Diana Perryman
OccupationActress
Birth placeMelbourne, Australia
Birth date9 November 1924
Death date10 January 1979 (aged 54)
Death placeSydney, Australia
Years active1946–1977
FamilyJill Perryman (sister)

Diana Perryman (9 November 1924 – 10 January 1979) credited also as Diane Perryman, was an Australian actress, who appeared on stage, and in film and television.

Early life

Perryman was born in Melbourne in 1924 to father, Melbourne-born musical comedy actor and radio station 2KY personality William Harland-Perryman (with notable credits from 1919 to 1938), and mother, Adelaide-born actress, singer and showgirl Dorothy Eileen Duval (with credits from 1923 to 1932). Her parents were married in 1923, the year before she was born.[1]

Her first acting credit was as a child, on stage in a crowd scene role in White Horse Inn in 1936, alongside her parents and her two year old sister Jill.[2]

Perryman studied acting alongside Maggie Dence, Leonard Teale and Ruth Cracknell.[3]

Career

Perryman was notable for her roles in early television soap operas and appeared in miniseries and made-for-tv movies, She appeared for 156 episodes in the tv series Autumn Affair with Muriel Steinbeck and Queenie Ashton. She was also a regular in tv soap The Story of Peter Grey.

Perryman also appeared in numerous theatre productions and radio plays throughout her career, including turning in an Erik Award-winning performance in stage play Two for the Seesaw in 1960.

Personal life

Perryman's younger sister is stage and screen actress and singer Jill Perryman.[4][5] Through her sister, she has a nephew, Tod Johnston who is an actor, musician and media personality; and a niece, Trudy Dunn who is an actress. Trudy's daughter McKenzie Dunn is also an actress.[6][7]

Diana's husband, Dr. Kenneth Whiteley was a senior lecturer in wool technology at the UNSW and a huge fan of the theatre. Together with sister Jill's dancer/choreographer husband, Kevan Johnston, he urged Perryman to collaborate with her sister, which prompted her to switch to revue.[8]

Perryman was posthumously awarded an MBE in 1979.[9]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleType
1959Shell PresentsInezTV movie series, season 1, episode 2: Other People's Houses
1960The Scent of FearJoan BrideyTV movie
1961Corinth HouseMadge DonnythorpeTV movie
1961The Big ClientEleanor ComelyTV movie
1964I Have Been Here BeforeSally PrattTV movie
1968ToscaToscaTV movie
1972Yeoman of the GuardTV movie
1975I'm Here, Darlings!TV movie

Television

YearTitleRoleType
1958–1959Autumn AffairJulieTV series, season 1, 156 episodes
1961The Story of Peter GrayJane MarnerTV series, season 1, 156 episodes
1964The Purple Jacaranda[10]Darcy CrawfordTV miniseries, 7 episodes
1967You Can't See 'Round CornersTV series, season 1, 3 episodes
1970The Link MenTV series, season 1, 2 episodes
1972CatwalkMrs. WheelerTV series, season 1, episode 7: "Dear Desperate"
1973BoneyMrs. WhiteTV series, season 2, episode 7: "Boney Hunts a Murderess"
1973Serpent in the RainbowMrs QuiggTV miniseries, 4 episodes
1974This Love AffairKathTV series, season 1, episode 8: "One of My Silly Dreams"
1973; 1975Certain WomenAliceTV series, 2 episodes
1975Behind the LegendMrs. PlummerTV series, season 3, episode 9: "Annette Kellerman"
1975Shannon's MobMrs. PelliniTV series, season 1, episode 2: "Nothing Else to Lose"
1976The OutsidersMarilynTV series, season 1, episode 1: "Drop Out"
1979Glenview HighShirley MasonTV series, season 1, episode 30: "Daughter of Darkness"

