Robert Coleby
Born
Robert Taylor

1947 (age 7677)
Ipswich, Suffolk, England
OccupationActor
SpouseLena Coleby
Children

Robert Coleby (born 1947) is a British actor who has spent most of his career in Australia. Active since the 1970s, he has over 70 film and television credits to his name. Coleby has acted on stage in numerous productions for the Queensland Theatre Company in Brisbane.

Early life

In his late teens, Robert lived in Edington, Somerset and went to Dr Morgan's School in Bridgwater. At that time he was influenced by the beat generation, novelist Jack Kerouac and singer/songwriter Bob Dylan and performed with acoustic guitar at folk music clubs in Bridgwater and Taunton. He enjoyed hitch-hiking in Europe during the school holidays, and worked in the peat fields near Shapwick to fund his travels.

Early career

Coleby's real name is Robert Taylor. Since there was already a famous actor of that name, Equity rules required that he choose another.

Coleby's earliest screen role was in 1970, playing the role of Fortinbras in a TV version of Hamlet in the long-running US series Hallmark Hall of Fame, followed by a role as a hitchhiker in the 1971 US motion picture The Last Run which starred George C. Scott.[1] During the next several years, he appeared in a number of TV productions in the UK, including five episodes of the 1973 children's series Pollyanna. Moving to Sydney, Australia in 1975, he made his debut on Australian TV appearing in an episode of the TV period drama Rush in 1976.[1][2][3] Over the next two decades, Coleby became a regular face on Australian TV; he was a cast regular on several TV series including the roles; Dr Barrett in The Young Doctors in 1977; pilot Barry Drummond on Chopper Squad (1977–79); RAN officer Lt Fisher in Patrol Boat (1979–83); Reverend Lonsdale in the mini-series Anzacs (1985); and, businessman Tom Barsby in the short-lived soap opera, Paradise Beach (1993–94).[1]

Later career

Coleby played Richard Craig in several episodes of the Australian medical drama All Saints between 1998 and 2004, and appeared as William Maplewhite in two episodes of The Lost World in 2001 and 2002. In 2005 he portrayed Rock Hudson in the fictionalised American television movie/docudrama Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure, based on the creation and behind the scenes production of the 1980s prime time soap opera Dynasty.[4][5] Coleby played Alexander Preston in the 2006 American telenovela Monarch Cove, and Howard Webb in a 2006 episode of the Australian drama McLeod's Daughters. He later played Paul Devers in the 2007 American miniseries The Starter Wife.

In 2009 Coleby appeared as "Urquart" in two episodes of the British television series Heartbeat ("Thursday's Children" and "The Middle of Somewhere") both of which were set in Australia.

More recent theatre work includes the title role in the Queensland Theatre Company's 2007 production of the Henrik Ibsen play John Gabriel Borkman.[6] In 2011, Coleby appeared in an episode of Terra Nova, titled "Proof", as Professor Ken Horton.[7] He also appeared in WWE Studios The Marine 2, which was inspired by the 2001 Dos Palmas kidnappings.[8]

