Tom Oliver

Biography Early life and military Oliver was born in Fareham, Hampshire, England and started appearing in amateur theatricals as an adolescent in Britain before pursuing a career as a jockey. However, he failed to gain an apprenticeship owing to his size.

He joined the Merchant Navy at 16 and travelled the world, eventually settling in Sydney in 1956. Whilst in the British Forces, he worked on the Pacific Nuclear Testing Base, Christmas Island and so is a member of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association.

While in Australia, Oliver found work as a stockman, spending three years in this job, working his way around the country. He subsequently beginning an overland trek across Asia to return to Australia. However, the journey was halted by illness and Oliver returned to Britain in 1960 and worked in reportory theatre and had brief roles in TV series.

Career Oliver contacted Albert Finney who was then planning to produce the film Ned Kelly in Australia in 1963. Finney gave him a letter of introduction to an agency in Sydney and Oliver emigrated in 1963, later becoming an Australian citizen. He frequently visits Fareham, Hampshire to see his old friends.

Oliver became a busy theatre and television actor in Australia. He had many guest starring roles on Australian drama series, appearing frequently in the top-rated Crawford Productions police dramas Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police, and in Crawford's adventure series Hunter (1967). He played Clarry in The Shifting Heart.

HE appeared in the 1971 film Nickel Queen, directed by John McCallum. After this he returned to television guest roles for Crawfords, and other companies. He also appeared in several British TV series at the beginning of the 70's, such as Paul Temple, Thirty-Minute Theatre, and also played two roles in the Gerry Anderson series UFO – a doctor in the episode entitled "Confetti Check A-O.K." as well as a SHADO technician in the episode entitled "The Sound of Silence".

Oliver also worked for a time as a presenter on Play School in 1967.

Oliver has appeared in many local productions in guest roles, but became best down for his regular role in rural series 'Bellbird (TV series) in 1969 until 1971 as Tom Grey,

In 1972 he joined the cast of fledgling soap opera Number 96 playing the role of Janie Somers' new beau, Jack Sellars. Back-slapping rough diamond Jack, nicknamed 'Jolly Jack Sellars' was intended as a guest character to appear for a run of just three weeks, but the makers of the show were impressed with his performance and the character was made into an ongoing lead regular in the serial. Oliver became one of the Number 96s most popular cast members.

In late 1973, along with much of the show's regular cast, he reprised his television role in a feature film spinoff of the serial, also called Number 96. Oliver stayed in the role in the series for more than two years, finally electing to leave in mid-1974. He quickly returned to guest starring roles on television and film roles of varying sizes. He briefly returned to Number 96 in the same role in September 1975.

Further film, television and stage Oliver's film roles included ABBA: The Movie (1977). His primary role in the film was as ABBA's gruff bodyguard; however, he additionally appeared in the film as a barman and as a chatty moustached taxi driver shown mainly from behind. Through the late 1970s and the 1980s, Oliver appeared in guest and regular roles in many Australian drama series and serials, including Prisoner, Holiday Island, Cop Shop, Sons and Daughters and A Country Practice. He also appeared in the acclaimed miniseries The Dismissal portraying Reg Withers.

Oliver also acted on the stage in numerous productions, appearing in such plays as The Knack, Cactus Flower, How the Other Half Loves and The Club. In 2015, it was announced that Oliver had cut back further on his role as Lou and would only appear from time to time as a guest. In October 2016 it was announced that Oliver had left the role after 24 years and his last appearance aired in December 2016.

Lou did not feature in the series finale, but there was still a reference to his character in the form of a lawyers' office called "T Oliver". Executive producer Jason Herbison later revealed that he had personally called Oliver to inquire about returning for the final episode, but Oliver turned it down as he was "at a different point in his life now".

Awards Oliver has been nominated for the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role three times.

Personal life During his run in Number 96, Oliver married fellow castmate Lynn Rainbow, who played Sonia Vansard, and opened a wine bar in Kensington, Sydney, named "Jack's Cellar".

Oliver has been married to his American wife Jan since 1985. They lived together in the Dandenong Ranges. Oliver once owned a Maltese Shih Tzu called Louey, named after his Neighbours character.

