David McPhail
David McPhail QSM | |
---|---|
![]() McPhail in 2011, rehearsing a play | |
Born | David Alexander McPhail 11 April 1945 Christchurch, New Zealand |
Died | 14 May 2021 Christchurch, New Zealand | (aged 76)
Occupation(s) | Comedian, actor |
Relatives | Neil McPhail (half-brother) |
David Alexander McPhail
Early life and family
McPhail was born in
Career
McPhail joined the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation as a journalist in 1967 and worked on both radio and television news stories.[6] Between 1968 and 1969, he was a reporter on the magazine show Town and Around.[6] From 1971 to 1977, he worked as a television producer and actor and produced light entertainment shows for three years, before winning fame with A Week of It.[6] One of the earliest New Zealand comedy shows, both to satirise politicians and win a wide audience, the series mixed sketches lampooning politics, sport, and television.[7]
McPhail went on to create and appear in at least seven series of skit show McPhail and Gadsby,[8] co-starring his A Week of It colleague Jon Gadsby, and backwoods comedy Letter to Blanchy, which spawned a 2008 play.[9]
McPhail starred in the two seasons of the series Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby. McPhail plays Gormsby, a dominating, old-fashioned school teacher who ruffles feathers when he begins teaching at a low-decile school i.e. a school in a low-income area. McPhail went on to play eccentric superhero The Green Termite in The Amazing Extraordinary Friends.[10]
McPhail's autobiography The Years Before My Death: Memories of a Comic Life was published by Longacre in 2010.[1]
Honours and awards
In the
Personal life
McPhail married Anne McLeod on 25 February 1967.[6] He had two children.[4][13]
McPhail died on 14 May 2021 at the Merivale Retirement Village in Christchurch.[4][13] He was 76, and suffered a heart attack prior to his death.[4][14][15]
Credits
Television
- A Week of It (1977–1979)[14][16]
- McPhail and Gadsby (1980–1987, 1997–1998)[16][14]
- Issues (1991)[14]
- Letter to Blanchy (1996–1997)[16]
- Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby (2005–2006)[16][10]
- The Life & Times of Te Tutu (director)[17]
- Crumpy (director)[18]
- Then Comes Love by James Griffin (director)[19]
- The White Elephant (2012)[20]
Theatre
- Then Comes Love (director, 2005)[19]
- Court Theatre, Christchurch (director, 2005)[21]
- Muldoon – Downstage Theatre, Wellington, (25 June – 17 July 2004) — a play about the former New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon[15][22]
References
- ^ ISBN 9781877460463.
- ^ a b "Obituary: Mr A. E. McPhail". The Press. Vol. 95, no. 28270. 7 May 1957. p. 15. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "Marriage search:registration number 1938/8465". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Bayer, Kurt (13 May 2021). "A truly beautiful man': Actor and comedian David McPhail dies aged 76". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ "Late cuts: Of Grizz, The Needle, J. J. and others in the hot seat". The New Zealand Herald. 21 September 2001. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ ISBN 086832020X.
- ^ "Kiwi actor and comedian David McPhail dies age 76". Newshub. 14 May 2021.
- ^ "'McPhail and Gadsby". 2020.
- ^ "Letter To Blanchy Takes The Stage". scoop.co.nz. Scoop. 18 November 2008.
- ^ a b c "David McPhail List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ "No. 52768". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1991. p. 31.
- ^ "New Year honours list 2008". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2007. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ a b "David McPhail death notice". The Press. 15 May 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Actor and comedian David McPhail dies". Radio New Zealand. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ a b "'A truly beautiful man': David McPhail dies at 76". Otago Daily Times. Otago Daily Times. 14 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Van Beynen, Martin (14 May 2021). "'A truly beautiful man': Kiwi actor and comedian David McPhail has died". Stuff.
- ^ "NZ on Air Funds Return of Te Tutu Comedy". scoop.co.nz. Scoop. 31 January 2001.
- ^ "David McPhail – Biography". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Then Comes Love at Civic Theatre". The New Zealand Herald. NZ Herald. 7 September 2005.
- ^ "The White Elephant". NZBS on Demand.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Alone It Stands - at Court Theatre". John Smythe. 1 April 2005. Archived from the original on 17 August 2005.
- ^ "Downstage Theatre Company Ltd :[Ten posters. 2004]". Downstage Theatre Company Ltd :[Ten p... | Items | National Library of New Zealand | National Library of New Zealand. 1 January 2004. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
External links
- David McPhail at IMDb
- Agent's info page
- David McPhail discography at Discogs