John Meillon

• Name — John Meillon • Born — 1 May 1934 • Birthplace — Mosman, New South Wales, Australia • Died — 11 August 1989 • Place of death — Neutral Bay, New South Wales, Australia • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1945–1988 • Children — 2

Meillon was born in Mosman, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, the eldest child of three children to Theodor Boesan Meillon, a clerk, and Florence Beatrice 'Jill', née Callaghan. He had an elder sister, Laurel, a younger sister, Lynne, and his younger brother was director Bob Meillon (1943–2012). Meillon attended Mosman Church of England Preparatory and Sydney Grammar schools. As a child he performed at the Mosman Children's Theatre Club, of which his parents were founding members. At the age of 15, in 1949, Meillon won the N.S.W. Junior Diving Championship.

In 1945 Meillon made his radio debut in the ABC's Bush Christmas, at the age of eleven. He played the title role in the ABC's 1947 radio serial of Ruth Park’s Stumpy. He played an Aboriginal boy in The Search for the Golden Boomerang on 2UW. Other ABC children’s serial credits included The Gangos, Land of the Rainbow and Budge's Gang. Other roles included Young David in David Copperfield on 2CH and Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island. Further radio plays and series included The Cadbury Show, Rebecca, On the Waterfront and Blue Hills. Meillon made his stage debut in 1946 as Master Wakefield in Whiteoaks at Sydney's Independent Theatre. His first professional performance was in 1948, with the lead role of Ronnie Winslow in The Winslow Boy at the Minerva Theatre. From 1951 at the age of 17, until 1952, he joined the John Alden Shakespeare Company, performing in productions such as King Lear, A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Merchant of Venice. At the same age, he joined one of Australia's largest advertising agencies as assistant director of radio. He appeared in Death of a Salesman and Winter Journey, before touring Australia and New Zealand in a 1956 J. C. Williamson's production of The Reluctant Debutante. In 1958 he appeared opposite his then wife, June Salter in Phillip Street Theatre’s Cross Section. Meillon returned to Australia from the UK in 1964 to appear on stage in Rattle of a Simple Man opposite Salter. Meillon claimed that he learned discipline while working in theatre, and that television was not a good medium for training. Meillon was appointed an OBE in the 1979 Queen's Birthday Honours, for service to theatre.

With his rich baritone, Meillon was used extensively in voice-over work – most famously in his work as the Victoria Bitter narrator who says "you can get it any old how". The VB campaign ran for two decades until Meillon’s death in 1989. With the approval of the Meillon family, Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) has continued to use his voice through digital remastering and by recutting the original recordings. He also voiced television commercials for Berger Paints NSW.

In 1977, Meillon released the single "Tap Tap"/"Picture Show Man", which peaked at number 80 on the Australian singles chart.

Meillon married Australian actress June Salter in 1958 and they had one son, John Meillon, Jr., also an actor. Meillon and Salter were divorced in 1971, but remained friends. Meillon married English-born actress Rita 'Bunny' Gibson on 5 April 1972 at Crows Nest Methodist Church. They also had a son. In June 1980, Meillon's favourite pub, The Oaks at Neutral Bay, opened The John Meillon OBE Bar in his honour. He continued to frequent the bar over the following decade, including visiting in the week before his death.

Meillon died from cirrhosis at his home in Neutral Bay, Sydney, on 11 August 1989. Meillon was posthumously awarded the Raymond Longford Lifetime Achievement Award.

