Judith Mary Stuart Farr[2] AM (5 October 1938 – 30 June 2023), also credited as Judy Farr,[1] was an Australian actress of theatre, film and television, with a career spanning some seven decades, she was best known for several situation comedy roles on Australian television. Farr also appeared in Australian films such as December Boys and Walking on Water which she won an AFI award for.[3]
Judi Farr | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 October 1938 Cairns, Queensland, Australia |
| Died | 30 June 2023 (aged 84) |
| Other names | Judy Farr |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, director[1] |
| Years active | 1958[1]–2020[1] |
| Television | A Place to Call Home Please Like Me Grass Roots Kingswood Country |
Career edit
Television edit
Farr who was born in Cairns, Queensland first became known for her role of Rita in the situation comedy My Name's McGooley, What's Yours? (1967–1968).[4] She continued to play the character in that show's short-lived sequel series Rita and Wally in 1968.[4]
Later she played a similarly high-profile regular role in a successful sitcom, portraying dizzy wife Thelma in Kingswood Country starting in 1980. She left the series in 1982, and in the script Thelma was sent off on a world cruise. She later sent word she would not be returning to her husband and Farr did not return to the series.
Aside from these roles Farr had a long and busy career acting in dramatic roles in film and theatre, and television. She had guest roles in drama series, television movies and miniseries. Television roles of the 1970s included guest spots on dramas including the Crawford Productions police shows, and a recurring role in soap opera Number 96 in 1974 and 1975, playing in comedy storylines. Later guest appearances include roles in A Country Practice, All Saints and CrashBurn.
Farr was also known for her playing Aunt Peg in Please Like Me
Film roles edit
Her first film role was a brief appearance in They're a Weird Mob (1966). Later films include Fatty Finn (1980), The Year My Voice Broke (1987), Flirting (1991) and Oscar and Lucinda (1997). Her film and television roles of the 2000s include Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars (2004) TV movie, The Alice (2004) TV movie, Thunderstruck (2004), Go Big (2004) TV movie, Walking on Water (2002) and Changi (2001) (miniseries).
Theatre work edit
She toured nationally and internationally with Cloudstreet and has worked for all major theatre companies in productions which include Death of a Salesman, Lettice and Lovage (opposite June Salter) and Angels in America. She was awarded the 1992 Theatre Critics Award for Women of Troy as well as the winner of the 2002 AFI Best Supporting Actress for Walking on Water she was soon to be seen in the documentary Unfolding Florence.
Farr retired from the industry in 2015, after a cancer battle.[3]
Honours edit
Farr was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for "significant service to the performing arts as an actor" in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours.[5]
Farr died on 30th June 2023 after a long illness, at the age of 84.[2][6]
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | The Taming of the Shrew | TV movie | |
| 1962 | Family Album | TV movie | |
| 1964 | Split Level | TV movie | |
| 1966 | They're a Weird Mob | Telephonist in Hotel (uncredited) | Feature film |
| 1979 | Dawn! | New Resident | Feature film |
| 1979 | Just Out of Reach | Mother | Feature film |
| 1980 | Fatty Finn | Mrs. Hogan | Feature film |
| 1982 | Dingle and the Dip | TV movie | |
| 1984 | Who Killed Hannah Jane? | Hannah Jane Peden | TV movie |
| 1985 | Brides of the Gods | Narrator | Film documentary |
| 1986 | For Love Alone | Aunt Bea | Feature film |
| 1986 | Double Sculls | Eilen Bayliss | TV movie |
| 1987 | Right From Day One | Herself | Training film |
| 1987 | Go For It | Role unknown | Short film |
| 1987 | The Year My Voice Broke | Sheila Embling | Feature film |
| 1991 | Flirting | Sheila Embling | Feature film |
| 1995 | Mother's Requiem | Mother | Short film |
| 1996 | Turning April | Mother | Feature film |
| 1997 | Oscar and Lucinda | Mrs. Smith | Feature film |
| 2000 | My Mother My Son | Mother | Short film |
| 2002 | Walking on Water | Margaret | Feature film |
| 2003 | Page to Stage | Herself - Performance Director | TV film documentary |
| 2004 | Thunderstruck | Mrs. Jones | Feature film |
| 2004 | Go Big | Marion Katz | TV movie |
| 2004 | The Alice | Lee | TV movie |
| 2006 | Unfolding Florence: The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst | Florence Broadhurst | Feature film documentary |
| 2006 | Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America | Mrs. Koppel | TV movie |
| 2007 | December Boys | Reverend Mother | Feature film |
| 2008 | The Sound of Shadows | Christina | Short film |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | The Mobil-Limb Show | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1964–65 | Here's Dawn | TV series | |
| 1965 | The Mavis Bramston Show | Herself - Various characters | TV series |
| 1966 | The Interpretaris | Alys - Computer | TV miniseries, 6 episodes |
| 1966–68 | My Name's McGooley, What's Yours? | Rita Stiller | TV series, 88 episodes |
| 1968 | Rita and Wally | Rita Stiller | TV series, 8 episodes |
