Francis Bell (actor)
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Wayne Francis Earl Bell (18 April 1944 – 3 May 1994) was a
New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
-born actor who achieved international stardom playing the part of original character Max Ramsay in the early years of the popular Australian soap opera, ''
Neighbours ''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera that has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons and ...
''. During his career he also acted in Australian serials ''
The Sullivans ''The Sullivans'' is an Australian period drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran on the Nine Network from 15 November 1976 until 10 March 1983. The series tells the story of a fictional average middle-clas ...
'' and '' Sons and Daughters''. He appeared in 15 films from 1976 until his death.


Career

Bell had a BA in philosophy and English in Auckland, New Zealand, and an MA in drama from Leeds University. He was a member of the National Theatre. He began his career with major roles in British theatre productions, includuing ''
King Lear ''The Tragedy of King Lear'', often shortened to ''King Lear'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is loosely based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his ...
'', ''
Much Ado About Nothing ''Much Ado About Nothing'' is a Shakespearean comedy, comedy by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599.See textual notes to ''Much Ado About Nothing'' in ''The Norton Shakespeare'' (W. W. Norton & Company, 1997 ) p. ...
'', and ''
Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...
''. Bell had minor roles in ''
The Sullivans ''The Sullivans'' is an Australian period drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran on the Nine Network from 15 November 1976 until 10 March 1983. The series tells the story of a fictional average middle-clas ...
'', ''
Cop Shop ''Cop Shop'' is a long-running Australian police drama television series produced by Crawford Productions that ran for seven seasons between 28 November 1977 and 23 July 1984. It comprised 582 one-hour episodes. Synopsis The show revolved arou ...
'', ''
Carson's Law ''Carson's Law'' is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Ten Network between 1983-1984. The series was a period piece set in the 1920s and starred Lorraine Bayly as progressive solicitor Jennifer Carson. The e ...
'', '' Special Squad'', and '' Sons and Daughters''. In 1985, Bell played the role of Major-General Howard "Pompey" Elliott in the critically acclaimed Australian mini-series ''
Anzacs ANZAC, ''Anzacs'' (named for members of the all volunteer army formations) is a 1985 Australian five-part television miniseries set in World War I. The series follows the lives of a group of young Australian men who enlist in the 8th Battalion ( ...
'', alongside
Paul Hogan Paul Hogan (born 8 October 1939) is an Australian actor and comedian. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his performance as ...
and Andrew Clarke. From 1985 until 1986, Bell played original character Max Ramsay in soap opera ''
Neighbours ''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera that has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons and ...
''. Soon after the serial switched from the
Seven Network Seven Network (stylised 7Network, and commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is an Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, ...
to
Network Ten Network 10 (commonly known as the 10 Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paramount Global's Paramount Networks UK & Australia, UK & Australia division and is o ...
, Bell abruptly left the show due to a serious back injury. Bell had intended to leave ''Neighbours'' before his back problems flared up. While negotiations were ongoing between his agent and the production company, Bell realised that he did not want to do the show anymore. He also took a fall on the set, which aggravated his back injury and left him with muscle spasms and pain. Bell filmed his final scenes in March 1986. To accommodate this loss, the new character of Max's brother Tom Ramsay ( Gary Files) was hastily introduced. In the story Tom arrived to take the reins of Max's plumbing business while Max was away; behind the scenes the scriptwriters went through the scripts replacing "Max" with "Tom", with Tom speaking the dialogue written for Max. After leaving ''Neighbours'', Bell returned to recording voiceovers for commercials.


Personal life

Bell married his partner of five years, Swedish textile designer Monica Dare in Melbourne on 27 March 1986. It was the second marriage for both of them. Bell and Dare separated six months after marrying. He is survived by his daughter. On 3 May 1994, Bell was found dead after falling from a building in
Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...
, New Zealand. The city's police released a statement stating that there were no suspicious circumstances regarding his death. His agent Graham Dunster later revealed that Bell had been hospitalised with depression prior to his death. His former ''Neighbours'' co-stars
Anne Haddy Patricia Anne Haddy (5 October 1930 – 6 June 1999), credited also as Anne Hardy, was an Australian actress, television presenter and voice artist, who worked in various facets of the industry including radio, stage and television. She was mar ...
and
Alan Dale Alan Hugh Dale (born 6 May 1947) is a New Zealand actor. As a child, Dale enjoyed theatre and rugby. After retiring from the sport, he took on a number of occupations, before deciding to become a professional actor at age 27. Dale subsequent ...
paid tribute to him, with Dale calling Bell "one of the best actors I have ever worked with." The show's casting director
Jan Russ Jan Russ is an Australian casting director, producer and actress of theatre and television. She is best known as the casting director for various programs for Grundy Television/Fremantle Media, and is notable for launching the careers of many ac ...
also called him a "colourful and eccentric character" and said that "he was well liked and respected by everyone." Bell was buried at Purewa Cemetery.


Filmography

*''
The Sullivans ''The Sullivans'' is an Australian period drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran on the Nine Network from 15 November 1976 until 10 March 1983. The series tells the story of a fictional average middle-clas ...
'' (TV series 1976) *'' Sons and Daughters'' (TV series 1982) *'' Who Killed Baby Azaria?'' (TV movie 1983) *''
Five Mile Creek ''Five Mile Creek'' is a western television drama series adapted from Louis L'Amour's novel ''The Cherokee Trail'' and produced in Australia. It starred Liz Burch, Louise Caire Clark, Rod Mullinar, Jay Kerr, Michael Caton, Peter Carroll, ...
'' (TV series 1983) *''
Anzacs ANZAC, ''Anzacs'' (named for members of the all volunteer army formations) is a 1985 Australian five-part television miniseries set in World War I. The series follows the lives of a group of young Australian men who enlist in the 8th Battalion ( ...
'' (TV mini-series 1985) *''Glass Babies'' (Miniseries) (TV mini-series 1985) *''
Rubbery Figures ''Rubbery Figures'' was a satirical rubber puppet series and segment that screened in Australia in various forms from 1984 to 1990. The series ran on the ABC until 1988, when it was axed and subsequently revived as a segment on Seven Network's ...
'' (TV series 1986) *''
Neighbours ''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera that has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons and ...
'' (TV series 1985–1986) (191 episodes) *'' Bushfire Moon'' (TV movie 1987) * '' Against the Innocent'' (1989) *'' The End of the Golden Weather'' (1991) *'' Absent Without Leave'' (1992) *''Homeward Bound'' (TV series) (TV series 1992) *''Alexander Graham Bell: The Sound and the Silence'' (TV movie 1992) *'' Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules and the Lost Kingdom ''Hercules and the Lost Kingdom'' is the second television movie in the syndicated fantasy series '' Hercules: The Legendary Journeys''. In the film, Hercules comes to the aid of a young woman who is seeking the lost city of Troy. Eventually ...
'' (TV movie 1994) *'' Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle'' (TV series 1994)


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Francis 1944 births 1994 deaths Australian male television actors Suicides by jumping in New Zealand British male television actors Burials at Purewa Cemetery 20th-century Australian male actors 20th-century British male actors 1994 suicides