| Jon Finlayson | |
| Birth Name: | Jon Douglas Finlayson |
| Birth Date: | 23 March 1938 |
| Birth Place: | Coburg, Victoria, Australia |
| Death Place: | Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia |
| Years Active: | 1946 - 2012 |
Jon Douglas Finlayson (23 March 193812 September 2012) was an Australian stage and screen character actor, radio performer, writer, director, producer and singer[1] He was known for his roles in the films Lonely Hearts (1982) and The Magic Show (1983).
He was also well-known from his numerous television roles, such as Colonel Archibald Spencer in Zoo Family (1985) and as James Gleeson in (1995–1996). He wrote sketches for The Mavis Bramston Show.[2] He was noted for his hospitality as well as his 'Sunday Soirees' in the Melbourne show business community.[3]
Finlayson directed, produced, and co-wrote (with Gary Down) The Glitter Sisters.
Jon Finlayson was born in Coburg, Victoria to Clorine and Ron Finlayson. When he was about age 8 the family moved to Burwood where he attended Hartwell Primary School and Camberwell High School.[4] His performing career began at about the same time when he toured Australia with the Australian Boys' Choir as a soprano.
Finlayson died of prostate cancer[3] aged 74, on 12 September 2012 at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne[5]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Alvin Purple | Liz's Lawyer | Feature film | |
| 1974 | Alvin Rides Again | The Magician | Feature film | |
| 1975 | The Great Macarthy | Vincent | Feature film | |
| 1976 | The Sentimental Bloke | Minor role | Feature film | |
| 1982 | Lonely Hearts | George | Feature film | |
| 1983 | The Magic Show | Van Zyskin (replaced "Ron Moody" at short notice) | Film[6] | |
| 1984 | My First Wife | Bernard | Feature film | |
| 1984 | Melvin, Son of Alvin | Burnbaum | Feature film | |
| 1988 | Evil Angels | Professor Boettcher | Feature film | |
| 1990 | A Kink in the Picasso | Lionel | Feature film | |
| 1996 | The Inner Sanctuary | Archbishop Clarke | (final film role) |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Division 4 | Denver Philips / Wayne Fraser | 3 episodes | |
| 1985 | Zoo Family | Colonel Archibald Spencer | 26 episodes | |
| 1986 | Neighbours | Brian Hanson | 2 episodes | |
| 1995-96 | James Gleeson | 28 episodes |