David Cosman Nettheim (10 July 1925 – 11 March 2008), also billed as David Netheim, was an Australian character actor and theatre writer, he acted in radio, theatre and film, but was best known for his roles in numerous television series, both locally and in the United Kingdom[1]

David Nettheim
Born
David Cosman Nettheim

10 July 1925
Sydney, Australia
Died11 March 2008 (aged 82)
Sydney, Australia
Other namesDavid Netheim (billed as)
Occupation(s)Actor, theatre writer
Years active1927–?

Early life

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Born in Sydney, and brought up in Cremorne Point, one of five children and the eldest son of actor (Leslie) Roy Nettheim who was also involved in radio and theatre and who hosted a classical music programme on radio 2GB and its Macquarie Radio Network) and actress, singer and elocution teacher Mary Hosking, he was introduced to the theatre when his parents joined Doris Fitton's Independent Theatre.[1]

Career

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He was educated at Sydney Grammar School and joined 2GB as an office boy in 1941. He took on occasional writing and announcing roles and was involved in production of John Dease's Quiz Kids.[1]

He helped Sir Charles Mackerras (an old schoolfriend) prepare classical music programmes for radio. He adapted Xavier Herbert's Capricornia as a radio serial.[1]

He was involved with the Metropolitan Theatre, Mercury Theatre and Phillip Street Theatre, where he both wrote for and acted in their famous revues.[1]

He worked with Michael Bentine and John Bluthal in the Goon Show-like radio programme Three's a Crowd for radio 2UE, which ran for 34 weekly half-hour episodes.[2] He next worked in Britain with Peter Sellers and Michael Bentine in the 1957 television comedy skit show Yes, It's the Cathode-Ray Tube Show. The following year he moved to Britain, and for 20 years he was seldom out of work but maintained ties with Australia in regular hookups with John West for his radio programme The Showman.[1] In 1971 he appeared in the acclaimed BBC drama Elizabeth R as forger Thomas Phelippes.[3]

In 1977 he settled in the Sydney suburb of Glebe. He appeared in stage and television productions, and took on the positions of federal treasurer for Actors Equity. He was involved in the doomed campaign to save the Regent Theatre in Sydney from demolition and helped manage the Actors' Benevolent Fund.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Nettheim appeared in guest roles in numerous Australian TV mini series and serials, including Prisoner, Sons and Daughters, and A Country Practice.

Death

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He died 11 March 2008 in Sydney aged 82. He never married and was survived by two brothers and two sisters.

Filmography

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Film

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Title Year Role Notes
Make Mine a Million 1959 Professor Feature film
Never Die 1959 Ted TV movie
BBC Sunday-Night Play 1963 Fomin TV movie
Masquerade 1965 Photographer (uncredited) Feature film
Nobody Runs Forever (aka The High Commissioner) 1968 Blaney (uncredited) Feature film
The Promise 1969 Stepfather Feature film
The Pied Piper 1972 Kulik Feature film
Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width 1973 Rabbi Feature film
Arena 1975 TV movie
Ripkin 1978 Andrew Clifford TV movie
Who Killed Baby Azaria? (aka The Disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain) 1983 Bookwriter TV movie
Bliss 1985 Cornelius Feature film
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1986 Mr. Hyde (voice) Film
Kidnapped 1986 Voice Animated feature film
Frank Enstein ? Voice Animated feat film
Paws 1997 Rabbi Feature film

Television

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Title Year Role Notes
The Adventures of Long John Silver 1957 Lieutenant Leon TV series
Before Your Very Eyes 1957 TV series
Yes, It's the Cathode-Ray Tube Show! 1957 Various Characters TV series
BBC Sunday Night Theatre 1959 Bill TV series
The Buds of Paragon Row 1959 Mr. Fellowes TV series
ITV Play of the Week 1959 Stenographer TV series
No Tiding Place 1959 Korski TV series
The Flying Doctor 1959 Chemist TV series
The Army Game 1959–60 Professor Fanshawe – Professor Spratt TV series
Emergency Ward 10 1960 Dr. John MacDermot TV series
Boyd Q.C. 1960 Gordon Nicholls TV series
Theatre 70 1961 Union official TV series
Probation Officer 1961 Probation Officer TV series
Friday Night 1963 Rabbi TV series
Maigret 1963 Gaston Buziers TV series
The Avengers 1963 Umberto TV series
Compact 1964 Arthur Plum TV series
Thorndiye 1964 Stalker TV series
Crane 1963–65 Aziz – Chavez TV series
Public Eye 1965 Teddy Booram TV series
Out of the Unknown 1965 Analyst TV series
The Baron 1967 Cravos TV series
The Saint 1967 Inspector Umberto Crepi TV series
The Prisoner 1967 Doctor TV series
Man in a Suitcase 1967 Leader TV series
A Hundred Years of Humphrey Hastings TV series
The Troubleshooters 1967 Dr. Mayer TV series
Doctor Who Fedorin TV series
ITV Playhouse 1968 John Ruggles TV series
Virgin of the Secret Service 1968 Kontell TV series
Resurrection 1968 2nd Judge TV miniseries
Thirty-Minute Theatre 1968 Ben TV series
Z Cars 1969 Mr. Cooper TV series
Canterbury Tales 1969 Placebo TV series
Biography 1970 Barwitz TV series
Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width 1970 Rabbi Stone TV series
Elizabeth R 1971 Thomas Phelippes TV miniseries
BBC Play of the Month 1971 Moliere – Officer TV series
Spyder's Web 1972 Grolik TV series
Dial M for Murder 1974 Leonides TV series
Microbes and Men 1974 Deville TV series
Behind the Legend 1975 TV series
Glenview High 1978 TV series
A Place in the World 1979 Laurie Carter TV miniseries
Cop Shop 1980–82 Mr Rogers – Bruce Sinclair – Alan Sinclair TV series
Prisoner (aka Prisoner: Cell Block H) 1980–82 George Logan – Magistrate – Mr. Carter TV series
Sons and Daughters 1982–84 Scott Thompson TV series
The Lancaster Miller Affair 1985 Dr. Tallman TV miniseries
Rafferty's Rules 1988 Dr. Turpin TV series
Emma: Queen of the South Seas 1988 Kaiser Wilhelm II TV miniseries
A Country Practice 1992 Peter West TV series
G.P. 1991-94 Murray Phipps TV series
Wildside 1998 Brian Leech TV series
Love is a Four Letter Word 2001 Judge TV series
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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f In Showbiz from the Age of Two Sydney Morning Herald 17 March 2008 accessed 3 September 2011
  2. ^ http://www.nfsa.gov.au/site_media/uploads/file/2011/12/05/NFSA_Radio_series_collection_amended.pdf "Australian Radio Series 1930s to 1970s. A guide to ScreenSound Australia’s holdings" accessed 5 September 2011
  3. ^ "Elizabeth R: S".