James Elliott (actor)

{{Short description|Australian actor}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2016}}  {{Infobox person | name = James Elliott | image = James_elliot_alf.jpg | caption = James Elliott as Alf Sutcliffe in ''Number 96'' (TV series) | birth_name = James Campbell Elliott<ref name="smh">{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/memorable-role-coloured-career-20110406-1d4gr.html|title=Memorable role coloured career|date=6 April 2011}}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date|1928|6|11|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Glasgow]], Scotland | death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|2|12|1928|6|11|df=y}}<ref name="smh" /> | death_place = [[Sydney]], New South Wales, Australia | other_names = Jimmy Elliott, Elliott James | occupation = {{hlist|Television and film actor|theatre performer|radio actor}} | years_active = 1949-1982, 1999-2008 (as actor)

}} '''James Campbell Elliott '''<ref>GILES NIGEL "NUMBER 96: Australia's Most Notorious Address"</ref> (11 June 1928 – 12 February 2011) alternately '''James Eliott''' and '''Elliot James''', was a Scottish-born Australian radio, theatre, television and film actor and tipstaff. Elliott was best known as an original character in the 1970s television [[soap opera]] ''[[Number 96 (TV series)|Number 96]]'' as Alf Sutcliffe opposite co-star [[Elisabeth Kirkby]] who played his wife Lucy Sutcliffe.

==Biography==

James Campbell Elliott was born in [[Glasgow]], Scotland the second of 5 children to John Elliott and Katherine Campbell, and grew up in the Kelvinbridge area.

He emigrated from Scotland to Australia in December 1949, and took parts in radio plays and serials, and made several guesting parts in drama series including ''[[Consider Your Verdict]]'' and ''[[The Link Men]]'' and played Guildenstern in an ABC TV play of ''[[Hamlet]]'', this being the first Shakespearean drama produced for Australian television. Other Shakespearean roles include Capulet in a theatre version ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' and a supporting role again at the ABC in ''[[The Tempest (play)|The Tempest]]''.

Elliot appeared in a role in the feature film of ''[[Ned Kelly (1970 film)|Ned Kelly]]'' in 1970 which starred [[Mick Jagger]] in the title role

Elliott was an original cast member of television soap opera ''Number 96'' as Alf Sutcliffe, which in premiered March 1972. The show became Australia's highest-rated television program in 1973 and 1974. Alf and his wife Lucy ([[Elisabeth Kirkby]]) were immigrants from [[Yorkshire, England]] and Alf was presented as an archetypal "whingeing [[Alternative words for British#Pommy|Pom]]" who complained constantly about Australia and longing to return to his native England, while proving himself incapable of holding down a regular job. The Sutcliffe's also endured Lucy's series of dramatic health concerns which included a [[breast cancer]] scare, [[blindness]], and an unplanned pregnancy followed by a troubled birth, Alf however proved to be somewhat kind and understanding. In late 1973 the show had a feature film spin-off featuring much of the show's current cast, including both Elliott and Kirkby, reprising their television roles.

Despite once describing the serial as "instant television", Elliott played in ''Number 96'' continuously for almost four years. In October 1975 Alf and Lucy were written out of ''Number 96'' as part of a drastic remodelling of the show in the wake of declining ratings.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Giles |first1=Nigel |title=Number 96: Australia's Most Notorious Address| publisher=Melbourne Book |date=March 2021}}</ref>

Elliott subsequently made guest appearances on Australian drama series such as ''[[Solo One]]'' (1976), ''[[Glenview High]]'' (1977), ''[[Chopper Squad]]'' (1978), played in three episodes of legal drama ''[[Case for the Defence]]'' (1978), and later appeared in an episode of crime drama ''[[Bellamy (TV series)|Bellamy]]'' (1981). He also acted in feature films ''[[Summer City]]'' (1977), ''[[Money Movers]]'' (1978), ''[[Little Boy Lost (1978 film)|Little Boy Lost]]'' (1978), ''[[Lady Stay Dead]]'' (1981), ''[[Brothers (1982 film)|Brothers]]'' (1982).

His acting career was put on hold, when he tookma position as a tipstaff from 1982 and 1999

Later resuming his performing career he appeared in television guest appearances in series including ''[[Home and Away]]'' credited as Elliot James and three episodes of medical drama ''[[All Saints (TV series)|All Saints]]'', in 2001 and 2003, and featured in film ''Running with the Boys''. in 2008.

