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Ruth Cracknell

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Ruth Cracknell AM
Born
Ruth Winifred Cracknell

(1925-07-06)6 July 1925
Died13 May 2002(2002-05-13) (aged 76)
Occupation(s)Actress, author, comedienne
Years active1946–2002
SpouseEric Phillips† (3 children)

Ruth Winifred Cracknell AM (6 July 1925 – 13 May 2002) was an Australian character and comic actress, comedienne and author, her career encompassing all genres including radio, theatre, television and film. She appeared in many dramatic as well as comedy roles throughout a career spanning some 56 years. In theatre she was well known for her Shakespeare roles.

Early life and education

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Ruth Winifred Cracknell[1] was born on 6 July 1925 in Maitland, New South Wales to Charles and Winifred Goddard (nee Watts).[2] When she was four years old, the family moved to Sydney. She was educated at North Sydney Girls High School and, after graduating, worked at the Ku-ring-gai Council[3] as a stenographer. In 1943 she joined the Modern Theatre Players drama school, run by Edna Spilsbury, and she resigned from the council in 1945 to become a professional actress.[2]

Career

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Radio and theatre

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Cracknell's first acting jobs were in radio, starting at AWA recording studios in 1945.[2] By 1946, she was performing five episodes of radio plays a week. She also performed on stage with the Sydney-based companies the Independent Theatre and the Mercury Theatre. In 1948, she joined the John Alden Company and had roles in King Lear, Measure for Measure and The Tempest. In 1952, at the age of 27, she left Australia to work in London for two years.[4]

Screen

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Cracknell appeared in many TV serial productions, and made for TV films. One of her first roles was Reflections in Dark Glasses, a one-off drama broadcast in 1960 and the 1973 award-winning ABC-TV dramatisation of Ethel Turner's Australian children's classic Seven Little Australians. She was a hostess of children television series Play School in the mid to late 1960s. In the 1980s she guest starred in A Country Practice.

Cracknell is best known for her role in the ABC television series Mother and Son. Written by Geoffrey Atherden, who previously had written The Aunty Jack Show, he based the series on the writer's own family experience. Mother and Son first screened on 16 January 1984; it continued for six seasons for over a decade and is often repeated. Cracknell played an elderly woman, Maggie Beare, who was slowly becoming senile. She was cared for by her long-suffering younger son Arthur (Garry McDonald), to whom she was often indifferent but on whom she was also dependent and whom she often cynically played off against her self-centred older son Robert (Henri Szeps)[5] and daughter-in-law Liz (played by Judy Morris).

Cracknell appeared in film productions including opposite Chips Rafferty in the 1958 classic Smiley Gets a Gun, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978), the 1983 The Night the Prowler in 1978 and The Dismissal as Margaret Whitlam in 1983. Later in 1996, she starred opposite Toni Collette in Lilian's Story as Sydney eccentric Beatrice Miles.

Theatre companies

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Cracknell acted for most of the major Australian theatre companies, especially the Sydney Theatre Company. She performed many different roles; Elaine in Williamson's

Emerald City (1987),[6] Grandma Kurnitz in Lost in Yonkers (1992),[7] Shafer's Lettice and Lovage[8] Her best known role was in the stage production of The Importance of Being Earnest as Lady Bracknell.[9] The production was so popular that it was an "ongoing" stage production from 1988 to 1992 and was televised by the ABC. She was also Patron of the Australian Theatre for Young People.[citation needed]

Personal life and memoirs

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Cracknell married Eric Phillips in 1957 and they had three children. Phillips was an engineer.[2]

In 1997 Cracknell published her autobiography, A Biased Memoir,[3] which was a bestseller in Australia. In 2000 she published her memoir, Journey from Venice, which related how she and her husband, Eric Phillips, were visiting Venice when he had a paralysing stroke; she did not speak a word of Italian but she had to organise medical treatment for him and have him returned to Australia in the face of significant obstacles. He later died in a Sydney hospital.[citation needed]

Cracknell died of a respiratory illness in a Sydney nursing home on 13 May 2002, aged 76, shortly after a visit from her children.[3]

Honours and awards

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In the 1980 Australia Day Honours, Cracknell was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), "in recognition of service to the performing arts".[1]

She received honorary doctorates from the University of Sydney (1985)[10][11] and the Queensland University of Technology (1995).[12]

In 1995, Cracknell was the recipient of a lifetime achievement award at the Glugs Theatrical Awards in Sydney.[13]

In 1998, the National Trust of Australia named her one of "100 National Living Treasures".[3]

ARIA Music Awards

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The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.

