{{Short description|English and Australian actor (1901–1988)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}} {{Use British English|date=August 2016}} '''Campbell Copelin''' (15 March 1901 – 3 August 1988) was an English actor, who moved to Australia in the 1920s and worked extensively in film, theatre, radio and television. He had a notable association with J.C. Williamson Ltd and frequently collaborated with F. W. Thring and Frank Harvey.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147259732 |title=WHO ARE OUR POTENTIAL STARS?. |newspaper=Table Talk |location=Melbourne |date=31 August 1933 |accessdate=16 March 2015 |page=17 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He often played villains.
In the early 1930s he appeared in a number of Australian talking films, mostly as a villain but occasionally as a heroic lead.
He returned to England and worked for some time in Hollywood. He went back to Australia in the 1950s and appeared in some early television plays.
==Biography== Copelin served in the Army, then emigrated to Australia. He worked on the land, then as a commercial artist before deciding to become an actor.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article149683722 |title=A "Quiet Evening" with CAMPBELL COPELIN |newspaper=Table Talk |location=Victoria, Australia |date=27 September 1934 |access-date=15 April 2020 |page=19 |via=Trove }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Australasian Radio Relay League. | title=Campbell Copelin He Once Taught in a Lunatic Asylum | journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal | department=v. ; 24-38 cm. | volume=29 | issue=23 | date=June 4, 1937 | location=Sydney | publisher=Wireless Press | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-718634764 | id=nla.obj-718634764 | access-date=27 July 2023 | via=Trove }}</ref>
Copelin fell ill shortly before making ''Lovers and Luggers''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article236454308 |title=ACTOR IS DOGGED BY ILL-LUCK |newspaper=The Labor Daily |issue=4213 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=7 June 1937 |accessdate=27 July 2023 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
He moved to London in the late 1930s. After the war he returned to Australia, and worked regularly on stage and appeared in many early Australian television plays.
Copelin died in Melbourne.
== Criminal history == In 1928 he was fined for using indecent language and resisting arrest.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3927395 |title=ACTOR FINED. |newspaper=The Argus (Melbourne) |location=Victoria, Australia |date=25 April 1928 |access-date=15 April 2020 |page=7 |via=Trove }}</ref>
On the night of 18 March 1931 Copelin took a £1,000 plane out for a joyride in Melbourne and crashed it into Sandridge golf links, causing him to spend several months in hospital.<ref>'Actor Crashes in Plane; Seriously Hurt', ''The Mail'' (Adelaide) Saturday 19 March 1932 p2</ref> "I had never seen Melbourne by night," he said, "so I decided to have a look. It was wonderful and I'm going to have another look as soon as I can, but next time I'll do it In a safer way."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229884280 |title=SEE CITY |newspaper=The Sun |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=26 March 1932 |access-date=15 April 2020 |page=7 (LAST RACE RESULTS) |via=Trove }}</ref>
He was charged with stealing the plane<ref>CAMPBELL COPELIN IN COURT. ''The Argus'' (Melbourne), Thursday 16 June 1932, p5.</ref> but these charges were later withdrawn on the basis that he had suffered enough through his injuries.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4457806 |title=CAMPBELL COPELIN IN COURT. |newspaper=The Argus (Melbourne) |location=Victoria, Australia |date=16 June 1932 |access-date=15 April 2020 |page=5 |via=Trove }}</ref> Years later he said he was injured in a general plane accident.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article236454308 |title=ACTOR IS DOGGED BY ILL-LUCK |newspaper=The Labor Daily |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=7 June 1937 |access-date=15 April 2020 |page=5 |via=Trove }}</ref>
In 1933 Copelin was arrested and fined for stealing a police bicycle.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article235063596 |title=MOMENTS WHEN AN ACTOR FEELS THE URGE |newspaper=Smith's Weekly |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=2 December 1933 |access-date=15 April 2020 |page=10 |via=Trove }}</ref>
