Australian actor. He was born in Murwillumbah, NSW, Australia. He taught school in Mendooran, New South Wales, but moved to Sydney in the 1960s. He had roles in The Removalists, Don's Party, and Malcolm, among many other films. He was the only actor to receive the Byron Kennedy Award, a prestigious film award (in 1994).
John Hargreaves was the quintessential Australian man. An actor of sparkling, biting wit, he once said he would easily give up his remarkable career if it ever bored him, in favor of metallurgy because it was something that always interested him. Despite his lengthy list of credits in his home country, he never really achieved international "stardom" because of his essentially Australian nature. He felt that overseas work offers would or should come - without the benefit of seeming to chase after it. Although he enjoyed the success of his films internationally, he abhored the "hoopla" of film festivals and what he deemed "the cocktail party circuit." Which left his chief competitors, Bryan Brown, Mel Gibson and New Zealander Sam Neill in the enviable position of being the top "Australian" names overseas. John worked constantly, shifting gears easily between film, television and theater. His gift for comedy was coupled with his dramatic intensity. Some of his best performances are not even listed in his official filmography here: for example the TV mini-series "Scales Of Justice" and "The Dismissal".
At his career's peak during the late '80s and early '90s, John Hargreaves was among his native Australia's most popular actors. He was the only actor to receive the Byron Kennedy Award, one of Australia's highest civilian awards that is given to people who exemplify the pursuit of excellence. A graduate of Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art, class of 1970, Hargreaves launched his film career with The Removalists (1974), an adaptation of David Williamson's play. He made his sophomore appearance in another film version of a Williamson play, Don's Party, this time under director Bruce Beresford. Hargreaves has not only gone on to star in numerous Australian films, he has also appeared in many international productions, notably, Richard Attenborough's Cry Freedom (1987) and Hotel Sorrento (1995). Other awards won by Hargreaves include Best Actor for My First Wife (1984), and two Best Supporting Actor awards from the Australian Film Institute for Careful, He Might Hear You (1984) and Malcolm (1986). His last appearance was a cameo in Paul Cox's Lust and Revenge (1996).
He died of AIDS in 1996.
Contributor: Elisa Rolle (48982101)
John Hargreaves was the quintessential Australian man. An actor of sparkling, biting wit, he once said he would easily give up his remarkable career if it ever bored him, in favor of metallurgy because it was something that always interested him. Despite his lengthy list of credits in his home country, he never really achieved international "stardom" because of his essentially Australian nature. He felt that overseas work offers would or should come - without the benefit of seeming to chase after it. Although he enjoyed the success of his films internationally, he abhored the "hoopla" of film festivals and what he deemed "the cocktail party circuit." Which left his chief competitors, Bryan Brown, Mel Gibson and New Zealander Sam Neill in the enviable position of being the top "Australian" names overseas. John worked constantly, shifting gears easily between film, television and theater. His gift for comedy was coupled with his dramatic intensity. Some of his best performances are not even listed in his official filmography here: for example the TV mini-series "Scales Of Justice" and "The Dismissal".
At his career's peak during the late '80s and early '90s, John Hargreaves was among his native Australia's most popular actors. He was the only actor to receive the Byron Kennedy Award, one of Australia's highest civilian awards that is given to people who exemplify the pursuit of excellence. A graduate of Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art, class of 1970, Hargreaves launched his film career with The Removalists (1974), an adaptation of David Williamson's play. He made his sophomore appearance in another film version of a Williamson play, Don's Party, this time under director Bruce Beresford. Hargreaves has not only gone on to star in numerous Australian films, he has also appeared in many international productions, notably, Richard Attenborough's Cry Freedom (1987) and Hotel Sorrento (1995). Other awards won by Hargreaves include Best Actor for My First Wife (1984), and two Best Supporting Actor awards from the Australian Film Institute for Careful, He Might Hear You (1984) and Malcolm (1986). His last appearance was a cameo in Paul Cox's Lust and Revenge (1996).
He died of AIDS in 1996.