Year Nominated works Award Result
1992 Paul Gallico's The Snow Goose Best Children's Album Nominated

Helpmann Awards

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The Helpmann Awards is an awards show, celebrating live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group Live Performance Australia (LPA) since 2001.[14] In 2001, Cracknell received the JC Williamson Award, the LPA's highest honour, for their life's work in live performance.[15]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2001 Herself JC Williamson Award awarded

Logie Awards

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In 2001, Cracknell was awarded the TV Week Logie Hall of Fame for her services to Australian television. Her appearance at the ceremony was the last before her death. She was the first (and for 15 years) only woman to be inducted.

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
1993 Herself Most Outstanding Actress Won
1994 Herself Most Outstanding Actress Won
1994 Herself Most Popular Comedy Personality Won
2001 Herself Logie Hall of Fame awarded

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Type
1958 Smiley Gets a Gun Mrs. Gaspen Feature film
1960 Reflections in Dark Glasses Psychiatrist TV film[16]
1969 That Lady from Peking Fortune Teller Feature film (released 1975)
1976 The Singer and the Dancer Mrs. Bilson Film short
1978 The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith Mrs. Heather Newby Feature film
1978 The Night the Prowler Doris Bannister Feature film
1982 The Best of Friends Iris Feature film
1982 Island Trader Victoria TV film
1983 Molly Mrs. Reach Feature film
1988 Emerald City Elaine Ross Feature film
1989 Kokoda Crescent Alice Feature film
1989 Kakadu Man Narrator Film documentary
1993 Tale of a Lampshade Narrator Film short
1994 Spider and Rose Rose Dougherty Feature film
1996 Lilian's Story Lilian Singer Feature film
1997 Joey Sylvia Feature film
2004 The Scree Narrator (voice) Film short

Television

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Year Title Role Type
1960-61 Ruth Cracknell Herself TV series
1962 The Patriots TV miniseries, 10 episodes
1963 Smugglers Beware TV series, 4 episodes
1964 Split Level[17] Alison Teleplay
1965 The Mavis Bramston Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1965 TV Spells Magic Guest - Herself with Max Meldrum, Ron Shand, Evie Hayes, Wendy Blacklock, David Copping, Kevin Miles, Gwen Plumb, Chips Rafferty & Keith Petersen TV special
1965 Moment of Truth Sister Kenny TV series, 1 episode
1966 Australian Playhouse Miss Peach TV series, 1 episode: "The Lace Counter"
1967 Nice 'n Juicy TV series, 1 episode
1967 Bellbird TV series
1967 I'm Alright Now Herself TV series, 1 episode
1968 Fiends of the Family Maggie Teleplay
1969 I've Married A Bachelor TV series, 1 episode
1969 Tilley Landed On Our Shore Tilley Teleplay
1969 Play School Presenter TV series, 4 episodes
1969 Sex and the Australian Male Herself TV special
1969 The Rovers The Postmistress TV series, 1 episode
1970 Dynasty Biddy TV series, 1 episode
1970 Chequerboard Jocasta TV series, 1 episode
1970 The Long Arm Mrs. Stevens TV series, 1 episode 1: "The Lion Was First To Know"
1971 Dead Men Running TV miniseries, 6 episodes
1971 Mrs Finnegan Mrs. Evans TV series, 1 episode
1971 John Bluthal Herself TV special
1972 Carry On Spike in Australia Herself TV special
1972 The Cousin from Fiji TV series, 1 episode
1972 Division 4 Mrs. Harris TV series, 1 episode
1972 A Big Country Herself TV series, 1 episode: "The Long Distance Search"
1972 The Survivor Teleplay
1972 The Man on the Ten Pound Note Teleplay
1973 Catch Kandy Gladys Evans TV series, 1 episode
1973 Boney Elizabeth Campbell TV series, 1 episode
1973 Seven Little Australians Martha TV miniseries, 10 episodes
1974 Mac and Merle TV pilot
1975 Ben Hall Ma Walsh TV series, 11 episodes
1975 The Last of the Australians TV series, 1 episode
1977 Sammy Awards Herself TV special
1977 Young Ramsay Hazel Barton TV series, episode 7: "The Mystery of the Bora Hills"
1978 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1979 Golden Soak Prophesy TV miniseries, 6 episodes
1979 The Oracle TV series, 1 episode
1982 Spring & Fall Jessica Lambert TV series, Season 2 episode 2: "Perfect Company"
1983-94 Mother and Son Maggie Beare TV series, 42 episodes
1983 The Dismissal Margaret Whitlam TV miniseries, 3 episodes
1984 A Country Practice Maisie Davis TV series, 2 episodes
1984 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - Herself & Garry McDonald TV series, 1 episode
1985 1985 Australian Film Institute Awards Presenter TV special
1986 Face of Australia Herself TV special
1986 The Nights Belong to the Novelist: Elizabeth Jolley, Australian Writer Herself TV special
1986 Alice to Nowhere Mrs. Spencer TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1987 Butterfly Island TV series, 1 episode
1988 Women on Women Herself TV special
1989 Down to Earth Herself TV special
1989 The Maitland and the Morpeth String Quartet Narrator TV documentary
1989 The Bert Newton Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1990 The Importance Of Being Earnest Lady Bracknell Teleplay
1991 'Til Ten Guest TV series, 1 episode
1992 The World Tonight Guest TV series, 1 episode
1992 The 7.30 Report Guest TV series, 1 episode
1992 The Morning Show Guest TV series, 1 episode
1992 Photographers of Australia: Dupain, Sievers, Moore Narrator TV documentary
1992 In Sydney Today Guest TV series, 1 episode
1992 Sydney Theatre Company 1978-1988 Herself Film documentary
1993 Tonight Live Guest TV series, 1 episode
1993-97 Good Morning Australia Guest TV series, 5 episodes
1993 World Series Debating Herself TV series, 1 episode
1993 Sydney Opera House Honours Television Gala Herself TV special
1993 Where Were You the Day President Kennedy Was Shot? Herself TV documentary
1994 60 Minutes Herself TV series, 1 episode
1994 Hey Hey It's Saturday Guest TV series, 1 episode
1994; 1995 Denton Guest TV series, 2 episodes
1994 Eleven A.M. Guest TV series, 1 episode
1994 Today Guest TV series, 1 episode
1994 A Current Affair Herself TV series, 1 episode
1994 Midday with Derryn Hinch Herself (with Simon Bossell) TV series, 1 episode
1994 The Movie Show Herself TV series, 1 episode
1994 It's Ruth Herself TV special
1994 The People's Choice Awards Presenter TV special
1995 Creative Spirits Herself TV series, episode: Tall Tales But True - David Williamson
1995 Today Tonight Herself TV series, 2 episodes
1995; 1996 Review Guest Presenter TV series, 2 episodes
1995 Ten News Herself TV series, 2 episodes
1995 The Web Narrator TV series
1995; 1997 This Is Your Life Herself TV series, 2 episodes
1996 Sale of the Century Contestant TV series, 1 episode: "Logies Super Challenge"
1996-1998 Midday with Kerri-Anne Guest TV series, 3 episodes
1996 Sunday Afternoon Herself TV series, 1 episode
1996 The 7:30 Report Herself TV series, 1 episode
1997 The 1997 Annual TV Week Logie Awards Guest - Herself/Presenter TV Special
1997 Frontier Narrator TV series, 3 episodes
1997 Sunday Guest TV series, 1 episode
1997 60 Minutes Herself TV series, 1 episode
1997 McFeast: Portrait Of A Power Pussy Herself TV special
1997 The Making of Joey Herself TV special
1997 Monday to Friday Guest TV series, 1 episode
1997 Today Tonight Guest TV series, 1 episode
1997 McFeast: Plastered and Legless Guest TV special
1998 Laws Guest TV series, 1 episode
1998 McFeast Guest TV series, 1 episode
1998 Australians Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 Up Close and Personal Herself TV series
1998 Good News Week Guest TV series, 1 episode
2001 2001 TV Week Logie Awards Logie Hall of Fame Inductee TV special
2001 From Vaudeville to Video - A Salute to Australian Comedy Herself TV special
2002 Australian Story Herself TV series, 1 episode

