CINEFILER

John Waters

Born
December 8, 1948
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
2:22
(2017)
Bill
Stealth
(2005)
Black Ops Doctor
Breaker Morant
(1980)
Cpt. Alfred Taylor
Return to Nim's Island
(2013)
Booker
Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears
(2020)
Professor Linnaeus
Blaze
(2022)
Magistrate
Attack Force Z
(1982)
Ted King
Not Quite Hollywood
(2008)
Self
Summerfield
(1977)
David Abbott
Totally Gay!
(2003)
Self
Full Filmography
Acting
End Play
(1976)
Mark Gifford
The Adventures of Eliza Fraser
(1976)
David Bracefell
The Haunting of Hewie Dowker
(1976)
Hewie Dowker
Summerfield
(1977)
David Abbott
The Getting of Wisdom
(1977)
Rev. Shepherd
Weekend of Shadows
(1978)
Rabbit
The Scalp Merchant
(1978)
Cass
(1978)
Mike
Demolition
(1979)
The Prophecies of Nostradamus
(1979)
Host
Breaker Morant
(1980)
Cpt. Alfred Taylor
Attack Force Z
(1982)
Ted King
High Country
(1984)
Ben Lomax
The Perfectionist
(1985)
Stuart Gunn
I Can't Get Started
(1985)
Bushfire Moon
(1987)
Patrick O'Day
Passion Flower
(1987)
Leslie Gaitland
Going Sane
(1987)
Martin Brown
The Last of the Mohicans
(1987)
Hawkeye Bumppo (voice)
Grievous Bodily Harm
(1988)
Morris Martin
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
(1988)
Tom Garfield
Captain Johnno
(1988)
Frank
Heaven Tonight
(1990)
Johnny Dysart
Which Way Home
(1991)
Steve Hannah
Jesus Christ Superstar
(1992)
Pontius Pilate
Ebbtide
(1994)
Michael Suresch
Singapore Sling
(1994)
John Stamford
The Real Macaw
(1998)
Dr. Lance Hagen
The Sugar Factory
(1999)
Sam Lejeune
Chameleon II: Death Match
(1999)
Henry Kubica
Evil Never Dies
(2003)
Professor Arkin
Totally Gay!
(2003)
Self
Stealth
(2005)
Black Ops Doctor
Carnivore Reflux
(2006)
Narrator
Telling Schoolgirl Tales: The Making of 'The Getting of Wisdom’
(2006)
Self
Ten Pound Poms
(2007)
Narrator
Not Quite Hollywood
(2008)
Self
Centre Place
(2010)
Jack Houghton
Kapyong
(2011)
Narrator
The Mystery of a Hansom Cab
(2012)
Mark Frettlby
Return to Nim's Island
(2013)
Booker
Three Summers
(2017)
Eamon
2:22
(2017)
Bill
Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears
(2020)
Professor Linnaeus
Blaze
(2022)
Magistrate
The Rooster
(2024)
Norris
Data provided by TMDB