Johnny Lockwood

John Sidney Lockwood (7 December 192025 April 2013 ) known as Johnny Lockwood, was a British variety entertainer, comedian and actor, who also became notable in Australia after emigrating to that country.

In his native England, he was a variety performer on the West End circuit, primarily as a stand-up-comedian, but also as a singer and dancer. He was invited to serve at a Royal Command Performance in 1949.

He had a small role in film Moulin Rouge! and several other features.

Early life and military service

Lockwood was born as one of four children to William and Annie Lockwood, he had always wanted to perform on stage. His father died when he was 9 in 1929 and his mother died in 1933, hence he was orphaned at age 12, and at 14 applied for a job as a dancer in a touring show.

He continued to develop his talents and by 18 was performing as a variety entertainer after given a contract by impresario Jack Hylton as a comedian. He was a member of the charitable entertainment fraternity, the Grand Order of Water Rats.

His entertainment career was briefly put on hold, as World War II intervened and Lockwood joined the Royal Air Force in 1942 whilst continuing to perform with ENSA,

British variety circuit Lockwood was primarily a West End performer, who after being honourably discharged from military service in 1944 after returned to showbusiness, working in variety entertainment, pantomime.

In 1949 he was invited to perform in a Royal Command Performance at the London Coliseum. During the performance he famously tripped and fell, suffering a bloody nose. His quip to the audience was "Well, they told me you wanted blood tonight" which was widely reported by the press.

Television and film Lockwood came to Australia originally in 1957 for a ten-week run with the Tivoli Theatre circuit, however he proved so popular with audiences that he has given a 5 year contract and remained in Australia and also appeared in a stage production opposite Bobby Limb. He was then invited back to his native UK to play the role of Fagin in a theatre production of Lionel Bart's Oliver! at the New Theatre, but after which he then returned back to Australia where he settled permanently.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Lockwood made guest appearances in Australian drama series and soap operas. In 1985, he appeared in soap opera Neighbours as Daphne Lawrence's grandfather, Harry Henderson. He guest starred in two 1991 episodes of soap opera E Street. During this period he also acted in feature films.

He had a short theatre run in a Queensland production in the early 1980s portraying Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.

In the early 2000s Lockwood continued to make television and film guest appearances including roles in Moulin Rouge! and miniseries The Potato Factory. He also continued stage work with the Sydney Theatre Company.

Personal life Anne Lockwood, Johnny Lockwood's wife since 1947, died in Sydney in 1976. After Johnny had gone to bed one evening she died after suffering a heart attack and falling from the balcony of their high-rise apartment at McMahon's Point. Some people speculated that she had committed suicide, something Johnny angrily denied.

Lockwood married again in 1980. His daughter Joanna Lockwood, born in Hammersmith, London, England, is an actress, best known for her long-running role in television serial Cop Shop; she also appeared briefly in Number 96.

Lockwood died on 25 April 2013 at a nursing home in Coffs Harbour, aged 92.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Type 1968 Anything Goes 1969 The Life and Times of Reverent Shotte 1972 Duffer Hippie Guitarist 1974 Number 96 Aldo Godolfus 1977 All at Sea Rev Parslow / George Parsons TV film 1982 Norman Loves Rose Sam Feature film 1984 Stanley (aka Stanley: Every Home Should Have One) Flasher Feature film 2001 Moulin Rouge! Character Rake Feature film 2003 The Rage in Placid Lake Barber Feature film

Television Year Title Role Type Sunnyside Up TV series 1967-68 The Mavis Bramston Show Various characters TV series 1971 Spyforce Ruben Nathan TV series 1972-75 Number 96 Aldo Godolfus TV series 1973 The Evil Touch TV series 1975 The Norman Gunston Show Checkout Chicks TV series 1978 Tickled Pink Rabbi TV special 1981 Bellamy Len Payne TV series 1982 Kingswood Country Tony Bertolucci TV series 1985-86 Neighbours Harry Henderson TV series 1987 A Country Practice Mickey O'Rourke TV series 1991 E Street Johnny Little TV series, 2 episodes 2000 The Potato Factory Moses TV miniseries 2002 Short Cuts Hippy TV series 2003 Pizza Insurance TV series