Arthur Dignam (9 September 1939 – 9 May 2020) was an Australian stage and screen actor.

Biography

Dignam was born on

Lord Howe Island Lord Howe Island (; formerly Lord Howe's Island) is an irregularly crescent-shaped volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, part of the Australian state of New South Wales. It lies directly east of mainland ...

. He attended

Newington College , motto_translation = To Faith Add Knowledge , location = Inner West and Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales , country = Australia , coordinates = , pushpin_map = A ...

in Sydney as a boarder in 1955 and 1956 and then the

University of Sydney The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public university, public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one o ...

. He has been best known for one of his early roles, that of Brother Francine in

Fred Schepisi Frederic Alan Schepisi ( ;Pauline Kael, Kael, Pauline (1984). ''Taking It All In''. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. p. 55. born 26 December 1939) is an Australian film director, producer and screenwriter. His credits include ''The Chan ...

's '' The Devil's Playground'' (1976). While he has worked mainly in film and television, he also worked in theatre, including musical theatre. He played

Pontius Pilate Pontius Pilate (; grc-gre, Πόντιος Πιλᾶτος, ) was the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judaea, serving under Emperor Tiberius from 26/27 to 36/37 AD. He is best known for being the official who presided over the trial of ...

in the Australian production of ''

Jesus Christ Superstar ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' is a sung-through rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Loosely based on the Gospels' accounts of the Passion, the work interprets the psychology of Jesus and other characters, with ...

'' in 1972–73, and appears on the original Australian cast recording. During 1980, Dignam was part of ''A Shakespeare Company'', funded by a one-off grant from the

Australia Council The Australia Council for the Arts, commonly known as the Australia Council, is the country's official arts council, serving as an arts funding and advisory body for the Government of Australia. The council was announced in 1967 as the Austr ...

, and worked with actors

Ruth Cracknell 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 we ...

Ron Haddrick Ronald Norman Haddrick (9 April 1929 – 11 February 2020) was an Australian actor, cricketer, narrator and presenter. In 2012, he received the Actors Equity Lifetime Achievement Award for his long and distinguished career in media, spanning s ...

and others on two texts for six months and then presented them at the

Seymour Centre The Seymour Centre is a multi-purpose performing arts centre within the University of Sydney in the Australian city of Sydney. It is located on the corner of City Rd and Cleveland St in Chippendale, just south-west of the city centre. The ...

. Dignam died on 9 May 2020, at the age of 80.

Family

His son is actor

Nicholas Gledhill Nicholas Martin Gledhill (born 7 March 1975) is an Australian film, stage actor, voice artist, writer and choreographer Biography Gledhill was born in Sydney to parents Bobbie Gledhill and actor Arthur Dignam. He grew up in Glebe, New South Wa ...

Theatre credits

*'' The Women of Troy'', Merlyn Theatre, Southbank, VIC, 6 November 2008 *''The Women of Troy'', Wharf 1, Sydney, NSW, 16 September 2008 *'' Julius Caesar'', Wharf 1, Sydney, NSW, 28 June 2005 *''The Governor's Family'',

Belvoir St Theatre Belvoir is an Australian theatre company based at the Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney, Australia, originally known as Company B. Since 2016 and its artistic director is Eamon Flack. The theatre contains a 330-seat Upstairs Theatre and a 80-seat ...

Surry Hills, NSW, 1 May 1997 *''Sixteen Words for Water'', Subiaco Theatre Centre, Subiaco, WA, 27 July 1994 *''Mesmerized'', Stables Theatre, Darlinghurst, NSW, 8 April 1993 *''

Life of Galileo ''Life of Galileo'' (), also known as ''Galileo'', is a play by the 20th century German dramatist Bertolt Brecht and collaborator Margarete Steffin with incidental music by Hanns Eisler. The play was written in 1938 and received its first theat ...

'', Nimrod Upstairs, Surry Hills, NSW, 27 June 1979 *''

Hedda Gabler ''Hedda Gabler'' () is a play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. The world premiere was staged on 31 January 1891 at the Residenztheater in Munich. Ibsen himself was in attendance, although he remained back-stage. The play has been ca ...

