Alister Smart
Australian television director, actor and presenter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alister Smart (born 1935)[1][2] also credited as Alastair Smart,[3] is an Australian retired television presenter, actor, television director and screenwriter. A staple of the small screen, he appeared in productions in England, before returning to Australia, and had roles in television plays, telefilms and soap opera/serials with numerous credits from the late 1950s until the mid-1990s.
- Actor
- television presenter
- television director
- writer
- Actor (1957–1992)
- TV presenter (1966–1993)
- Director (1972–1994)
- Screenwriter (various)
Alister Smart | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1935 (age 90–91)[1] Australia |
| Other names | Alastair Smart |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active |
|
| Employer | Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1966–1991) |
| Known for | Play School as host 1966–1993 (27 years) |
| Notable work |
|
Smart is best known for his extended role as a presenter on the children's TV series Play School spanning from 1966 to 1993. He is also recognized for his appearances with fellow members of Play School, including Don Spencer[1] on tie-in records released for ABC Music, as well as in audiobooks.[1][4][5] As a presenter on Play School he had one of the longest stints on television in Australia, co-hosting alongside Spencer, Lorraine Bayly, Benita Collings, John Hamblin, Noni Hazlehurst, John Waters, Philip Quast and Anne Haddy.[4]
In addition to his presenting work, Smart made significant contributions as a television director. He directed 88 episodes of soap opera Sons and Daughters and, briefly, four episodes of the police procedural series Blue Heelers.
Career
Actor
Smart started his career in local theatre in 1957, and continued working in stage drama throughout his life. His theatre roles include Shakespeare's Macbeth, King Henry V, Jean Anouilhs The Lark and a tour of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. [6]
In the early 1960s, Smart expanded his career to television in England, where he appeared in televised plays. He performed in anthology series including ITV Play of the Week and Comedy Playhouse, as well as serials like Emergency Ward 10. In the latter part of the 1960s he returned to Australia,[1] where he appeared in guest roles in soap operas and made-for-television movies. His credits in Australia included You Can't See 'round Corners, Homicide. Division 4, The Sullivans and Cop Shop. Smart had a prominent role as a new character, journalist Duncan Hunter, in the film adaptation of Number 96.[7] Smart later appeared in the original series the film was based on, playing Frank Hobson in Number 96 in 1976.
Television director
Smart pursued a career in directing both movies and TV series from the early 1970s until his retirement in 1994. His directorial work included notable projects such as the 1975 ABC series sitcom Scattergood: Friend of All, as well as A Country Practice.
He is best known however for directing the popular 1980s drama series Sons and Daughters, over a some 88 episodes.
Other later directing included selected episodes of Richmond Hill, Prisoner, E Street, Neighbours and Blue Heelers.[8][9][10]
Television presenter
Smart is known for his role as a presenter on the long-running children's TV program Play School, the Australian adaptation of the original British version of the same title. Smart made his first appearance in the debut episode in 1966, and continued in this role for 27 years until he retired in 1993. During his tenure, he hosted alongside other original cast members including Lorraine Bayly (1966-1978), Anne Haddy (1966-1969), Donald Mcdonald and Kerry Francis and during the first year Diane Dorgan.[5]
Personal life
Smart grew up in Nowra, New South Wales and was married to actress Margery Milne, whom he sometimes acted alongside. He currently resides in East Gippsland, Victoria. [11]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | The Right Thing[12] | Jose Gomez | TV movie |
