Terry McDermott (actor)

Terry McDermott (1928 - 14 December 2018) [1] was an Australian stage, radio and television actor known for his roles in the series Homicide and Bellbird.

Terry McDermott
Born1928
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died14 December 2018 (aged 90)
OccupationActor
SpouseNathalie Kavanagh

Career

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McDermott played Detective Sergeant Frank Bronson, one of three main characters, in the Crawford Productions police series Homicide from its 1964 debut until 1966. He left the show due to a disagreement over contracts and concerns about performing his own stunts. His character was one of the first detectives "killed off" by an unknown Gerard Kennedy playing a Ronald Ryan-type escapee in Episode 58 entitled "Vendetta."[2] In 1969, he joined the cast of the soap opera Bellbird, remaining with the series until 1973. McDermott and fellow cast member Gary Gray produced Country Town, a film based on the series.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1963 Prelude to Harvest James Ruse TV movie
1963 Cruise of the Magi Short film
1966 Ashes to Ashes Tregembo TV movie
1966 Antigone Chorus member TV movie
1967 A Ride on the Big Dipper Clive Denning TV movie
1971 Country Town Max Pearson Feature film
1973 Squeaker's Mate Doctor Short film
1977 The Mango Tree Somers Feature film
1978 The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith M.P. Feature film
1979 Dimboola Darcy Feature film
1984 Niel Lynne Rob Lynne Feature film
1986 A Single Life Judge TV movie
1989 Against the Innocent Senator / Journalist Feature film

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1957 The Adventures of Long John Silver Man in tavern TV series, 1 episode
1960-61 Whiplash Jack Sheridan / Tom / Slyter TV series, 3 episodes
1962-64 Consider Your Verdict Detective Sgt Bronson / William Draper TV series
1963 Tribunal Walter Schreiger TV series, 1 episode
1964-73 Homicide Detective Sergeant Frank Bronson / Lew Church TV series, 60 episodes
1966-67 Australian Playhouse Detective Hilton / Ben Peters / Detective / Alan Byers TV series, 4 episodes
1967 Adventures of the Seaspray TV series, 1 episode
1968 Skippy Hilton TV series, 1 episode
1969-73 Bellbird Max Pearson TV series, 836 episodes
1971 Barrier Reef Commander Finch TV series, 1 episode
1971-74 Matlock Police Thomas / Hank Turner / Neil King TV series, 3 episodes
1972 Boney Jim Oliver TV series, 1 episode
1973 Ryan Matt TV series
1973-74 Division 4 Snr Sgt Clive Benson / Duff TV series, 4 episodes
1974 Marion Mr Smith TV miniseries, 3 episodes
1977 Bluey Inspector Bill Dermott TV series, 1 episode
1977 Young Ramsay Mr Eastwood TV series, 1 episode
1977 The Sullivans Mr Logan TV series, 4 episodes
1979 Skyways Fred Manning / Captain Gardner TV series, 3 episodes
1976-81 Cop Shop Jacob Friedman / Jim Faulkner / Dr Murdoch / Sgt Alec McEwan / Harvey Miller TV series, 11 episodes
1980-85 Prisoner Brian Williams / Father Lennon / Mr Gardiner TV series, 4 episodes
1981 Holiday Island Max Costello TV series, 1 episode
1983-84 Carson's Law Mr Ernie Watson / Robson TV series
1985 Anzacs Colonel TV miniseries, 1 episode
1984 Special Squad Inspector TV series
1989-92 Tanamera – Lion of Singapore Fire Chief TV miniseries, 7 episodes
1990 Mission: Impossible Mayor TV series, 1 episode
1990 Col'n Carpenter Terrence Berry TV series, 1 episode
1990 Neighbours John Bryce TV series, 6 episodes
1994 Time Trax John Barnett TV series, 1 episode

Personal life

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McDermott married teacher Nathalie Kavanagh in 1956. They had five children and lived in Upwey, a Melbourne suburb. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in his late 70s and died from the disease in 2018 at the age of 90.

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References

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  1. ^ "Versatile and popular actor of a golden era". theage.com.au. 25 February 2019.
  2. ^ "Terry McDermott". Classic Australian Television. 2005. Retrieved 22 August 2021.