'',

SGIO Theatre The State Government Insurance Office Theatre (also known as the SGIO Theatre or Suncorp Theatre), was a 600-seat proscenium theatre built within the SGIO office building at 179 Turbot Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. History The Q ...

, Brisbane, QLD, 18 April 1979 *''Pandora's Cross'', Paris Theatre, Sydney, NSW, 29 July 1978 *''

Ned Kelly Edward Kelly (December 1854 – 11 November 1880) was an Australian bushranger, outlaw, gang leader and convicted police-murderer. One of the last bushrangers, he is known for wearing a suit of bulletproof armour during his final shootout wi ...

'', Her Majesty's Theatre (1960-2001), Sydney, NSW, 4 February 1978 *''Ned Kelly'', Festival Theatre, Adelaide, SA, 30 December 1977 *''

Big Toys ''Big Toys'' is a 1977 Australian play by Patrick White. It was his first play in 14 years. Stage productions The original production was by the Old Tote Theatre Company in Sydney. The cast was Max Cullen, Arthur Dignam and Kate Fitzpatrick a ...

'',

Parade Theatre The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) is an Australian educational institution for the performing arts is based in Sydney, New South Wales. Founded in 1958, many of Australia's leading actors and directors trained at NIDA, including Cat ...

, Kensington, NSW, 27 July 1977 *'' Waiting For Godot'', Octagon Theatre, Crawley, WA, 13 November 1975 *''Scapin'', Recording Hall, Sydney, NSW, 7 March 1975 *''

Berenice Berenice ( grc, Βερενίκη, ''Bereníkē'') is the Ancient Macedonian form of the Attic Greek name ''Pherenikē'', which means "bearer of victory" . Berenika, priestess of Demeter in Lete ca. 350 BC, is the oldest epigraphical evidence. ...

'', Recording Hall, Sydney, NSW, 1975 *''

The Rocky Horror Show ''The Rocky Horror Show'' is a Musical theatre, musical with music, lyrics and book by Richard O'Brien. A humorous tribute to the Science fiction film, science fiction and Horror film, horror B movies of the 1930s through to the early 1960s, the ...

'', New Art Cinema, Glebe, NSW, 19 April 1974 *''

The Threepenny Opera ''The Threepenny Opera'' ( ) is a " play with music" by Bertolt Brecht, adapted from a translation by Elisabeth Hauptmann of John Gay's 18th-century English ballad opera, ''The Beggar's Opera'', and four ballads by François Villon, with music ...

'',

Drama Theatre Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been co ...

, Sydney, NSW, 25 September 1973 *''

Kabul Kabul (; ps, , ; , ) is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern half of the country, it is also a municipality, forming part of the Kabul Province; it is administratively divided into 22 municipal districts. Ac ...

'', Parade Theatre, Kensington, NSW, 31 May 1973 *''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depi ...

'', Nimrod Street Theatre, Darlinghurst, NSW, 23 March 1973 *'' Julius Caesar'', Sir John Clancy Auditorium, Kensington, NSW, 28 June 1972 *'' The Good Man of Setzuan'', Parade Theatre, Kensington, NSW, 14 April 1972 *''

Trelawny of the Wells ''Trelawny of the "Wells"'' is an 1898 comic play by Arthur Wing Pinero. It tells the story of a theatre star who attempts to give up the stage for love, but is unable to fit into conventional society. Synopsis ''Trelawny of the "Wells"'' te ...

'', Parade Theatre, Kensington, NSW, 28 January 1972 *''An Evening of Victorian Music Hall'',

Paddington Town Hall The Paddington Town Hall is a heritage-listed former town hall building located at 249 Oxford Street in the inner eastern Sydney suburb of Paddington, in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. Sir Henry Parkes ...

(No 2 Hall), Paddington, NSW, 26 March 1971 *'' Doctor Faustus'', Southern Highlands Festival Theatre, Mittagong, NSW, 23 February 1971 *''

The Recruiting Officer ''The Recruiting Officer'' is a 1706 play by the Irish writer George Farquhar, which follows the social and sexual exploits of two British Army#Ranks and insignia, officers, the womanising Plume and the cowardly Brazen, in the town of Shrewsbu ...

'', Southern Highlands Festival Theatre, Mittagong, NSW, 5 February 1971 *''

Macbeth ''Macbeth'' (, full title ''The Tragedie of Macbeth'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those w ...

