Alister Smart

Smart started his career in local theatre in 1953, in French playwright Jean Cocteau L'Aigle à deux têtes (The Eagle with Two Heads) and productions of Shakespeare's Macbeth and Jean Anouilhs The Lark. His subsequent stage credits included King Henry V and a tour of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.^[4]

An early television role for Smart was 1963 teleplay The Right Thing, the ABC’s first TV drama co-production with an international company, in which he played the role of visiting Spaniard, Jose.^[5]

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, Smart returned to Australia,^[1] where he appeared in guest roles in soap operas and made for-television movies,^[6] including 1966's The House for anthology serial Australian Playhouse, playing the role of an abusive husband, opposite Nancye Stewart.^[7] In 1969, he appeared in the film It Takes All Kinds, playing the role of Ray.^[8]

Smart had a prominent role as a new character, journalist Duncan Hunter, in the film adaptation of primetime soap opera Number 96.^[6] He later appeared in the original series the film was based on, playing Frank Hobson, in 1976. The following year, he had a role in the TV movie Roses Bloom Twice^[9] and in 1978, he played the role of Stewart in Plunge Into Darkness.^[10]

His other Australian television credits included Riptide, Skippy, The Sullivans, Glenview High, Barrier Reef, Cop Shop and Rafferty's Rules.^[11]

Smart pursued a career in directing both movies and television 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, and drama series A Country Practice. He also directed the 1992 made-for-TV family films The Time Game^[12] and You and Me and Uncle Bob.^[13]

He is best known however for directing the popular 1980s drama series Sons and Daughters, over some 88 episodes.

Other later directing credits included episodes of Richmond Hill, Prisoner, Cop Shop, Rafferty's Rules, E Street, Neighbours and Blue Heelers.^{[14][15][16][11]}

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. He made his first appearance in the debut episode in 1966, and continued in this role for 27 years until he retired in 1993. It was one of the longest stints on television in Australia. During his tenure, he co-hosted alongside Lorraine Bayly (1966–1978), Anne Haddy (1966–1969), Donald Mcdonald, Kerry Francis, Don Spencer, Benita Collings, John Hamblin, Noni Hazlehurst, John Waters, Philip Quast and during the first year, Diane Dorgan.^[17][18]

Smart was also recognised for his appearances with fellow Play School hosts, including Don Spencer^[1] on tie-in records released for ABC Music, as well as in audiobooks.^[1][18][17]

Smart grew up in Nowra, New South Wales and was married to actress Margery Milne, whom he sometimes acted alongside. In his later years, he resided in East Gippsland, Victoria. ^[19]

Whilst there have been no media reports on his death, it is generally accepted via reports by industry colleagues (including Peter Couchman and John Jarratt), that Smart died in early 2025. His family may have requested no publicity.