• Year — Production — Role — Type • 1957 — Rope — TV play • 1959 — Shell Presents — Everett / Traveller — Anthology series, 2 episodes: "Thunder of Silence", "A Tongue of Silver" • 1960 — Inside Story — George Webster — Episode: "A Girl for George" • Probation Officer — John Reynolds — 1 episode • Chasing the Dragon — Sub-Inspector Martin — TV play • A Moon for the Misbegotten — James Tyrone — TV play • 1960–1961 — No Hiding Place — Phil Hayward / Leslie Mason — 2 episodes • 1961 — One Step Beyond — Henry Soames — Anthology series, episode: "Eyewitness" • A Chance of Thunder — Martin — 6 episodes • 1961–1962 — Armchair Theatre — Harry Hopkins / Michael Beckford — Anthology series, 2 episodes • 1962 — Compact — Harvey Flinders — Episode: "Press Reception" • The Caucasian Chalk Circle — Azdak — | Miniseries, 2 episodes • 1962–1963 — Drama 61-67 — Teddy / Jim Driscoll — Anthology series, 2 episodes: "No Decision", "Rosemary" • 1962; 1965 — Edgar Wallace Mysteries — Ross Williams / Johnnie Gordon — 2 episodes: "Death Trap'", "Dead Man's Chest" • 1963 — BBC Sunday-Night Play — Mr Rogers — Anthology series, episode: "The Remarkable Incident at Carson Corners" • The Plane Makers — Davey Rankin — 2 episodes • Man of the World — Major Teong — Episode: '"The Enemy" • Teletale — Raymond Parker — Anthology series, episode: "The Black Madonna" • ITV Television Playhouse — Stan / Brian Davey — Anthology series, 2 episodes: "Beachhead", "They Don't Make Summers Like They Used To" • 1963–1967 — ITV Play of the Week — Halfdeck Escourt / Cpl. Ernest / Steve Moriarty — 3 episodes • 1964 — First Night — Bluey — Anthology series, episode: "Day of the Drongo" • The Third Man — Bill — Episode: "A Crisis in Crocodiles" • ITV Sunday Night Drama — Peter — Anthology series, episode: "Sunday Mystery Theatre: "Weekend at Willaburra" • A Local Boy — TV play • 1965 — The Recruiting Officer — Plume — TV play • The Worker — J.A. Deerfoot — Episode: "A Democratic Democratism" • Armchair Mystery Theatre — Mallory — Anthology series, episode: "The Hunter" • The Troubleshooters — Conway — Episode: "The Way It Crumbles" • Riviera Police — Lew Scarsdale — Episode: "Take it Sideways and Pray" • Out of the Unknown — Dr. Sheffield — Episode: "Sucker Bait" • 1966 — Arthur! And the Square Knights of the Round Table — King Arthur (voice) — Animated series, 3 episodes • 1966–1968 — My Name's McGooley, What's Yours? — Wally Stiller — 88 episodes • 1968 — Rita and Wally — Wally — 8 episodes • 1969 — Riptide — Luke Russell — Episode: "Flight of the Curlew" • 1969; 1970 — Skippy — Nimble Norris — 2 episodes • 1970 — Woobinda, Animal Doctor — Episode: "The Loaded Message" • The Rovers — Bruce Hunter — Episode: "A Touch of Yellow" • The Link Men — Bert Whitman — Episode: "Somebody's Kid Is Missing" • Delta — Jim Garrick — Episode: "The Short Sell" • Australian Plays — Wally Sillerish / Producer / Tom — Anthology series, 2 episodes: "Face of a Man", "The Juggler" • Division 4 — Morgan — Episode: "Dark Afternoon" • 1971 — Matlock Police — Ernie Parker — Episode: "Pressure Point" • Dynasty — Walter McGarren Jr — Episode: "Full Circle" • Bellbird — 16 episodes • Bachelor Gaye — Sid Gaye • 1971; 1972 — Spyforce — Owen Davies / John Carpenter • 1971–1973 — The Comedy Game — Lift Mechanic — 4 episodes • 1972 — The Far Country — Miniseries, 6 episodes • Lane End — Ray Dunlop — 7 episodes • 1972–1973 — Over There — Cyril Kirby — 25 episodes • 1973 — Homicide — Constable Laurie Nolan — Episode: "The Kooranda Killing" • The Evil Touch — Sam Field — Episode: "The Homecoming" • 1974 — The Fourth Wish — James Casey — Miniseries • Escape from Singapore — Narrator — TV movie • 1976 — Arena — Bernie Gold — TV movie • Luke's Kingdom — Corporal Morris — Episode: "Devil's Man" • 1977 — The Outsiders — Bill Picker — Episode: "Opal Strike" • 1978 — Case for the Defence — Robert Lattimer — Episode: "The Family Way" • Tickled Pink — Harry — Episode: "Palace of Dreams" • Bit Part — Tommy — TV movie • Shimmering Light — Eric Stuart — TV movie • Father, Dear Father in Australia — George Randall — Episode: "A Home from Home" • 1980 — Timelapse — Premier Dakin — 12 episodes • 1983 — The Dismissal — Sir John Kerr — Miniseries, 3 episodes • Scales of Justice — Barry Barnes, Deputy State Premier — Miniseries, episode: "The Numbers" • 1985 — A Country Practice — Mr Smith — 2 episodes • The Man in the Iron Mask — Porthos — Animated TV movie • The Dunera Boys — Brigadier Templeton — Miniseries, 2 episodes • 1986 — The Blue Lightning — Dr William Giles — TV movie • King Solomon's Mines — Captain John Goode — Animated TV movie • 1988 — Outback Bound — Nobby — TV movie

