Ray Meagher

Raymond Francis Meagher (born 4 July 1944) is an Australian actor, who has appeared in Australian film and television since the mid-1970s. He is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, portraying Alf Stewart on Home and Away, having played the role since the first episode in 1988. Meagher won a Gold Logie Award for his role in Home and Away in 2010 and has currently played the role of Alf for over 37 years.

Early life Meagher was born in Roma, Queensland and spent the early years of his life on Eidsvold Cattle Station while attending a Wondai convent school. At the age of nine, he moved to the Gold Coast to begin boarding school at Marist College Eagle Heights. where he became a keen sportsman at high school, representing the school at a number of sports including rugby union, a sport which he ultimately played at state level.

Meagher played at first five eighth for Queensland at senior level in the late 1960s, including playing against France.

Career Film Meagher played Sergeant Drummond in the 1980 war drama Breaker Morant, which he said was one of his favourite roles. His other film appearances include The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978), Newsfront (1978), My Brilliant Career (1979), The Shiralee (1987), Meagher became "a much in demand character actor", with his early television roles including Matlock Police, Ben Hall, Rush, Certain Women, Pig in a Poke, The Restless Years, Glenview High, The Oracle, Kingswood Country, Cop Shop, Skyways, Sporting Chance, Holiday Island, and Bellamy. Meagher liked playing "heavy" characters, who showed their lighter sides. Meagher also appeared in the 1988 children's series The True Story of Spit MacPhee, along with John Bach and Elspeth Ballantyne.

In September 2009, Meagher was the third-highest paid personality on Australian television, behind Eddie McGuire and Rove McManus.

Meagher won the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television at the 2010 Logie Awards, where he was also nominated for "Most Popular Actor". Meagher subsequently won that Logie Award in 2018.

Stage In 2007, Meagher took over the role of Bob the mechanic in Priscilla Queen of the Desert from Bill Hunter. From 30 September 2010, he took over the role of Bob in the West End production of Priscilla until March 2011. In June 2011, it was announced that Meagher would be returning to the West End production from October. He then rejoined the show for its New Zealand tour in 2016.

Meagher regularly travelled to the United Kingdom to take part in the traditional Christmas pantomimes. From December 1996 until early January 1997, he played Baron Hardup in the Chichester Festival Theatre's production of Cinderella. From November 1999 until January 2000, he starred in a production of Peter Pan at the Grand Opera House in Belfast. In December 2008, he played Abanazar in a production of Aladdin at the Anvil Theatre in Basingstoke and in 2009 he performed as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1978 The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith Dud Edmonds Newsfront Len's Second Brother 1979 The Odd Angry Shot Range Corporal My Brilliant Career Mailman The Journalist Senior Investigator 1980 Breaker Morant Sgt. Maj. Drummond Mystery Island Policeman A Piece of Cake Duty Sarglant Short film 1981 Hoodwink Shaw 1982 On the Run Joe Thompson 1984 On the Loose Russell Leech The Fire in the Stone Dosh 1985 Relatives Herb Taylor Bootleg Lawker 1986 Short Changed Marshall 1987 Dark Age Rex Garret The Place at the Coast Uncle Doug 1989 Luigi's Ladies Lance

Television Year Title Role Notes 1973 Around Folk Host Matlock Police Kurt Fisher Episode: "By Hook or by Crook" 1976 Do I Have to Kill My Child? Des TV film 1977 Number 96 Fred Shrimpton Season 6 1978 Glenview High Policeman Episode: "Accident" Run From the Morning Because He's My Friend Kevin TV film 1979 Skyways Sergeant Murphy Episode: "The Crated Crim" Top Mates Miniseries 1979–80; 1984; 1986 Prisoner Geoff Butler / Ernest Craven / Kurt Renner Season 1–228 episodes 1981 Sporting Chance Holiday Island 1982–86 A Country Practice Wally Stanley / Trev Bennett / Tom Skilton 6 episodes 1982 Mystery at Castle House Stakovich TV film Runaway Island TV film 1983 The Weekly's War Frank Packer Miniseries The Disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain Mr. Lowe TV film 1984 Five Mile Creek Lightning Ridge Episode: "The Hangman's Noose" Kingswood Country Keith Mitchell / Bank Manager 2 episodes Mail Order Bride Kevin TV film 1985 A Fortunate Life Bad Bob Miniseries.Episode: "Starting Out (1897–1905)" Mother and Son Geoff Episode: "The Card Game" Colour in the Creek Clarrie 8 episodes 1986 Land of Hope Miniseries Five Times Dizzy The Red Headed Person The Great Bookie Robbery Bob Temple Miniseries The Blue Lightning Hale TV film 1987 The Shiralee Polkadot TV film 1988 True Believers Tom Burke Miniseries The True Story of Spit MacPhee Frank Arbuckle Miniseries Vietnam Army Sergeant Miniseries Spit MacPhee Frank Arbuckle 1988–present Home and Away Alf Stewart Series regular 2002 Home and Away: Secrets and the City Alf Stewart Video special 2003 Home and Away: Hearts Divided Alf Stewart Video special

Theatre Year Title Role Notes 1975 The Floating World Nimrod Theatre Company 1996–1997 Cinderella Baron Hardup Chichester Festival Theatre 1999–2000 Peter Pan Captain Hook Grand Opera House, Belfast 2007 Priscilla Queen of the Desert Bob the mechanic Regent Theatre, Melbourne 2008 Aladdin Abanazar Anvil Theatre in Basingstoke 2009 Peter Pan Captain Hook Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells 2010–2011 Priscilla Queen of the Desert Bob the mechanic West End of London 2016 Priscilla Queen of the Desert Bob the mechanic New Zealand tour

Awards and nominations Year AssociationCategory Work Result 1984 Penguin Awards Best Actor Mail Order Bride 2008 Digital Spy Soap Awards Most Popular Actor Home and Away 2004 Inside Soap Awards Best Actor 2006 Best Actor Funniest Star 2018 Best Daytime Star 2019 Best Daytime Star 2020 Best Daytime Star 2010 Logie Awards Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Most Popular Actor 2012 Most Popular Actor 2018 Most Popular Actor 2019 Most Popular Actor 2022 Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Most Popular Actor 2023 Most Popular Actor