Personal life

Coleby is married to Lena Coleby; their children are Australian actors Anja Coleby and Conrad Coleby.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1970 Hallmark Hall of Fame: Hamlet Fortinbras TV movie
1971 The Last Run Hitch Hiker Feature film
1979 The Plumber Brian Cowper TV movie
1980 Coralie Landsdowne Says No Paul TV movie
1983 Now and Forever Ian Clarke Feature film
1985 The Adventures of Robin Hood George Lonsdale (voice) Animated TV movie
1985 Archer Etienne TV movie
1986 The Blue Lightning Ninian TV movie
1986 Ivanhoe Robin Hood (voice) Animated TV movie
1986 Hector's Bunyip George Bailey TV movie
1987 Great Expectations: The Untold Story Roger TV movie
1988 Prisoner of Zenda Voice role Animated film
Sebastian and the Sparrow Peter Thornbury Feature film
1995 In Pursuit of Honor James Shattuck TV movie
1996 Little White Lies Kuhl TV movie
1996 The Phantom Captain Phillip Horton Feature film
1998 The Real Macaw Mr. St. John Feature film
1999 The Lost World William Maple-White TV movie
1999 Chameleon II: Death Match Branford TV movie
2001 Curse of the Talisman Muesum Curator TV movie
2001 Walk the Talk Pastor Bob Feature film
2002 The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course Dr. Weinberger Feature film
2003 Tempted Lawyer TV movie
2003 Mermaids Director TV movie
2005 Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure Rock Hudson TV movie
2006 The Marine Braun Feature film
2009 The Marine 2 Darren Conner Feature film
2010 Bad Behaviour Clive Feature film
2013 Tracks Pop Feature film
Cough George Short film
2015 StalkHer Dr. Jacob Weeks Feature film
2017 Don't Tell John Bowers Feature film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1970 Saturday Night Theatre Fortinbras 1 episode
1971 Take Three Girls Dennis TV series, 1 episode
1973 The Adventures of Black Beauty Harry TV series, 1 episode
1973 New Scotland Yard Geoff Grant TV series, 1 episode
1973 Pollyanna Timothy 5 episodes
1974 John Halifax John Halifax TV series, 5 episodes
1974 The Protectors Anton TV series, 1 episode
1974 Death or Glory Boy Sergeant Potter 1 episode
1974 Skiboy Jean Noel TV series, 6 episodes
1974 King Lear Edgar 6 episodes
1975 Quiller Hilberg TV series, 1 episode
1976 Rush Andy Curran TV series, 1 episode
1976–77 The Young Doctors Paul Barrett TV series, 101 episodes
1978 Case for the Defence John TV series, 1 episode
1977–79 Chopper Squad Barry Drummond TV series, 27 episodes
1980 Timelapse Douglas Hardy TV series
1981 Punishment Christopher Lang TV series
1981 Levkas Man Paul Gerrard TV miniseries, 6 episodes
1981 Cop Shop Harry Wilson TV series, 2 episodes
1981 Bellamy Peter Kelso TV series, 1 episode
1981 Sporting Chance 1 episode
1983 For the Term of His Natural Life John Rex TV miniseries, 3 episodes
1979–83 Patrol Boat Lieutenant Charles Fisher TV series, 27 episodes
1983 Carson's Law Richard Kruger TV series, 8 episodes
1984 Five Mile Creek Oliver Hamilton TV series, 1 episode
1984 Singles Jack Howard 1 episode
1985 Special Squad TV series, 1 episode
1985 Anzacs Rev. George Lonsdale TV miniseries, 5 episodes
1984-85 A Country Practice Paul / Tony TV series, 4 episodes
1986 The Fast Lane Dwyer TV series, 1 episode
1987 Frontier Major Nunn 3 episodes
1987 Rafferty's Rules David Andrews TV series, 1 episode
1988 Australians Raymond Longford TV series, 1 episode
1989 This Man... This Woman Neil Clarke TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1989 The Flying Doctors Alex Potter TV series, 1 episode
1989 Mission Impossible Grigor Caron TV series, 1 episode
1989 Inside Running TV series, 6 episodes
1990 E.A.R.T.H. Force Frederick Winter TV series, 1 episode
1989-92 Tanamera - Lion of Singapore Bonnard TV series, 7 episodes
1992 The Adventures of Skippy Uncle Jerry TV series, 1 episode
1993 E Street Conrad Vargas TV series, 2 episodes
Marlin Bay TV series
1993–94 Paradise Beach Tom Barsby TV series, 254 episodes
1995 Fire Larry Dempsey TV series, 1 episode
1995 Space: Above and Beyond Jonathan Overmeyer TV series, 1 episode
1997 Medivac Bruce TV series, 1 episode
1997-98 Flipper Steve / Andrew TV series, 2 episodes
1998 The Day of the Roses Station Officer TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1999 Stingers Terry Darzinger TV series, 1 episode
1999-02 The Lost World Dr William Maple White TV series, 4 episodes
2000 Tales of the South Seas TV series, 1 episode
2001 Outriders Jansen TV series, 3 episodes
2003 Fat Cow Motel Elridge TV series, 1 episode
2001–04 All Saints Professor Richard Craig TV series, 5 episodes
2004 Through My Eyes TV miniseries, 2 episodes
2006 McLeod's Daughters Howard Webb TV series, 1 episode
2006 Monarch Cove Alexander Preston Telenovela, 14 episodes
2007 The Starter Wife Paul Devers TV miniseries, 1 episode
2008 City Homicide Alistair TV series, 1 episode
2009 Sea Patrol Lang Calwell TV series, 1 episode
2009 Heartbeat Urquart TV series, 2 episodes: "Thursday's Children" & "The Middle of Somewhere"
2011 Terra Nova Ken Horton TV series, 1 episode: "Proof"
2015 House of Hancock[9] Frank Rinehart TV miniseries, episode #1.1
2015–17 A Place to Call Home [10] Douglas Goddard TV series, 22 episodes
2020 The End Richard TV series, 1 episode
2022 Darby and Joan Ascher TV miniseries, 1 episode
2023 Queen of Oz [11] Bernard TV series, 6 episodes

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Arms and the Man Nimrod Theatre Company
1987 Tartuffe Nimrod Theatre Company
1987 The Winter's Tale Nimrod Theatre Company
2006 John Gabriel Borkman Borkman Queensland Theatre Company

References

  1. 1 2 3 Robert Coleby at IMDb
  2. Susan Borham, Edited by. "ACTOR TO SELL BEACH HIDEAWAY - INSIDE SYDNEY." Sydney Morning Herald, The (Australia), Late ed., sec. News and Features, 2 Oct. 1993, p. 15. NewsBank: Access World News, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/11BCB072CDD058B0. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  3. Cleveland, Sam. "Recognisable face of Mr Forgotten." Gold Coast Bulletin, The (Australia), B - Main ed., sec. Focus, 24 Mar. 2007, p. 137. NewsBank: Access World News, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/1181A6AA2502D698. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  4. "Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure: If You've Got It, Flaunt It: ABC Trumpets an 80s Hit". The New York Times. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
  5. "Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure: Credits". Der-denver-clan.de. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  6. "Superman object of hatred". The Courier-Mail. 31 March 2007. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  7. "Next on 'Terra Nova': "Proof"". TV Central. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  8. Unknown, Unknown (29 December 2009). "The Marine 2" on DVD and Blu-Ray now". wwe.com. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  9. https://tvtonight.com.au/2015/02/house-of-hancock.html
  10. https://tvtonight.com.au/2015/08/returning-a-place-to-call-home-2.html
  11. https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/06/queen-of-oz.html
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