John Derum

John Bernard Derum (born 9 January 1946) is an Australian stage, film and television actor. He is also an artistic administrator and directed and produced for theatre companies throughout Australia and for television. Derum has also been a politician for local council.

Early life John Bernard Derum was born in St Vincent's Maternity Hospital on 9 January 1946. He is the son of Scottish immigrants.

From the age of 10, Derum studied and performed in choral music and musical theatre, with the Australian Boys Choir. He also performed and competed in Irish and folk dancing. Derum appeared in a number of comedy and revue series including The Thursday Creek Mob (1971), The True Blue Show (1975), Doctor Down Under (1979) as Doctor Maurice Griffin, and Ratbags (1981). He appeared in the final edition of The Mavis Bramston Show in 1975.

He played B. A. Santamaria in the ABC miniseries True Believers (1988) and Francis James in The Gadfly (1994) and appeared in G.P. and Mother and Son.

For ABC Television, he hosted more than 200 editions of the national quiz The Oz Game and more than 50 episodes of the Australian music and folklore program That's Australia.

Derum lent his voice to the ABC children's animated television series The Adventures of Sam, the animated film Dot and the Kangaroo (1977) and a tv movie version of Wind in the Willows (1988). He also narrated the audio book Sanctuary by Judy Nunn.

His film appearances include Mad Dog Morgan, The Trespassers (1976; as Richard), Kazzam International, and The Night the Prowler (1978; as John).

John Derum has become widely identified with his interpretation of the work of Australian writers, particularly C. J. Dennis. He performed More than a Sentimental Bloke, his tribute to Dennis, more than 500 times around Australia between 1979 and 1994. He has also recorded and performed The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke and the Dennis masterpiece The Glugs of Gosh.

He was twice held offices for Actors Equity and founded an actors support group called "Actor's Forum".

Theatre and radio Derum first appeared in theatre the same year he made his TV debut in 1963, after being cast in a production of the George Whaley play Billy Liar at Wal Cherry's Emerald Hill Theatre. Within six months, he was working alongside Googie Withers and Keith Mitchell in a nationwide Shakespeare tour called The First Four Hundred Years. The young actor continued to work and mature and play roles in such productions as The Seagull (Adelaide Festival, 1970), Peer Gynt (Sydney Opera House) and several roles in The Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (Sydney Theatre Company, 1983–1985), and The Crucible (Sydney Theatre Company) and numerous other revues, musicals and variety performance.

Derum was artistic director of the Canberra Theatre Company in 1985 and 1986.

He was awarded a Literary Fellowship by the Australian Defence Force Academy, which enabled an expanded script of More than a Sentimental Bloke.

Derum served as Manager of the Independent Theatre, from 1996 and 1999, overseeing the restoration and re-opening of the historical theatre.

After his return from the Blue Mountains to Sydney in 2007, he resumed his career as an actor and director. He has directed many rehearsed readings of new scripts, including Waiting for Goterson by Sam Atwell. He played Oscar Wilde in Lady Windermere's Fan and Aiden Turner and David Marsh in David Hare's The Power of Yes in 2010.

Politics Derum was elected to Blue Mountains City Council from 1995 to 1999 and worked as a political adviser between 2001 and 2007. He was appointed to the Theatre Committee of the NSW Government Arts Advisory Board, and worked on the staff of the NSW Minister for the Environment and Attorney-General and as electorate advisor for three members of parliament.

Honours and awards Derum was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on 26 January 2019, "for significant service to the performing arts as an actor, director and administrator, and to the community".

Personal life Derum is married to Jane Gilling and together they have two children, Clancy and Oliver.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes1975 Sidecar Racers Pete McAllister The Great Macarthy Flatulent Man 1976 Mad Dog Morgan Evans The Trespassers Richard Kazzam International 1977 Listen to the Lion Short film Dot and the Kangaroo Voice Animated film 1978 The Night the Prowler John Galbraith 1999 Powderburn Jess Snr 2009 Mack and the Boys Doc Short film The Fire Marcus Brown Short film 2010 Perspective Art Teacher Short film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1964 The First 400 Years Miniseries 1964–1972 Homicide Ken Webster / Jason Todd / Hooligan / Ray Healy 4 episodes 1965 The Magic Boomerang The Stand-In 1 episode 1966 Antigone Haemon TV play Australian Playhouse Son Episode: "Objector" 1968 Hunter Chris Frazer 1 episode 1969 The Greater Illustrated History of the Glorious Antipodes Show 1970 Delta Staines 1 episode Mrs. Finnegan Sanderson 1 episode 1970; 1972 Division 4 Eddy Marshall / Malcolm Tanner 2 episodes 1971 The Thursday Creek Mob Corporal Ginger Wiseman The Comedy Game Narrator Neville 1 episode 1972 The Aunty Jack Show Narrator Neville / Various Season 1, 8 episodes 1973 Our Man in the Company Peter Goonasekeria 1 episode The Evil Touch Charlie 1 episode The True Blue Show Host 1974 The Spiral Bureau (aka Eye of the Spiral) TV movie1975 Last Rites TV movie Matlock Police Malcom Newson 1 episode King's Men Wills 1 episode The Mavis Bramston Show 1977 The Off Show Various characters Young Ramsay Robert Sutherland 1 episode 1978 Father, Dear Father in Australia Andrew Stone 1 episode 1979 Doctor Down Under Dr. Maurice Griffin 3 episodes 1981 Sporting Chance 1 episode Ratbags Various characters 13 episodes 1988 Australians Len Mauger Miniseries, 1 episode Mother and Son Estate Agent 1 episode True Believers B. A. Santamaria Miniseries, 8 episodes Wind in the Willows Toad / Judge / Rabbit Animated TV movie 1988–1989 The Oz Game Host 200+ episodes 1990 Winners Mrs Finkel's Niece's Husband 1 episode The Gadfly Francis James That's Australia Host 50+ episodes1991 The Last Crop Carter TV movie G.P. Sam Howard 1 episode The Last Crop Carter TV movie 1992 The Time Game Wylie TV movie 1997 The Adventures of Sam Moon Daughter (voice) Animated series, 1 episode 1998 Water Rats Tony Thomas 1 episode 2002 All Saints John Wheeler 2 episodes 2002 Young Lions Magistrate 1 episode 2003 Snobs Mr Alexander 11 episodes 2011 Underbelly Clarry McMahon 1 episode 2021 Total Control Father Harry 1 episode

