Walter Pym (actor)

Walter Pym
Born7 April 1905
Petersham, New South Wales, Australia
Died22 January 1980 (aged 74)
Prahran, Victoria, Australia
Occupation(s)Actor, radio producer, studio manager
Years active1929–1981
Known forEnd Play (1976)
Mouth to Mouth (1978)
Patrick (1978)
Thirst (1979)
The Box (1974)
The Unisexers (1975)
SpouseIvy Ray (1928–1963)
Children1

Walter Pym (7 April 1905– 22 January 1980) was an Australian actor and producer best known for his extensive experience in radio, during the 1940s and 1950s.

Early life

Pym was born on 7 April 1905, in the Sydney suburb of Petersham.

Career

In 1938, Pym became the studio and production manager at Melbourne radio station 3UZ. He acted in, as well as produced and directed numerous radio serials and plays during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s for Australasian Radio Productions, Artransa, Crawford Productions and Grace Gibson Productions.[1]

He also featured in film and television, making his screen debut in 1943 propaganda short film South West Pacific as Bill, the Sailor. His other film credits include war film The Rats of Tobruk (1944), sport comedy The Great Macarthy (1975) with John Jarratt, thriller End Play (1976) alongside John Waters and George Mallaby, John Duigan award-winning film Mouth to Mouth (1978), Ozploitation horror films Patrick (1978) and Thirst (1979), and adventure film The Earthling (1980) opposite child actor Ricky Schroder.

He also appeared in the TV plays Miss Mabel (1958), The Seagull (1959) and The Tempest (1963).

Pym had a recurring role in television soap opera The Box (1974) as Sid Merrymore for 27 episodes, and a main role in soap opera The Unisexers (1975) as Angus Melody for all 16 episodes. He also featured in numerous miniseries, including period drama Stormy Petrel (1960) about William Bligh, country period drama Serpent in the Rainbow (1973), colonial series Luke's Kingdom (1976), historical drama Against the Wind (1978) and Ride on Stranger (1979).

Additionally, he made numerous guest appearances in series such as Whiplash, Jonah, Consider Your Verdict, Pukemanu, Ryan, Homicide, Matlock Police, Prisoner, Cop Shop and Young Ramsay.

His final screen appearance was in television short The Cliffhanger in 1981.

Personal life and death

Pym was married to Ivy Ray from 1928 until 1963, and had one son. He died in Prahran, Melbourne, on 22 January 1980, aged 74.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1943 South West Pacific Bill, the Sailor Short film
1944 The Rats of Tobruk
1975 The Great Macarthy
1976 End Play Stanley Lipton
1978 Mouth to Mouth Fred
1978 Patrick Captain Fraser
1979 Thirst Ditcher
1980 The Earthling Uncle

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1958 Miss Mabel The Lawyer TV play
1959 The Seagull Ilya TV play
1960 Stormy Petrel Lt. General Keppel Miniseries, 1 episode
1961 Whiplash Oscar Wenders / Mr Poole 3 episodes
1962 Jonah Wilkins 1 episode
1963 The Tempest Sebastian TV play
1964 Consider Your Verdict Julius Armstrong 1 episode
1971 Pukemanu 1 episode
1973 Serpent in the Rainbow Miniseries
1974 Ryan Professor Melton 1 episode
1974 Homicide Charlie McCoy / Bill Byrne 1 episode
1974 The Box Sid Merrymore 27 episodes
1974–1976 Matlock Police Stumpy Farrell / Scrounger / Elliot Barker 3 episodes
1975 The Unisexers Angus Melody 16 episodes
1976 Luke's Kingdom Dinner Guest Miniseries, 1 episode
1978 Against the Wind Judge Advocate Miniseries, 1 episode
1979 Prisoner Angus 1 episode
1979 Ride on Stranger Bishop Steele Miniseries, 1 episode
1977–1980 Cop Shop Laurie Whitford / Charles White / Grandpa Mervyn 5 episodes
1980 Young Ramsay Bloke in Pub 1 episode
1981 The Cliffhanger Old Man Short TV movie

Theatre

As actor

Year Title Role Notes
1929 It Pays to Advertise Ellcry Clarke Theatre Royal Sydney with Nellie Bramley Company[2]
1946 The Corn is Green Minerva Theatre, Sydney with Whitehall Productions
1947 Youth at the Helm Minerva Theatre, Sydney with Whitehall Productions
1952–1953 The White Sheep of the Family Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Adelaide, Tivoli Theatre, Sydney
1952 Dick Whittington and His Cat Princess Theatre, Melbourne
1960 Charley's Aunt Elizabethan Theatre, Sydney with AETT
1962 The Ham Funeral Palace Theatre, Sydney with AETT
1962–1963 The Sound of Music Baron Eberfeld Tivoli Theatre, Sydney, Elizabethan Theatre, Sydney with AETT
1964 King Henry V Charles VI Tent Theatre, Adelaide, Tent Theatre, Sydney with AETT
1964 Carousel Star Keeper / Dr. Seldon Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Tivoli Theatre, Sydney, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Brisbane with AETT
1966 The Fantasticks The Actor Downstage Theatre, Wellington
1967 The Spots of the Leopard Professor Carmody Downstage Theatre, Wellington
1967 The School for Wives Henriques Downstage Theatre, Wellington
1971 As You Like It Corin Mercury Theatre, Auckland
1971 The Country Wife Sir Jasper Fidget Mercury Theatre, Auckland
1971 Serjeant Musgrave's Dance Mayor Mercury Theatre, Auckland
1971 Canterbury Tales Miller Mercury Theatre, Auckland
1972 Charley’s Aunt Stephen Spettigue Mercury Theatre, Auckland
1972 Macrune's Guevara The Questioner Mercury Theatre, Auckland
1972 A Man for All Seasons Cardinal Wolsey Mercury Theatre, Auckland
1972 Conduct Unbecoming The Doctor Mercury Theatre, Auckland
1972 Kean Solomon His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland with Auckland Theatre Trust & Mercury Theatre
1972 The Skin of Our Teeth Judge / 3rd Convener / Mr Tremayne Mercury Theatre, Auckland
1972 Love's Labour's Lost Constable Dull Mercury Theatre, Auckland
1972 Guys and Dolls Arvide Abernathy Mercury Theatre, Auckland
1978 Jumpers Crouch Nimrod Theatre, Sydney

