Ian Rawlings

Ian Rawlings (born 9 March 1959) is an Australian actor. He is best known for his long-running roles in soap operas '' Sons and Daughters'' and ''Neighbours''. He also appeared in the short-lived serial '' The Power, The Passion''.

Early life

Rawlings was born on 9 March 1959, in Whyalla, South Australia. He developed a keen interest in betting on horse racing after his father and grandfather took him to the races in Adelaide.

Rawlings worked as a storeman in Adelaide for a computer company, before becoming a model when he was 18. He later worked loading trucks at a large freight company, and as a tow-truck driver.

Career

Rawlings had little acting experience when he signed for the Grundy Organisation in 1981 to play Wayne Hamilton in '' Sons and Daughters''. He had spent two years trying to secure substantial acting work, and appeared in several amateur productions and as an extra in films produced by the South Australian Film Corporation. He was initially contracted for 15 weeks. In 1985, Rawlings also portrayed his character's look-alike Gary Evans. That same year, he won the Logie Award for Best Supporting Actor in A Series. Rawlings continued in the role of Wayne for the show's entire 1982–1987 run. Ahead of production ending in March 1987, Rawlings formed his own production company, after completing a producers course at the Australian Film and Television School.

In 1989, Rawlings appeared in the short-lived Seven Network soap opera '' The Power, The Passion'' as Ryan McAllister. After ''The Power, The Passion'' was cancelled, Rawlings took on a job as a salesman at the freight company he previously worked for prior to his acting career taking off. He said it was a "natural place to go back to" with no acting work forthcoming. He found that being well known to the public helped him with sales.

In 1992, Rawlings had a guest role as Marcus Stone in the Network Ten soap opera ''Neighbours''. A few months later, he joined the main cast as Philip Martin, taking over the role from Christopher Milne. Rawlings played Philip until 1999. He briefly reprised this role in episodes commemorating the programme's 20th anniversary in 2005. Rawlings reprised the role for the ''Neighbours vs Time Travel'' webseries in 2017. Rawlings made a cameo appearance in the final episode of ''Neighbours'' in mid-2022, and again in late 2023, when the series was picked up once again.

Rawlings struggled to find work after leaving ''Neighbours'', and launched his own entertainment business Trivial Fun and Games for clubs and hotels. He made guest appearances in '' Stingers'' and '' MDA'' in 2003. In 2019, Rawlings was working as a bingo caller at the Werribee Rotary Club.

Personal life

Rawlings met his wife, model Lee Dowling, while he was performing at an opening ceremony for a chicken takeaway shop. He proposed after six weeks, and they married four months later in September 1984 on the Isle of Capri. Several of his ''Sons and Daughters'' co-stars were in attendance, along with his brother and Dowling's daughter from her marriage to Garry Dowling. Rawlings and Dowling also have one child together, a daughter.

Filmography

References

External links

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Ian Rawlings as Philip Martin

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rawlings, Ian
1959 births
Australian male soap opera actors
Living people
Logie Award winners
People from Whyalla