Norman Yemm (23 March 1933 – 3 February 2015) was an Australian actor, opera singer and sportsman.

Norman Yemm
Born(1933-03-23)23 March 1933
Died3 February 2015(2015-02-03) (aged 81)
Other namesNorm Yemm
Occupations
  • Actor (television and film
  • opera bariton
  • musical theatre performer
  • sportsman
Years active1965–2010
SpouseAmanda Yemm
PartnerEmmy Hardy
ChildrenBryden Yemm
Jodie Yemm
Samantha Yemm

Career edit

Film and TV edit

Yemm's film roles include Night of Fear and The Fourth Wish

On the small screen he may be best remembered for his long-running role in the television drama The Sullivans as Norm Baker. He had previously played regular roles in Homicide as Detective Jim Patterson and Number 96 as Harry Collins.

Further TV credits include Prisoner as police officer Eddie Stevens, Division 4, Matlock Police, Riptide, Tandarra, A Country Practice, Possession, Neighbours, The Henderson Kids, Blue Heelers and Something in the Air. .[1][2]

Theatre edit

Yemm appeared in such roles as Don Pasquale], he was a frequent performer in musical theatre including roles in Oklahoma and The Pirates of Penzance, South Pacific and The Sound of Music[3]

As a vocalist he had spent years as chief baritone with Opera Australia.

Sporting achievements edit

Norman was a professional track athlete for most of his adult life, winning 96 finals, including three races at the Stawell Gift. Yemm was also an Australian rules footballer, having played for Victorian Football Association (VFA) club Port Melbourne.[4][5][6]

Personal life edit

Norman Yemm was born in 1933 in Elsternwick, Victoria.[7] He has an identical twin brother, Gordon, who is a professional musician and shares Norman's success on the track and as a performer.

"An actor's greatest attribute is to have a good memory, but I've always had a bad one." That didn't stop him from working that much harder to remember his lines on stage and screen, and it was some old-fashioned blood, sweat and tears that brought the brothers their success.[8] He has three children; his daughter Jodie Yemm is an actress.

Death edit

Yemm died on 3 February 2015, aged 81, and his death was announced two days later.[9]

Discography edit

Singles edit

Year Title Peak chart
positions
AUS
[10]
1973 "Darlin' Vera" / "Jean" 95

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
1959 On the Beach Submarine Crewman (uncredited) Feature film
1973 Night of Fear The Hermit Feature film
1975 Plugg Inspector Closer Feature film
1976 The Fourth Wish Specialist Feature film
1977 Raw Deal O'Neil Feature film
1993 Joh's Jury Kevin TV movie
1994 Lex and Rory Drunk Feature film
2003 The Way Back Norm Feature film
2008 Lover's Walk Short film
2010 The Beautiful and Damned Feature film
2010 El Monstro Del Mar! Joseph Feature film (final film role)

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1965–1972 Homicide Detective Jim Patterson / Malcolm Timms / Frank Bates / Errol Stewart / Blue Carmody / Geoff Archer / Bob Hills / Ivan Hondross 130 episodes
1968–1969 Riptide Const. Bob Rix / Andy Mercer 2 episodes
1969–1973 Division 4 Jack Miller / Stan Murray / Ernie 3 episodes
1972 Redheap TV series
1972–1974 Number 96 Harry Collins 35 episodes
1974–1975 Matlock Police Reg Walker / Max Cooper 2 episodes
1976 Tandarra Taggart Episode: "Shadow of the Past"
1976–1977 The Sullivans Norm Baker 12 episodes
1982 A Country Practice Stewart Lawson 2 episodes
1983–1984 Prisoner Eddie Stevens 12 episodes
1985 Possession John Andrews
1986–1998 Neighbours Ray Murphy / Jack O'Connor 18 episodes
1987–1988 The Henderson Kids Mr Summers 6 episodes
1996–2001 Blue Heelers Roy Fletcher / Dan Ballard / Nigel Carmody 3 episodes
1998 Moby Dick Carpenter 2 episodes
2001 Something In The Air Old Mac Episode: "Reading the Signs"

