Tony Morphett Explained

Tony Morphett
Birth Name:Anthony David Morphett
Birth Date:1938 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Granville, New South Wales, Australia
Death Place:Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation:Screenwriter
Website:Tony Morphett – The Bottom Drawer
Years Active:1964–2018

Anthony David Morphett (10 March 1938 – 2 June 2018) was an Australian screenwriter, who created or co-created many Australian television series, including Dynasty, Certain Women, Sky Trackers, Blue Heelers, Water Rats, Above the Law and Rain Shadow. Morphett wrote eight novels, and wrote or co-wrote seven feature films, ten telemovies, twelve mini-series, and hundreds of episodes of television drama, as well as devising or co-devising seven TV series. He won 14 industry awards for TV screenwriting.

Career

Morphett started as a copy-boy and cadet reporter for The Daily Telegraph in 1956.

He moved to the ABC in 1957 where he worked in the ABC Talks Department for 10 years, presenting The Lively Arts and Spectrum. While at the ABC he published his first novels. The second of these, Fitzgerald, was withdrawn on publication in 1965: the reason given by publishers Jacaranda was that its protagonist, an artist, had the same name as a living artist, Paul Fitzgerald.[1]

Morphett's first drama credit was Objector for Australian Playhouse.[2]

He left the ABC in 1968 to become a freelance writer, writing primarily for TV and film. His third novel, Thorskald (1969) was also about an artist, though Morphett referred to them in 1969 as separate works.[3]

Morphett was on the literature board of the Australia Council for four years from 1977–1981, and the board of the Australian Children's Television Foundation for eight years from 1985–1994. From 2003, he was a board member of the Australian Writers' Foundation, and occasionally served on the committee of the Australian Writers' Guild.

Career highlights include writing the scripts for the feature films The Shiralee, The Last Wave and Robbery Under Arms, and creating the television series Blue Heelers, Water Rats and Certain Women.

Personal life

Two marriages:

Morphett and Inga Hunter lived together in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, with a number of cats.

Morphett was the younger brother of Margaret Chandler (nee Morphett).[4] Her death at Lane Cove on 1 January 1963 whilst in the company of Dr Gilbert Bogle (also deceased) remains an unsolved mystery popularly referred to as the Bogle–Chandler case.

Death

In 2007 following a bout of influenza, Morphett suffered heart failure. This left his heart in a weakened state, which eventually led to his death.

On 2 June 2018, after a brief period of hospitalisation, he died at Katoomba Hospital from heart failure. He was with family as he died.[5] [6]

Credits

Stage plays

Books

Awards and nominations

Notes

External links

Notes and References

  1. 'A Fuss About Fitz' Sydney Morning Herald 12 November 1965 p. 6
  2. Stephen. Vagg. Filmink. Forgotten Australian Television Plays: Boy with Banner, Objector and Watch It. 29 August 2023.
  3. Stuart Sayers "An Author of Many Colours", Melbourne Age, 4October 1969 p. 8
  4. News: Chandler In Witness Box . . 37 . 10,543 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 23 May 1963 . 27 March 2023 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: Vale: Tony Morphett . 4 June 2018 . TV Tonight . 4 June 2018 . en-AU.
  6. News: Tony Morphett, screenwriter for The Sullivans, dies aged 80 after prolific career . ABC News . 4 June 2018 . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 4 June 2018 .
  7. Web site: Tony Morphett – Complete Guide to the Playwright . The Playwright's Database . 24 April 2011 .
  8. Web site: The experimental Jane Street seasons: seeking the Australian play and finding Australian performances . Adrian Guthrie . 2009 . Double Dialogues . 24 April 2011 .
  9. Web site: "The Magic apron" by Tony Morphett, 1969 . 2007 . State Library of NSW . 24 April 2011 .
  10. Web site: Classic Australian Television – Delta Episode Details . Don Storey . 2008 . Classic Australian Television . 23 April 2011 .
  11. Web site: Classic Australian Television – Dynasty Episode Details . Don Storey . 2008 . Classic Australian Television . 23 April 2011 .
  12. Web site: The TV Week Logie Awards . 1972 . MilesAgo . 23 April 2011 .
  13. Web site: Crawford Production Awards . Crawford Production . 24 April 2011 .
  14. Web site: A Country Practice – Awards Won . Kitty MacAlpine . JNP Productions . 23 April 2011 .
  15. Web site: Australian Television Information Archive . T. Zuk . 1998–2011 . Australian Television Information Archive . 23 April 2011 .

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