• Year — Production — Role — Type • 1946 — Whiteoaks — Master Wakefield — Independent Theatre, Sydney • Dick Whittington — The Hero — Mosman Children's Theatre, Sydney • 1947 — The Water Babies — Theatre Royal Sydney with J. C. Williamson's • 1948 — The First Joanna — Phillip Deveron — Metropolitan Theatre, Sydney • The Guinea Pig — Minerva Theatre, Sydney with Whitehall Productions • A Midsummer Night's Dream — Puck — Metropolitan Theatre, Sydney, Killara Soldiers Memorial Hall • The Winslow Boy — Ronnie Winslow — Minerva Theatre, Sydney with Whitehall Productions • 1949 — Pirates at the Barn — Michael — Darlington Deaf & Dumb Institute, Minerva Theatre, Sydney with Mosman Children's Theatre • 1950 — The Tragedy of Julius Caesar — Independent Theatre, Sydney • The Pied Piper of Hamelin — Theatre Royal Sydney with J. C. Williamson's • 1951 — Hamlet — Laertes — Metropolitan Theatre, Sydney • 1951–1952 — King Lear — Theatre Royal, Adelaide, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Albert Hall, Canberra with John Alden Company • A Midsummer Night's Dream — Theatre Royal, Adelaide, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne with John Alden Company • 1952 — The Merchant of Venice — Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Adelaide, Albert Hall, Canberra with John Alden Company • The Merry Wives of Windsor — Servant • The Winter's Tale — Servant — His Majesty's Theatre, Perth • 1953 — Death of a Salesman — Hap — Independent Theatre Sydney • 1955 — Top of the Bill — Phillip St Theatre, Sydney • Hamlet • Winter Journey — Independent Theatre, Sydney • 1955–1956 — Happy Returns — Phillip St Theatre, Sydney • 1956 — The Reluctant Debutante — David Bullock — Theatre Royal Sydney, His Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Theatre Royal, Adelaide & NZ tour with J. C. Williamson's • 1957–1958 — Cross Section — Phillip St Theatre, Sydney • 1964 — Rattle of a Simple Man • 1965 — The Recruiting Officer — ABC TV Studios, Sydney • 1970 — Face of a Man — Majestic Cinemas, Sydney • 1972 — The Dock Brief — AMP Theatrette, Sydney with Q Theatre Company • 1979 — The Club — Jack — Newcastle Civic Theatre with Hunter Valley Theatre Company • 1980 — Born in the Gardens — Mo — Theatre Royal Sydney with Knightsbridge Theatrical Productions

• Year — Production — Role — Type • 1940s–1950s — Medical File — Grace Gibson Productions • 1941 — The Search for the Golden Boomerang — Aboriginal boy — 2UW, 2KO • 1944 — Bush Christmas — ABC Radio • 1945 — The Gangos — Bricky — ABC Radio • 1947 — Stumpy — Stumpy — ABC Radio • Treasure Island — Jim Hawkins • David Copperfield — Young David — 2CH • 1950s — Cadbury Show — 2GB • 1951–1952 — Dossier on Dumetrius — Major Gregory Keen — Grace Gibson Productions • 1954 — Fat Man — 2UW • c.1954 — Stairway to Fame — Grace Gibson Productions • 1955 — On the Waterfront — Terry — The General Motors Hour • 1956 — A Bullet Is Waiting — 2UW / 4BC • 1956– — Around the World in 80 Days — Grace Gibson Productions • 1958 — They're a Weird Mob — Nino • 1959 — From Here to Eternity — Maggio — The General Motors Hour • 1959– — Squad Room — Jim Brady — Grace Gibson Productions • c.1959– — Command Performance • 1960s — Cop this Lot — Grace Gibson Productions • Budge's Gang — ABC Radio • Land of the Rainbow — ABC Radio • Candle in the Wind • Rebecca • Blue Hills • Death of a Salesman — Riff • Adopted Son — Vincent

List of singles, with Australian chart positions • Year — Title — Peak chart positions • AUS • 1967 — "Hot Pie and Tomato Sauce" — - • 1977 — "Tap Tap"/"Picture Show Man" (with John Ewart) — 80 • 1987 — "The One That Got Away" (with Tommy Moeller) — -

