John Derum

{{short description|Australian actor}} {{BLP sources|date=December 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = John Derum | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|AM}} | image =  | caption = | birth_name = John Bernard Derum | birth_date = {{birth_date and age|df=yes|9 January 1946}} | birth_place = East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | other_names = | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|theatre producer and director|artistic administrator|local politician}} | spouse = | partner = | children = | website = | module = {{infobox officeholder|embed=yes | office = Blue Mountains City Council | term_start = 1995 | term_end = 1999 }} }} '''John Bernard Derum''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} (born 9 January 1946) is an Australian stage, film and television actor. He is also an artistic administrator and directed and produced for theatre companies throughout Australia and for television. Derum has also been a politician for local council.

==Early life== John Bernard Derum was born in St Vincent's Maternity Hospital<ref name=birth/> in East Melbourne (now demolished)<ref>{{cite web | title=East Melbourne, Victoria Parade 092, St. Vincent's Maternity | website=emhs.org.au | date=21 February 2008 | url=https://emhs.org.au/history/buildings/east_melbourne_victoria_parade_092_st_vincents_maternity | access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref> on 9 January 1946.<ref name=birth>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245940315 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=The Herald (Melbourne) |issue=21,438 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=2 February 1946 |access-date=27 December 2023 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Search the Collection | website=National Film and Sound Archive | url=https://www.collection.nfsa.gov.au/search/credits.id=2638101&credits.role=Cast%2FActor | access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://unsw.adfa.edu.au/special-collections/guide-papers-john-derum-mss-165 | title=Guide to the Papers of John Derum |website= UNSW Special Collections}} Note that this uses Wikipedia as its source, so cannot be used here.</ref> He is the son of Scottish immigrants.

From the age of 10, Derum studied and performed in choral music and musical theatre, with the Australian Boys Choir. He also performed and competed in Irish and folk dancing.<ref name= SC/>

== Career == ===Screen=== Derum first appeared on Australian television in the first episode of ''Homicide'' in 1964 – a serious role as the delinquent son of a bank security guard. Later, he appeared in another Australian police drama ''Division 4'' (1970–1972). He became well known for his role as Narrator Neville in the first season of the ABC's irreverent satire/comedy ''The Aunty Jack Show'' (1972).<ref name=IMDB>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0220660/|title=John Derum|publisher=IMDB|accessdate=2009-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://australianscreen.com.au/titles/aunty-jack-series-one/|title=The Aunty Jack Show – Series One (1972)|accessdate=2009-04-10}}</ref> Derum appeared in a number of comedy and revue series including ''The Thursday Creek Mob'' (1971), ''The True Blue Show'' (1975), ''Doctor Down Under'' (1979) as Doctor Maurice Griffin,<ref>''Doctor Down Under'' DVD</ref> and ''Ratbags'' (1981). He appeared in the final edition of ''The Mavis Bramston Show'' in 1975.

He played B. A. Santamaria in the ABC miniseries ''True Believers'' (1988) and Francis James in ''The Gadfly'' (1994)<ref>[http://nfsa.gov.au/collection/film-australia-collection/program-sales/search-programs/program/?sn=3787 National Film and Sound Archive]</ref> and appeared in ''G.P.'' and ''Mother and Son''.

For ABC Television, he hosted more than 200 editions of the national quiz ''The Oz Game'' and more than 50 episodes of the Australian music and folklore program ''That's Australia''.

Derum lent his voice to the ABC children's animated television series ''The Adventures of Sam'', the animated film ''Dot and the Kangaroo'' (1977) and a tv movie version of ''Wind in the Willows'' (1988). He also narrated the audio book ''Sanctuary'' by Judy Nunn.

His film appearances include ''Mad Dog Morgan'', ''The Trespassers'' (1976; as Richard),<ref name=IMDB/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://australianscreen.com.au/titles/trespassers/|title=The Trespassers (1976)|publisher=australianscreen.com.au|accessdate=2009-04-10}}</ref> ''Kazzam International'', and ''The Night the Prowler'' (1978; as John).<ref name=IMDB/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://australianscreen.com.au/titles/night-prowler/|title=The Night the Prowler (1978)|publisher=australianscreen.com.au|accessdate=2009-04-10}}</ref>

John Derum has become widely identified with his interpretation of the work of Australian writers, particularly C. J. Dennis. He performed ''More than a Sentimental Bloke'', his tribute to Dennis, more than 500 times around Australia between 1979 and 1994. He has also recorded and performed ''The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke'' and the Dennis masterpiece ''The Glugs of Gosh''.

