# Joe Valli

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{{Short description|Scottish-Australian actor (1885–1967)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2026}}
{{more sources|date=April 2026}}
'''Joseph George McParlane''' (also spelled '''McFarlane''' and '''McPharlane'''; 13 August 1885 – 29 May 1967),<ref>{{cite web|title=Birth Record of Joseph McParlane|url=https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/25195666/person/1621228704/media/fd722e1f-383a-4352-9ffe-f3be2abf2494|publisher=Ancestry.com|access-date=6 August 2017|date=2 June 1967|url-access=subscription }}</ref> known as '''Joe Valli''', was a [Scottish-Australian](/source/Scottish-Australian) actor who worked in [vaudeville](/source/vaudeville) and [film](/source/film)s.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41817632|title=Joe Valli Is Back On ''Typhoon Treasure'' Lot.|newspaper=[Cairns Post (Qld.: 1909-1954)](/source/The_Cairns_Post)|location=Qld.|date=26 June 1937|access-date=9 August 2012|page=6|publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He had a long-running [vaudeville](/source/vaudeville) partnership with [Pat Hanna](/source/Pat_Hanna) as "Chic and Joe".<ref>[http://ozvta.com/stage-characters "Chic and Joe"], Australian Variety Theatre Archive website; accessed 15 June 2015.</ref> He has been described as one of the busiest character actors in Australian films.<ref name="typhoon">{{cite magazine|access-date=25 June 2025|date=25 June 2025|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Filmink|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-films-typhoon-treasure/|title=Forgotten Australian Films: Typhoon Treasure}}</ref>

==Biography==
Valli was born in [Glasgow](/source/Glasgow), the son of engineer Joseph McParlane and Agnes Gill. He worked as a builder and engineer before working in entertainment.

In 1914 he enlisted in the [Australian Army](/source/Australian_Army).

Valli toured Australia in 1916 in a comedy ''Tickets Please'' with Harry Clay and the Royal Follies. He returned home in 1917 but emigrated to Australia after [World War One](/source/World_War_One).

Valli made his film debut in ''Diggers'' and appeared in sixteen more features after that.<ref name="dig">{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-movies-diggers-1931/|date=14 February 2026|access-date=14 February 2026|title=Forgotten Australian Movies: Diggers (1931)}}</ref>

In 1941 he was in the [AIF](/source/Second_Australian_Imperial_Force) Entertainment Unit.<ref>{{cite magazine
  | title=Broadcasters get busy on troopship
  | magazine=Wireless Weekly
  | volume = 36 | issue =29 | date = July 19, 1941
  | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-721549765
  | id=nla.obj-721549765
  | access-date=14 November 2023
  | via=Trove
}}</ref>

An operation on his throat in 1948 rendered him unable to speak, effectively ending his career. Reports from this time said he was destitute.<ref>{{cite news|title=Popular comedian's tragedy|newspaper=[The Sun](/source/The_Sun_(Sydney))|date=18 May 1948|page= 7}}</ref> A fundraiser was held for him in August 1948.<ref>{{Citation
  | title=Stars work for luckless comrade
  | journal=[Pix](/source/Pix_(magazine))
  | volume = 21 | issue =11 | date = 25 September 1948
  | location=Sydney, N.S.W
  | publisher=[Associated Newspapers Limited](/source/Associated_Newspapers_Limited)
  | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-475492103
  | access-date=13 November 2023
  | via=Trove
}}</ref> Valli went to live at Actors' Equity Benevolent Fund's settlement at [Sussex Inlet](/source/Sussex_Inlet), where he worked as a caretaker.<ref>{{Citation
  | title=Radio Roundabout
  | journal=ABC Weekly
  | volume = 11 | issue =1 | date = 1 January 1949
  | location=Sydney
  | publisher=[ABC](/source/Australian_Broadcasting_Company)
  | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1342103344
  | access-date=14 November 2023
  | via=Trove
}}</ref> (A scene in the film ''Tall Timbers'' had Letty Craydon demand Valli give up [smoking](/source/smoking).<ref name="tall">{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-films-tall-timbers/|date=12 July 2025|access-date=12 July 2025|title=Forgotten Australian Films: Tall Timbers}}</ref>)

In 1952 Valli was reported living on [Dangar Island](/source/Dangar_Island) in the [Hawkesbury](/source/Hawkesbury_River). He wrote in to a quiz show ''Strike it Rich'' asking for a chance to win a stove and was successful with [Vic Seixas](/source/Vic_Seixas) representing Joe.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun|date=20 November 1952|page= 2|title=Joe can now face the cold blasts}}</ref>

He died in [Waterloo, New South Wales](/source/Waterloo%2C_New_South_Wales), of [myocardial degeneration](/source/myocardial_degeneration) .<ref>{{cite web|title=Death Certificate of Joseph McParlane aka Joe Valli |url=https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/25195666/person/1621228704/media/eba88d72-d620-4268-80bd-46b941b70f11|publisher=Ancestry.com|access-date=6 August 2017|date=2 June 1967|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Joe Valli dies at 81|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=31 May 1967|page=18}}</ref>

Valli's son, Jim McFarlane, also did some acting.<ref>{{Citation
  | title=Finch Still actors
  | journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
  | volume = 37 | issue =34 | date = August 29, 1942
  | location=Sydney
  | publisher=Wireless Press
  | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-722533683
  | access-date=14 November 2023
  | via=Trove
}}</ref>