'', Nimrod Street Theatre, Darlinghurst, NSW, 1971 *''

Hadrian VII ''Hadrian the Seventh: A Romance'' (sometimes called ''Hadrian VII'') is a 1904 novel by the English novelist Frederick Rolfe, who wrote under the pseudonym "Baron Corvo". Rolfe's best-known work, this novel of extreme wish-fulfilment developed ...

'', Octagon Theatre, Crawley, WA, 25 September 1970 *'' You Can't Take It with You'',

The Hole in the Wall Theatre The Hole in the Wall Theatre was a small theatre in the Perth suburb of Leederville, Western Australia, operating from 1968 to 1984. In 1984 it was relocated to a civic auditorium in Subiaco which, , is known as the Subiaco Arts Centre, a her ...

, Leederville, WA, 1970 *''

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead ''Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead'' is an absurdist, existential tragicomedy by Tom Stoppard, first staged at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1966. The play expands upon the exploits of two minor characters from Shakespeare's ''Haml ...

'', Octagon Theatre, Crawley, WA, 18 September 1969 *''

War and Peace ''War and Peace'' (russian: Война и мир, translit=Voyna i mir; pre-reform Russian: ; ) is a literary work by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy that mixes fictional narrative with chapters on history and philosophy. It was first published ...

'', New Theatre, Darlinghurst, NSW, 21 September 1968 *''

The Royal Hunt of the Sun ''The Royal Hunt of the Sun'' is a 1964 play by Peter Shaffer that dramatizes the relation of two worlds entering in a conflict by portraying two characters: Atahuallpa Inca and Francisco Pizarro. Performance history Premiere ''The Royal Hunt ...

'',

Bonython Hall Bonython Hall is the "great hall" of the University of Adelaide, located in the university grounds and facing North Terrace, Adelaide. The building is on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate and the South Australian Heritage Register. ...

, The University of Adelaide, SA, 14 March 1966 *''Victimes du Devoir'', Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 5 September 1964 *''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with ''Ham ...

'', Union Theatre, Camperdown, NSW, 18 April 1963 *''

The Dumb Waiter ''The Dumb Waiter'' is a one-act play by Harold Pinter written in 1957. "Small but perfectly formed, ''The Dumb Waiter'' might be considered the best of Harold Pinter's early plays, more consistent than ''The Birthday Party'' and sharper than ...

A Slight Ache ''A Slight Ache'' is a tragicomic play written by Harold Pinter in 1958 and first published by Methuen in London in 1961. It concerns a married couple's dreams and desires, focusing mostly on the husband's fears of the unknown, of growing ol ...

'', Union Theatre, Camperdown, NSW, 5 July 1962 *''

Coriolanus ''Coriolanus'' ( or ) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1605 and 1608. The play is based on the life of the legendary Roman leader Caius Marcius Coriolanus. Shakespeare worked on it during the same ye ...

'', Union Theatre, Camperdown, NSW, 4 April 1962 *''

'Tis Pity She's a Whore ''Tis Pity She's a Whore'' (original spelling: ''Tis Pitty Shee's a Who'' 'ore'') is a tragedy written by John Ford. It was first performed or between 1629 and 1633, by Queen Henrietta's Men at the Cockpit Theatre. The play was first publ ...

'', Wallace Theatre, Camperdown, NSW, 23 June 1961

Filmography

Arthur Dignam's films include: *''Lend Me Your Stable'' (1962) *''

Libido Libido (; colloquial: sex drive) is a person's overall sexual drive or desire for sexual activity. Libido is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Biologically, the sex hormones and associated neurotransmitters that act ...

'' (1973) - Father Burn (segment "Priest, The") *''

Petersen Petersen is a common Danish patronymic surname, meaning ''"son of Peter"''. There are other spellings. Petersen may refer to: People In arts and entertainment * Adolf Dahm-Petersen, Norwegian voice specialist * Anja Petersen, German operatic ...

'' (1974) - Prof. Charles Kent *''

Between Wars ''Between Wars'' is an Australian 1974 drama/war film released on 15 November 1974. It was directed by Michael Thornhill and written by Frank Moorhouse. Plot Four episodes in the life of doctor Edward Trenbow: *In 1918 Trenbow is treating shell ...