Contributor: Elisa Rolle (48982101)
Australian actor. He was born in Murwillumbah, NSW, Australia. He taught school in Mendooran, New South Wales, but moved to Sydney in the 1960s. He had roles in The Removalists, Don's Party, and Malcolm, among many other films. He was the only actor to receive the Byron Kennedy Award, a prestigious film award (in 1994).
John Hargreaves was the quintessential Australian man. An actor of sparkling, biting wit, he once said he would easily give up his remarkable career if it ever bored him, in favor of metallurgy because it was something that always interested him. Despite his lengthy list of credits in his home country, he never really achieved international "stardom" because of his essentially Australian nature. He felt that overseas work offers would or should come - without the benefit of seeming to chase after it. Although he enjoyed the success of his films internationally, he abhored the "hoopla" of film festivals and what he deemed "the cocktail party circuit." Which left his chief competitors, Bryan Brown, Mel Gibson and New Zealander Sam Neill in the enviable position of being the top "Australian" names overseas. John worked constantly, shifting gears easily between film, television and theater. His gift for comedy was coupled with his dramatic intensity. Some of his best performances are not even listed in his official filmography here: for example the TV mini-series "Scales Of Justice" and "The Dismissal".
At his career's peak during the late '80s and early '90s, John Hargreaves was among his native Australia's most popular actors. He was the only actor to receive the Byron Kennedy Award, one of Australia's highest civilian awards that is given to people who exemplify the pursuit of excellence. A graduate of Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art, class of 1970, Hargreaves launched his film career with The Removalists (1974), an adaptation of David Williamson's play. He made his sophomore appearance in another film version of a Williamson play, Don's Party, this time under director Bruce Beresford. Hargreaves has not only gone on to star in numerous Australian films, he has also appeared in many international productions, notably, Richard Attenborough's Cry Freedom (1987) and Hotel Sorrento (1995). Other awards won by Hargreaves include Best Actor for My First Wife (1984), and two Best Supporting Actor awards from the Australian Film Institute for Careful, He Might Hear You (1984) and Malcolm (1986). His last appearance was a cameo in Paul Cox's Lust and Revenge (1996).
He died of AIDS in 1996.
Contributor: Elisa Rolle (48982101)
John Hargreaves was the quintessential Australian man. An actor of sparkling, biting wit, he once said he would easily give up his remarkable career if it ever bored him, in favor of metallurgy because it was something that always interested him. Despite his lengthy list of credits in his home country, he never really achieved international "stardom" because of his essentially Australian nature. He felt that overseas work offers would or should come - without the benefit of seeming to chase after it. Although he enjoyed the success of his films internationally, he abhored the "hoopla" of film festivals and what he deemed "the cocktail party circuit." Which left his chief competitors, Bryan Brown, Mel Gibson and New Zealander Sam Neill in the enviable position of being the top "Australian" names overseas. John worked constantly, shifting gears easily between film, television and theater. His gift for comedy was coupled with his dramatic intensity. Some of his best performances are not even listed in his official filmography here: for example the TV mini-series "Scales Of Justice" and "The Dismissal".
At his career's peak during the late '80s and early '90s, John Hargreaves was among his native Australia's most popular actors. He was the only actor to receive the Byron Kennedy Award, one of Australia's highest civilian awards that is given to people who exemplify the pursuit of excellence. A graduate of Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art, class of 1970, Hargreaves launched his film career with The Removalists (1974), an adaptation of David Williamson's play. He made his sophomore appearance in another film version of a Williamson play, Don's Party, this time under director Bruce Beresford. Hargreaves has not only gone on to star in numerous Australian films, he has also appeared in many international productions, notably, Richard Attenborough's Cry Freedom (1987) and Hotel Sorrento (1995). Other awards won by Hargreaves include Best Actor for My First Wife (1984), and two Best Supporting Actor awards from the Australian Film Institute for Careful, He Might Hear You (1984) and Malcolm (1986). His last appearance was a cameo in Paul Cox's Lust and Revenge (1996).
He died of AIDS in 1996.
Contributor: Elisa Rolle (48982101)
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