| 1964 | Ring Out, Wild Bells (episode of Wednesday Theatre) | John Lambert | TV movie |
| 1965 | Arabesque for Atoms | TV movie | |
| 1966 | Twelfth Night (episode of Wednesday Theatre) | Curio | TV movie |
| 1969 | It Takes All Kinds | Ray | Feature film |
| 1974 | Number 96 | Duncan Hunter | Film adaptation |
| 1977 | Harness Fever (aka Born to Run or Ride a Wild Pony) | Sergeant Meeker | TV movie |
| Roses Bloom Twice | TV movie | ||
| 1978 | Plunge Into Darkness | TV movie | |
| 1980 | People Like Us | Detective Rogers | TV movie |
| 1992 | The Girl Who Came Late (aka Daydream Believer) | Ron | Feature film |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Theatre 70 | Building Worker | TV series |
| Three Live Wires | TV series | ||
| ITV Play of the Week | Checker | TV series | |
| The Seven Faces of Jim | Kenneth Kendall, Digger, Newspaper reporter | TV series | |
| 1962 | Comedy Playhouse | TV series | |
| Drama 61-67 | Dr. Jefferson | TV series | |
| Six More Faces of Jim | TV series | ||
| 1963 | Emergency Ward 10 | Mr. Riley | TV series |
| 1965–1971 | Homicide | Doctor Perini, John Whelan, Geoff Woods, Alan Watson, George Allen, Lucio Leurini, John Meadows | TV series |
| 1966–1993 | Play School | Presenter | TV series[13] |
| 1967 | You Can't See 'round Corners | TV series | |
| Contrabandits | Greer, Cox | TV series | |
| 1968–1969 | Skippy the Bush Kangaroo | Alf, Sergeant | TV series |
| 1969 | Riptide | Adam Brockenhurst, Les Duggan, Ted | TV series |
| 1969–1975 | Division 4 | Dennis, Downey Kenney Kent, Alf Clarke, Stan Hassett, Don Jenkins, Taylor | TV series |
| 1970 | The Rovers | Gary | TV series |
| Delta | Paul Falstone-Green | TV series | |
| Dynasty | Ambassador | TV series | |
| 1971 | Spyforce | Carlos | TV series |
| 1972 | Barrier Reef | Lynch | TV series |
| 1971; 1973 | Matlock Police | Ricco, Barney White | TV series |
| 1973 | Ryan | Colin Brown | TV series |
| Serpent in the Rainbow | Adam Quigg | TV miniseries | |
| 1974 | Behind the Legend | Frank Gardiner | Miniseries |
| Silent Number | Dr. Fisher | TV series | |
| 1975 | Ben Hall | Jack Taylor | TV series |
| Wollongong the Brave | TV series | ||
| 1976 | The Emigrants | Migrant reception officer | Miniseries |
| The Sullivans | Paul Hayward | TV series | |
| Number 96 | Frank Hobson | TV series | |
| The Outsiders | Li Norton | TV series | |
| 1977 | Moynihan | TV series | |
| Young Ramsay | Ken Murray | TV series | |
| 1977–1979 | Glenview High | Kazim | TV series |
| 1978–1980 | Cop Shop | Phillip Cooper, Sharkey | TV series |
| 1979 | Skyways | Hal Bailey | TV series |
| 1984 | Carson's Law | David Mockridge | TV series |
| 1985 | Special Squad | TV series | |
| 1988 | Rafferty's Rules | Robson | TV series |
Director
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | The Time Game | Director | TV movie |
| 1993 | You and Me and Uncle Bob | Director | TV movie |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | The Spoiler | Director | Episode: "The Price" |
| 1972 | The Godfathers | Director | 5 episodes: "There's a Tortoise in My Bath", "The Lift", "Too Many Cakes", "The Prize", "Double Trouble" |
| 1974 | One Man in the Company | Director | Episode: "Two in One" |
| Producer | 5 episodes | ||
| Scattergood: Friend of All | Director | TV series | |
| 1977 | Cop Shop | Director | 6 episodes |
| 1979 | Skyways | Director | TV series |
| 1982 | A Country Practice | Director | 14 episodes |
| 1983 | Waterloo Station | Director | TV series |
| 1986 | Prisoner | Director | 7 episodes |
| 1982–1987 | Sons and Daughters | Director | 88 episodes |
| 1989 | Richmond Hill | Director | TV series |
| 1989–1990 | Rafferty's Rules | Director | 4 episodes: "Out of Line", "One for Us", "Free of Passion", "In Custody" |
| 1989–1990 | E Street | Director | 6 episodes |
| 1991 | Neighbours | Director | 6 episodes |
| 1994 | Blue Heelers | Director | 4 episodes: "Waiting for Apples", "Family Lies", "Good Cop, Bad Cop", "Crazy Like a Fox" |