kids encyclopedia robot

Bob Hornery facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Bob Hornery
Born
Robert James Hornery

28 May 1931 (1931-05-28)
Died 26 May 2015 (2015-05-27) (aged 83)
Occupation Actor
Years active 1949-2012
Known for Neighbours as Tom Kennedy

Robert James Hornery (born May 28, 1931 – died May 26, 2015) was a famous Australian actor. He had a very long career, lasting 60 years, and worked in both Britain and Australia. He was known for being very good at making up lines on the spot, which is called ad-libbing. Bob Hornery won important awards like the Helpmann Awards and the Equity Awards for his amazing work over his lifetime.

About Bob Hornery

Early Life and School

Robert Hornery was born in Randwick, New South Wales, Australia, on May 28, 1931. His father, Edward, was a sales representative, and his mother was Veronica.

When he was young, Bob loved acting. He performed in plays at his local Catholic high school, Marcellin College. After finishing school, he worked as a booking clerk for an airline called Butler Airways. Even while working, he kept acting in plays with amateur groups, which are groups that act for fun, not as a job.

His Acting Career

Starting in Theatre

Bob Hornery began his acting journey in theatre in 1949. He had his first professional role in 1953. He played a character named Eustace Smell in a play called Jack and the Beanstalk at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney.

He acted in many different stage plays. One important role was as the Rev. Canon Chasuble in The Importance of Being Earnest. This play was so popular that it ran from 1988 to 1992 and was even shown on TV by the ABC. Bob Hornery worked a lot with the Melbourne Theatre Company. He played many different kinds of characters, from funny ones to very serious ones. Some of his well-known theatre roles were in The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

Acting on Screen

Besides theatre, Bob Hornery also appeared in many Australian movies and TV shows. He was in the TV series Thunderstone. Many people remember him from the popular TV show Neighbours. In Neighbours, he played Tom Kennedy, who was the father of a main character named Karl Kennedy.

He also acted in famous international TV shows. These included Doctor Who and Sapphire and Steel. Bob Hornery also had roles in movies. Some of his film appearances were in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and Crackerjack.

Personal Life

In 1973, Bob Hornery married Patricia Allen. They had a daughter named Jane.

Bob Hornery passed away on May 26, 2015, after a long illness. He was almost 84 years old. He is remembered by his wife, his daughter, and his stepson, Max Allen.

kids search engine
Bob Hornery Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.