| Birth Date: | 1935 (aged 88-89) |
| Birth Place: | Australia |
| Nationality: | Australian |
| Other Names: | Alastair Smart |
| Known For: | Play School as host 1966–1993 (27 years) |
Alister Smart (born 1935)[1] [2] also credited as Alastair Smart,[3] is an Australian retired television presenter, actor, television director and screenwriter from. A staple of the small screen, he appeared in productions in England, before returning to Australia, and had roles in television plays, telefilms and soap opera/serials with numerous credits from the late 1950s until the mid-1990s.
Smart is best known for his extended role as a presenter on the children's TV series Play School spanning from 1966 to 1993. He is also recognized for his appearances with fellow members of Play School, including Don Spencer on tie-in records released for ABC Music, as well as in audiobooks.[4] [5] As a presenter on the latter, he had one of the longest stints on television in Australia, co-hosting alongside Spencer, Lorraine Bayly, Benita Collings, John Hamblin, Noni Hazlehurst, John Waters, Philip Quast and Anne Haddy.[4]
In addition to his presenting work, Smart made significant contributions as a television director. He directed 88 episodes of soap opera Sons and Daughters and, briefly, four episodes of the police procedural series Blue Heelers.
Smart started his career in local theatre in 1957, and continued working in stage drama throughout his life. His theatre roles include Shakespeare's Macbeth, King Henry V and a tour of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.[6]
In the early 1960s, Smart expanded his career to television in England, where he appeared in televised plays. He performed in anthology series including ITV Play of the Week and Comedy Playhouse, as well as serials like Emergency Ward 10. In the latter part of the 1960s he returned to Australia, where he appeared in guest roles in soap operas and made-for-television movies. His credits in Australia included You Can't See 'round Corners, Homicide. Division 4, The Sullivans and Cop Shop. Although not a regular in the Number 96 television series, Smart had a prominent role as journalist Duncan Hunter in the film adaption.[7]
Smart pursued a career in directing both movies and TV series from the early 1970s until his retirement in 1994. His directorial work included notable projects such as , Sons and Daughters, Richmond Hill, Prisoner and Blue Heelers.[8] [9] [10]
Smart is known for his role as a presenter on the long-running children's TV program Play School, the Australian adaptation of the original British version of the same title. Smart made his first appearance in the debut episode in 1966, and continued in this role for 27 years until he retired in 1993. During his tenure, he hosted alongside other original cast members including Diane Dorgan (1966), Donald Mcdonald, Kerry Francis, Anne Haddy (1966-1969), and Lorraine Bayly (1966-1978).[5]
Smart grew up in Nowra, New South Wales and was married to actress Margery Milne, whom he sometimes acted alongside. He currently resides in East Gippsland, Victoria.[11]
| Year | Title | Role | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | The Right Thing | Jose Gomez | TV movie | |
| 1964 | Ring Out, Wild Bells (episode of Wednesday Theatre) | John Lambert | TV movie | |
| 1965 | Arabesque for Atoms | TV movie | ||
| 1966 | Twelfth Night (episode of Wednesday Theatre) | Curio | TV movie | |
| 1969 | It Take's All Kinds | Ray | Feature film | |
| 1974 | Number 96 | Duncan Hunter | Film adaptation | |
| 1977 | Harness Fever | Sergeant Meeker | TV movie | |
| 1977 | Roses Bloom Twice | TV movie | ||
| 1978 | Plunge Into Darkness | TV movie | ||
| 1980 | People Like Us | Detective Rogers | TV movie | |
| 1992 | The Girl Who Came Late (aka Daydream Believer) | Ron | Feature film |