Theatre

As actor Year Title Role Notes 1963 Billy Liar Emerald Hill Theatre, Melbourne1964 Antigone The First Four Hundred Years Australian tour with J. C. Williamson's Death of a Salesman Biff Emerald Hill Theatre, Melbourne A Slice of Birthday Cake Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with Union Theatre Repertory Company Serjeant Musgrave's Dance Emerald Hill Theatre, Melbourne1965 Macbeth Malcolm You'll Come to Love Your Sperm Test Australian tour Oedipus Rex Emerald Hill Theatre, Melbourne The Bedsitting Room Emerald Hill Theatre, Melbourne, Playhouse, Canberra1966 A Bunch of Ratbags Emerald Hill Theatre, Melbourne Private Yuk Objects Russell St Theatre, Melbourne, Phillip Theatre, Sydney with Union Theatre Repertory Company1969 This Old Man Comes Rolling Home Landy UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney Present Laughter Hunter Theatre, Newcastle, Palace Theatre, Sydney with Harry M. Miller See the Pretty Lights AMP Theatrette, Sydney with Q Theatre Company Applicant AMP Theatrette, Sydney Hadrian VII Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's1970 A Flea in Her Ear Independent Theatre, Sydney The Seagull Kostya Scott Theatre, Adelaide with STCSA for Adelaide Festival Cat Among the Pigeons UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney Friends Independent Theatre, Sydney Enemies 1971 Filth Richbrooke Theatre, Sydney Hamlet on Ice Nimrod St Theatre, Sydney1972 Tonight at 8.30: Shadow Play / Red Peppers / Family Album Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC Forget-Me-Not Lane Frank Danton's Death The Last Supper Show Nimrod St Theatre, Sydney 1972–1973 The Cherry Orchard Elizabethan Theatre, Sydney, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Playhouse, Perth, Canberra Theatre with MTC 1973 Some of My Best Friends Aren't Macleay Theatre, Sydney1975 Ginge's Last Stand Nimrod St Theatre, Sydney Peer Gynt Sydney Opera House with Old Tote Theatre Company1977 Some Other Town Frank Bondi Pavilion, Sydney The Political Bordello; or, How Waiters Got the Vote Mr. The Visit Mike 1979 Bedroom Farce Trevor Australian tour 1980–1981 The Magic Pudding Voice Over Artist Australian tour 1980–1985 Piaf: The Songs and the Story Regent Theatre, Sydney, Seymour Centre, Sydney, Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Universal Theatre, Melbourne1982 On Our Selection Playhouse, Canberra Four Lady Bowlers in a Golden Holden Canberra Theatre, Kinselas, Sydney with STC 1983–1985 The Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby William / Mr Mantalini / Mr Snevellicci Theatre Royal Sydney, State Theatre, Melbourne, Festival Theatre, Adelaide with STC 1984 The Broken Years Reciter Australian War Memorial, Canberra 1986 The Nerd Axel Australian tour 1986–1987 Are You Lonesome Tonight? Englishman Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, Festival Theatre, Adelaide 1990 Man, Beast and Virtue Newtown Theatre, Sydney 1991 Henry IV, Part 1 Sydney Olympic Park, Blackfriars Theatre, Sydney with STC 1991–1993 The Crucible Reverend Parris Sydney Opera House, Riverside Theatres Parramatta, Canberra Theatre with STC 1991; 1994 More than a Sentimental Bloke C. J. Dennis Marian St Theatre, Sydney, Bridge Theatre, Sydney, University of Sydney, Fairfax Studio, Melbourne, Flinders University, Adelaide 1992 Silent Partner Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company The Porch / The Great Hunger Crossroads Theatre, Sydney 1993 The Glugs of Gosh Bridge Theatre, Sydney with Theatre South 1994 Flesh and Blood National Maritime Museum, Sydney 1995 Chair in a Landscape Q Theatre, Penrith 1995; 1998 Sanctuary Bridge Theatre, Sydney, Lakeview Street Theatre, Newcastle with Theatre South 2000 Split Down the Middle Stephen Marian St Theatre, Sydney 2006 Attack of the Granny Boomers NIDA Parade Theatre, Sydney 2007 ALP Arts Election Launch Riverside Theatres Parramatta2009 Lady Windermere's Fan Lord Augustus Lorton Darlinghurst Theatre, Sydney A Safe Pair of Hands 2010 The Power of Yes Aiden Turner / David Marsh Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney 2014 Legend! Slips Cordon – A Safe Pair of Hands 'Slips' Cordon Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney 2016 Senior Moments Glen St Theatre, Sydney 2018 The Lost Tangerine Jacket Souvenir Shop Proprietor / John Glebe / Eddie Trigg / 2nd Paddy / Ives, / RAC Member 1 / Hatchet Man 2 Riverside Theatres Parramatta

As crew Year Title Role