Vincent Ball

Vincent Martin Ball OAM (born 4 December 1923)[1] is a retired Australian character actor of stage and screen, active in the industry for nearly 55 years (with a brief return) firstly in Britain and then his native Australia. He is best known for film and television series, including roles in A Town Like Alice, Phar Lap, Breaker Morant, and Muriel's Wedding.

Vincent Ball
Born
Vincent Martin Ball

(1923-12-04) 4 December 1923
Wee Waa, New South Wales, Australia
OccupationActor, air gunner in the Royal Australian Air Force, employee of General electric.
Years active1948–2002, 2014
Spouse(s)Doreen Harrop (married 1949)
Children3

Early life

Ball was born in Wee Waa, New South Wales in 1923, to a father who worked as a linesman on the railways. He says he wanted to be an actor from an early age, particularly a "cowboy in the movies".[2]

With the outbreak of the Second World War, he left his job with the Australian General Electric Company and after military training in Canada became a wireless air gunner with the Royal Australian Air Force serving in Britain. [2]

After the war he returned to Australia and his old job in 1945 but soon decided to try amateur dramatics. To correct his accent which had now morphised into part Canadian, part Cockney and part Australian he sought out elocution lessons - where he met (and later married) his teacher, leading Sydney actress Doreen Harrop; they have three children and live at Chittaway Point, New South Wales.[1][3]

Acting career in Britain

He began writing letters asking for auditions. One of these was to the Rank Organisation who, impressed with his enthusiasm, gave him a job as stand in for Donald Houston in an underwater fight with an octopus in the 1949 British version of film The Blue Lagoon.[4][5][1] He was then cast as Jack Warner's son in Smiling Irish Eyes.[6]

He then won a scholarship to RADA[7] from there now having relocated living in Stowting, Kent he appeared mostly in supporting and uncredited roles in the UK for the next two and a half decades. He was a juvenile lead in Rain Before Seven, Barnett's Folly and Nitro, before moving into slightly larger parts in such as A Town Like Alice, Robbery Under Arms, and Danger Within.[8] His television credits in Britain includes: Compact, Man in a Suitcase, The Troubleshooters, Dixon of Dock Green, and a recurring role on the long-running UK soap opera Crossroads.[9][10]

Career in Australia

Ball returned to Australia in 1973.[11] He was soon very busy acting in films, theatre and television.[12]

He is best known for his career in Australian film and television series, including film roles in A Town Like Alice, Phar Lap, Breaker Morant, and Muriel's Wedding.[13] His television credits in Australian serials includes: Cop Shop, The Sullivans, The Young Doctors, The Flying Doctors, Grass Roots and All Saints.[14] His many roles in Australian mini-series or made for television films include Against the Wind, and the epic Anzacs.

In 2014, aged 91 he came out of retirement briefly to play a Second World War veteran named Tom Knight in the Australian soap Home and Away, whom Alf Stewart (played by Ray Meagher) meets in hospital, the scenes went to air during April 2015, just before ANZAC Day[15]

Honours

Ball was honoured with the OAM in the 2016 honours list.[16]

Selected filmography
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References
  1. "Vince, Keep Your Face Away From The Camera". Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  2. ""VINCE, KEEP YOUR FACE AWAY FROM THE CAMERA"". The Australian Women's Weekly. 41, (23). Australia, Australia. 7 November 1973. p. 4. Retrieved 18 August 2020 – via National Library of Australia.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  3. "Australians Abroad Spanish Journeys For Many Sydney Travellers". The Sunday Herald (Sydney) (42). New South Wales, Australia. 6 November 1949. p. 10. Retrieved 18 August 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "IRISH BROGUE DID IT". The Sun (2468). New South Wales, Australia. 6 August 1950. p. 59. Retrieved 18 August 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Vincent Ball". IMDb. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  6. "Harry Lauder's Life". The Sunday Herald (Sydney) (84). New South Wales, Australia. 3 September 1950. p. 4 (Features). Retrieved 18 August 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Vincent Ball". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  8. "Vincent Ball". BFI.
  9. "Vincent Ball". www.aveleyman.com.
  10. "They were in Crossroads?". 3 April 2013.
  11. "Actor returns". The Canberra Times. 48, (13, 586). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 8 November 1973. p. 22. Retrieved 18 August 2020 – via National Library of Australia.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  12. "WORK FLOODS IN FOR PRINCE VINCENT". The Australian Women's Weekly. 48, (17). Australia, Australia. 24 September 1980. p. 21 (Your TV Magazine). Retrieved 18 August 2020 – via National Library of Australia.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) ,
  13. "Vincent Ball | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
  14. "'I might get a job now they know I'm alive'". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 26 January 2016.
  15. Alf not the sole veteran in Home and Away’s Anzac storyline. News.com.au, 19 April 2015. Accessed 30 April 2015
  16. Collins, Terry (26 January 2016). "Australia Day 2016: Actor Vincent Ball reflects on fascinating movie career after receiving OAM honour". Central Coast Express Advocate.
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