Bob Hornery

Bob Hornery
Bob Hornery
Born	Robert James Hornery; 28 May 1931; Melbourne, Australia
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1949-2012
Known for	Neighbours as Tom Kennedy

Robert James Hornery (28 May 1931 – 26 May 2015) was an Australian actor. He won both the

Equity Awards lifetime achievement award, with a career spanning 60 years, in both Britain and Australia. He was well known for his ability to ad lib.^[1]

Early life and education

Robert Hornery was born on 28 May 1931, in Randwick, New South Wales, to Edward Hornery, a sales rep, and his wife, Veronica (née Gallen). He appeared in plays at the local Catholic secondary school, Marcellin College. Upon leaving school, he worked as a booking clerk for Butler Airways. During this period, he also performed in revues with amateur companies.^[2]

Career

Theatre

Hornery started his career in theatre in 1949, and made his professional debut in 1953, when he played Eustace Smell, the town crier and sidekick, in a production of Jack and the Beanstalk, at Sydney's Capitol Theatre.^[2] As well as other stage roles, he appeared in the stage production of The Importance of Being Earnest as the Rev. Canon Chasuble. This ran from 1988 to 1992 and was televised by the ABC. He was particularly associated with the Melbourne Theatre Company, and with roles ranging from comic to the dramatic, including The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.