| 1970 | The Link Men | Anna Seberg | TV series, 1 episode 11: "Somebody's Kid Is Missing" |
| 1970, 1971 | Division 4 | Lillian Walker / Trish Carstairs | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1972 | A Nice Day at the Office | Christine | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1972 | Matlock Police | Jill | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973 | The Comedy Game | TV series, 1 episode: "The Engagement Party" | |
| 1973 | The Evil Touch | Anne Sullivan | TV series, 1 episode 6: "A Game of Hearts" |
| 1974 | Mac and Merle | Regular role | TV series |
| 1974 | The Fourth Wish | Guest role | TV miniseries, 1 episode |
| 1974–75 | Number 96 | Alderman Mrs April Bullock | TV series, 10 episodes |
| 1975 | Behind the Legend | Harriet | TV series, episode 5: "George Coppin" |
| 1976 | Alvin Purple | Slater | TV series, episode 4: "Hospitality" |
| 1978 | Father, Dear Father in Australia | Aunty Tom | TV series, episode 3: "The Floating Housekeeper" |
| 1978 | Tickled Pink | Rachel Benson | TV series, 1 episode 2: "Relative Air Pollution" |
| 1979; 1983 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest - Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1980–1982 | Kingswood Country | Thelma Bullpitt | TV series, 59 episodes |
| 1983 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest - Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1983 | Scales of Justice | Mary Miles | TV miniseries, episode 2: "The Game" |
| 1983 | A Country Practice | Faye Simpson | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1983 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest - Herself with Gwen Plumb | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1983 | Learned Friends | Guest role | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1985 | Double Sculls | Ellen Bayliss | TV film |
| 1985 | Winners | Abbatoir Manager's Wife | TV film series, 1 episode |
| 1986 | A Country Practice | Norma Hammond | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1986 | Mother and Son | Matron | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1987 | Vietnam | TV miniseries, 1 episode | |
| 1987 | Melba | Amy Davidson | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 1988 | Rafferty's Rules | Rhonda White | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1988 | Mike Willesee's Australians | Ma (Mrs. Lyell) | TV film series, episode 5: "Lottie Lyell" |
| 1989 | G.P. | Joan | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1990 | Come In Spinner | Mrs. Gartred | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 1991 | Boys from the Bush | Phyllis | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1991 | A Country Practice | Grace Mullens | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1991 | E Street | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1991 | In Sydney Today | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | Good Morning Australia | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | G.P. | Helen Kendall | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | The Mavis Bramston 30th Anniversary Special | Herself | TV special |
| 1996 | G.P. | Kathleen Sutton | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1996 | Where Are They Now? | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997 | Medivac | Arch's Mother | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997 | Murder Call | Mrs. Parkins | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1998 | Denise | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1999 | All Saints | Kathleen O'Hara | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 2000–03 | Grass Roots | Janice Corniglio | TV series, 18 episodes |
| 2000 | Stingers | Aunty Jan | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2001 | Changi | Older Joyce | TV miniseries, 1 episode |
| 2001 | Water Rats | Liz Cunio | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2003 | CrashBurn | Marg | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2004 | Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars | Scarran Doctor | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 2006 | Where Are They Now? | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2007 | Good As Gold! | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2011; 2012 | Laid | Nan / Pearl | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Jack Irish: Bad Debts | Mrs. Bishop | TV film, 1 episode |
| 2013 | Please Like Me | Aunty Peg | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 2013 | Twentysomething | Marie | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2013 | Camp | Dorothy Jessup | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2013-15 | A Place to Call Home | Peg Moloney | TV series, 7 episodes |
References edit
- ^ a b c d AusStage. "Judi Farr".
- ^ a b "Judith Mary Stuart 'Judi' Farr Death Notice". Sydney Morning Herald. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Queen's Birthday Honours 2021: Judi Farr, Angela Bishop. | TV Tonight".
- ^ a b Moran, Peter John (1988). The Acanthaster phenomenon. Townsville, Qld.: Australian Institute of Marine Science. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.60630. ISBN 9780642132505.
- ^ "Ms Judi Farr". It's An Honour. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ Australian actor Judi Farr has died