Seif TV series 1975 Hasham Self TV special 1975 Australian Pops Orchestra Host TV special 1975 King of Pop Host TV special 1977 The Guinness Olympics Host TV special 1977–1978 Blankety Blanks Panellist TV series 1978 Good Morning Sydney Host TV series 1978 Micro Macro Self TV series 1978 Racing New Faces Self TV special 1978–1979 The Young Doctors Ken Hansen TV series, 8 episodes 1979 The Oracle TV miniseries, 1 episode 1980 Celebrity Tattle Tales Self TV series 1980 John Laws' World Self TV series 1980 Cabaret Host TV series 1980–1983 The Mike Walsh Show Self TV series, 3 episodes 1981 Cop Shop Sharkey TV series, 1 episode 1982 Spring & Fall Boss TV series, 1 episode 2012 The Ancient Seamasters: The Journey of the Malayo-Polynesian Ancient Seafarers Narrator Documentary video

Discography Studio albums + List of albums, with Australian chart positions Title Album details Peak chartpositions AUS New World Released: May 1975 Format: LP Label: Festival Records (L-35532) 27

Singles + List of singles, with Australian chart positions Year Title Peak chartpositions Album AUS 1975 "New World in the Morning" 78 New World