Brian Moll

{{Short description|Australian charactor actor (1925–2013)}} {{Use British English|date=October 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Brian Moll | image = Brian_moll_actor_jpg.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Brian Moll in TV series ''The Young Doctors'' | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|comedian}} | known_for = ''The Young Doctors'' (TV series) as Dr Vincent Snape<br>''A Country Practice'' (TV series) as Alfred Muldoon | years_active = 1945–1994 (retired) | birth_name = Brian Percy Moll | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1925|5|19}} | birth_place = Wanstead, London, England | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2013|8|9|1925|5|19}}<ref>[https://archive.today/20131021211850/http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/classifieds/ad/1001658 Probate notice], Brian Percy Moll, ''Sunshine Coast Daily'', 23 August 2013</ref> | death_place = Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia }} '''Brian Percy Moll''' (19 May 1925 – 9 August 2013) was a British-born Australian comedian character actor of stage, television and film and director and producer. He was best known for his soap opera television roles, but also appeared in film and numerous theatre productions, over a 50 year career. Moll started his career in his native England in theatre in 1945.<ref>{{cite book|title=TV Times (East Coast Edition)|date=8 February 1975|page=13}}</ref> Although he primarily appeared in small parts, he did have more regular roles in TV series including ''The Young Doctors'' as Dr. Vincent Snape from 1976 and 1978 and a recurring role in ''A Country Practice'' from 1982 and 1992 as corrupt town Councillor Alfred Muldoon

==Early life==

Moll was born on Chaucer Road in Wanstead, North East London on 19 May 1925, to Hedges Percy Moll and Dorothy 'Dot' Alice Sarah Moll (née Mitchell). He had a brother Peter James Moll.

During World War II, Moll was conscripted to the Royal Navy in 1943 at the age of eighteen and spent the later years of the war serving on a minesweeper. His ship was involved in the D-Day operation and he watched the action from just off the Arromanches beach. In October 1950, Moll immigrated from England and arrived in Melbourne, Australia under the £10 assisted passage emigration scheme. Quitting his job as a publicity officer, to continued his acting career. In December 1975, he took Australian citizenship.

==Career== ===Theatre=== Moll began his stage career taking on leading parts with the Melbourne Little Theatre from 1951. As well as acting, he was producing and directing difficult plays by playwrights including Chekov and Ibsen. In 1963, he moved to Brisbane and joined the Queensland Arts Theatre. He continued his acting career in his spare time. In the 1960s he was campaigning in Brisbane for a new permanent arts centre and was involved in plans which resulted in the Queensland Performing Arts Complex being built.

In 1970 he appeared in ''It's a Rum Do'' in the role of Samuel Marsden, the priest who was partly responsible for bringing merino sheep to Australia, which started the wool industry. The play was chosen to be given a Royal Command Performance in the Brisbane Arts Centre. He was presented to the Queen and he told her that over the past two years he had played eight priests. She asked him why, and smiled when he answered "It was my purity of spirit and a bald head". Following this, his acting career took off.

===Television and film=== Moll made his television debut in 1958.<ref name="FB">{{cite web|url= https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BnP2C2t3K/?mibextid=wwXIfr |title= Tangled in the Chains of Office |website= TV Week via Facebook |first= Suellen |last= Topfer |date= 4 November 1989 |access-date= 24 November 2025}}</ref> He was known for his villainous roles, once remarking that this was due to his bald head (he had been completely bald since the age of 25). As a working actor, like many of the era, he had numerous character roles on the Crawford Productions TV serials including ''Matlock Police'', ''Homicide'' and ''Division 4'', as well as many guest roles on other television series, miniseries, telemovies and films. Some of these included ''Bellbird'', ''The Sullivans'', and ''Cop Shop''.<ref name="FB"/>

In 1975, he became better known however for playing the recurring role of slimy town clerk Eddie Buchanan in soap opera ''Number 96'', Dr. Vincent Snape in ''The Young Doctors'' from 1977 to 1978, and briefly as Mr. Spencer in ''Prisoner'' in 1980. He was most likely however best known for his long running itinerant role in serial ''A Country Practice'', as devious and pompous town councillor Alfred Muldoon – a role he played from 1982 to 1992, through 120 episodes. He commuted interstate from the north Queensland coast to Sydney, while working on the series.<ref name="FB"/>

In 1990, he appeared as Mr. Gordian in action drama film ''Bloodmoon'',<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rsOSKIVbGUQC&pg=PA136 |title=Australian Horror Films, 1973–2010 |publisher=McFarland |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-7864-8993-0 |page=136}}</ref> which was filmed in Brisbane.<ref name="FB"/> He also had a small cameo role in the martial arts action film ''Street Fighter'' in 1994, alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme.

