Thomas Richards (born 22 March 1948)[1] is an Australian former actor on television soap operas. He is best known for roles including in Matlock Police as Steve York from 1973 and 1976 and in the 1980s soap opera Sons and Daughters as David Palmer from 1982 until 1987, opposite co-star Leila Hayes.

Tom Richards
Born
Thomas Richards

(1948-03-22) 22 March 1948 (age 76)
Other namesThomas Richards
OccupationActor
Years active1971−1999, 2007-2010 (screen and stage)
Known forMatlock Police as Steve York
Sons and Daughters as David Palmer

Career edit

Richards began his acting career at Twelfth Night Theatre in Brisbane. One of his roles was in The Rose and the Ring in 1971. He later moved to Melbourne where he began work in television. Richards played guest roles in Crawford Production series Homicide, Division 4 and Ryan, before gaining the permanent role of in Network Ten police drama Matlock Police in the 1970s as Detective Steve York. After that series was cancelled he had a regular role in soap opera The Box during its final year in 1977, before joining Sons and Daughters.

He played Lawrie Benson in Network Ten soap opera Richmond Hill for most of its 12-month run in 1988. Richards also had guest roles in many popular TV series including Chopper Squad, The Young Doctors, The Sullivans (in episode 194 in 1977), The Flying Doctors, and A Country Practice, Pacific Drive, Water Rats and All Saints.

He appeared in Home and Away's first season in 1988 as Graham Ridge, and played a more prominent role as Murdock "Mud" Roberts in 1995.

In 2009 he appeared as Mitch in the Sydney Theatre Company's acclaimed production of A Streetcar Named Desire.[2]

Filmography edit

Title Year Role/s
Homicide 1972–1973 Constable Fraser
Constable Higgins
Division 4 1973 Dave
Greame Hudson
Ryan 1973 Steve
Hired Thug
Matlock Police 1972–1976 Senior Detective Steve York
Raw Deal 1977 Desert Leader
Bluey 1976 2 roles Porgy Beaumont/Kevin Reed
The Box 1977 Greg Patterson
Case for the Defence 1978 Ray
Cass (TV movie) 1978 ?
Plunge Into Darkness (TV movie) 1978 Joe
Chopper Squad 1978–1979 Derek Price
Dawn! 1979 Harry
Money in the Bank (TV movie) 1979 Charlie
Cop Shop 1977-1978-1979 Harry Lewis/Tom Perry/Derek Benson
Mystery Island 1980 John Campbell
Menotti 1981 ?
Bellamy 1981 Burns
Run Rebecca, Run 1981 Sargeant Jamieson
Sons and Daughters 1982–1987 David Palmer
Richmond Hill 1988 Lawrie Benson
Breaking Loose: Summer City II 1988 Rick
Spook 1988 Jack Ferris
Rapid Fire 1989 Agent #4
Afraid to Dance 1989 Don Chapman
Boney (TV movie) 1990 Sargeant Frank Carter
The Flying Doctors 1990 Colin Mooreland
Sher Mountains Killing Mystery 1990 Alec Cordeux
A Country Practice (1981–1992) Hal Secombe/Ron Kelly/Brian Kelly
The Adventures of Skippy 1992 Mr Samson
Johs Fury 1993 Robert Butler
Police Rescue 1995 Major Bellamy
Home and Away 1988–1995 Graham Lynch/Murdock "Mud" Roberts
Pacific Drive 1996 Erick Carlyle
Water Rats 1996 Dan Manning
Those Who Hunt Elves 1996 Soldier, Kolchat
Becoming Rebecca 1996 Tony
Future War 1997 Cameron
Big Sky 1999 Ted
Murder Call (TV series) Fred Greaves
All Saints 2007 Dave Curtis
I Rock 2010 The Wonton Boys

References edit

  1. ^ Ruben, Carl (1987). Sons and Daughters (5. pa. ISBN 0352320656.
  2. ^ "A Streetcar Named Desire". SydneyTheatre.com.au. Sydney Theatre Company. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.

External links edit