Radio

YearTitleRoleVenue / Co.
1949Princess Precious Pearl[11]
1950SonataTherese, Countess von BrunswickLux Radio Theatre on 2UW Sydney, 3DB Melbourne, 4BK & SAD[12]
The Air Adventures of BigglesPat KendallRadio serial on 2GB Sydney, 2CH Sydney & 2KO Newcastle, episodes 269–625[13]
1955Adam Had Four SonsRadio play, episode 170 of The General Motors Hour[14]
1955RopeRadio play, episode 171 of The General Motors Hour[15]
1955Love from a StrangerRadio play, episode 183 of The General Motors Hour[16]
1955Don't Listen LadiesRadio play, episode 203 of The General Motors Hour[17]
1955–56White CooliesRadio serial[18]
1956The White RabbitRadio serial on 2UE Sydney[19]
1956The Prisoner of ZendaRadio play, episode 208 of The General Motors Hour[20]
1956The Pet ShopRadio play, episode 211 of The General Motors Hour[21]
1956The Human TouchRadio play, episode 215 of The General Motors Hour[22]
1956The Nine Days WonderRadio play, episode 217 of The General Motors Hour[23]
1957A Pin to See the Peep ShowRadio play, episode 293 of The General Motors Hour[24]
1957AutumnRadio play, episode 301 of The General Motors Hour[25]
1957Home is the SailorRadio play, episode 307 of The General Motors Hour[26]
1958Each Wind That BlowsRadio play, episode 311 of The General Motors Hour[27]
1958The AmericanRadio play, episode 313 of The General Motors Hour[28]
1958Queen BeeRadio play, episode 323 of The General Motors Hour[29]
1958Simon and LauraRadio play, episode 329 of The General Motors Hour[30]
1958Seat of the ScornfulRadio play, episode 330 of The General Motors Hour[31]
1958Subway in the SkyRadio play, episode 332 of The General Motors Hour[32]
1958The Quiet RoomRadio play, episode 355 of The General Motors Hour[33]
1958Search by NightRadio play, episode 362 of The General Motors Hour[34]
1958Land of PromiseRadio play, episode 363 of The General Motors Hour[35]
1958The Young May MoonRadio play, episode 364 of The General Motors Hour[36]
1958The UninvitedRadio play, episode 368 of The General Motors Hour[37]
1959FloodRadio play, episode 382 of The General Motors Hour[38]
1959After My FashionRadio play, episode 384 of The General Motors Hour[39]
1959Young TimothyRadio play, episode 386 of The General Motors Hour[40]
1959Broken JourneyRadio play, episode 404 of The General Motors Hour[41]
1959The Fifty MarkRadio play, episode 408 of The General Motors Hour[42]
1959The Guiding LightDr Mary LelandRadio serial on 2UW Sydney for Grace Gibson Radio & TV Productions[43]
1960Love and Miss FiggisRadio play, episode 413 of The General Motors Hour[44]
1960The Long Dark RoadRadio play, episode 430 of The General Motors Hour[45]
1960The Silent InnRadio play, episode 438 of The General Motors Hour[46]
A Stop on the WayRadio play, episode 455 of The General Motors Hour[47]
The LetterRadio play, episode 463 of The General Motors Hour[48]
1960Life with DexterJessieRadio serial on 2GB Sydney[49]
1961CattlemanRadio serial for Grace Gibson Radio & TV Productions[50]
Rebel in WhiteJan Regan / ElviraRadio serial
King Neptune and the MermaidRadio series[51]
This Man is MineRadio serial for Grace Gibson Radio & TV Productions[52]
The Big One Got AwayRadio serial for Grace Gibson Radio & TV Productions[53]
1974Under Her SpellJulia WinslowGrace Gibson Radio & TV Productions

Theatre

YearTitleRoleVenue / Co.
1936The White Horse InnNorthern Queensland tour (together with father Bill Perryman, mother Dorothy Duval and sister Jill Perryman)[54]
1946Invisible CircusIris MitchellIndependent Theatre, Sydney
1946Twelfth NightIndependent Theatre, Sydney
1946Soldier's WifeMinerva Theatre, Sydney with Whitehall Productions
1947PirandelloThe DaughterIndependent Theatre, Sydney[55]
1947Awake My LoveLinda MannersIndependent Theatre, Sydney
1948They Walk AloneBess StanforthIndependent Theatre, Sydney
1948Mourning Becomes ElectraLaviniaIndependent Theatre, Sydney
1949Love Me SailorEllaNational Canvas Theatre, Sydney
1949SalomeSalomeIndependent Theatre, Sydney
1950Dream GirlMinerva Theatre, Sydney with Whitehall Productions
1950Dark of the MoonIndependent Theatre, Sydney
1949; 1950BonaventureSarat CarnTheatre Royal Sydney, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, His Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's[56][57]
1955Independent Theatre Twenty-Fifth Birthday CelebrationIndependent Theatre, Sydney
1955Winter JourneyGeorgie ElginIndependent Theatre, Sydney
1956; 1957The Reluctant DebutanteMabel CrosswaiteTheatre Royal, Adelaide, Theatre Royal Sydney, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's[58]
1957The Big KnifeIndependent Theatre, Sydney
1958Titus AndronicusIndependent Theatre, Sydney
1960Two for the SeesawGittelTheatre Royal Sydney with J. C. Williamson's[59] Won 1960 Best Actress Erik Award[60]
1960The Way of the WorldMillamantIndependent Theatre, Sydney[61]
1961PhaedraPhaedraIndependent Theatre, Sydney
1962Shadow of HeroesIndependent Theatre, Sydney
1963Flaming YouthPhillip Street Theatre, Sydney
1963Do You Mind!Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney (with sister Jill Perryman)
1964Heartbreak HouseUNSW with Old Tote Theatre Company
1965A Severed HeadPhillip Street Theatre, Sydney, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Canberra Theatre with J. C. Williamson's
1969You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's RunningPhillip Street Theatre, Sydney with Harry M. Miller
1976EquusHester SalomanSeymour Centre, Sydney with Old Tote Theatre Company
1977The FatherLauraUNSW Parade Theatre, Sydney with Old Tote Theatre Company[62]

[63]

Awards & honours

YearTitleAwardCategoryResult
1960Two for the SeesawErik AwardBest Actress
1979Diana PerrymanMBE

References

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  2. ^ "Worth Reporting - the Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982) - 15 May 1963"
  3. ^ "Maggie Dence, "the face that launched a thousand petrol bowsers.""
  4. ^ "MUSIC AND THE THEATRE". The Sunday Herald (Sydney). No. 42. 6 November 1949. p. 6 (Features). Retrieved 1 October 2020. – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ Lane, Richard (2000). The Golden Age of Australian Radio Drama Volume 2. National Film and Sound Archive. pp. 86–89.
  6. ^ "Family legacy continues with Mackenzie Dunn in Black Swan's Summer of the Seventeenth Doll"
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  11. ^ "Vol. 11 No. 43 (22 October 1949)"
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