Tom Oliver facts for kids

Tom Oliver is a famous British-Australian actor. He was born on June 12, 1938. He is best known for playing Lou Carpenter in the TV show Neighbours. He played Lou for 25 years, making him one of the show's longest-serving actors. Lou was a fun character known for his friendly arguments with Harold Bishop and his special laugh. Tom Oliver stopped acting in 2016.

About Tom Oliver's Life

His Early Years and Adventures

Tom Oliver was born in a place called Chandler's Ford in England. When he was young, he loved acting in plays at school. He also wanted to be a jockey, which is someone who rides horses in races. But he grew too tall for that job.

When he was 16, he joined the Merchant Navy. This meant he traveled the world on ships. In 1956, he moved to Sydney, Australia. While in the British Forces, he worked on Christmas Island. This was a place where nuclear tests happened. Because of this, he is a member of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association.

Moving to Australia and Starting Acting

After his time in the Navy, Tom Oliver worked as a stockman in Australia. This job involves looking after farm animals. He did this for three years, traveling all over the country. He then went back to the UK.

Later, he decided to travel back to Australia by land across Asia. But he got sick and had to return to Britain. In 1963, he moved to Australia for good and became an Australian citizen. He often visits his old friends in Fareham, England.

Tom Oliver's Acting Career

Early Roles on TV

When Tom Oliver moved to Australia, he became a busy actor. He appeared in many TV shows and plays. He often had guest roles in popular police dramas. These included shows like Homicide and Division 4. He also acted in an adventure series called Hunter.

From 1969 to 1971, he played Tom Grey in the TV show Bellbird. He also appeared in the 1971 movie Nickel Queen. In the early 1970s, he acted in some British TV shows too. He even worked as a presenter on the children's show Play School in 1967.

Becoming Famous in Number 96

In 1972, Tom Oliver joined the TV show Number 96. He played a character named Jack Sellars. Jack was a friendly, outgoing person. He was only supposed to be in the show for three weeks. But people loved his acting so much that Jack became a main character. Tom Oliver became one of the most popular actors on Number 96.

In 1973, he also acted in a movie based on the TV show, also called Number 96. He stayed on the show for more than two years. He left in 1974 but came back for a short time in 1975.

More Movies and TV Shows

Tom Oliver continued to act in many films. One of his movie roles was in ABBA: The Movie (1977). In this film, he played ABBA's bodyguard. He also had small roles as a barman and a taxi driver.

Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, he appeared in many Australian TV dramas. These included shows like Prisoner, Holiday Island, and A Country Practice. He also acted in a TV mini-series called The Dismissal.

Acting on Stage

Besides TV and movies, Tom Oliver also performed in many plays. He acted in popular stage shows like Cactus Flower and How the Other Half Loves.

His Long Run in Neighbours

Tom Oliver is most famous for his role as Lou Carpenter in Neighbours. He first appeared in the show in 1988. Lou was a charming used-car salesman and an old friend of Madge Bishop. In 1992, Lou became a main character and stayed on the show until 2016.

In 1996, the writers planned to remove his character from the show. But fans sent many requests, and he was brought back quickly. By 2009, he was the longest-serving character on Neighbours. From 2009, he worked part-time on the show. In 2015, he appeared in a special documentary called Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite. This celebrated the show's 30th anniversary.

In October 2016, it was announced that Tom Oliver had left Neighbours after 24 years. His last episode aired in December 2016. Lou's character was mentioned in the show's final episode, even though Tom Oliver did not appear. The show's producer said he had asked Tom Oliver to return, but the actor decided not to.

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 Australia.

Tom Oliver's Personal Life

While working on Number 96, Tom Oliver married his co-star Lynn Rainbow. She played Sonia Vansard in the show. They even opened a wine bar together called "Jack's Cellar."

Since 1985, Tom Oliver has been married to his American wife, Jan. They lived in the Dandenong Ranges in Australia. Tom Oliver once had a dog named Louey, which was a mix of a Maltese and a Shih Tzu. He named the dog after his Neighbours character, Lou. Tom Oliver also enjoys gardening. He has one daughter.

Film and TV Roles

Movies

Television Shows

Appearances as Himself

As a Producer

Theatre Performances

See also

In Spanish: Tom Oliver para niños