He was twice held offices for Actors Equity and founded an actors support group called "Actor's Forum".

===Theatre and radio=== Derum first appeared in theatre the same year he made his TV debut in 1963, after being cast in a production of the George Whaley play ''Billy Liar'' at Wal Cherry's Emerald Hill Theatre. Within six months, he was working alongside Googie Withers and Keith Mitchell in a nationwide Shakespeare tour called ''The First Four Hundred Years''. The young actor continued to work and mature and play roles in such productions as ''The Seagull'' (Adelaide Festival, 1970), ''Peer Gynt'' (Sydney Opera House) and several roles in ''The Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby'' (Sydney Theatre Company, 1983–1985), and ''The Crucible'' (Sydney Theatre Company) and numerous other revues, musicals and variety performance.

Derum was artistic director of the Canberra Theatre Company in 1985 and 1986.

He was awarded a Literary Fellowship by the Australian Defence Force Academy, which enabled an expanded script of ''More than a Sentimental Bloke''.

Derum served as Manager of the Independent Theatre, from 1996 and 1999, overseeing the restoration and re-opening of the historical theatre.

After his return from the Blue Mountains to Sydney in 2007, he resumed his career as an actor and director. He has directed many rehearsed readings of new scripts, including ''Waiting for Goterson'' by Sam Atwell. He played Oscar Wilde in ''Lady Windermere's Fan'' and Aiden Turner and David Marsh in David Hare's ''The Power of Yes'' in 2010.

== Politics == Derum was elected to Blue Mountains City Council from 1995 to 1999 and worked as a political adviser between 2001 and 2007. He was appointed to the Theatre Committee of the NSW Government Arts Advisory Board, and worked on the staff of the NSW Minister for the Environment and Attorney-General and as electorate advisor for three members of parliament.

==Honours and awards== Derum was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on 26 January 2019, "for significant service to the performing arts as an actor, director and administrator, and to the community".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2002386 |title=Mr John Bernard DERUM| website=Australian Honours Search Facility| publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia) | access-date=26 December 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life== Derum is married to Jane Gilling and together they have two children, Clancy and Oliver.

==Filmography==

===Film=== {|class=wikitable ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | rowspan="2"|1975 || ''Sidecar Racers'' || Pete McAllister || |- | ''The Great Macarthy'' || Flatulent Man || |- | rowspan="3"|1976 || ''Mad Dog Morgan'' || Evans || |- | ''The Trespassers'' || Richard || |- | ''Kazzam International'' || || |- | rowspan="2"|1977 || ''Listen to the Lion'' || || Short film |- | ''Dot and the Kangaroo'' || Voice || Animated film |- | 1978 || ''The Night the Prowler'' || John Galbraith || |- | 1999 || ''Powderburn'' || Jess Snr || |- | rowspan="2"|2009 || ''Mack and the Boys'' || Doc || Short film |- | ''The Fire'' || Marcus Brown || Short film |- | 2010 || ''Perspective'' || Art Teacher || Short film |}

