Maurie Fields

Maurice Fields (born Maurice Sheil, 4 August 1926 – 18 December 1995) was an Australian vaudeville performer, actor and stand-up comedian.

Career Fields became a well-known face on television first thanks to his comic sketches on live programs like Sunnyside Up and later dramatic roles as the conniving John Quinney in ABC TV's Bellbird. He also featured in many soap operas on commercial television, including Cop Shop, The Box, Prisoner (a small part playing crooked screw Leonard "Len" Murphy, and he had previously played two smaller parts in the show) and publican Vic Buckley in The Flying Doctors. He was also a regular as Fred Farrell in situation comedy series Bobby Dazzler (1977) and did regular comedy segments on Hey Hey It's Saturday alongside Shane Bourne where in turn they would read jokes sent in by viewers.

During the 1980s, Fields also became known as the voice of Wally Walpamur (Chimpanzee's dressed as humans painting houses) in Australian television ads promoting the Walpamur brand of house paints.

He was also the editor of the jokes pages of the Australasian Post magazine for many years, a role continued by his son Marty after Maurie's passing. He appeared in retro-capture with his son Marty, in the Hey Hey reunions.

Personal life Fields was the son of an accountant and married twice. His first wife was Dorothy, and they had three children: Lorraine, Eileen and Alan. He then married the comedian and actress Val Jellay, who also portrayed his screen wife in The Flying Doctors. They played publicans Vic and Nancy Buckley. He was the father of comedian Marty Fields.

Death Fields died on 18 December 1995, from a heart attack, and became the first actor to be posthumously inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame. That honour was accepted at the awards ceremony in his name by his widow and long-time acting partner, Val Jellay.

A memorial garden, located in the St Vincent Gardens, was installed in honour of Fields and Jelley, most likely following Jelley's death in 2017.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1971 Country Town John Quinney TV film 1974 Alvin Rides Again Garage Proprietor Feature film 1975 The Great Macarthy Company Director Feature film 1976Eliza Fraser Reporter Feature film 1976 Break of Day Lou Feature film 1978 In Search of Anna Bert Feature film 1979 Kostas Taxi Driver Feature film 1979 Taxi Drunk Passenger TV film 1979 Banana Bender Smiley TV film 1982 Lonely Hearts Taxi Driver Film 1982 Fighting Back Police Sergeant Feature film 1984 Banjo's Australia Mulga Bill Video 1985 Mud, Bloody Mud Chifley Sturdee TV film 1986 Cactus Maurie Feature film 1986 Death of a Soldier Detective Sergeant Martin Feature film 1987 The Bit Part Peter Feature film 1988 Evil Angels Justice Denis Barritt Feature film 1994 Country Life Fred Livingstone Feature film

Television Year TitleRoleNotes 1967 Hunter Day TV series, 2 episodes 1969 Joan and Leslie Policeman / Dr Smith TV series, 2 episodes 1970 The Long Arm Gary Sutton TV series, 1 episode 1973 Ryan Bob Clark TV series, 1 episode 1974 The Box Horrie Weatherburn TV series 1974 Marion Harry Richardson TV series, 1 episode 1974 And the Big Men Fly Merv Harvey TV series, 6 episodes 1969–75 Division 4 Sgt Shorter / Dixie Palmer / Various TV series, 17 episodes 1965–75 Homicide Clive Booker / Dan Miller / Various TV series, 19 episodes 1971–75 Matlock Police Watson / Harris / Various TV series, 13 episodes 1975–76 The Last of the Australians Barney TV series, 7 episodes 1976 Tandarra Charlie Mercer TV series, 1 episode 1976 No Thanks, I'm on a Diet Maurie TV series, 6 episodes 1976 Power Without Glory 1st Heckler TV series, 1 episode 1976 The Sullivans TV series 1977 Bluey Brougham TV series, 1 episode 1969–77 Bellbird John Quinney TV series, 1235 episodes 1978 Hotel Story TV series, 1 episode 1977–78 Bobby Dazzler Fred Farrell TV series, 14 episodes 1979 Skyways Chas Potter TV series, 51 episodes 1977–80Cop Shop Various characters TV series, 6 episodes 1980 Are You Being Served? Harry Collins TV series, 1 episode 1981 A Town Like Alice Al Burns TV miniseries, 2 episodes 1981 I Can Jump Puddles Spruiker TV miniseries, 1 episode 1981 Holiday Island Fred TV series, 1 episode 1982 1915 Mayor TV series, 2 episodes 1982 The Daryl Somers Show Santa Claus TV series, 1 episode 1983 Starting Out Mac Rankin TV series, 85 episodes 1985 The Flying Doctors Vic Buckley TV series, 3 episodes 1982–85 Prisoner Uncle Arch / Maurie Parks / Len Murphy TV series, 20 episodes 1985 Winners Mr O'Brien TV series, 1 episode 1985 The Dunera Boys Cpl Carter TV miniseries, 2 episodes 1986My Brother Tom 'Muscles' Smith TV miniseries, 2 episodes 1988 Hey Hey It's Saturday Guest TV series, 1 episode 1989 G.P. Clarie TV series, 1 episode 1989–91 Pugwall Uncle Harry TV series, 14 episodes 1986–92 The Flying Doctors Vic Buckley TV series, 216 episodes 1993–94 R.F.D.S. Vic Buckley TV series, 13 episodes 1995 Neighbours Old Sid TV series, 5 episodes

Discography Albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions AUS The Great Aussie Joke (with Shane Bourne) Released: 1988 Format: LP Label: Hammard (HAM 186) - Cheers! Released: December 1990 Format: LP Label: Virgin (AZMF 001) 81 At His Best Released: 1990 Format: LP Label: Virgin (VOZCD 2057)

Charting singles + List of charting singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Album AUS "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" 1990 149 Cheers