William Henry Kerr (1922 - 2014)

Born 10 Jun 1922 in Cape Town, Cape Province, Union of South Africa

Died 28 Aug 2014 at age 92 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia

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Biography

Bill Kerr is Notable.

William Henry 'Bill' Kerr was born on 10th June 1922 at Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa. From five years of age, he was raised in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. ^[1]

Bill began his acting career as a child performer in Australia, including in radio for ABC as a ten year-old and films in 1931 and 1934. He is regarded as one of the most important child performers in early Australian film; his debut being in Harmony Row opposite renowned Australian vaudevillian, George Wallace. In The Silence of Dean Maitland, Bill was acclaimed by critics for his 'striking presence as a blind child'. He worked as a radio announcer with 2WG (Wagga) from 1939 to 1941.

Bill saw service in the Australian Army during the Second World War, and performed in theatrical shows at home and abroad and toured with his friend, actor Peter Finch.

Bill played real-life Australian military personalities on three occasions; appearing as bomber pilot Squadron Leader H B 'Mick' Martin in The Dam Busters (1955), as General John Monash in the TV mini-series Anzacs (1985), and as General Harry Chauvel in the film The Lighthorsemen (1986).

Emigrating to Britain after the Second World War, Bill developed a career as a performer in comedy. He began a long association, and friendship, with Spike Milligan in the first Goons film, Penny Points to Paradise (1951).

In 1979 Bill returned to Australia and developed a 'second career' as a character actor. He worked on the Australian stage during the 1980s, in musicals such as My Fair Lady, where he received excellent reviews as Alfred Doolittle, and as the Modern Major General in The Pirate King. His film and television career spanned eight decades, from 1933 to 2004, and has resulted in a filmography of 91 credits. ^[2]

Bill married three times, to Margaret Weaver (divorced), Virginia (1955-70 ending in divorce) and Sandra (in 1983). ^[2] He had two children with Virginia and a further two with Sandra. ^[2]

Aged 92 years, Bill passed away on 28th August 2014 at home in Perth, Western Australia. ^[3]

The City of Wagga Wagga honoured Bill with the Walk of Honour, which was unveiled on 17th May 2011. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia profile: Bill Kerr; accessed 20 May 2020
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} IMDb: Bill kerr; accessed 12 Jul 2021
3. ↑ ABC News 29 Aug 2014: Actor Bill Kerr dies at home in Perth, aged 92; accessed 12 Jul 2021
4. ↑ City of Wagga Wagga 26 Jan 2011. Wagga Wagga Australia Day Award Winners Announced; accessed 12 Jul 2021