'' (1974)Oz Movies
/ref> - Peter Avante *'' The Devil's Playground'' (1976) - Brother Francine *'' Summer of Secrets'' (1976) - Doctor Beverley Adams *''

The Duellists ''The Duellists'' is a 1977 British historical drama film and the feature film directorial debut of Ridley Scott. It won the Best Debut Film award at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival. The basis of the screenplay is the Joseph Conrad short story " ...

'' (1977) - Captain with Eyepatch *''

The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith ''The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith'' is a 1972 Booker Prize-nominated Australian novel by Thomas Keneally, and a 1978 Australian film of the same name directed by Fred Schepisi. The novel is based on the life of bushranger Jimmy Governor, the su ...

'' (1978) - Man in Butcher Shop *''

Cathy's Child ''Cathy's Child'' is a 1979 Australian film, directed by Donald Crombie and starring Michele Fawdon, Alan Cassell and Bryan Brown. Plot Cathy Baikas (Fawdon) is a woman of Greek heritage who lives in Sydney, Australia with her three-year-old ...

'' (1979) - Minister *''

Grendel Grendel Grendel ''Grendel Grendel Grendel'' is a 1981 Australian animated film written, directed and designed by Alexander Stitt and starring Peter Ustinov. It was based on John Gardner's novel ''Grendel''. The music was composed and conducted by Bruce Smeaton ...

'' (1981) - The Dragon / Beowulf (voice) *''

Strange Behavior ''Strange Behavior'' (also known as ''Dead Kids'') is a 1981 slasher film written and directed by Michael Laughlin, co-written with Bill Condon, and starring Michael Murphy, Louise Fletcher, and Dan Shor. Its plot follows a series of bizar ...

'' (1981) - Dr. Le Sange / Nagel *''

Duet for Four ''Duet for Four'' is a 1982 film directed by Tim Burstall. Plot A middle aged man, Ray Martin, faces a series of problems – his wife is cheating on him, his mistress wants to get married and Americans want to take over his toy business. Cast ...

'' (1982) - Doug Quincey *''

We of the Never Never ''We of the Never Never'' is an autobiographical novel by Jeannie Gunn first published in 1908. Although published as a novel, it is an account of the author's experiences in 1902 at Elsey Station near Mataranka, Northern Territory in which sh ...

'' (1982) - Aeneas Gunn *''

The Dismissal The 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, also known simply as the Dismissal, culminated on 11 November 1975 with the dismissal from office of the prime minister, Gough Whitlam of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), by Governor-General Sir Joh ...

'' (1983, TV Mini-Series) - Eric Robinson *''

The Return of Captain Invincible ''The Return of Captain Invincible'' is a 1983 Australian superhero musical comedy film directed by Philippe Mora, and starring Alan Arkin and Christopher Lee. It was a box office disappointment on release but has become a cult film since then. ...

'' (1983) - Lawyer *''

The Wild Duck ''The Wild Duck'' (original Norwegian title: ''Vildanden'') is an 1884 play by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It is considered the first modern masterpiece in the genre of tragicomedy. ''The Wild Duck'' and ''Rosmersholm'' are "often ...

'' (1983) - Gregory *''

The Schippan Mystery ''The Schippan Mystery'' is a 1984 Australian television film about the murder of Bertha Schippan in 1902.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995'', Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p136 Directed by Di Drew, it was last of four telemovi ...

'' (1984) - Sir Josiah Symon *''

Burke & Wills ''Burke & Wills'' is a 1985 Australian adventure film directed by Graeme Clifford, starring Jack Thompson and Nigel Havers. The film is based on the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition across Australia. The film follows Robert O'Hara Burke an ...

'' (1985) - Sir

William Stawell Sir William Foster Stawell KCMG (27 June 181512 March 1889) was a British colonial statesman and a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia. Stawell was the first Attorney-General of Victoria, serving from 1851 to 1856 as an a ...

*''

Comrades The term ''comrade'' (russian: товарищ, tovarisch) generally means 'mate', 'colleague', or 'ally', and derives from the Spanish and Portuguese, term , literally meaning 'chamber mate', from Latin , meaning 'chamber' or 'room'. It may also ...

