Willie Fennell

Biography Early life Fennell was born to William Hugh Fennell, a vocational trainer, and his wife Alma Doris (née Tie). Prior to his performance career he found employment as a travelling salesman, he pursued interests in scriptwriting, tap dancing, radio entertaining and comedy theatre, before World War II beckoned, he served with Citizen Military Forces and then the Australian Imperial Force. After being promoted to sergeant he was discharged, on 28 April 1944, taking a position with the Department of Civil Aviation Civil Aviation Force. He started appearing in theatre roles from 1947.

Writing career/stage and radio He became interested in scriptwriting and wrote a radio program based on the comic strip characters Blondie and Dagwood. As character Phooey Fennell, a BBC race caller he started appearing on radio programs and scripted and starred in the popular radio series Life With Dexter during the 1950s and 1960s, which ran for more than 500 episodes and was also sold to New Zealand and South Africa radio, and also wrote a series of books collecting the scripts of the radio show including Life with Dexter, Dexter Loses His Head, Dexter Sings, More Life with Dexter, My Third Life with Dexter, The Desert Island Wreckers, Dexter's Court, Dexter's Fit, Dexter Gets the Point, Car-razy Life with Dexter, Dexter and Ashleigh Muddle On and Dexter Detects. Fennell also wrote a book of poetry and humorous sketches entitled Mad Stuff.

Actor Geoffrey Rush praised Fennell as an early influence.

Personal life On 30 November 1946 Fennell married Joy Therese Hawkins, divorcing her in 1975. He was the father of Susan Fennell and Jane Fennell, best known as "Miss Jane" on the Australian children's television show Mr. Squiggle.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Type 1969 Little Jungle Boy Dr. Barney O' Hara TV movie 1973 ...And Millions Die! Sid Broomberg TV movie 1976 Caddie Doctor 2 Feature film 1976 Do I Have to Kill My Child? Rob TV movie 1979 Cathy's Child The Australian Counsel Feature film 1980 The Earthling R. C. Feature film 1980 Maybe This Time Mr. Todd Feature film 1981 Hoodwink Bank Manager Feature film 1982 Deadline Old Alf TV movie 1982 Ginger Meggs Walter Fotheringay Feature film 1983 Pretty Petrol Everett Quince TV movie 1984 Stanley (aka Stanley: Every Home Should Have One) Herb the Fisherman Feature film 1987 The Place at the Coast Fred Ryan Feature film 1990 More Winners: Mr Edmund Mr. Lindstead TV movie 1992 Greenkeeping Old Player Feature film 1993 Reckless Kelly Mr. Arnold Feature film 1993 Shotgun Wedding Feature film

Television Year Title Role Type 1966 Australian Playhouse Rosa's father TV series 1966-67 Nice 'n Juicy Jack Hamlin TV series 1967 Contrabandits Don TV series 1968 Homicide 2 roles TV series 1969 News Revue Various characters TV series 1969 Riptide 3 roles TV series 1969 The Rovers Albert Pringle TV series 1968-69 Skippy the Bush Kangaroo 3 roles TV series 1970 Barrier Reef Pilgrim TV series 1972 Division 4 Henry Roberts TV series 1972 Boney Needle Kent TV series 1972 Behind the Legend Jim TV series 1973 Spyforce Brigenden-Smith TV series 1974 The Evil Touch Doc TV series 1974 Mac and Merle Basil Mc Inerney TV series 1974 The Love Affair Reg Bates TV series 1975 The Seven Ages of Man Terence Swanson TV series 1975 Ben Hall Piper TV miniseries 1975 The Company Men TV miniseries 1976 Luke's Kingdom Shepherd TV series, 13 episodes 1976 The Emigrants Harry TV miniseries 1976 The Lost Islands Jeremiah Quizzel TV series 1977 The Outsiders Bob Ryder TV series 1977-78 Kirby's Company Santa TV series 1978 Case for the Defence Grandpa Harris TV series 1978 Chopper Squad Rodney Coombes TV series 1978 Glenview High TV series, episode: "The Siren" 1979 One Day Miller TV series 1979 Skyways Jack Harris TV series 1977-79 The Young Doctors Arthur Simmonds TV series 1980 Spring and Fall Bob TV series 1980 Young Ramsay Ed Carroll TV series 1983 Cop Shop TV series 1984 Special Squad Sol Greenberg TV series 1984 Carson's Law Neville Childe TV series 1986 A Fortunate Life Old Man TV miniseries 1985-86 Sons and Daughters Arthur 'Spider' Webb TV series 1988 Rafferty's Rules Jim Stevens TV series 1986-99 The Flying Doctors 2 roles TV series 1990 Elly & Jools Cec TV miniseries 1982-90 A Country Practice TV series 1991 The River Kings Praying Jack TV miniseries 1991 E Street Noah TV series 1992 Mother and Son Pet shop Owner TV series 1992 G.P. Re Kirby TV series