===Television=== {|class=wikitable ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 1964 || ''The First 400 Years'' || || Miniseries |- | 1964–1972 || ''Homicide'' || Ken Webster / Jason Todd / Hooligan / Ray Healy|| 4 episodes |- | 1965 || ''The Magic Boomerang'' || The Stand-In || 1 episode |- | rowspan="2"| 1966 || ''Antigone'' || Haemon || TV play<ref name="antigone">{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|date=1 February 2024|magazine=Filmink|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-television-plays-antigone|title=Forgotten Australian Television Plays: Antigone}}</ref> |- | ''Australian Playhouse'' || Son || Episode: "Objector" |- | 1968 || ''Hunter'' || Chris Frazer || 1 episode |- | 1969 || ''The Greater Illustrated History of the Glorious Antipodes Show'' || || |- | rowspan="2"|1970 || ''Delta'' || Staines || 1 episode |- | ''Mrs. Finnegan'' || Sanderson || 1 episode |- | 1970; 1972 || ''Division 4'' || Eddy Marshall / Malcolm Tanner || 2 episodes |- | rowspan="2"|1971 || ''The Thursday Creek Mob'' || Corporal Ginger Wiseman || |- | ''The Comedy Game'' || Narrator Neville || 1 episode |- | 1972 || ''The Aunty Jack Show'' || Narrator Neville / Various || Season 1, 8 episodes |- | rowspan="3"|1973 || ''Our Man in the Company'' || Peter Goonasekeria || 1 episode |- | ''The Evil Touch'' || Charlie || 1 episode |- | ''The True Blue Show'' || Host || |- | 1974 || ''The Spiral Bureau'' (aka ''Eye of the Spiral'') || || TV movie |- | rowspan="3"|1975 || ''Last Rites'' || || TV movie |- | ''Matlock Police'' || Malcom Newson || 1 episode |- | ''King's Men'' || Wills || 1 episode |- | || ''The Mavis Bramston Show'' || || |- | rowspan="2"|1977 || ''The Off Show'' || Various characters || |- | ''Young Ramsay'' || Robert Sutherland || 1 episode |- | 1978 || ''Father, Dear Father in Australia'' || Andrew Stone || 1 episode |- | 1979 || ''Doctor Down Under'' || Dr. Maurice Griffin || 3 episodes |- | rowspan="2"|1981 || ''Sporting Chance'' || || 1 episode |- | ''Ratbags'' || Various characters || 13 episodes |- | rowspan="4"|1988 || ''Australians'' || Len Mauger || Miniseries, 1 episode |- | ''Mother and Son'' || Estate Agent || 1 episode |- | ''True Believers'' || B. A. Santamaria || Miniseries, 8 episodes |- | ''Wind in the Willows'' || Toad / Judge / Rabbit || Animated TV movie |- | 1988–1989 || ''The Oz Game'' || Host || 200+ episodes |- | rowspan="2"|1990 || ''Winners'' || Mrs Finkel's Niece's Husband || 1 episode |- | ''The Gadfly'' || Francis James || |- | || ''That's Australia'' || Host || 50+ episodes |- | rowspan="3"|1991 || ''The Last Crop'' || Carter || TV movie |- | ''G.P.'' || Sam Howard || 1 episode |- | ''The Last Crop'' || Carter || TV movie |- | 1992 || ''The Time Game'' || Wylie || TV movie |- | 1997 || ''The Adventures of Sam'' || Moon Daughter (voice) || Animated series, 1 episode |- | 1998 || ''Water Rats'' || Tony Thomas || 1 episode |- | 2002 || ''All Saints'' || John Wheeler || 2 episodes |- | 2002 || ''Young Lions'' || Magistrate || 1 episode |- | 2003 || ''Snobs'' || Mr Alexander || 11 episodes |- | 2011 || ''Underbelly'' || Clarry McMahon || 1 episode |- | 2021 || ''Total Control'' || Father Harry || 1 episode |}

