Tom Oliver facts for kids

Tom Oliver (born 12 June 1938) is a British-Australian actor who is now retired.

He is most famous for playing Lou Carpenter in the TV show Neighbours. He played this role for 25 years, making him one of the longest-serving actors on the show. His character, Lou, was known for his funny arguments with Harold Bishop (played by Ian Smith) and his relationship with Madge (played by Anne Charleston). Lou also had a special "dirty laugh" that Tom Oliver said was inspired by another actor, Sid James.

Tom Oliver was a regular face on TV from the early 1960s until he retired in 2016. Before Neighbours, he appeared in many police TV shows. He also had long-term roles in the rural series Bellbird and later in Number 96, where he played Jack Sellars.

Tom Oliver's Life Story

Early Life and Joining the Navy

Tom Oliver was born in Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, England. When he was a teenager, he started acting in plays just for fun in Britain. He then wanted to become a jockey, which is someone who rides horses in races. However, he was too big to become a jockey.

At 16, he joined the Merchant Navy, which meant he traveled the world on ships. In 1956, he settled in Sydney, Australia. While in the British Forces, he worked at a nuclear testing site on Christmas Island. Because of this, he is a member of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association.

Starting His Acting Career

When Tom Oliver was in Australia, he worked as a stockman for three years. This job involved working with livestock on large farms. He traveled all around the country doing this. Later, he went back to the UK. He then planned to travel across Asia to return to Australia, but he got sick and had to go back to Britain.

In Britain, he met actor Albert Finney. Finney was planning to make a film called Ned Kelly in Australia in 1963. Finney gave Tom a letter to help him get into an acting agency in Sydney. So, Tom Oliver moved to Australia in 1963 and later became an Australian citizen. He still visits his old friends in Fareham, Hampshire in England.

Tom Oliver became a very busy actor in Australian theater and television. He had many guest roles in Australian drama shows. He often appeared in popular police dramas made by Crawford Productions, like Homicide, Division 4, and Matlock Police. He also appeared in the adventure series Hunter in 1967. He played the character Clarry in a play called The Shifting Heart.

From 1969 to 1971, Tom was cast in the TV show Bellbird, playing Tom Grey. In 1971, he was in the film Nickel Queen. After this, he continued to have guest roles on TV for various companies. He also appeared in some British TV shows in the early 1970s, such as Paul Temple and Thirty-Minute Theatre. He played two different roles in the Gerry Anderson series UFO.

Tom Oliver also worked as a presenter on the children's show Play School in 1967.

His Time on Number 96

In 1972, Tom Oliver joined the new TV show Number 96. He played Jack Sellars, who was the new boyfriend of a character named Janie Somers. Jack was a friendly, outgoing character, and he was only meant to be on the show for three weeks. However, the show's creators liked his performance so much that they made Jack a main character. Tom Oliver became one of the most popular actors on Number 96.

In late 1973, he also appeared in a movie based on the TV show, also called Number 96. Many of the show's regular actors were in the film. Tom stayed on the show for over two years, but he decided to leave in mid-1974. He quickly went back to guest roles in TV shows and movies. He briefly returned to Number 96 in September 1975.

Other Film and TV Roles

Tom Oliver's movie roles include ABBA: The Movie (1977). In that film, he played ABBA's bodyguard. He also appeared as a barman and a taxi driver in the same movie. Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Tom Oliver had many guest and regular roles in Australian drama series. These included Prisoner, Holiday Island, Cop Shop, Sons and Daughters, and A Country Practice. He also appeared in the well-known TV mini-series The Dismissal, playing the politician Reg Withers.

Acting on Stage

Tom Oliver also performed in many plays on stage. Some of the plays he appeared in include The Knack, Cactus Flower, How the Other Half Loves, and The Club.

His Famous Role in Neighbours

Today, Tom Oliver is most famous for playing Lou Carpenter in Neighbours. He first appeared in a few episodes in 1988 as Lou, a charming used-car salesman and Madge Bishop's old boyfriend. In early 1992, the character was brought back to the show and became a very important character until 2016.

Tom Oliver was written out of the show in 1996, but fans sent many requests, so the producers brought him back quickly. By 2009, he was the longest-serving character on Neighbours. From 2009, Tom Oliver worked less on Neighbours, becoming a part-time actor on the show. In March 2015, he appeared in a special TV show celebrating Neighbours' 30th anniversary, called Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite.

In 2015, it was announced that Tom would only appear as a guest from time to time. In October 2016, it was shared that he had left the role after 24 years. His last episode aired in December 2016. Lou was not in the very last episode of Neighbours, but there was a small nod to his character: a lawyer's office called "T Oliver". The show's producer, Jason Herbison, said he asked Tom Oliver to return for the final episode, but Tom decided not to, as he was "at a different point in his life now."

Awards and Recognition

Tom Oliver was nominated three times for the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. This award recognizes great acting in Australian films and TV shows.

Tom Oliver's Personal Life

While he was acting in Number 96, Tom Oliver married his fellow actor Lynn Rainbow. She played Sonia Vansard in the show. They also opened a wine bar together in Kensington, Sydney, called "Jack's Cellar."

Tom Oliver has been married to his current wife, Jan, since 1985. While he was acting on Neighbours, he had a dog named Lou, which was a mix of a Maltese and a Shih Tzu. He loves gardening and fishing in the mountains.

Tom Oliver has one daughter.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Appearances as Himself

As Producer

Theatre Performances

See also

In Spanish: Tom Oliver para niños