==Later years and death== When he realised acting work was no longer providing him a sufficient income, Moll moved to the north coast of Queensland in the late 1980s to ease the financial burden, commuting to Sydney for work. To supplement his income, he relied on his war pension.<ref name="FB"/>

Moll retired in 1994 and resided in Sippy Downs, Queensland in a nursing home, where he died on 9 August 2013, aged 88.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://theatreheritage.org.au/on-stage-magazine/exeunt/item/147-brian-moll |title= Brian Moll |website= Theatre Heritage Australia |access-date= 24 November 2025}}</ref> His ashes were scattered near his home on the Sunshine Coast.

He was honoured in the 'In Memoriam' segment of the 3rd AACTA Awards, for his "contribution to Australian screen culture".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.aacta.org/assets/PDFs//3rd-AACTA-Awards |title= 3rd AACTA Awards Year in Review |website= www.aacta.org |access-date= 24 November 2025}}</ref>

==Filmography==

===Film=== {|class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Type |- | rowspan="2"|1971 || ''Exit'' || Geeles || Short film |- | ''Stork'' || Priest || Feature film |- | 1973 || ''Alvin Purple'' || Clerk of the Court || Feature film |- | 1975 || ''That Lady from Peking'' || Father Leonard || Feature film |- | 1976 || ''Water Management'' || Water Man || Short film |- | 1981 || ''Maybe This Time'' || Older Salesman || Feature film |- | 1984 || ''Fantasy Man'' || Lofty || Feature film |- | rowspan="2"|1990 || ''Bloodmoon'' || Mr. Gordian || Feature film |- | ''Dead Sleep'' || Dr. Shamberg || Feature film |- | 1992 || ''Something Wicked'' || Lecturer || Short film |- | 1994 || ''Street Fighter'' || Bison's Scientist || Feature film |}

===Television=== {|class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Type |- | 1958 || ''Captain Carvallo'' || || TV movie |- | 1958 || ''Killer in Close-Up'' || || Episode: "The Rattenbury Case" |- | 1959 || ''Press Gang'' || || TV movie |- | 1968; 1969 || ''Hunter'' || Hinksman / Fishta || 2 episodes |- | 1969 || ''The Party'' || Martin Luther || TV movie |- | 1971–1973 || ''Matlock Police'' || Forbes / Tojo / Brown / School Principal / Ray Smith / Gaye / Fred Jackson || 7 episodes |- | 1969 || ''The Rovers'' || Dr. Wright || 1 episode |- | rowspan="2"|1973 || ''Boney'' || Bill Bulford || 1 episode |- | ''Ryan'' || Warburton / Topley || 2 episodes |- | 1968–1974 || ''Homicide'' || Frank Adams / Ted Sands / John Lee / Richard Evans / Clerk / Stan Preston / Gustav / Arthur Reid / Phillips /,Grant / Hotel Manager || 11 episodes |- | 1969–1974 || ''Division 4'' || Jack Doyle / Eddie Bailey / Herbie Pike / Wilson Snr / Ralph Morris || 10 episodes |- | 1974 || ''Silent Number'' || Prison Doctor || 1 episode |- | rowspan="4"|1975 || ''The Unisexers'' || Mr Lewis || |- | ''Number 96'' || TC Eddie Buchanan || 10 episodes |- | ''King's Men'' || Drake || 1 episode |- | ''Luke's Kingdom'' || Settler || 1 episode |- | rowspan="2"|1976 || ''McManus MPB'' || Carl Day || TV movie |- | ''Rush'' || Thomas || 2 episodes |- | 1977 || ''The Outsiders'' || Mertz || 1 episode |- | 1977–1979 || ''The Young Doctors'' || Dr. Vincent Snape || Regular role |- | 1978 || ''Case for the Defence'' || The Judge || 1 episode |- | rowspan="4"|1980 || ''Arcade'' || Mr. Sponge || |- | ''Prisoner'' || Mr. Spenser || 3 episodes |- | ''Cop Shop'' || Sammy Smith || 1 episode |- | ''The Timeless Land'' || Rev Johnson || Miniseries, 3 episodes |- | 1982–1992 || ''A Country Practice'' || Alfred Muldoon || 120 episodes |- | 1981 || ''Bellamy'' || Wilkes || 1 episode |- | rowspan="3"|1984 || ''The Cowra Breakout'' || Doctor || Miniseries |- | ''Special Squad'' || Charlie Everett || Episode 14: "Slow Attack" |- | ''Queen of the Road'' || Al 'Herpie' Graves || TV movie |- | 1985 || ''Hector's Bunyip'' || Ernest Slater || TV movie |- | rowspan="2"|1987 || ''Great Expectations: The Untold Story'' || Uncle Pumblechook || TV movie |- | ''The Petrov Affair'' || Billy Wentworth || Miniseries, 2 episodes |}