==Theatre==

===As actor=== {|class=wikitable ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 1963 || ''Billy Liar'' || || rowspan="2"|Emerald Hill Theatre, Melbourne |- | rowspan="5"|1964 || ''Antigone'' || |- | ''The First Four Hundred Years'' || || Australian tour with J. C. Williamson's |- | ''Death of a Salesman'' || Biff || Emerald Hill Theatre, Melbourne |- | ''A Slice of Birthday Cake'' || || Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with Union Theatre Repertory Company |- | ''Serjeant Musgrave's Dance'' || || rowspan="2"|Emerald Hill Theatre, Melbourne |- | rowspan="4"|1965 || ''Macbeth'' || Malcolm |- | ''You'll Come to Love Your Sperm Test'' || || Australian tour |- | ''Oedipus Rex'' || || Emerald Hill Theatre, Melbourne |- | ''The Bedsitting Room'' || || Emerald Hill Theatre, Melbourne, Playhouse, Canberra |- | rowspan="2"|1966 || ''A Bunch of Ratbags'' || || Emerald Hill Theatre, Melbourne |- | ''Private Yuk Objects'' || || Russell St Theatre, Melbourne, Phillip Theatre, Sydney with Union Theatre Repertory Company |- | rowspan="5"|1969 || ''This Old Man Comes Rolling Home'' || Landy || UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney |- | ''Present Laughter'' || || Hunter Theatre, Newcastle, Palace Theatre, Sydney with Harry M. Miller |- | ''See the Pretty Lights'' || || AMP Theatrette, Sydney with Q Theatre Company |- | ''Applicant'' || || AMP Theatrette, Sydney |- | ''Hadrian VII'' || || Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's |- | rowspan="5"|1970 || ''A Flea in Her Ear'' || || Independent Theatre, Sydney |- | ''The Seagull'' || Kostya || Scott Theatre, Adelaide with STCSA for Adelaide Festival |- | ''Cat Among the Pigeons'' || || UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney |- | ''Friends'' || || rowspan="2"|Independent Theatre, Sydney |- | ''Enemies'' || |- | rowspan="2"|1971 || ''Filth'' || || Richbrooke Theatre, Sydney |- | ''Hamlet on Ice'' || || Nimrod St Theatre, Sydney |- | rowspan="4"|1972 || ''Tonight at 8.30'': ''Shadow Play'' / ''Red Peppers'' / ''Family Album'' || || rowspan="3"|Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC |- | ''Forget-Me-Not Lane'' || Frank |- | ''Danton's Death'' || |- | ''The Last Supper Show'' || || Nimrod St Theatre, Sydney |- | 1972–1973 || ''The Cherry Orchard'' || || Elizabethan Theatre, Sydney, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Playhouse, Perth, Canberra Theatre with MTC |- | 1973 || ''Some of My Best Friends Aren't'' || || Macleay Theatre, Sydney |- | rowspan="2"|1975 || ''Ginge's Last Stand'' || || Nimrod St Theatre, Sydney |- | ''Peer Gynt'' || || Sydney Opera House with Old Tote Theatre Company |- | rowspan="3"|1977 || ''Some Other Town'' || Frank || rowspan="3"|Bondi Pavilion, Sydney |- | ''The Political Bordello; or, How Waiters Got the Vote'' || Mr. |- | ''The Visit'' || Mike |- | 1979 || ''Bedroom Farce'' || Trevor || Australian tour |- | 1980–1981 || ''The Magic Pudding'' || Voice Over Artist || Australian tour |- | 1980–1985 || ''Piaf: The Songs and the Story'' || || Regent Theatre, Sydney, Seymour Centre, Sydney, Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Universal Theatre, Melbourne |- | rowspan="2"|1982 || ''On Our Selection'' || || Playhouse, Canberra |- | ''Four Lady Bowlers in a Golden Holden'' || || Canberra Theatre, Kinselas, Sydney with STC |- | 1983–1985 || ''The Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby'' || William / Mr Mantalini / Mr Snevellicci || Theatre Royal Sydney, State Theatre, Melbourne, Festival Theatre, Adelaide with STC |- | 1984 || ''The Broken Years'' || Reciter || Australian War Memorial, Canberra |- | 1986 || ''The Nerd'' || Axel || Australian tour |- | 1986–1987 || ''Are You Lonesome Tonight?'' || Englishman || Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, Festival Theatre, Adelaide |- | 1990 || ''Man, Beast and Virtue'' || || Newtown Theatre, Sydney |- | 1991 || ''Henry IV, Part 1'' || || Sydney Olympic Park, Blackfriars Theatre, Sydney with STC |- | 1991–1993 || ''The Crucible'' || Reverend Parris || Sydney Opera House, Riverside Theatres Parramatta, Canberra Theatre with STC |- | 1991; 1994 || ''More than a Sentimental Bloke'' || C. J. Dennis || Marian St Theatre, Sydney, Bridge Theatre, Sydney, University of Sydney, Fairfax Studio, Melbourne, Flinders University, Adelaide |- | rowspan="2"|1992 || ''Silent Partner'' || || Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company |- | ''The Porch'' / ''The Great Hunger'' || || Crossroads Theatre, Sydney |- | 1993 || ''The Glugs of Gosh'' || || Bridge Theatre, Sydney with Theatre South |- | 1994 || ''Flesh and Blood'' || || National Maritime Museum, Sydney |- | 1995 || ''Chair in a Landscape'' || || Q Theatre, Penrith |- | 1995; 1998 || ''Sanctuary'' || || Bridge Theatre, Sydney, Lakeview Street Theatre, Newcastle with Theatre South |- | 2000 || ''Split Down the Middle'' || Stephen || Marian St Theatre, Sydney |- | 2006 || ''Attack of the Granny Boomers'' || || NIDA Parade Theatre, Sydney |- | 2007 || ''ALP Arts Election Launch'' || || Riverside Theatres Parramatta |- | rowspan="2"|2009 || ''Lady Windermere's Fan'' || Lord Augustus Lorton || Darlinghurst Theatre, Sydney |- | ''A Safe Pair of Hands'' || || |- | 2010 || ''The Power of Yes'' || Aiden Turner / David Marsh || Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney |- | 2014 || ''Legend! Slips Cordon – A Safe Pair of Hands'' || 'Slips' Cordon || Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney |- | 2016 || ''Senior Moments'' || || Glen St Theatre, Sydney<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.stagewhispers.com.au/reviews/senior-moments |title= Senior Moments |publisher= Stage Whispers |date= 2016}}</ref> |- | 2018 || ''The Lost Tangerine Jacket'' || Souvenir Shop Proprietor / John Glebe / Eddie Trigg / 2nd Paddy / Ives, / RAC Member 1 / Hatchet Man 2 || Riverside Theatres Parramatta |}