References

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  1. ^ a b "Miss Ruth Winifred CRACKNELL". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Papers of Ruth Cracknell: Biographical note". Trove. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "Ruth Cracknell dies at 76". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 May 2002. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Advice To Those Who Go To London To Work". Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954). 21 October 1954. p. 6. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  5. ^ Zakharov, Jeannie (6 April 1989). "FILM GOOD TIMES Cracknell live". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). p. 24. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  6. ^ "A change of character in Williamson's new play". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 2 July 1987. p. 2. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  7. ^ Gordon, Sheldon (12 November 1992). "Grandma part specialty for Ruth Cracknell". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). p. 18. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  8. ^ Daly, Mike (24 April 1994). "Specialist in long runs-like 40 years". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). p. 22. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Crowds see Cracknell in 'Earnest'". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 16 January 1989. p. 13. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  10. ^ The University of Sydney – Awards and honours Archived 10 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Honorary doctorate for actress". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 4 March 1985. p. 8. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  12. ^ "Honorary doctorates". Queensland University of Technology. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Awards". Glugs. April 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Events & Programs". Live Performance Australia. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  15. ^ "JC Williamson Award recipients". Helpmann Awards. Live Performance Australia. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  16. ^ Vagg, Stephen (20 March 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: Reflections in Dark Glasses". Filmink. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  17. ^ Vagg, Stephen (21 May 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: Split Level". Filmink. Retrieved 9 August 2024.

Further reading

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  • Lane, Richard (2000). The Golden Age of Australian Radio Drama Volume 2. National Film and Sound Archive. p. 171-121.
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