Lucky Grills

Leo Dennis Grills (26 May 1928 – 27 July 2007), known professionally as Lucky Grills, was an Australian actor and comedian. His best known acting role was in the crime drama TV series '' Bluey'' playing the title role, and later parodied in Bargearse. Grills took his professionally working name after the Italian-American gangster Lucky Luciano.

Grills is credited for initiating the ''Mo Awards'', an awards show that celebrate Australian Variety in 1975.

Early life

Grills was born on Johnson Street in Moonah, a suburb of Hobart, Tasmania, on 26 May 1928, to Francis Leonard Grills and Hilda May (née Dennis). He was the youngest of five siblings, who were Thelda Jean, Raymond Ernest, Eunice and Faye Grills.

He was born into the depression, at a time when there was little work available and money was tight. He was raised on a farm until his family relocated to Melbourne, hoping for better prospects. Grills left school at 14 years and took a printing apprenticeship.

Career

Grills first foray into of entertainment came as part of the musical comedy duo 'Tex and Lucky’, performing around Melbourne at parties, clubs and the Hawthorn Town Hall, before he successfully auditioned for the 1948 Revue with the Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne. He later moved with the show to the New Tivoli Theatre, Sydney. He also worked as a stand-up comic in the Sydney clubs, sometimes playing the trumpet and drums.TV Week magazine - "Bluey - TV's New Two-Fisted Cop" by Eric Scott, 3 April 1976 pages 20 & 56. He would change his material to suit his audience, stating: "Some people know me as the dirtiest comic in the business... but others know me as a man who never drops even a mild four-letter word."

In 1957, Grills, together with musician Geoff Mack started a variety show at the Hotel Coolangatta on the Gold Coast, eventually touring the show nationally, under the name ‘Carols Varieties’ for six years.

On one occasion in Adelaide, Grills had done a show and needed to get a taxi. He had put on a big houndstooth-checked sports jacket and was carrying a suitcase. The taxi driver looked at him and asked where he had been wrestling. Lucky had to set him straight and let him know he was not a wrestler but a comic. For the rest of the journey, Grills had to listen to the driver telling old jokes.

During both the Korean and Vietnam wars, Grills travelled over to entertain Australian troops stationed there. He also did three hundred weeks in a migrant education programme called ''You Say the Word'', where he played the owner of a factory. "It was designed to show newcomers to Australia how things were done and to teach them English", he explained.

Prior to his role in ''Bluey'', Grills played other parts in several Crawford series, but "oddly enough, despite my bulk and appearance, never once have I been asked to play a heavy". It was a guest role in ''Matlock Police'' that brought him to the attention of producers for the role his best known role of 'Bluey' Hills in the television series '' Bluey'' in 1976. He was sent a script page, read it and duly went to the audition. Within ten days he knew he had the part.

Grills' other notable credits include the biopic ''Caddie'' (1976) with Jack Thompson and Jacki Weaver, crime action drama film '' Money Movers'' (1978) and comedy drama musical '' Starstruck'' (1982). He also starred in children's film '' Molly'' (1983) alongside Claudia Karvan and long running TV soap opera ''Home and Away'' (1988). He played minor roles in ''A Country Practice'', 1987 war miniseries ''Vietnam'' alongside Nicole Kidman and the film '' Fast Talking'' with Steve Bisley.

Grills was reintroduced to a younger generation in a recurring segment of the early 1990s comedy series '' The Late Show'' called '' Bargearse'', a humorous re-dub of ''Bluey''. He also made three in-person appearances on the show, including singing as a member of a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young parody band and in character as Bluey protesting the last episode of ''Bargearse''.

Following his film and television career, Grills toured with Stan Zemanek’s travelling cabaret show in the 1990s, often joined by singer and comedian Jan Adele. He is often credited as being the last touring vaudeville performer in Australia and frequently performed two shows a night, seven days a week throughout Australia and internationally.

Grills released his autobiography "Just Call Me Lucky" in 2003.

Honours

Grills was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal in the 2000 Queen's New Year's Honours List for his services to the entertainment industry and the arts. He was also awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to the entertainment industry through charitable organisations.

Personal life

Grills was married three times. His first wife Beryl did not enjoy show business or travel, but
they parted on amicable terms. His second marriage was to a dancer, Karen Sanders, with whom he performed in a duo as ‘Lucky and Sunny’ in Britain and South Africa for several years. He was happily married to third wife Maria until his death. Together, the couple had two children, Adam and Shanra.

Grills was a Freemason. He was initiated into the three degrees of Freemasonry on 22 April, 24 June and 26 August respectively, in Lodge Thespian No. 256 UGL of New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory.

Death

On 28 July, 2007, at the age of 79, Grills died in his sleep at his home on the Gold Coast in Queensland. On the day prior to his death he was still working and had made two public appearances back to back.Australian entertainer Lucky Grills dies
– ninemsn.com.au, ''28 July 2007'' A celebration of his life was held at Mermaid Waters. His cremated remains were later interred with his parents at Cheltenham Memorial Cemetery in Melbourne on 19 December 2007. 'Make em Laugh’ is engraved on his memorial plaque.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage

References

External links

*

Friends of Cheltenham and Regional Cemeteries Inc.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grills, Lucky
1928 births
2007 deaths
Australian male television actors
Australian male comedians
Male actors from Hobart
20th-century Australian comedians
Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia