{{Short description|Australian actor (1954-2015)}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}} {{more citations needed|date=November 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox actor | name = Kerry James Casey | birth_date = {{Birth date|1954|11|09}} | birth_place = Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia | death_date = {{Death date and age|2015|11|25|1954|11|09}} | education = University of New South Wales | occupation = Actor, playwright, director, teacher | spouse = Maria Moutoudis (1978-1992) | partner = Florence Decamp (2005-death)}}
'''Kerry James Casey''' (9 November 1954 – 25 November 2015<ref name=":0" />) was an Australian actor, writer, director, and performance teacher.<ref name="SMH Obituary">{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/obituary-kerry-casey-had-a-passion-to-bring-to-life-the-human-narrative-20160304-gnabow.html|title=Obituary: Kerry Casey had a passion to bring to life the human narrative|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|last=Casey|first=Anastasia|date=4 March 2016|accessdate=30 August 2018}}</ref> He worked in bilingual theatre in Australia with companies using Greek, French, Vietnamese, and Italian languages and cultures in performance.
== Biography == Kerry Casey was born on 9 November 1954 in Wagga Wagga. He was the third child of James Casey and Joan (nee Gaffney). He grew up primarily in country New South Wales (Wagga Wagga, Captains Flat, Milton) before his parents moved to the Sydney suburb of Bondi in the late 1960s. He was educated at St Gregory's College, Campbelltown, Marcellin College Randwick and Vaucluse Boy's High School (where contemporaries included George Smilovici).<ref name="SMH Obituary" />
He undertook a Bachelor of Arts with a Diploma of Education at the University of New South Wales. It was during this time he met his future wife, Maria Moutoudis. He had three children by her.
Aside from teaching, he had a career as an actor and director for over thirty years.
He completed a Master of Arts in Creative Writing towards the end of his life at the University of New South Wales. In 2014, he published his Masters Thesis, ''The diggers and the IRA: a story of Australian and New Zealand Great-War soldiers involved in Ireland’s war of independence,'' exploring his Irish family's WW1 history and the stories of members of the Irish diaspora from Australia and New Zealand who fought for Ireland in its war of Independence from the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Casey |first=Kerry |date=2014 |title=The diggers and the IRA: a story of Australian and New Zealand Great-War soldiers involved in Ireland's war of independence |url=https://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/entities/publication/168fa8a4-1a2a-41a0-b0df-eb077597a10a |publisher=University of New South Wales |doi=10.26190/unsworks/17167 |doi-access=free |hdl=1959.4/54006 |hdl-access=free |type=MA Thesis |archive-date=25 July 2024 |access-date=25 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725202630/https://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/entities/publication/168fa8a4-1a2a-41a0-b0df-eb077597a10a |url-status=live }}</ref>
He died on 25 November 2015, following a long battle with cancer.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Kerry Casey Death Notice|url=https://tributes.smh.com.au/obituaries/70248/kerry-casey/|access-date=2023-10-31|website=Sydney Morning Herald}}{{Dead link|date=May 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
== Professional background ==
=== Movie appearances === *2007 ''Thursday's Fictions'' Friday *2003 ''George of the Jungle 2'' Grouchy Gorilla<ref name="SMH Obituary" /> *2001 ''Dil Chahta Hai'' Clown *2001 ''Moulin Rouge!'' Audience Member *1995 ''Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie''<ref name="SMH Obituary" /> Goldar
=== Theatre appearances === * 1981–95 Hat, Cane and Suitcase 14 years as a street and event performer –character based improvisations incorporating audience participation, original texts, mime, juggling, acrobatics, magic and rope walking. * 1981 '''Mannequins Too''' Australian Nouveau Theatre * 1982 The Giant, Theatre of the Deaf. Stables Theatre, Sydney * 1982 The Cheated, The Father, directed by Kai Tai Chan; One Extra Co. TPS * 1983 Adriana le Coeurvreur, Opera Australia * 1983 Beautiful Tigers, Picasso, Tightrope Theatre Co * 1983 The Smile at the Foot of the Ladder, Tightrope Theatre Co. Sydney * 1983 Dialogues of the Carmelites, Poulenc, Opera Australia * 1983 La Traviata, Opera Australia * 1983 Fidelio, by Beethoven, Opera Australia * 1985 Dodo in Love. Yank, Erskineville Hotel, Erskineville * 1985 Dimboola. Bayonet, NSW clubs tours * 1985 Alpha/Zero Unlimited. A Sydney Festival commission * 1986 Fat City Circus, Adelaide Fringe, performer and co-producer * 1986 The Men Who Stole the Sky. a Sydney Festival commission * 1986 Pierrot and the Detective. The Detective; Sydney Festival commission.<ref name="SMH Obituary" /> * 1986 Manichino, directed by Don Mamouney Fortune NCT and The Wharf Theatre, Sydney * 1987 Not I, by Samuel Beckett, directed by Edmund Falzon, Fortune NCT * May 1987 '''The Cherry Orchard''' Fortune Theatre Company * July 1987 '''Tartuffe''' Fortune Theatre Company * May 1988 '''The Intruder''' Series A * September 1988 '''Les Enfants du Paradis''' Company B Belvoir * 1988 A Piece of Monologue, by Samuel Beckett. Harold Park Hotel * April 1989 '''Medea''' Freewheeels Theatre Company * November 1989 '''Under Threat/Black River''' Sydney Metropolitan Opera & the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust * 1989 The Remedy, Giallo, Sydney Metropolitan Opera. The Parade Theatre * 1990 Witnesses, Cicada Theatre Co * 1992–1995 The Leaping Loonies. 4 years with the MO AWARD winning. Slapstick/acrobatic/improv troupe completing 2 national tours, live TV appearances and countless performances in schools, clubs, pubs, parks, stadia, theatres and country shows. * August 1996 '''Conversations With Charlie''' Citymoon & Variasians Theatre Festival<ref name="SMH Obituary" /> * October 1996 '''Coriolanus''' Bell Shakespeare * 1997 '''Romeo and Juliet''' Shakespeare in the Botanic Gardens * 1999 ''' Toss''', directed by Paul Rogers * 2000 Inland, male voice, directed by Gretchen Miller * 2000 '''A Lifetime Slapping Water Buffalo on the Arse'''. Lead, directed by Paul Rogers. Sidetrack Theatre. Co-producer. * January 2002 '''Mobile''' Short+Sweet * 2002 '''King Lear''' Harlos Productions * 2002/2004 '''Runners-up'''.;<ref name="run">{{cite web |url=http://www.realtimearts.net/article/52/9272 |title=Magazine – issue 52 – Legs on the Wall: Needing a leg up |publisher=RealTime Arts |date= |accessdate=10 January 2012 |archive-date=21 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821164008/http://www.realtimearts.net/article/52/9272 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="leg">{{cite web|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&kw=Legs+on+the+wall&pb=fcn&pb=age&dt=enterRange&dr=1month&sd=01%2F01%2F2004&ed=15%2F12%2F2004&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=adv&sc=a2+or+a3+or+agenda+or+entertainment+guide+or+forty+eight+hours+or+friday+guide+or+metro+or+metropolitan+or+review+or+s+insert+or+spectrum+or+te+or+the+beat+or+vibe+or+weekend+review&clsPage=1&docID=AGE0405198G0KO578MOE |title=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media|date=19 May 2004 |accessdate=10 January 2012}}</ref> Played the armchair fanatic; directed by Debra Iris-Batten for Legs on the Wall. Sydney Opera House and National Tours. * 2005: '''La Princesse et la Revolution''', played Madame Tussaud. National Maritime Museum Theatre for Les Genies de la Mer * 2005 '''The Ghost Gum''' Short+Sweet * 2006: '''Party Political''', played Kim Beazley; Newtown Theatre; Sydney * 2006: '''Political Fiction'''.;<ref name="name">{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneystage.com.au/content/view/69/ |title=Sydney Stage Online – Political Fiction |publisher=Sydneystage.com.au |date=24 April 2006 |accessdate=10 January 2012 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924112532/http://www.sydneystage.com.au/content/view/69/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> lead; Old Fitzroy Theatre; Sydney. * 2009: '''La Princesse et la Revolution''', played Madame Tussaud; Melbourne tour; Theatre LOTE Fantastique * 2010 '''An Inspector Calls'''
=== Television appearances === * 1985 '''G.P.''' Tom Scarhall * 1986 '''Five Times Dizzy''' * 1990 '''English at Work''' * 1992 '''Police Rescue'''<ref name="SMH Obituary" /> Target 1 Episode: Stakeout * 1998 '''Water Rats'''<ref name="SMH Obituary" /> Patrick McGuire Episode: Switchback * 1999 '''Murder Call'''.;<ref name="murder">{{cite web|url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/murdercall/series3.html |title=Murder Call: Series 3 |publisher=Australian Television |date= |accessdate=10 January 2012}}</ref><ref name="SMH Obituary" /> 'Grave Matters', Carlo Ghilberti, director Richard Sarrell, West Street Productions * 2000 '''All Saints'''.<ref name="saint">{{cite web |url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/as/series4.html |title=All Saints: series 4 (2001) |publisher=Australian Television |date= |accessdate=10 January 2012 |archive-date=20 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420083208/http://www.australiantelevision.net/as/series4.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Detective Layton, Amalgamated TV. * 2009 '''Gangs of Oz''' Series 2. Channel 7. Directed by Katie Hides * 2013 '''Deadly Women''' Series 6. Episode 12: Vengeance, Dr. Herman Tarnover
== Directing == *2011 Coco, Curie et Jeanne d'Arc. Theatre LOTE Fantastique. *2009 Cellodiva. *2003 La Princesse et la Revolution, for Theatre LOTE Fantastique. *2003 Bouncers. Empire Hotel, Kings X. 'an astounding night out' – Kings X Times. *2002 Le Bossu (de Notre Dame). Writer/director for Theatre LOTE. Winner of the Frater Award for Excellence in Performances for Students. *1999 Homer Rules …the Odyssey, an original, demotic adaptation of Homer's Odyssey, for Take Away Theatre and Carnivale. *1988 Silent Partners, a mime/cabaret touring nationally. *1981–95 Hat, Cane and Suitcase, street, event and outdoor performances. *1986 Pierrot and the Detective, Sydney Festival commission, 2BL's Pick for 'Best of the Festival'. *1986 The Men Who Stole the Sky. Sydney Festival commission. *1984 Alpha/Zero Unlimited. Sydney Festival commission.
=== Writing === *2003 La Princesse et la Revolution, with Louise Hall. *2002 Le Bossu (de Notre Dame), with Louise Hall after Victor Hugo. *2002 Legs on the Wall with Deb Batten and ensemble. *1999 Homer Rules …the Odyssey, with Freida Kritas and ensemble.<ref name="SMH Obituary" /> *1992-5 Leaping Loonies, skits and texts including the hit narrative poem, How I Joined the Loonies *1981–95 Hat, Cane and Suitcase. *1986 Manichino, with Don Mamouney and ensemble. *1986 Pierrot and the Detective. *1986 The Men Who Stole the Sky with David Horton. *1985 Alpha/Zero Unlimited with Brian Keogh and Maggie Craigie. *1982 The Giant, with Margie Brown after Oscar Wilde. *1982 The Cheated, with Louis Nowra, including the song, Her Voice is Gone. *1981 Mannequins Too, poems, scenes and texts with Jim Hughes.
=== Academic teaching background === *2011 HSC Drama at Sydney Secondary College *2008 Drama coordinator Fort Street High School *2008 Rehearsal classes for Sidetrack Production of Checkpoint Zero. *2008 NIDA workshops in Meyerhold Biomechanics.<ref name="SMH Obituary" /> *2006-7 Director of Australian Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA). *2004-6 NIDA: Film and the Actor's Body. Movement for film acting and Meyerhold Biomechanics. *2004-6 Australian Institute of Music tutor in Music Theatre and Acting. *1983–2005 Ensemble Studios classes in Mime, Mask and Commedia dell'Arte. *2003-4 Centre for Cross Cultural Relations, ANU; lectures and workshops with Greg Denning in Academic Performance and Making Theatre. *2003/4 Classes at Aerialize and Legs on the Wall in Voice, Speech and Text in Physical Performance. *1998–2001 Conservatorium of Music High, created program and gave lectures and classes in The Instrumentalists Use of the Body in Making and Playing Music. *1996 Bell Shakespeare, classes in Mime for Steven Berkoff and company. *1995 Odyssey House, The Body, Performance and Addiction, for recovering addicts. *1990 Arundel House, RPAH, Performance Therapy. *1989 Sydney Metropolitan Opera, Commedia dell'Arte and Opera Buffa. *1987 Company B Belvoir, rehearsal classes. *1987 Conservatorium of Music, lectures and workshops in Contemporary Performance for Composition and Music Theatre. *1986-7 Fortune National Capital Theatre, company trainer. *1984-6 The Drama Studio, classes in Mask & Commedia dell'Arte and the research project Shakespeare and the Commedia dell'Arte. *1985 Hellenic Art Theatre, Mask and Chorus for production of Lysistrata. *1983 Macquarie University, classes in Mime..
=== Honours and awards === *2014 Master of Arts from the Australian Defence Force Academy<ref name="SMH Obituary" /> *2002 Frater Award Excellence in Performance for Students for Le Bossu (de Notre Dame)<ref name="SMH Obituary" /> *1991 Mo Award Specialty Act with the Leaping Loonies plus three further nominations.<ref name="SMH Obituary" /> *1986 Radio National's Best of the (Sydney) Festival for Pierrot and the Detective.<ref name="SMH Obituary" /> *1986 Adelaide Festival Fringe. 4 stars for Fat City Circus.
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{imdb name|0143462|Kerry Casey}} *[https://www.theirishwar.com/the-diggers-and-the-ira-by-kerry-casey/ The Diggers and the IRA] by Kerry Casey
{{DEFAULTSORT:Casey, Kerry}} Category:1954 births Category:2015 deaths Category:Australian theatre directors Category:People from Wagga Wagga Category:University of New South Wales alumni Category:People educated at Marcellin College Randwick