Roger Oakley

Roger Oakley (born 21 August 1943) is a New Zealand-born actor and noted for his performances in Australian television serials, mini-series, feature and television films. He is also active as a theatre performer, director and voice-over. Oakley has been a professional working actor for over 55 years.

Early life Oakley was born in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand on 21 August 1943 and had a regular suburban upbringing. After leaving Auckland Grammar School, he studied languages in New Zealand, before he moved to England where he started his career in theatre. He emigrated to Australia in 1978, carving out a successful career on screen, although he has continued to appear in theatre productions

Career He is perhaps best known for his role in Home and Away as the original character of foster and (later adoptive) father Tom Fletcher between 1988 and 1990, (with a brief guest appearance in 2008) opposite co-star Vanessa Downing who played his wife Pippa Fletcher before the role was recast with Debra Lawrance Playing the pivotal role of the foster father, at the beginning of the show as the series patriarch Oakley was considered by producers as the most important central member of the older cast.

He appeared in the ABC series Something in the Air as controversial politician Doug Rutherford between 2000 and 2002.

His other notable roles include The Sullivans appearing in both the television series and film version as Major Barrington.

Oakley appeared in feature film roles including in 1977 in his native New Zealand in the movie Sleeping Dogs starring Sam Neill, and in Australia in Sara Dane, Women of the Sun, TheFar Country, Travelling North .The Last of the Ryans My Year Without Sex but has also appeared in numerous telemovies and mini-series including the 12-part serial The Damnation of Harvey McHugh.

Other TV credits include: Cop Shop, Prisoner, A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors, Good Guys Bad Guys, Blue Heelers, The Young Doctors and Neighbours.

He featured in the stage productions of My Fair Lady, The NightWatchman, Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker, and The Golden Dragon by contemporary German playwright Roland Schimmelpfennig. He also appeared in the television series Underbelly and Winners and Losers.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleType 1977 Sleeping Dogs Assassin Leader Film 1977 The McKenzie Affair Sidebottom 1977 Hunters Gold Cameron 1979 The John Sullivan Story Major Barrington TV movie 1987 Travelling North Stan Feature film 1987 Ground Zero Commercial Director Feature film 1988 The Far Country Immigration Officer 1997 The Last of the Ryans Justice Starke TV film 1998 Halifax f.p. Frank Bailey TV film 2009 My Year Without Sex Natalie's Father Feature film 2011 Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away Customs Officer TV movie

Television

YearTitleRoleType 1978 The Park Terrace Murder Sgt McKnight TV film 1978 The Sullivans Major Barrington TV series 1978 Against the Wind Father Dixon TV miniseries 1978 Cop Shop Dick Davies / Peter Miller TV series 1979 Skyways Joe D'Angelo TV series, 2 episodes 1982 Sons and Daughters Dr. Parker TV series 1982 Sara Dane Major Foveaux TV miniseries 1982 Women of the Sun Mr. Johnson TV miniseries 1983 Prisoner Chris Young TV series 1982–84 A Country Practice Chilla Yates / Bill Young TV series 1984 Special Squad Conlon TV series 1984 Eureka Stockade Scobie TV miniseries 1987 The Flying Doctors Bert Webster TV series 1988–90, 2008 Home and Away Tom Fletcher TV series 1990 Motormouth TV series 1994 The Damnation of Harvey McHugh Bernard TV miniseries 1995 Correlli Jack Glennen TV miniseries 1996 Shark Bay TV series 1997 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys King Xenon 1997 Good Guys, Bad Guys Ron "Maddog" Morello TV series 1998 State Coroner Barry Randall TV series 1999 Duggen Brigadier Endacott 1999 Joe Wilkinson Mr. Wilkinson 2000 Blue Heelers Russ Cavell TV series 2000–02 Something in the Air Doug Rutherford TV series 2006 Court of Lonely Royals 2007 Blue Heelers Sam Curtis TV series 2008 Neighbours Jim Parker TV series 2008 The Hollowmen TV series 2008 Satisfaction Greg 2011 Game Simon 2011 The Last Waltz Liam 2013 Winners & Losers Uncle Pat O'Keefe TV series 2017 Utopia Chairman of Independent Board TV series 2017 Serving Joy 2019 Glitch Mike TV series 2021 Superwog Barrister (Mr Mark Sheean) TV series 2022 This is Your Life Guest (honouring Ray Meagher) TV series 2023 Deadloch Father Terrance