==Theatre credits==
*''Tickets Please'' (1916)
*the New Zealand Famous Diggers (1921–22) — touring Australia and New Zealand<ref>{{Citation
  | title=Vaudeville, Drama, etc.
  | journal=Everyones
  | volume=2
  | issue=83
  | date=5 October 1921
  | location=Sydney
  | publisher=Everyones Ltd
  | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-557021483
  | id=nla.obj-557021483
  | access-date=15 November 2023
  | via=Trove
}}</ref><ref>{{Citation
  | title=Vaudeville Jottings.
  | journal=Everyones
  | department=v.: ill. ; 32 cm.
  | volume=3
  | issue=176
  | date=18 July 1923
  | location=Sydney
  | publisher=Everyones Ltd
  | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-562068057
  | id=nla.obj-562068057
  | access-date=15 November 2023
  | via=Trove
}}</ref>
*toured US late 1923 (August–October)<ref>{{Citation
  | title=Didn't Like American
  | journal=Everyones
  | volume=4| issue=192 (7 November 1923)
  | location=Sydney
  | publisher=Everyones Ltd
  | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-560359323
  | id=nla.obj-560359323
  | access-date=15 November 2023
  | via=Trove
}}</ref>
*Hanna's Famous Diggers (1923–31)
*''The Cedar Tree'' (1934)
*''Jolly Roger'' (1935)
*''Home Brew'' (1935)

==Selected filmography==
* ''[Diggers](/source/Diggers_(1931_film))'' (1931)
* ''[Waltzing Matilda](/source/Waltzing_Matilda_(1933_film))'' (1933)
* ''[Diggers in Blighty](/source/Diggers_in_Blighty)'' (1933)<ref name="blighty">{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Variety|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-films-diggers-in-blighty-1933/|title=Forgotten Australian Films: Diggers in Blighty (1933)|date=27 February 2026|access-date=27 February 2026}}</ref>
* ''[Heritage](/source/Heritage_(1935_film))'' (1935)
* ''[The Flying Doctor](/source/The_Flying_Doctor)'' (1936)<ref name="fly">{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|date=26 September 2025|access-date=26 September 2025|title=Forgotten Australian Films: The Flying Doctor|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-films-the-flying-doctor/}}</ref>
* ''[Orphan of the Wilderness](/source/Orphan_of_the_Wilderness)'' (1936)
* ''[Tall Timbers](/source/Tall_Timbers_(1937_film))'' (1937)
* ''[Let George Do It](/source/Let_George_Do_It_(1938_film))'' (1938)<ref name="let">{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Filmink|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-films-let-george-do-it/|date=2 August 2025|access-date=2 August 2025|title=Forgotten Australian Films: Let George Do It}}</ref>
* ''[Typhoon Treasure](/source/Typhoon_Treasure)'' (1938)
* ''[Dad Rudd, MP](/source/Dad_Rudd%2C_MP)'' (1940)<ref name="dad">{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Filmink|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-films-dad-rudd-mp/|title=Forgotten Australian Films: Dad Rudd MP|date=25 August 2025|access-date=25 August 2025}}</ref>
* ''[Forty Thousand Horsemen](/source/Forty_Thousand_Horsemen)'' (1940)<ref name="forty">{{cite magazine|date=9 October 2025|access-date=9 October 2025|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Filmink|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-films-forty-thousand-horsemen/|title=Forgotten Australian Films: Forty Thousand Horsemen}}</ref>
* ''[Racing Luck](/source/Racing_Luck_(1941_film))'' (1941)
* ''[The Power and the Glory](/source/The_Power_and_the_Glory_(1941_film))'' (1941)<ref name="power">{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|date=6 October 2025|access-date=6 October 2025|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-films-the-power-and-the-glory/|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|title=Forgotten Australian Films: The Power and the Glory}}</ref>
*''[100,000 Cobbers](/source/100%2C000_Cobbers)'' (1942)<ref name="cob">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-films-100000-cobbers/|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|date=12 September 2025|access-date=12 September 2025|title=Forgotten Australian Films: 100,000 Cobbers}}</ref>
* ''[The Rats of Tobruk](/source/The_Rats_of_Tobruk_(1944_film))'' (1944)
* ''[Harvest Gold](/source/Harvest_Gold)'' (1945)
* ''[Smithy](/source/Smithy_(1946_film))'' (1946)<ref name="smithy">{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Filmink|date=12 October 2025|access-date=12 October 2025|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-films-smithy/|title=Forgotten Australian Films: Smithy}}</ref>
*''[Eureka Stockade](/source/Eureka_Stockade_(1949_film))'' (1949)

==Select radio==
*''The Digger Show'' (1940)<ref>{{Citation
  | title=Radio stars act in Big War Show
  | journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
  | volume = 35 | issue =28 | date = July 13, 1940
  | location=Sydney
  | publisher=Wireless Press
  | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-720012616
  | access-date=14 November 2023
  | via=Trove
}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0885113}}
*[https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/249035 Joe Valli] at Ausstage
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valli, Joe}}
Category:1885 births
Category:1967 deaths
Category:Male actors from Glasgow
Category:Scottish emigrants to Australia
Category:Australian male film actors
Category:Scottish vaudeville performers
Category:Australian vaudeville performers

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joe Valli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Valli) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Valli?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.