Filmography Film

Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1964 Consider Your Verdict TV series, season 1, episode 145: "Queen Versus Langdon" 1965 Adventure Unlimited Bill Malone TV series, 2 episodes 1966 Australian Playhouse Mr Carruthers TV series, season 1, episode 16: "Done Away With It" 1967 Love and War TV miniseries, episode 2: "Sergeant Musgrave's Dance" You Can't See 'Round Corners TV series, 3 episodes Contrabandits Nicholls TV series, 3 episodes 1968 Hunter Hans Felburg TV series, season 1, episode 26: "The Hans Felburg File" 1969 Riptide Dave Todd / Bruno / Mike Hallett TV series, 3 episodes Good Morning Mr Doubleday TV series, season 1, episode 9: "A Friend in Need" 1969–71 Bellbird Tom Grey TV series, 83 episodes 1969; 1970 Skippy the Bush Kangaroo Craig / Tex n Ranger TV series, 2 episodes 1970 Thirty-Minute Theatre David TV series, season 5, episode 23 Paul Temple Eddy Bates season 2, 1 episode: "Right Villain" 1970; 1972 Homicide Jason Williams / Jack Smith / Jeff Roberts TV series, 3 episodes 1970–75 Division 4 Arnie Cooper / Jimmy Harrison / George Morris / Robert Hill / Porter TV series, 5 episodes 1971 UFO Doctor / 1st technician TV series, season 1, 2 episodes The Group TV series, season 1, episode 4: "This Week She's Romantic" Dynasty Tom Fenwick TV series, 3 episodes 1971; 1975 Matlock Police Charlie / Alexis Katsavakis / Neil O'Brian / Roy Martin TV series, 4 episodes 1972–75 Number 96 Jack Sellars TV series, 105 episodes 1973 Spyforce Brian Dorsey TV series, season 1, episode 36: "The Misfits" 1975 Ben Hall Long Tom Coffin TV miniseries, 5 episodes 1976 Silent Number Stanton TV series, season 1, episode 39: "Paula" 1976–80 King's Men Detective Sgt. Peter Weston TV series, 13 episodes 1977 The Outsiders Artie Fraser TV series, season 1, episode 12: "Ambush" Glenview High Mick TV series, season 1, episode 12: "Plumber's Boy" The Dick Emery Show in Australia Various characters TV series 1978 The Truckies TV series, season 1, episode 1: "Running In" 1978–83 Cop Shop Brian Matthews / George Burton / Albert Cobb / Vinny Pratt / Peter Mitchell TV series, season 1, 10 episodes 1979 Skyways Scott Honeyman TV series, season 1, episode 180: "Tippett the Pilot" 1980–81 Prisoner (aka Prisoner: Cell Block H) Ken Pearce TV series, 14 episodes 1980; 1984 Kingswood Country Gerald Holmes / Clive Lomas TV series, 2 episodes 1981–82 Holiday Island Wally Simmons TV series, 64 episodes 1982 Sons and Daughters Andrew Brooks TV series, season 1, episode 279 1983 The Dismissal Liberal Senator Reg Withers TV miniseries, 3 episodes Patrol Boat Inspector Forest TV series, season 2, episode 9: "Operation Christmas" 1983–87 A Country Practice Ross Irving / Ray Gardner / Stuart Moore / Henry Gill TV series, 10 episodes 1984 The Explorers Sir Thomas Mitchell TV documentary series, season 1, episode 5: "Australia Felix" Special Squad Tobin TV series, season 1, episode 3: "Code of Silence" 1986 Call Me Mister Bruce TV series, season 1, episode 1: "Longshot" 1988 The Beachcombers Reporter TV series, season 16, episode 14: "Local Heroes" The Dirtwater Dynasty Our Dad TV miniseries, 1 episode 1988; 1992–2016 Neighbours Lou Carpenter TV series, 2,821 episodes 1989 Hey Dad..! Waiter TV series, season 3, episode 37: "The Cluck of the Draw" 1992 Mother and Son Sergeant TV series, season 5, episode 6: "The Baby"

Appearances (as self) Year Title Role Type Play School Host TV series 1967 Is Anybody Doing Anything About It? Himself 1971 Tempo: In the Seventies Commentator 1976 The Celebrity Game Contestant TV series 1979 The Great Train Robbery Performer 1995 Neighbours: A 10th Anniversary Himself / Lou Carpenter TV documentary special 1996 Burke's Backyard Celebrity Gardener TV series 1996 National Television Awards Himself Awards show 2000 Neighbours Revealed Himself TV documentary special 2008 Neighbours on Five 2012 This Morning Himself 2012 The Wright Stuff Guest Panelist TV series 2013 Celebrity Juice Himself TV series 2015 Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite Himself / Lou Carpenter TV documentary special

As producer Year Title Role Type 1987 The Right Hand Man Producer

Theatre Year Title Role Venue / Co. 1965 The Knack Tolen Phillip Street Theatre 1965 The Birthday Party Independent Theatre, Sydney 1965 The Business of Good Governance Assembly Hall, Sydney with Q Theatre Company 1965 Where Did Vortex Go? St Alban's War Memorial Hall, Sydney, Killara Soldiers Memorial Hall, Sydney with Community Theatre Company Limited 1966 Cactus Flower Harvey Theatre Royal, Sydney, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne 1967 The Homecoming UNSW, Old Tote Theatre, Canberra Theatre 1968 The Shifting Heart Clarrie ABC TV Studios, Melbourne (live broadcast as part of Wednesday Theatre) 1971 Three Months Gone Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with MTC 1976 A Handful of Friends Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with MTC 1977 Away Match Tony Piper Marian Street Theatre, Sydney 1978 The Club Playhouse Theatre, Perth with MTC 1978 Fathers Day Tom Mayfair Theatre, Sydney, Total Theatre, Melbourne 1980 Family Circles Ted Marian Street Theatre, Sydney 1982 Night and Day George Guthrie Marian Street Theatre, Sydney, Canberra Theatre 1982 The Price Ensemble Theatre, Sydney 1984 Season's Greeting's Neville Marian Street Theatre, Sydney with Northside Theatre Company 1986 Otherwise Engaged Marian Street Theatre, Sydney 1988 Breaking the Code Northside Theatre, Sydney 1988; 1989 Time and Time Again Ensemble Theatre, Sydney for Sydney Festival 1989 Curtains Northside Theatre, Sydney 1989 How the Other Half Loves Glen Street Theatre, Sydney, Laycock Street Theatre, Gosford, University of Sydney, Twelfth Night Theatre, Brisbane, Gold Coast Arts Centre, New Independent Theatre, Auckland 1990 A Night with Robinson Crusoe Ensemble Theatre, Sydney for Sydney Festival 1990–1991 Noises Off Lloyd Dallas Glen Street Theatre, Sydney, Twelfth Night Theatre, Brisbane, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Gold Coast Arts Centre, Nambour, Bundaberg, Ayr, Cairns, Mackay, Townsville, Comedy Theatre, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Regal Theatre, Perth with Theatre of Comedy