Steve J. Spears

Steve J. Spears
Born Steven John Peter Spears
22 January 1951
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Died 16 October 2007
Aldinga, South Australia
Occupation Playwright, writer, actor, singer

Steven John Peter Spears (22 January 1951 – 16 October 2007) professionally Steve J. Spears was an Australian playwright, actor, writer and singer. His most famous work was The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin (1976). He was cited as "one of Australia's most celebrated playwrights".[1]

Biography

Early life

Spears was born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1951 and, after his parents separated when he was very young,[2] grew up with relatives in the suburb of Mile End.[3] He studied Law at the University of Adelaide, but through writing and performing student revues, was distracted into a career in the theatre.[2][3]

Sydney

Spears moved to Sydney in the 1970s. In his own words, he was a "born-again Sydney-sider".[4]

Later life

Spears died in Aldinga, South Australia from brain cancer in 2007, aged only 56.[5]

Plays

Spears' theatrical works include:

His final theatre work was The Dance Angelic (1995).[6]

Acting work

Television

Spears appeared in A Country Practice (1981), Hey Dad! (1988), G.P. (1989), Heartbreak High (2004).[2][7]

Film

Among other roles, Spears played the lead in Temperament Unsuited and "The Mechanic", a wheelchair-using paraplegic, in Mad Max 2.[4][7]

Voice work

Spears also supplied the voice of Lion in the popular children's TV series Magic Mountain for ABC TV, Southern Star Entertainment and China Central Television.

Stage

Spears played "Eddie" and "Doctor Scott" in a 1981 Sydney production of Jim Sharman's The Rocky Horror Show.[4][8]

Writing

Over his career, Spears wrote prolifically for television. His credits include:

A Country Practice
Hey Dad..!
All Together Now
Neighbours
E Street
G.P.
Heartbreak High
the children's series The Genie From Down Under[9] (including the first episode Wishing and Hoping)
the children's animated series The Greatest Tune on Earth for the Australian Children's Television Foundation and Seven Network.
the children's animated series Fairy Tale Police Department for Yoram Gross-EM.TV and Seven Network.
which, with co-writer John Hepworth was published by Puffin (1990) ISBN 0140144625

Spears wrote an "anti-memoir"[4] "In Search of the Bodgie", published in 1989

In 2004, Spears' detective novel "Murder at the Fortnight" was published. It was planned as the first of a thirteen part series, "The Pentangeli Papers", but only the second, "Innocent Murders" (2006) was published before his death.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Hornery, Andrew; Ben Wyld (2002-11-24). "Theatre yarn starts to unravel". www.smh.com.au Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  2. 1 2 3 George, Rob (2008-11-28). "Steve J Spears 1951–2007 An Excellent Obit.". Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  3. 1 2 "AustLit Agent". www.austlit.edu.au. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Spears, Steve (1989). In Search of the Bodgie. Sydney: Imprint (Collins Publishers Australia). p. 162. ISBN 0-7322-2524-8.
  5. ↑ Morgan, Clare (2007-10-17). "Playwright loses his cancer struggle". www.smh.com.au Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  6. ↑ "STEVE J SPEARS". Doollee.com, The Playwrights Database. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
  7. 1 2 "Steve J. Spears". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  8. ↑ "The Rocky Horror Show (Australian Cast) (1981)". www.rockymusic.org. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  9. ↑ IMDb filmography for "Steve J. Spears" accessed 20 March 2011
  10. ↑ "Books by Steve J. Spears". www.biblio.com. Retrieved 2009-01-25.

External links

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