'' (1986) - Fop *'' The Right Hand Man'' (1987) - Dr. Redbridge *''Those Dear Departed'' (1987) - Producer *''

The Everlasting Secret Family ''The Everlasting Secret Family'' is a 1988 Australian film directed by Michael Thornhill about a secret society of gay men. It was based on Frank Moorhouse's so-named collection of four short stories published in 1980. The movie was financed by ...

'' (1988)Michael Ferguson and Michael S. Ferguson - The Senator *''

The Dreaming The Dreaming, also referred to as Dreamtime, is a term devised by early anthropologists to refer to a religio-cultural worldview attributed to Australian Aboriginal beliefs. It was originally used by Francis Gillen, quickly adopted by his co ...

'' (1988) - Professor Bernard Thornton *''

Shadow of the Cobra ''Shadow of the Cobra'' is a 1989 television miniseries based on the book ''The Life and Crimes of Charles Sobhraj'' by Richard Neville and Julie Clarke.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995'', Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p233 Ref ...

'' (1989, TV Mini-Series) - Gupta *''

Edens Lost ''Edens Lost'' is a 1989 Australian mini-series based on the novel of the same title by Sumner Locke Elliott, produced by Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Central Independent Television. Gillian Armstrong and Margaret Fink had pl ...

'' (1989, TV Movie) - Heath *''

Isabelle Eberhardt Isabelle Wilhelmine Marie Eberhardt (17 February 1877 – 21 October 1904) was a Swiss explorer and author. As a teenager, Eberhardt, educated in Switzerland by her father, published short stories under a male pseudonym. She became interested ...

'' (1991) - Cauvet *''

The Nostradamus Kid ''The Nostradamus Kid'' is a 1992 Australian feature film written and directed by Bob Ellis. The film is about the religious and sexual coming of age of a 1950s and 1960s Seventh-day Adventist boy. Ken Elkin (Noah Taylor) is a "randy young m ...

'' (1993) - Pastor Anderson *''

Dating the Enemy ''Dating The Enemy'' is a 1996 Australian comedy about a recently broken up couple who mystically swap bodies and have to live as each other. Plot One Valentine's evening a group of single, dateless friends get together to play Trivial Pursuit ...

'' (1996) - Dr. Kamins *'' Paradise Road'' (1997) - Mr. Pike *''

Oscar and Lucinda ''Oscar and Lucinda'' is a novel by Australian author Peter Carey which won the 1988 Booker Prize and the 1989 Miles Franklin Award. It was shortlisted for The Best of the Booker. Plot introduction It tells the story of Oscar Hopkins, the D ...

'' (1997) *'' Gods and Monsters'' (1998) -

Ernest Thesiger Ernest Frederic Graham Thesiger, CBE (15 January 1879 – 14 January 1961) was an English stage and film actor. He is noted for his performance as Doctor Septimus Pretorius in James Whale's film ''Bride of Frankenstein'' (1935). Biography ...

(uncredited) *''

Moulin Rouge! ''Moulin Rouge!'' (, ) is a 2001 jukebox musical romantic drama film directed, co-produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. It follows a young English poet, Christian, who falls in love with the star of the Moulin Rouge, cabaret actress and cou ...

'' (2001) - Christian's Father *''

Beneath Clouds ''Beneath Clouds'' is a 2002 film by Indigenous Australian director Ivan Sen. It is the feature film debut by the two lead actors. Damian Pitt was approached by Sen on the streets of Moree, New South Wales, and had never acted before. Dannielle ...

'' (2002) - Old Man in pub / Mercedes driver *''The Libertine'' (2006, Short) - Man *'' Australia'' (2008) - Father Benedict *'' The Tree'' (2010) - Uncle Jack *''

The Great Gatsby ''The Great Gatsby'' is a 1925 novel by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. Set in the Jazz Age on Long Island, near New York City, the novel depicts first-person narrator Nick Carraway's interactions with mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsb ...

'' (2013) - (uncredited)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dignam, Arthur 1939 births 2020 deaths Australian male film actors Australian male stage actors Australian male television actors People from Lord Howe Island People educated at Newington College 20th-century Australian male actors 21st-century Australian male actors