==Theatre==

===As performer=== {|class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Type ! Ref. |- | rowspan="3"|1951 || ''Doctor's Joy'' || Professor Purge || rowspan="3"|Melbourne Little Theatre || <ref>{{cite web |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205660838 | title= Capable Handling of Moliere Comedy |website= The Age via National Library of Australia |page= 3 |date= 29 December 1951 |access-date= 24 November 2025}}</ref> |- | ''Shipwreck'' || Heynorick || <ref>{{cite web |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205660838 | title= Shipwreck is Vivid, Macabre |website= The Age via National Library of Australia |page= 4 |date= 3 January 1951 |access-date= 24 November 2025}}</ref> |- | ''Larger Than Life'' || Butler || <ref>{{cite web |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/172520195 | title= Larger Than Life |website= The Advocate via National Library of Australia |page= 14 |date= 9 August 1951 |access-date= 24 November 2025}}</ref> |- | 1952 || ''The Happiest Days of Your Life'' || Headmaster || rowspan="2"|Arrow Theatre, Melbourne || <ref>{{cite web |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205424558 | title= Hilarious Comedy Ends Series |website= The Age via National Library of Australia |page= 2 |date= 22 December 1952 |access-date= 24 November 2025}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"|1953 || ''The Critic'' || Mr Sneer || <ref>{{cite web |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/279926187 | title= Brilliant Sheridan last Arrow show |website= The Sun News-Pictorial via National Library of Australia |page= 15 |first= Darrell |last= Symmons |date= 14 November 1953 |access-date= 24 November 2025}}</ref> |- | ''The Flashing Stream'' || Rear-Admiral Sir George Helston || rowspan="5"|Melbourne Little Theatre || <ref>{{cite web |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/279926187 | title= The Flashing Stream |website= The Advocate via National Library of Australia |page= 18 |first= Darrell |last= Symmons |date= 21 May 1953 |access-date= 24 November 2025}}</ref> |- | 1956 || ''As Long As They're Happy'' || The Father || <ref>{{cite web |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/279926187 | title= ...and to the Little Theatre: Laughter Amid the Tears |website= The Argus via National Library of Australia |page= 4 |date= 24 December 1956 |access-date= 24 November 2025}}</ref> |- | 1957 || ''Little by Little'' || || |- | 1959 || ''An Italian Straw Hat'' || || |- | 1960 || ''The Long and the Short and the Tall'' || || |- | 1961 || ''Anastasia'' || Boris Chernov || Albert Hall, Brisbane with Brisbane Repertory Theatre || <ref>{{cite web | url=https://laboite.com.au/about/history/1960/anastasia | title=Anastasia |website= La Boite Theatre Company}}</ref> |- | 1962 || ''Twelfth Night'' || Sir Andrew Aguecheek || Caboolture || <ref>{{cite web |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/search/category/newspapers?keyword=“Brian%20Moll” | title= Caboolture Youth See Twelfth Night |website= North Coast and Stanley District News via National Library of Australia |page= 4 |date= 28 June 1962 |access-date= 24 November 2025}}</ref> |- | 1963 || ''The Caretaker'' || Davies || rowspan="2"|Brisbane Arts Theatre || <ref name="judge"/><ref name="private"/> |- | 1965 || ''Luther'' || Luther || <ref name="judge">{{cite web | url= https://theatregold1.mybigcommerce.com/the-judge/ | title=The Judge |website= Theatregold |access-date= 25 November 2025}}</ref><ref name="private"/> |- | rowspan="2"|1968 || ''The Judge'' || Dr Waggon || rowspan="2"|St Martins Theatre, Melbourne || <ref>{{cite web | url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/262482641 | title= Entertainment |website= The Australian Jewish News via National Library of Australia |page= 24 |first= Peter |last= Weiniger |date= 4 October 1968 |access-date= 24 November 2025}}</ref> |- | ''The Living Room'' || Father James Browne || <ref>{{cite web | url=https://theatregold1.mybigcommerce.com/the-living-rood/ | title=The Living Room |website= Theatregold}}</ref> |- | 1969 ||''Hadrian VII'' || Cardinal Berstein || Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's || <ref>{{cite web |url= https://digital.theatreheritage.org.au/pages/view.php?ref=416&search=&offset=0&order_by=field8&sort=ASC&archive=0# | title= Hadrian VII (1969) |website= Theatre Heritage Australia |access-date= 25 November 2025}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"|1970 || ''A Rum Do!'' || The Rev. Samuel Marsden || SGIO Theatre, Brisbane with QTC (Royal Performance) || |- | ''Philadelphia, Here I Come!'' || || Australian tour with QTC || <ref>{{cite web |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110336043 | title= Sydney season for puppets |website= The Canberra Times via National Library of Australia |page= 23 |date= 6 August 1970 |access-date= 24 November 2025}}</ref> |- | 1972 || ''Richard II'' || Sir John Bushy / Head Gardener || Theatre Royal, Hobart || |- | rowspan="2"|1975 || ''Semi-Detached'' || || Marian St Theatre, Sydney || |- | ''The Touch of Silk'' || || Independent Theatre, Sydney || |- | 1980 || ''Shut Your Eyes and Think of England'' || Mr Rubinstein || Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne || <ref>{{cite web | url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/262756858 |title= Yes, shut your eyes |website= The Australian Jewish News via National Library of Australia |page= 22 |date= 16 May 1980 |access-date= 24 November 2025}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"|1991 || ''The Cherry Orchard'' || Faers || rowspan="3"|Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane with QTC || <ref>{{cite web |url= https://theatregold1.mybigcommerce.com/the-cherry-orchard-5/ |title= The Cherry Orchard |website= Theatregold |access-date= 25 November 2025}}</ref> |- | ''The Crucible'' || || |- | 1992 || ''The Marriage of Figaro'' || Antonio || <ref>{{Cite web| title=Royal Queensland theatre company – 1992 Annual report | url=https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableoffice/tabledpapers/1993/4793T2319.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216171910/https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableoffice/tabledpapers/1993/4793T2319.pdf | archive-date=2024-02-16}}</ref> |}