As director

Year Title Role Notes
1949 Ah, Wilderness! Director University of Melbourne with Tin Alley Players[3]
1951 Desert Highway Director University of Melbourne, National Theatre, Melbourne, Hobart with Tin Alley Players
1952 Montserrat Director University of Melbourne with Tin Alley Players
1962–1963 The Sound of Music Producer Tivoli Theatre, Sydney, Elizabethan Theatre, Sydney with AETT
1968 The Corn is Green Director Repertory Theatre, Christchurch with Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society
1969 Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be Director Christchurch, New Zealand with Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society
1969 Barefoot in the Park Director Christchurch with Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society
1970 Arms and the Man Director Christchurch with Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society
1970 The Facts of Life Director Christchurch with Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society

[4]

Radio

As actor

Year Title Role Notes
1940s Drama Time Actor AWA radio series on 2CH[1]
1941 Imperial Leader Lord Salisbury Legionnaire radio series on 2UE & 3UZ[5][6]
1942 The Heroic Past Actor Radio series on 2UE[7]
1943 The Better Road ABC Radio Sydney radio play[8]
1944–1947 Nyal Radio Playhouse Actor Grace Gibson Productions radio series on 2CH[1]
1947 Opera for the People Actor Crawford Productions radio series[9]
1948 Burtons of Banner Street Actor Radio series on 3AW[1]
1950s–1960s Pinnochio Actor Australasian Radio Productions radio series[1]
1950s–1960s The Renegade Actor Australasian Radio Productions radio series[1]
1951 Ned Kelly Living Radio Repertory radio play[10]
1954–1956 Assignment in Athens Actor Australasian Radio Productions radio series, episodes 2 & 4[11]
1956 Unknown Quantity Actor Grace Gibson Productions radio series, episode 1
1967 Who Treads Alone Mr Dennis Radio Broadcast, New Zealand radio play with YC Radio Network[12]
1967 Measure for Measure Escalus NZBC Studios, Wellington radio play[13]
1979 London Assurance Max Harkaway ABC Radio Melbourne radio play[14]
1979 Cymbeline Belarius ABC Radio Melbourne radio play[15]
Lady from Lisbon Actor [16]

As director / producer

Year Title Role Notes
1940s Musical Comedy Theatre Contributor Artransa radio series[1]
1940s–1950s Caltex Theatre Producer Radio series[1]
1944 The Army Hour Producer Radio series[17]
1950s Enchanted Island Director Australasian Radio Productions radio series on 3KZ[1]
1950s You Are There Producer Artransa radio series on Macquarie Network[1]
1950s Strange Stories of the Seas Producer Artransa radio series on 3DB[1]
1950s–1960s Eight Hour Alibi Director Australasian Radio Productions radio series[1]
1950s–1960s Legend Director Australasian Radio Productions radio series[1]
1950s–1960s Question Mark Producer Australasian Radio Productions radio series[1]
1950s–1960s The Renegade Producer Australasian Radio Productions radio series[1]
1950s–1960s Room 25 Director Australasian Radio Productions radio series[1]
1950s–1960s Where Did it Come From Producer Australasian Radio Productions radio series[1]
1951– Truth is Stranger Director Artransa radio series[1]
1954 Tarzan, King of the Apes Producer Radio series on 2GB[18][1]
1954–1958 The Air Adventures of Hop Harrigan Producer Artransa radio series on Macquarie Network[1]
Late 1950s The Passionate Years Producer Fidelity Radio radio series on 2UW[1]
1963 The Letter from Spain Director EMI radio series[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Australian Radio Series (1930s–1970s)" (PDF). National Film and Sound Archive.
  2. ^ "Theatre Royal". The Telegraph, Brisbane. 15 April 1929.
  3. ^ "Ah, Wilderness! | Melbourne University Student Theatre Archive". University of Melbourne. 15 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Walter Pym theatre credits". AusStage.
  5. ^ "Imperial Leader". National Film and Sound Archive.
  6. ^ "Imperial Leader – The Life of Winston Churchill". Radio Archives.
  7. ^ "The Heroic Past". National Film and Sound Archive.
  8. ^ "The Better Road". AusStage.
  9. ^ "Opera for the People". National Film and Sound Archive.
  10. ^ "Opera for the People". ABC Weekly. 3 February 1951.
  11. ^ "Assignment in Athens". National Film and Sound Archive.
  12. ^ "Who Treads Alone". AusStage.
  13. ^ "Measure for Measure". AusStage.
  14. ^ "London Assurance". AusStage.
  15. ^ "Cymbeline". AusStage.
  16. ^ "Lady from Lisbon". National Film and Sound Archive.
  17. ^ "The Army Hour". ABC Weekly. 18 November 1944.
  18. ^ "Tarzan and Jane Down Under". ERBzine.
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