===As crew=== {|class=wikitable ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 1964 || ''The Dumb Waiter'' || Stage Manager || Curzon Cinema, Melbourne |- | 1972 || ''Father Dear, Come Over Here'' || Director || Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC |- | 1976 || ''Same Difference'' || Director || Bondi Pavilion, Sydney |- | 1979–1983 || ''More than a Sentimental Bloke'' || Adaptor || Australian tour |- | 1980–1995 || ''Piaf: The Songs and the Story'' || Devisor || Regent Theatre, Sydney, Seymour Centre, Sydney, Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Universal Theatre, Melbourne |- | 1983 || ''The Zoo Story'' || Director || Rehearsal Room, Canberra |- | rowspan="3"|1985 || ''Us or Them'' || Director || rowspan="3"|Playhouse, Canberra |- | ''Don't Pay! Don't Pay!'' || Director |- | ''Benefactors'' || Director |- | 1987 || ''Farcearting Around'': ''The Purging'' / ''Anatol'' / ''The Tenor'' || Director || Flinders University, Adelaide |- | 1988–1989 || ''Piaf'' || Devisor || Universal Theatre, Melbourne, Sydney Opera House, Canberra Theatre |- | 1993 || ''The Glugs of Gosh'' || Director || Bridge Theatre, Sydney with Theatre South |- | rowspan="2"|2008 || ''Waiting for Gotterson'' / ''Nothing Like Old Times'' || Director || Newtown Theatre, Sydney with Ferknerkle Productions |- | ''The Waxeuse'' || Director || <ref name=SC>{{cite web|url= https://cdn.showcast.com.au/actor-pdfs/fe2ab730-35c3-422e-8043-f9035ebc67d9.PDF |title= John Derum |publisher= Showcast}}</ref> |- | 2009 || ''Housebound'' || Director || <ref name=SC/> |} <ref>{{cite web|url= https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/2384 |title= John Derum theatre credits |publisher= AusStage}}</ref>

==Radio== {|class=wikitable ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 1979 || ''King Richard'' || Tony Bailletti || ABC Radio Sydney |- | 1979 || ''Little Lunches'' || Malcolm || ABC Radio Sydney |}

==Audio book narration== {|class=wikitable ! Year ! Title ! Author |- | rowspan="2"|2014 || ''Shearers' Motel'' || Roger McDonald |- | ''Great Australian Drinking Stories'' || Jim Haynes |- | || ''Sanctuary'' || Judy Nunn |- | 2017 || ''The Desert Column'' || Ion Idriess |- | rowspan="2"|2018 || ''High Voltage'' || Jeff Apter |- | ''Down Under'' || Trevor Conomy |- | rowspan="9"|2019 || ''Moody's Tale: The Story of Corporal Horrie'' || James Bell Moodie |- | ''Heritage'' || Judy Nunn |- | ''Khaki Town'' || Judy Nunn |- | ''Gripped by Drought'' || Arthur W. Upfield |- | ''Killer Instinct: Having a Mind for Murder'' || Donald Grant |- | ''The House of Cain'' || Arthur W. Upfield |- | ''The Great World'' || David Malouf |- | ''Pills, Powder, and Smoke'' || Antony Loewenstein |- | ''A Royal Abduction'' || Arthur W. Upfield |- | 2020 || ''The Ghost and the Bounty Hunter'' || Adam Courtenay |- | rowspan="2"|2021 || ''Showtime!'' || Judy Nunn |- | ''Araluen'' || Judy Nunn |- | rowspan="2"|2022 || ''The Sentimental Bloke'' || C. J. Dennis |- | ''The Glugs of Gosh'' || C. J. Dennis |- | 2024 || ''Stories from the Otto Bin Empire'' || Judy Nunn |} <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.audible.com.au/search?searchNarrator=John+Derum |title= John Derum |publisher= Audible}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=0220660|name=John Derum}} * [https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/2384 John Derum] on AusStage * [http://www.middlemiss.org/lit/authors/denniscj/collections/morethansb.html ''More Than a Sentimental Bloke: A Performance: John Derum as C. J. Dennis''] (1990 book by Derum)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Derum, John}} Category:1946 births Category:Living people Category:Australian male film actors Category:Australian male television actors Category:Australian male stage actors Category:Members of the Order of Australia