John Meillon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Meillon OBE
Meillon in an episode of One Step Beyond (1961)
Born	(1934-05-01)1 May 1934 Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
Died	11 August 1989(1989-08-11) (aged 55) Neutral Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1945–1988
Spouse(s)	June Salter ​ ​ (m. 1958; div. 1971)​ Bunny Gibson ​ (m. 1972)​
Children	2

John Meillon (born May 1, 1934 – died August 11, 1989) was a famous Australian actor. He was known for playing many different types of characters. He could be funny or serious in his roles.

John Meillon is perhaps best known for his role as Walter Reilly. This was the friend of Mick Dundee in the popular movies Crocodile Dundee and Crocodile Dundee II. He also lent his voice to many advertisements. He appeared in several Australian films, including Wake in Fright and The Cars That Ate Paris.

Early Life and Beginnings

John Meillon was born in Mosman. This is a suburb of Sydney, in New South Wales, Australia. He had a younger brother named Bob Meillon, who later became a director.

Acting Career

Starting Out in Acting

John Meillon started acting when he was just eleven years old. His first role was in a radio show called Stumpy for the ABC. The very next year, he performed on stage for the first time.

When he was sixteen, he joined the John Alden Shakespeare Touring Company. This gave him a lot of experience in live theatre.

Working in England

Like many actors from Australia at that time, John Meillon worked in England. He lived there from 1959 to 1965. While in Britain, he made an effort to play different kinds of characters. He did not want to be limited to only Australian roles.

Meillon believed that working in theatre taught him a lot of discipline. He felt that television was not as good for training actors.

Television and Film Roles

John Meillon had a regular role in the TV series My Name's McGooley, What's Yours?. In 1968, he also appeared in its spin-off show, Rita and Wally. He was in two episodes of Skippy in 1968 and 1969. In Skippy, he played a character called 'Nimble Norris'.

In 1976, he won a big award for his acting. He received the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. This was for his part as 'Casey' in the film The Fourth Wish.

Voice Acting Work

John Meillon had a deep, rich voice. Because of this, he was often asked to do voice-over work. He became very famous for his voice in many advertisements.

For his great contributions to theatre, John Meillon was given a special honor. He was appointed an OBE in 1979.

Music Endeavors

In 1977, John Meillon also tried his hand at music. He released a single record with two songs. The songs were "Tap Tap" and "Picture Show Man". This single reached number 80 on the Australian music charts.

Personal Life

John Meillon married Australian actress June Salter in 1958. They had one son together, named John Meillon, Jr. They later divorced in 1971.

He then married actress Bunny Gibson on April 5, 1972. They also had a son.

In June 1980, a special honor was given to John Meillon. His favorite pub, The Oaks at Neutral Bay, opened a bar named The John Meillon OBE Bar after him. He continued to visit this bar often, even in the week before he passed away.

Later Life and Legacy

John Meillon passed away in Neutral Bay, Sydney, on August 11, 1989. After his death, he received another important award. He was given the Raymond Longford Lifetime Achievement Award. This award honors people who have made a huge impact on Australian cinema.

Filmography

Film Appearances

Television Roles

Discography

Singles Released

Awards & Honours