Theatre edit

Year Title Role Notes
1958 Bells Are Ringing Princess Theatre, Melbourne
1958 Femmes and Furs Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne, Tivoli Theatre, Sydney
1959 Oklahoma Curly Theatre Royal, Hobart, Theatre Royal, Melbourne, National Theatre, Launceston
1959 Aladdin in the Wonderful Lamp Theatre Royal, Adelaide
1960–61 South Pacific Lt. Joe Cable Theatre Royal, Hobart, National Theatre, Launceston
1961 The Most Happy Fella Pasquale Princess Theatre, Melbourne
1962 The Sound of Music Admiral Von Schreiber Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Tivoli Theatre, Sydney, Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, Perth, Victoria Theatre, Newcastle, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide
1963 La Boheme Alcindoro Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide
1963 Faust Wagner Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide
1963 Fledermaus! Prince Orlofsky Princess Theatre, Melbourne
1964 The Soldier’s Tale Elizabethan Theatre, Sydney
1964 Finian’s Rainbow Princess Theatre, Melbourne
1965 The Gondoliers Giuseppe Theatre Royal, Hobart, National Theatre, Launceston
1965 Oedipus Rex Chorus Leader Emerald Hill Theatre, Melbourne
1966 The Barber of Seville Dr. Bartolo Queensland, Majestic Cinemas, Sydney, Canberra Theatre
1967 Oklahoma! Curley Theatre Royal, Hobart
1967 Don Pasquale Singer Canberra Theatre
1967 The Flying Dutchman Singer, Baritone Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide
1967, 1968, 1976 Man of La Mancha Dr. Carrasco Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane
1971 The Melbourne Opera Season 1971 Actpr / Singer Princess Theatre, Melbourne
1971 Help, Help the Globollinks! Actor / Singer Princess Theatre, Melbourne
1975 The Threepenny Opera Colonel Brown Playhouse, Adelaide with New Opera South Australia
1982 Pirates of Penzance The Pirate King National Theatre, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Hobart with Tasmanian Chamber Orchestra
1983 The Gondoliers Don Alhambra Del Bolero Monash University, Festival Theatre, Adelaide
1984, 1985 H.M.S. Pinafore Sir Joseph Porter Monash University, Polly Woodside, Melbourne with Column Theatre Company
1986 Kismet Hajj Canberra Theatre with Canberra Philharmonic Society
1988 The Mikado His Majesty's Theatre, Perth with West Australian Opera
1990 Down an Alley Filled With Cats Coober Pedy with Harvest Theatre Company
1995 The Best of Gilbert and Sullivan Singer Mietta's, Melbourne
1995 H.M.S. Pinafore Artistic Director Polly Woodside, Melbourne with Column Theatre Company
2003–04 South Pacific Captain George Brackett State Theatre, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Sydney with The Production Company
2004 The Mikado Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre, Melbourne, Darwin Entertainment Centre

[11]

References edit

  1. ^ Norman Yemm at IMDb
  2. ^ "Obituary: Norman Yemm » Television.AU". televisionau.com. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  3. ^ J., Harper, Amanda (2004). Treading the boards: a popular history gof the Theatre Royal, the Theatre Royal Light Opera Company and other theatrical developments. Pierrot Publ. ISBN 0975672703. OCLC 232005936.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Atkinson, p. 186.
  5. ^ "Running Performances of Sporting Legends and other Celebrities - Runners' Soapbox". CoolRunning Forums. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Dandy Dollar Dash | VFLFOOTY.COM". www.vflfooty.com. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  7. ^ Idato, Michael (5 February 2015). "From Don Pasquale to The Sullivans: Australian acting great Norman Yemm dead, aged 82". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  8. ^ Profile, mednwh.unimelb.edu.au; accessed 18 February 2015.
  9. ^ Vickery, Colin; Minear, Tom (5 February 2015). "Australian actor Norman Yemm from Homicide, Number 96 dies". Herald Sun. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  10. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 345. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. ^ https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/226816

Sources edit

  • Atkinson, G. (1982) Everything you ever wanted to know about Australian rules football but couldn't be bothered asking, The Five Mile Press: Melbourne; ISBN 0 86788 009 0.

External links edit

  • Profile, mednwh.unimelb.edu.au; accessed 18 February 2015.
  • Interview, Classic Australian Television, Interview Norman Yemm