===As crew=== {|class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Type ! Ref. |- | 1961 || ''The Multi-Coloured Umbrella'' || Designer || rowspan="4"|Brisbane Arts Theatre || |- | 1964 || ''Summer Solstice'' || Producer || |- | 1965 || ''Private Ear & Public Eye'' || Director || <ref name="private">{{cite web |url=https://www.artstheatre.com.au/whats-on/past-performances/ |website= www.artstheatre.com |title=Performance Archive}}</ref> |- | 1967 || ''Breakfast with Julia'' || Director || <ref name="private"/> |- | 1971 || ''Crackers'' || Producer || St Martins Theatre, Melbourne || <ref>{{cite web | url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/262482641 | title= St. Martin's |website= The Australian Jewish News via National Library of Australia |page= 30 |date= 31 December 1971 |access-date= 24 November 2025}}</ref> |} <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/226649 | title= Brian Moll |website= AusStage}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == *{{IMDb name|id=0596956|name=Brian Moll}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Moll, Brian}} Category:1925 births Category:2013 deaths Category:Australian male film actors Category:Australian male television actors Category:Actors from the London Borough of Redbridge Category:British emigrants to Australia Category:20th-century Australian male actors Category:Australian male stage actors Category:Australian male comedians Category:Comedians from Essex Category:Comedians from Melbourne Category:Male actors from Essex Category:People from Wanstead Category:Comedians from the London Borough of Redbridge