== Selected filmography == ===Film=== *''Two Minutes Silence'' (1933) *''Clara Gibbings'' (1934) - Errol Kerr *''The Streets of London'' (1934) *''A Ticket in Tatts'' (1934) - Harvey Walls *''Sheepmates'' (1934, abandoned) *''It Isn't Done'' (1937) - Ronald Dudley *''Tall Timbers'' (1937) - Charles Blake *''Lovers and Luggers'' (1938) - Archie *''Typhoon Treasure'' (1938) - Alan Richards *''Brighton Rock'' (1948) - Police Inspector *''Kiss the Blood Off My Hands'' (1948) - Publican *''Hills of Home'' (1948) - Minor Role (uncredited) *''Command Decision'' (1948) - Correspondent (uncredited) *''Sword in the Desert'' (1949) - Sgt. Chapel *''Challenge to Lassie'' (1949) - Thief (uncredited) *''Twelve O'Clock High'' (1949) - Mr. Britton (uncredited) *''Three Came Home'' (1950) - English Radio Announcer (uncredited) *''Please Believe Me'' (1950) - English Bobby (uncredited) *''Rogues of Sherwood Forest'' (1950) - Officer (uncredited) *''Portrait of Clare'' (1950) - Inspector Cunningham *''Midnight Episode'' (1950) - The General *The Brown Man's Servant (Nosey Wheeler) (45 minutes short film, with Victor Platt
===TV credits=== *''The Brown's Man Servant'' (1953) *Saturday Special (1951–53) (Mr. Pike), in 2, of 35, episodes. *''Killer in Close Up'' - "The Wallace Case" (1957) *''A Dead Secret'' (1959, TV Movie) *''Ned Kelly'' (1959) *''Heart Attack'' (1960) *''Night of the Ding Dong'' (1959, TV Movie) - Mr. Kelp *''The Big Deal'' (1961) *''The Lady from the Sea'' (1961) *''Call Me a Liar'' (1961) *''House of Mancello'' (1962) *''Consider Your Verdict'' (1962) - guest star *''Marriage Lines'' (1962, TV Movie) *''Lola Montez'' (1962, TV Movie) *''The Prisoner'' (1963) *''The Angry General'' (1964, TV Movie) *''A Man for all Seasons'' (1964, TV movie) *''Australian Playhouse'' - "VIPP" (1966) *''Ryan'' (1974) *''Matlock Police'' - various guest roles *''Homicide'' (1973–75) - various guest parts *''The Sullivans'' (1978) - 4 episodes
===Select theatre credits=== {{Div col}} *''The Unfair Sex'' (1927) *''Eliza Comes to Stay'' (1927) *''Outward Bound'' (1927) *''The Last Warning'' (1927) *''The Alarm Clock'' (1927) *''Scandal'' (1928) *''Sport of Kings'' (1928) *''Bird in Hand'' (1929) *''This Thing Called Love'' (1930) *''In Port'' (1930) *''Eliza Comes to Stay'' (1930) *''On the Spot'' (1931) *''The Calendar'' (1931) *''A Warm Corner'' (1931) *''As Husbands Go'' (1931)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article234993736 |title=Untitled |newspaper=Smith's Weekly |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=7 November 1931 |access-date=15 April 2020 |page=8 |via=Trove }}</ref> *''The Streets of London'' (1933) *''Rope'' (1933) *''Collits' Inn'' (1933) *''Mother of Pearl'' (1934) *''The Shining Hour'' (1935)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203857833 |title=THE SHINING HOUR. |newspaper=The Age |location=Victoria, Australia |date=9 September 1935 |access-date=15 April 2020 |page=10 |via=Trove }}</ref> *''Night Must Fall'' (1936) *''Lovers Leap'' (1936) * ''Grand National Night'' (1946) *''Frenchie and the Lily'' (1952)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23156375 |title=London sees Melbourne woman's play |newspaper=The Argus (Melbourne) |location=Victoria, Australia |date=9 January 1952 |access-date=15 April 2020 |page=5 |via=Trove }}</ref> *''Murder Story'' (1954)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205699663 |title=LONDON'S NEW PLAY -- |newspaper=The Age |location=Victoria, Australia |date=21 August 1954 |access-date=15 April 2020 |page=17 |via=Trove }}</ref> *''Nude with Violin'' (1958) *''Who'll Come A-Waltzing'' (1962–63) - for JC Williamsons *''Never Too Late'' (1964) *''Hostile Witness'' (1967) - with Ray Milland {{div col end}}
== References == {{Reflist|2}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|0178666}} * [http://www.ausstage.edu.au/indexdrilldown.jsp?xcid=59&f_contrib_id=235487 Campbell Copelin's Australian theatre credits] at AusStage *[http://colsearch.nfsa.gov.au/nfsa/search/summary/summary.w3p;adv=;group=;groupequals=;page=0;parentid=;query=Person%3A%22%2FPerson%2Fkey%2F35714-1%22;querytype=;resCount=10 Campbell Copelin items] at National Film and Sound Archive
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Copelin, Campbell}} Category:1988 deaths Category:English male film actors Category:English male stage actors Category:English male television actors Category:English male radio actors Category:20th-century English male actors Category:1901 births Category:British emigrants to Australia Category:Australian expatriates in England