
John Waters
View on IMDb ↗John Waters (born December 8, 1948) is one of Australia's most recognised and respected film and theatre actors. He was born in London England, the middle of five children of Scottish actor, Russell Waters. As a child John often hung around film studios while dad worked and even starred in a few young parts. He first faced a live audience as a singer and bass player with 60s R & R Band The Riots and appeared in Macbeth before travelling to Australia in 1968 with only a guitar and $90. He soon heard a US film called Adam's Woman, starring Beau Bridges, was being filmed in NSW so he managed to get himself cast in a small role. Fellow cast members recommended he try auditioning for a musical. He did, and landed the lead role of Claude in Sydney's 1969 production of the landmark rock musical, Hair. This was followed by the role of Judas in Godspell. This led to an acting career on stage, film and television that elevated him to his current status as Australia's most versatile leading man. From the brooding Sgt. McKellar Of ABC TV's Rush in 1974 which earned him a Logie Award for Best New Talent, through the Australian film boom that followed with films such as End Play, Summerfield, Breaker Morant, and on to the mini-series of the 80's, All The Rivers Run, Nancy Wake and Alice To Nowhere. Not to be forgotten was his ten year stint as host of childrens ABC program PlaySchool. John has always intrigued audiences with his diversity. Since collecting Australia's highest accolade as the Australian Film Institute's Best Actor Award in 1988 for the film Boulevard of Broken Dreams, John has re-embraced musical theatre as Professor Higgins in My Fair Lady, and They're Playing Our Song, and in productions of The Hunting of the Snark for Mike Batt, and A Little Night Music for the Sydney Theatre Company. He has also appeared in Love Letters at the Sydney Opera House and Children of a Lesser God. In 1995 he appeared in ReUnion a rock musical written and financed by himself and Stewart D'Arrietta. He won unanimous acclaim in the role of Pontius Pilate in the 1992 concert version of Jesus Christ Superstar with John Farnham, Kate Ceberano, Jon Stevens and Angry Anderson which successfully toured the nation. He has made guest appearances in various TV series, including Good Guys Bad Guys, The Man From Snowy River, All Together Now and Young Lions. John's self written one man show Looking Through a Glass Onion, based on the life of John Lennon, toured nationally and regularly since 1992 and also played six months in London's West End in 1995.
Known for
Filmography (79)
- 2024
Better ManMichael Parkinson - 2024
The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy(voice) - 2024
The RoosterNorris - 2022
Darby and JoanIan Kirkhope - 2022
BlazeMagistrate - 2020
Halifax: RetributionRyan - 2020
The EndHenry - 2020
Miss Fisher and the Crypt of TearsProfessor Linnaeus - 2018
Mystery RoadTravis James - 2017
2:22Bill - 2017
Three SummersEamon - 2014
ANZAC GirlsColonel Thomas Fiaschi - 2013
The Doctor Blake MysteriesBernie Thompson - 2013
Mickey Mouse(voice) - 2013
Return to Nim's IslandBooker - 2012
The Mystery of a Hansom CabMark Frettlby - 2011
Bubble GuppiesBaron von Bland (voice) - 2011
KapyongNarrator - 2010
Offspring - 2010
Centre PlaceJack Houghton - 2009
Celebrity Ghost StoriesSelf - 2009
Talkin' 'Bout Your GenerationSelf - Contestant - 2008
Not Quite HollywoodSelf - 2008
UnderbellyJohn Hatton MP - 2008
Who Do You Think You Are?Self - 2007
Ten Pound PomsNarrator - 2006
Carnivore RefluxNarrator - 2006Telling Schoolgirl Tales: The Making of 'The Getting of Wisdom’Self
- 2006The BouncerDave
- 2005
StealthBlack Ops Doctor - 2004
Wonders of Australia's National ParksNarrator - 2004
FirefliesPerry Luscombe - 2003
Totally Gay!Self - 2003
Evil Never DiesProfessor Arkin - 2002
Young LionsSenior Detective Bill Martin - 1999
The Lost WorldLento - 1999
The Sugar FactorySam Lejeune - 1999
Chameleon II: Death MatchHenry Kubica - 1998
All SaintsMike Vlasek - 1998
The Real MacawDr. Lance Hagen - 1997
Good Guys, Bad GuysOscar Drake - 1995Singapore Sling: Midnight OrchidJohn Stamford
- 1994
Singapore SlingJohn Stamford - 1994
The Man from Snowy RiverDamien Winters - 1994
EbbtideMichael Suresch - 1992
Jesus Christ SuperstarPontius Pilate - 1991
KellyMr. Nichols - 1991
Which Way HomeSteve Hannah - 1990
All The Rivers Run IIBrenton Edwards - 1990
Heaven TonightJohnny Dysart - 1990The Rivers RunBrenton Edwards
- 1988
Captain JohnnoFrank - 1988
Boulevard of Broken DreamsTom Garfield - 1988
Grievous Bodily HarmMorris Martin - 1987
Nancy WakeHenri Fiocca - 1987
The Christmas VisitorPatrick O'Day - 1987
The Last of the MohicansHawkeye Bumppo (voice) - 1987
Passion FlowerLeslie Gaitland - 1987
Going SaneMartin Brown - 1986
Alice to NowhereJohnny Parson - 1985I Can't Get Started
- 1985
The PerfectionistStuart Gunn - 1984
High CountryBen Lomax - 1983
All the Rivers RunBrenton Edwards - 1982
Attack Force ZTed King - 1980
Breaker MorantCpt. Alfred Taylor - 1979
The Prophecies of NostradamusHost - 1979
Demolition - 1978
Weekend of ShadowsRabbit - 1978
The Scalp Merchant - 1978
CassMike - 1977
SummerfieldDavid Abbott - 1977
The Getting of WisdomRev. Shepherd - 1976The Haunting of Hewie DowkerHewie Dowker
- 1976
End PlayMark Gifford - 1976
The SullivansChris Merchant - 1976
The Adventures of Eliza FraserDavid Bracefell - 1974
RushSergeant Robert McKellar - —Nothing, Number 2Cameron Kerr
Wonders of Australia's National Parks
Young Lions
All The Rivers Run II
Nancy Wake
Kelly
Captain Johnno
Fireflies
Singapore Sling
The Christmas Visitor
The Perfectionist