| Year | Title | Role | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Theatre 70 | Building Worker | TV series | |
| 1961 | Three Live Wires | TV series | ||
| 1961 | ITV Play of the Week | Checker | TV series | |
| 1961 | The Seven Faces of Jim | Kenneth Kendall, Digger, Newspaper reporter | TV series | |
| 1962 | Comedy Playhouse | TV series | ||
| 1962 | Drama 61-67 | Dr. Jefferson | TV series | |
| 1962 | Six More Faces of Jim | TV series | ||
| 1963 | Emergency Ward 10 | Mr. Riley | TV series | |
| 1965-71 | Homicide | Doctor Perini, John Whelan, Geoff Woods, Alan Watson, George Allen, Lucio Leurini, John Meadows | TV series | |
| 1966-93 | Play School | Presenter | TV series[12] | |
| 1967 | You Can't See 'round Corners | TV series | ||
| 1967 | Contrabandits | Greer, Cox | TV series | |
| 1968-69 | Skippy the Bush Kangaroo | Alf, Sergeant | TV series | |
| 1969 | Riptide | Adam Brockenhurst, Les Duggan, Ted | TV series | |
| 1969-1975 | Division 4 | Dennis, Downey Kenney Kent, Alf Clarke, Stan Hassett, Don Jenkins, Taylor | TV series | |
| 1970 | The Rovers | Gary | TV series | |
| 1970 | Delta | Paul Falstone-Green | TV series | |
| 1970 | Dynasty | Ambassador | TV series | |
| 1971 | Spyforce | Carlos | TV series | |
| 1972 | Barrier Reef | Lynch | TV series | |
| 1971; 73 | Matlock Police | Ricco, Barney White | TV series | |
| 1973 | Ryan | Colin Brown | TV series | |
| 1973 | Serpent in the Rainbow | Adam Quigg | TV miniseries | |
| 1974 | Behind the Legend | Frank Gardiner | TV series | |
| 1974 | Silence Number | Dr. Fisher | TV series | |
| 1975 | Ben Hall | Jack Taylor | TV series | |
| 1975 | Wollongong the Brave | TV series | ||
| 1976 | The Emigrants | Migrant reception officer | TV series | |
| 1976 | The Sullivans | Paul Hayward | TV series | |
| 1976 | Number 96 | Frank Hobson | TV series | |
| 1976 | The Outsiders | Li Norton | TV series | |
| 1977 | Moynihan | TV series | ||
| 1977 | Young Ramsay | Ken Murray | TV series | |
| 1977-79 | Glenview High | Kazim | TV series | |
| 1978-1980 | Cop Shop | Phillip Cooper, Sharkey | TV series | |
| 1979 | The Magical World of Disney | Sergeant Meeker | TV series | |
| 1979 | Skyways | Hal Bailey | TV series | |
| 1984 | Carson's Law | David Mockridge | TV series | |
| 1985 | Special Squad | TV series | ||
| 1988 | Rafferty's Rules | Robson | TV series |
| Year | Title | Role | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | The Time Game | Director | TV movie | |
| 1993 | You and Me and Uncle Bob | Director | TV movie |
| Year | Title | Role | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | The Spoiler (TV series) | Director | TV series, 1 episode -"The Price" | |
| 1972 | The Godfathers | Director | TV series, 5 episodes -"There's a Tortoise in My Bath" "The Lift" "Too Many Cakes" "The Prize" -Double Trouble | |
| 1974 | One Man in the Company | Director | TV series, 1 episode "Two in One" (also served as producer on 5 eps.) | |
| 1974 | Director | TV series | ||
| 1977 | Cop Shop | Director | TV series. 6 episodes | |
| 1979 | Skyways | Director | TV series | |
| 1982 | A Country Practice | Director | TV series, 14 episodes | |
| 1983 | Waterloo Station | Director | TV series | |
| 1986 | Prisoner | Director | TV series, 7 episodes | |
| 1982-87 | Sons and Daughters | Director | TV series, 88 episodes | |
| 1989 | Richmond Hill | Director | TV series | |
| 1989-90 | Rafferty's Rules | Director | TV series, 4 episodes -Out of Line" -"One for Us" -"Free of Passion" -"In Custody" | |
| 1989-90 | E Street | Director | TV series, 6 episodes | |
| 1991 | Neighbours | Director | TV series, 6 episodes | |
| 1994 | Blue Heelers | Director | TV series, 4 episodes "Waiting for Apples" -"Family Lies" -Good Cop, Bad Cop -"Crazy Like a Fox" |