Ben Gannon (producer)
Bernard Norman Gannon
Early life and education
Born Bernard Norman Gannon in Maffra in Victoria's Gippsland, his father was a land surveyor and farmer.[1]
After schooling at Melbourne's Xavier College Lanbury House, Gannon graduated from the then production course of the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney[1] in 1970.
He was known as Ben.[1]
Career
After graduation, Gannon worked at the
Gannon returned to Australia in 1980 and was appointed general manager of
He produced the award-winning films
His film The Heartbreak Kid, based on the play by Richard Barrett, was the catalyst for his award-winning television series Heartbreak High. This proved to be one of Australia's most successful television exports ever, being sold to 80 countries, and eventually running to 210 hours.[3]
Believing that there was a stage musical in the life and compositions of the Australian songwriter/performer Peter Allen after being alerted to him by Stephen MacLean, he commissioned a book to be written by Nick Enright, based on MacLean's earlier biography. Enright's version was published as Peter Allen: The Boy From Oz. He first produced a documentary of the same name for ABC Television, which aired in 1995.[4]
In 1998 Gannon co-produced with London producer
Honours
Gannon was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2006 "For service to the performing arts as a producer contributing to the development of film, television, and theatre in Australia, and in promoting Australian productions and talented actors overseas, and to the community".[1]
Death
He died of cancer, at home in Sydney on 4 January 2007, aged 54.[1] He had been treated for cancer in 2003.[5]
Selected filmography
Film
- Gallipoli (1981)
- The Heartbreak Kid (1993)
- Hammers over Anvil (1993)
- Daydream Believer (1992)
- Sweet Talker (1991)
- Travelling North (1987)[6]
Television
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Hallett, Bryce (10 January 2007). "Canny instinct for a good story". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ Simmonds, Diana (21 April 2022). "Obituary: Ben Gannon". Stage Noise. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ a b "Ben Gannon". Friends of NIDA in America Foundation. Archived from the original on 10 August 2004. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ a b The Boy from Oz (Script of the musical.). Music and lyrics by Peter Allen & others; Book by Nick Enright; Original production by Ben Gannon and Robert Fox; Original direction by Gale Edwards. DSPress. 2006.
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: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ a b "Boy From Oz producer dies". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 4 January 2007. Archived from the original on 13 January 2007.
- ^ "IMDB". Retrieved 12 October 2020.
External links
- Ben Gannon at IMDb