==Personal life==

James Elliott died peacefully from [[Dementia with Lewy bodies]] disease on 12 February 2011.<ref name="smh" /> He was survived by two sons Greg and Doug with his first wife Mary McDonald whom he married in 1959, and one son James Elliott Jnr. by his second wife Elaine Minchin whom he married in 1980. He was honoured in the "In memorial" section of the [[Logie Awards]] in 2012<ref>{{cite web | url=http://televisionau.com/?s=james+elliott| title= James Elliott obituary}}</ref> ==Filmography==

===Film=== {|class="wikitable" ! Title ! Year ! Role ! Type |- | 1959 || ''[[Hamlet (1959 film)|Hamlet]]'' || Guildenstern || TV movie |- | || ''[[The Tempest (1963 film)|The Tempest]]'' || Supporting role || TV movie |- | 1959 || ''Lady in Danger'' || Detective Pogson || TV movie |- | 1959 || ''[[Crime Passionel]]'' || Ivan || TV movie |- | 1961 || ''[[A Night Out (1961 film)|A Night Out]]'' || || TV movie |- | 1962 || ''[[Fly by Night (TV play)|Fly by Night]]'' || Seaman || TV movie |- | 1970 || ''[[Ned Kelly (1970 film)|Ned Kelly]]'' || Pat O'Donnell (uncredited cameo) || Feature film |- | 1974 || ''[[Number 96 (film)|Number 96]]'' || Alf Sutcliffe || Feature film |- | 1977 || ''[[Summer City]]'' || Caroline Father || Feature film |- | 1978 || ''[[Money Movers]]'' || Bengal Lancer || Feature film |- | 1978 || ''[[Little Boy Lost (1978 film)|Little Boy Lost]]'' || || Feature film |- | 1978 || ''[[Plunge Into Darkness]]'' || Farmer || TV movie |- | 1981 || ''[[Lady Stay Dead]]'' || Patrolman Rex Dunbar || Feature film |- | 1982 || ''[[Brothers (1982 film)|Brothers]]'' || Reverend Maynard || TV movie |- | 2008 || ''Running with Boys'' || Len || |}

===Television=== {|class="wikitable" ! Title ! Year ! Role ! Type |- | 1961 || ''[[Whiplash (TV series)|Whiplash]]'' || Ryan || TV series |- | 1962 || ''[[Consider Your Verdict]]'' || || TV series, 1 episode |- | 1963 || ''[[The Hungry Ones]]'' || || TV miniseries, 10 episodes |- | 1968 || ''[[Homicide (Australian TV series)|Homicide]]'' || Eric Smith || TV series |- | 1970 || ''[[The Link Men]]'' || Doctor || TV series |- | 1972 || ''[[The Tony Hancock Special]]'' || Man in Pub || TV series |- | 1972-75 || ''[[Number 96 (TV series)|Number 96]]'' || Alf Sutcliffe || TV series, 174 episodes |- | 1976 || ''[[Solo One]]'' || Terry Hood || TV series, 1 episode |- | 1977 || ''[[Glenview High]]'' || || TV series, 1 episode |- | 1978 || ''[[Chopper Squad]]'' || Roger || TV series |- | 1978 || ''[[Case for the Defence]]'' || Detective / Policeman / Crawford || TV series, 3 episodes |- | 1980 || ''[[Water Under the Bridge (miniseries)|Water Under the Bridge]]'' || Preacher || TV series |- | 1981 || ''[[Bellamy (TV series)|Bellamy]]'' || Gardner || TV series, 1 episode |- | 1999 || ''[[Home and Away]]'' ||Dr. Doug Chamberlain || TV series |- | 2001-03 || ''[[All Saints (TV series)|All Saints]]'' || Les Davidson / Rex Gordon || TV series, 3 episodes |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=1653830|name=James Elliott}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elliott, James}} [[Category:1928 births]] [[Category:2011 deaths]] [[Category:Australian male stage actors]] [[Category:Australian male television actors]] [[Category:Scottish emigrants to Australia]] [[Category:Male actors from Glasgow]] [[Category:Deaths from dementia in Australia]] [[Category:Deaths from Lewy body dementia]]