Hayes Gordon AO, OBE (25 February 1920 – 19 October 1999) was an American-born actor, theatre entrepreneur, theatre producer and director and acting teacher with a considerable career in Australia.
Hayes Gordon | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 February 1920 Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Died | 19 October 1999 (aged 79) Sydney, Australia |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouse(s) | Katrina Van Oss (div.) Helen Terry |
Early life
editGordon was born on 25 February 1920[1] in Boston, Massachusetts.[2]
Early career in the United States
editHe was mentored by Oscar Hammerstein II, and appeared on Broadway in several musicals, including the original production of Oklahoma! (1943), Show Boat and Brigadoon. He also appeared in America's first television soap opera Fashion Story. He was named in a newsletter Red Networks, which specialised in naming alleged communists and sympathisers, and after he refused in 1951 to sign a loyalty oath declaring that he was not a communist, work dried up completely.[3]
Emigration to Australia and career
editGordon went to Australia in 1952 to star in the J. C. Williamson's musical Kiss Me, Kate.[4][5]
He stayed in the country and established the Ensemble Theatre[1] in North Sydney with a group of young students he tutored from the Independent Theatre. This was a co-operative style theatre and also Australia's first theatre-in-the-round.[citation needed]
He founded an acting school, the Ensemble Studios, in 1958,[6] and remained artistic director until 1986,[1] when Sandra Bates became director.[6]
Toward the end of his life he published Acting and Performing which outlined his Stanislavsky-influenced acting methods.[5]
He played Tevye in the original Australian cast of Fiddler on the Roof from 1967 to 1970, and later in a 1985-86 revival for the Australian Opera. He also played 'Daddy' Warbucks in the original Australian cast of Annie which opened in 1978.[1][5]
Honours
edit- 1997: Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day Honours, "In recognition of service to the arts, particularly the acting profession and the theatre and to the community"[7]
- 1979: Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year's Honours, "In recognition of service to the performing arts".[8]
Death and legacy
editGordon died on 19 October 1999[1] in Sydney.[2]
In 1999 The Glugs named one of their awards the Hayes Gordon Memorial Award for Important Contribution to Theatre.[9]
Personal life
editGordon married and divorced American music theatre performer Katrina Van Oss in the U.S. In 1972 he married former student Helen Terry. had one daughter. [5]
Gordon was a great friend and mentor to Australian actress Denise Roberts, who taught film and television at the Ensemble Studios for Hayes for over six years. In September 2000, Denise established Screenwise and began teaching the Hayes Gordon philosophy for screen acting.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Hayes Gordon AO, OBE". AusStage. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ a b The Broadway League (25 February 1920). "Hayes Gordon". IBDB. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ Katrina Strickland. "An ideal life", in The Weekend Australian, 23–24 August 1997, p. 11.
- ^ "'KATE' STAR BROUGHT A BIKE". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 32, 865. Victoria, Australia. 3 January 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 12 June 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b c d Van Straten, Frank (2007). "Hayes Gordon AO OBE 1920–1999". liveperformance.com.au. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Company history". Ensemble Studios. Archived from the original on 18 September 2006.
- ^ "Mr Hayes GORDON, OBE". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia). Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ "Mr Hayes GORDON: The Order of the British Empire - Officer (Civil) (Imperial)". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia). Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ "Awards". Glugs. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
