London Times 5/14/09
Australian actor Charles 'Bud' Tingwell dies
Actor Bud Tingwell, who died overnight. He was described by the prime minister Kevin Rudd as an 'Australian legend'
One of Australia’s most loved actors, Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell, died overnight, aged 86. Like a true thespian, he passed away with a script by his bedside.
Acting colleagues, friends and the Australian prime minister have paid tribute to the “true gentleman” of Australian stage and screen, who died in hospital in Melbourne after a battle with prostate cancer.
Outside of Australia he was probably best known for his role as a high court lawyer in the cult 1997 comedy The Castle , but locally he was the face of many roles spanning a 50-year career, from television to the stage and the silver screen.
“Bud Tingwell is in every sense an Australian legend,” the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said.
His last role – filmed just last year - was playing former British prime minister Winston Churchill in a mini-series for the ABC, Australia’s public broadcaster.
Tingwell, nicknamed Bud since he was a child, served with Britain's Royal Air Force during WW2, where he flew photo reconnaissance Spitfires in North Africa.
Tingwell acted in his first movie in 1946 and appeared in over 100 films during his long career, which included a 17-year stint working in Britain. He moved to England in 1956 where he carved out a career as a 'London Aussie', appearing as an Australian surgeon in Emergency – Ward 10 , and as Inspector Craddock in four of the Miss Marple films alongside Dame Margaret Rutherford. He also voiced the character of Mr Bennet in Catweazle as well as characters in The Thunderbirds .
After returning to Australia with his wife and two children in 1973, Tingwell settled in Melbourne and began his long foray in the local entertainment industry.
He had a long-standing role on the police TV drama Homicide and also appeared in the cult TV show Prisoner: Cell Block H , and later enjoyed a recurring role on Neighbours . Tingwell played many small roles in scores of Australian films including Breaker Morant , Puberty Blues and the mini-series All The Rivers Run .
He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1999.
Australian actor Jack Thompson, who worked with Tingwell a number of times, said: “It's like a great tree has been felled in the landscape of our culture and in particular in the landscape of our film world.''
Family friend Marty Fields, also an actor, said Tingwell loved to nurture new talent among the Australian acting community.
“Bud was always very concerned with his fellow actors and fellow performers and nurturing young talent and basically showing them what it means to be an actor,” Mr Fields said.
Tingwell loved his profession so much he was still learning lines in preparation for a new role when people came to visit him in hospital this week.
In a blog on his website, Tingwell wrote recently: “I don’t have any huge ambitions left. I just want to keep doing what I'm doing.”
Tingwell is survived by his son Christopher and daughter Virginia Tingwell, who is also an actor. His wife Audrey died in 1996.
Charles 'Bud' Tingwell R.I.P.
Whether they are behind the camera or in front of it, this is the place to discuss all filmmakers regardless of their role in the filmmaking process.
Jump to
- Announcements
- ↳ General Announcements
- Introductions
- ↳ Let Me Introduce Myself...
- The Academy Awards
- ↳ The 10th Decade
- ↳ 97th Academy Awards
- ↳ 96th Academy Awards
- ↳ 95th Academy Awards
- ↳ 94th Academy Awards
- ↳ 93rd Academy Awards
- ↳ 92nd Academy Awards
- ↳ 91st Academy Awards
- ↳ The 9th Decade
- ↳ 90th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 90th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 89th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 89th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 88th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 88th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 87th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 87th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 86th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 86th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 85th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 85th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 84th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 84th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 83rd Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 83rd Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 82nd Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 82nd Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 81st and Other 9th Decade Discussions
- ↳ The 8th Decade
- ↳ The Damien Bona Memorial Oscar History Thread
- ↳ Other Oscar Discussions
- General Film Discussions
- ↳ 2020s
- ↳ Coming Soon
- ↳ 2024
- ↳ 2023
- ↳ 2022
- ↳ 2021
- ↳ 2020
- ↳ 2010s
- ↳ 2019
- ↳ 2018
- ↳ 2017
- ↳ 2016
- ↳ 2015
- ↳ 2014
- ↳ 2013
- ↳ 2012
- ↳ 2011
- ↳ 2010
- ↳ 2000s
- ↳ 2009
- ↳ 2008
- ↳ 2000 - 2007
- ↳ The First Century
- ↳ Dream Projects
- ↳ The People
- ↳ Other Film Discussions
- Miscellaneous Discussions
- ↳ Help Forum
- ↳ DVD Discussions
- ↳ Current Events
- ↳ Broadcast Media
- ↳ The Cam Dagg Memorial Theatre and Literature Forum
- ↳ General Off-Topic