John Waters
Acting • Born 1948-12-08
Biography
John Waters (born December 8, 1948) is one of Australia's most recognised and respected film and theatre actors. He was born in London England, the middle of five children of Scottish actor, Russell Waters. As a child John often hung around film studios while dad worked and even starred in a few young parts. He first faced a live audience as a singer and bass player with 60s R & R Band The Riots and appeared in Macbeth before travelling to Australia in 1968 with only a guitar and $90. He soon heard a US film called Adam's Woman, starring Beau Bridges, was being filmed in NSW so he managed to get himself cast in a small role. Fellow cast members recommended he try auditioning for a musical. He did, and landed the lead role of Claude in Sydney's 1969 production of the landmark rock musical, Hair. This was followed by the role of Judas in Godspell. This led to an acting career on stage, film and television that elevated him to his current status as Australia's most versatile leading man. From the brooding Sgt. McKellar Of ABC TV's Rush in 1974 which earned him a Logie Award for Best New Talent, through the Australian film boom that followed with films such as End Play, Summerfield, Breaker Morant, and on to the mini-series of the 80's, All The Rivers Run, Nancy Wake and Alice To Nowhere. Not to be forgotten was his ten year stint as host of childrens ABC program PlaySchool. John has always intrigued audiences with his diversity. Since collecting Australia's highest accolade as the Australian Film Institute's Best Actor Award in 1988 for the film Boulevard of Broken Dreams, John has re-embraced musical theatre as Professor Higgins in My Fair Lady, and They're Playing Our Song, and in productions of The Hunting of the Snark for Mike Batt, and A Little Night Music for the Sydney Theatre Company. He has also appeared in Love Letters at the Sydney Opera House and Children of a Lesser God. In 1995 he appeared in ReUnion a rock musical written and financed by himself and Stewart D'Arrietta. He won unanimous acclaim in the role of Pontius Pilate in the 1992 concert version of Jesus Christ Superstar with John Farnham, Kate Ceberano, Jon Stevens and Angry Anderson which successfully toured the nation. He has made guest appearances in various TV series, including Good Guys Bad Guys, The Man From Snowy River, All Together Now and Young Lions. John's self written one man show Looking Through a Glass Onion, based on the life of John Lennon, toured nationally and regularly since 1992 and also played six months in London's West End in 1995.
Filmography
79 credits
Chameleon II: Death Match
Movie • 1999
Henry Kubica
The Real Macaw
Movie • 1998
Dr. Lance Hagen
The Christmas Visitor
Movie • 1987
Patrick O'Day
Grievous Bodily Harm
Movie • 1988
Morris Martin
The Rooster
Movie • 2024
Norris
Weekend of Shadows
Movie • 1978
Rabbit
Return to Nim's Island
Movie • 2013
Booker
Passion Flower
Movie • 1987
Leslie Gaitland
The Adventures of Eliza Fraser
Movie • 1976
David Bracefell
Heaven Tonight
Movie • 1990
Johnny Dysart
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Movie • 1988
Tom Garfield
Summerfield
Movie • 1977
David Abbott
Carnivore Reflux
Movie • 2006
Narrator
Evil Never Dies
Movie • 2003
Professor Arkin
Totally Gay!
Movie • 2003
Self
High Country
Movie • 1984
Ben Lomax
Which Way Home
Movie • 1991
Steve Hannah
The Perfectionist
Movie • 1985
Stuart Gunn
Telling Schoolgirl Tales: The Making of 'The Getting of Wisdom’
Movie • 2006
Self
The Last of the Mohicans
Movie • 1987
Hawkeye Bumppo (voice)
The Haunting of Hewie Dowker
Movie • 1976
Hewie Dowker
End Play
Movie • 1976
Mark Gifford
I Can't Get Started
Movie • 1985
The Getting of Wisdom
Movie • 1977
Rev. Shepherd
2:22
Movie • 2017
Bill
Ebbtide
Movie • 1994
Michael Suresch
The Sugar Factory
Movie • 1999
Sam Lejeune
The Scalp Merchant
Movie • 1978
Three Summers
Movie • 2017
Eamon
Going Sane
Movie • 1987
Martin Brown
Captain Johnno
Movie • 1988
Frank
Breaker Morant
Movie • 1980
Cpt. Alfred Taylor
Cass
Movie • 1978
Mike
Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears
Movie • 2020
Professor Linnaeus
Demolition
Movie • 1979
The Prophecies of Nostradamus
Movie • 1979
Host
Not Quite Hollywood
Movie • 2008
Self
Attack Force Z
Movie • 1982
Ted King
Jesus Christ Superstar
Movie • 1992
Pontius Pilate
Ten Pound Poms
Movie • 2007
Narrator
Centre Place
Movie • 2010
Jack Houghton
Stealth
Movie • 2005
Black Ops Doctor
Kapyong
Movie • 2011
Narrator
Blaze
Movie • 2022
Magistrate
Singapore Sling
Movie • 1994
John Stamford
The Mystery of a Hansom Cab
Movie • 2012
Mark Frettlby
Better Man
Movie • 2024
Michael Parkinson
The Bouncer
Movie • 2006
Dave
Singapore Sling: Midnight Orchid
Movie • 1995
John Stamford
The Rivers Run
Movie • 1990
Brenton Edwards
Nothing, Number 2
Movie
Cameron Kerr
All the Rivers Run
TV • 1983
Brenton Edwards
The End
TV • 2020
Henry
Halifax: Retribution
TV • 2020
Ryan
The Doctor Blake Mysteries
TV • 2013
Bernie Thompson
Underbelly
TV • 2008
John Hatton MP
Rush
TV • 1974
Sergeant Robert McKellar
Fireflies
TV • 2004
Perry Luscombe
Wonders of Australia's National Parks
TV • 2004
Narrator
Offspring
TV • 2010
Good Guys, Bad Guys
TV • 1997
Oscar Drake
All Saints
TV • 1998
Mike Vlasek
Who Do You Think You Are?
TV • 2008
Self
Nancy Wake
TV • 1987
Henri Fiocca
All The Rivers Run II
TV • 1990
Brenton Edwards
Mickey Mouse
TV • 2013
(voice)
Darby and Joan
TV • 2022
Ian Kirkhope
The Sullivans
TV • 1976
Chris Merchant
The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy
TV • 2024
(voice)
Celebrity Ghost Stories
TV • 2009
Self
The Man from Snowy River
TV • 1994
Damien Winters
Kelly
TV • 1991
Mr. Nichols
Young Lions
TV • 2002
Senior Detective Bill Martin
ANZAC Girls
TV • 2014
Colonel Thomas Fiaschi
Alice to Nowhere
TV • 1986
Johnny Parson
Bubble Guppies
TV • 2011
Baron von Bland (voice)
The Lost World
TV • 1999
Lento
Mystery Road
TV • 2018
Travis James
Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation
TV • 2009
Self - Contestant