Anthony Frederick Bonner (born 23 November 1943) is an Australian television, film, and stage actor and singer. Bonner became famous in the 1960s children's television series ''

Skippy the Bush Kangaroo ''Skippy the Bush Kangaroo'' (known commonly as ''Skippy'') is an Australian television series created by Australian actor John McCallum, Lionel (Bob) Austin, and Lee Robinson, produced from 1967 to 1969 (airing from 5 February 1968 to 4 May 1 ...

'', later moving on to lead roles in the dramas '' Cop Shop'' and '' Skyways''.

Early life and education

Anthony Frederick Bonner was born in Manly, a northern beach suburb of Sydney. His grandfather, James Bonner, was a former Mayor of Manly and founding President of the

Manly Life Saving Club The Manly Life Saving Club is one of Australia's oldest Surf Life Saving Clubs, founded in 1911; located in the Sydney suburb of , in the Northern Beaches Council in New South Wales. History The club was founded in 1911 to patrol Manly Beach, N ...

. His father, Frederick Bonner, was a musical comedy actor at

Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, Australia, refers to three theatres of the same name none of which remain standing. They were located in central Sydney on either Pitt Street or Quay Street. History First theatre (1887–1933) The original Her M ...

. His mother was born Josephine Sheidow and was, a 1935 article announcing her engagement to Frederick Bonner claimed, 'well known in the swimming world.' She was also known as a singer. After leaving school Bonner started work for a company supplying

mannequin A mannequin (sometimes spelled as manikin and also called a dummy, lay figure, or dress form) is a doll, often articulated, used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, window dressers and others, especially to display or fit clothing and show off dif ...

s and other equipment for window dressing. He also worked part-time in his father's theatre as a wardrobe attendant, fostering his interest in acting.

Career

Acting

Bonner's first professional stage acting job was in 1961, aged 18. His first major role was as helicopter pilot Jerry King on the television series '' Skippy''. Bonner went on to appear in many

Crawford Productions Crawford Productions is an Australian Media (communication), media production company, focused on radio and television production. Founded in Melbourne by Hector Crawford and his sister, actress and voice artist Dorothy Crawford, the company, a ...

television series, including '' The Box'', ''

Matlock Police ''Matlock Police'' is an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for The 0-10 Network (now known as Network 10) between 1971 and 1976. The series focused on the police station and crime in the Victorian town of Ma ...

'', ''

Division 4 ''Division 4'' is an Australian television police drama series broadcast by the Nine Network and created by Crawford Productions airing between 1969 and 1975 for 301 episodes. Synopsis The series was one of the first to follow up on the enor ...

'', '' Cop Shop'', '' Skyways'', and '' Carson's Law''. In 1970–71, he had a guest role in one episode of the UK-based ITC television series ''

The Persuaders! ''The Persuaders!'' is a British action comedy television series starring Tony Curtis and Roger Moore, produced by ITC Entertainment, and initially broadcast on ITV and ABC in 1971. The show has been called 'the last major entry in the c ...

'' starring

Tony Curtis Tony Curtis (born Bernard Schwartz; June 3, 1925September 29, 2010) was an American actor with a career that spanned six decades, achieving the height of his popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in more than 100 films, in roles co ...

and

Roger Moore Sir Roger George Moore (14 October 192723 May 2017) was an English actor. He was the actor to portray Ian Fleming's fictional secret agent James Bond (literary character), James Bond in the Eon Productions/MGM Studios film series, playing the ...

. He featured in an advertising campaign for the Ballajura real estate development in Western Australia in the late 1970s. His notable film roles include '' Eyewitness'' (1970), '' You Can't Win 'Em All'' (1970), '' Creatures the World Forgot'' (1971), '' Inn of the Damned'' (1975), '' The Mango Tree'' (1977), '' Money Movers'' (1978), '' The Man from Snowy River'' (1982), '' The Highest Honor'' (1983), '' Quigley Down Under'' (1990), '' Dead Sleep'' (1990), '' Hurricane Smith'' (1992), and '' Liquid Bridge'' (2003). He has twice portrayed Australian World War I soldier

Murray Bourchier Brigadier Sir Murray William James Bourchier, CMG, DSO, VD (4 April 1881 – 16 December 1937) was an Australian soldier and politician. He was Deputy Premier of Victoria from April 1935 until June 1936. Early life Murray was the eldest s ...

, to whom he bears a remarkable likeness, in the 1987 film '' The Lighthorsemen'' and a 1993 episode of ''

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles ''The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles'' (sometimes referred to as ''Young Indy'') is an American television series that aired on ABC from March 4, 1992, to July 24, 1993. Filming took place in various locations around the world, with "Old Indy" ...

''. Bonner also starred in the 1985 TV mini-series '' Anzacs''. He played

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

(later

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

) Harold Armstrong, commanding officer of the

8th Battalion (Australia) The 8th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Initially raised in 1914 for the First Australian Imperial Force during the First World War the battalion was completely recruited from Victoria, Australia, Victoria and formed ...

of the

First Australian Imperial Force The First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) was the main Expeditionary warfare, expeditionary force of the Australian Army during the First World War. It was formed as the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) following United Kingdom of Great Bri ...

in 1914, from the

Gallipoli The Gallipoli Peninsula (; ; ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles strait to the east. Gallipoli is the Italian form of the Greek name (), meaning ' ...

in 1915 to the Western Front. Bonner has done advertising work, such as playing veteran burger-naming expert Ken Thomas in a 2007

McDonald's McDonald's Corporation, doing business as McDonald's, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational fast food chain store, chain. As of 2024, it is the second largest by number of locations in the world, behind only the Chinese ch ...

ad campaign. In September 2008, Bonner sued Fauna Productions Pty Ltd, the production company for ''Skippy the Bush Kangaroo'', seeking residuals from merchandising and DVD sales. He acted in '' William Kelly's War'' (2014) and ''Landfall'' (2017), both filmed and produced in Australia.

Music

Bonner recorded a cover version of the

Bee Gees The Bee Gees were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry Gibb, Barry, Robin Gibb, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in ...

song "Wine and Women" in 1968. He later appeared with

Barry Gibb Sir Barry Alan Crompton Gibb (born 1 September 1946) is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. Along with his younger fraternal twin brothers, Robin Gibb, Robin and Maurice Gibb, Maurice, he rose to global fame as a member ...

on an episode of ''Bandstand''. Later in his career Bonner appeared in several stage musicals, including '' Annie Get Your Gun'' and '' How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying''.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Bonner has had experience as a stage actor and director, including:

As actor

As director

Personal life

Bonner was married to Australian actress and model Nola Clark. One daughter, Chelsea Bonner, is the owner and director of a plus-size modelling agency. Bonner is

patron Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, art patronage refers to the support that princes, popes, and other wealthy and influential people ...

of several charities including The Smith Family and the Wesley Mission suicide prevention program. He has also served on the board of the Variety Club and is Publicity Officer and past President of the

. In 2017 Bonner was appointed a

Member of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

for significant service to the performing arts as an actor, to surf lifesaving, and to the community through charitable organisations.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bonner, Tony 1943 births Living people Australian male film actors Australian male stage actors Australian male television actors Members of the Order of Australia People from Manly, New South Wales