In 1961, Meillon had an early recurring role in the British television series A Chance of Thunder as Martin for 6 episodes. Meillon had a lead role in the television sitcom My Name's McGooley, What's Yours? as Wally Stiller from 1966 to 1968. In 1968 he co-starred in the spin off, Rita and Wally. In 1968 and 1969, he was featured in two episodes of Skippy as Nimble Norris. In 1971, he had a recurring role in Bellbird for 16 episodes. In 1972, he played Ray Dunlop in Lane End for 7 episodes, and from 1972 to 1973 he had a regular part as Cyril Kirby in Over There. He played the role of James Casey in the 1984 miniseries version of The Fourth Wish. In 1980, he appeared as Premier Dakin in Timelapse. In 1984 he appeared in the miniseries The Dismissal, for which he won a Logie Award. He made guest appearances on numerous series including Riptide, The Rovers, The Link Men, Delta, Division 4, Matlock Police, Dynasty, Spyforce, Homicide, Luke's Kingdom, Scales of Justice, A Country Practice (on which his brother Bob Meillon was director) and The Dunera Boys. He also appeared in a number of early Australian TV plays. Meillon's first film role was a small appearance in On the Beach (1959). Like many actors of his generation, Meillon also worked in the UK, his 1960 role in his second film The Sundowners having taken him to London. While there, he consciously steered away from Australian roles. His career flourished abroad, but he returned to Australia in 1964. Meillon starred in several Australian New Wave and Ozploitation films, including They're a Weird Mob (1966), Wake in Fright, Walkabout (both 1971), The Cars That Ate Paris (1974), Sidecar Racers, Inn of the Damned and Ride a Wild Pony (all 1975). He played the role of Casey in the 1976 film The Fourth Wish, winning the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role that same year. Further film roles included The Picture Show Man (1977) for which he was nominated for an Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award, Heatwave (1982), The Wild Duck (1983), earning him a further AFI Award nomination, Frenchman's Farm (1987) and The Everlasting Secret Family (1988), receiving yet another AFI Award nomination for the latter. Meillon is perhaps best known however, for his role as Walter Reilly in the 1986 internationally successful film Crocodile Dundee (alongside Paul Hogan) and its sequel Crocodile Dundee II in 1988.

• Year — Production — Role — Type • 1959 — On the Beach — Ralph Swain — Feature film • 1960 — The Sundowners — Bluey Brown — Feature film • 1961 — The Long and the Short and the Tall — Private 'Smudge'Smith — Feature film • Watch It, Sailor! — Albert Tufnell — Feature film • Offbeat — Johnny Remick — Feature film • 1962 — The Valiant — Bedford — Feature film • Operation Snatch — Medical Officer — Feature film • Billy Budd — Neil Kincaid — Feature film • The Longest Day — Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk (uncredited) — Feature film • Death Trap — Ross Williams — Feature film • 1963 — Cairo — Willy — Feature film • The Running Man — Jim Jerome — Feature film • 1964 — 633 Squadron — Flight Lieutenant Gillibrand — Feature film • Guns at Batasi — Sergeant 'Aussie' Drake — Feature film • 1966 — They're a Weird Mob — Dennis — Feature film • 1971 — Wake in Fright (aka Outback) — Charlie — Feature film • Walkabout — Father — Feature film • 1972 — Sunstruck (aka Education of Stanley Adams) — Mick Cassidy — Feature film • 1974 — The Dove — Tim — Feature film • The Cars That Ate Paris — The Mayor — Feature film • 1975 — Sidecar Racers — Ocker Harvey — Feature film • Inn of the Damned — George Parr — Feature film • Ride a Wild Pony — Charles Quayle — Feature film • 1976 — The Fourth Wish — Casey — Feature film • State of Exchange — Short film • 1977 — Born to Run — Delaney — Feature film • 1977 — The Picture Show Man — Maurice 'Pop' Pym — Feature film • 1982 — Heatwave — Freddie Dwyer — Feature film • 1983 — The Wild Duck — Old Ackland — Feature film • 1984 — The Camel Boy — Voice — Animated feature film • 1986 — Crocodile Dundee — Walter Reilly — Feature film • 1987 — Bullseye — Merritt — Feature film • Frenchman's Farm — Bill Dolan — Feature film • 1988 — The Everlasting Secret Family — The Judge — Feature film • Crocodile Dundee II — Walter Reilly — Feature film • 1989 — Triipe — Father — Short film