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Roy Billing

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New Zealand television actor, now based in Sydney, Australia

Roy Billing
OAM
Roy Billing in 2012.
BornRoy Harwood Billing
1947 (age 76–77)
New Zealand
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian
SpouseLinda Tizard (¿? - present)
ChildrenKelly Billing
Simon Billing (1975 - October 26, 1995) deceased

Roy Harwood Billing OAM (born 1947) is a New Zealand television actor, now based on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. He was brought up in Ruawai, Northland, New Zealand. Billing spent almost three decades living and working in Australia. He became widely known for his role as organised-crime boss “Aussie Bob” Trimbole in the TV series Underbelly.

Career

In 1965 Billing formed a psychedelic rock band called The Ministry of Fog. After a short period at university doing a science degree, he dropped out and got a job at Inland Revenue. After three years he moved into advertising, joining Auckland agencies Jacka Brown and later, McCann Erickson. “For a long time, I was stuck in accounts when I really wanted to be in creative.”

After hobby stints in amateur theatre and Theatre Corporate, founding director Raymond Hawthorne offered him a job with a state theatre program, Theatre in Education, working with high schools throughout the North Island. Billing left advertising to take up the less lucrative new role, at the age of 30. It was the beginning of his life as an actor.

"Looking back now, I don’t know how I managed it. Theatre in Education was actually quite a hard job. We travelled around the country going to schools and trying to engage students in the concepts of drama, and of course they didn’t want to know about it."

Billing has starred in many television shows and had main roles on Bad Cop, Bad Cop, Dossa and Joe and Hell Has Harbour Views. Billing also had a recurring role on Blue Heelers as Senior Constable Ian Goss, on Always Greener as Eddie McGill, in Packed to the Rafters as Ron Barrett, and in Under the Mountain. In 2000 he featured in the film The Dish, a comedy about the Moon landings, portraying the Mayor of Parkes. He also appeared as part of the ensemble on the 2006 season of Thank God You're Here. He has had a guest role on All Saints.

From 2012 Billing has played Harry Strang in the Jack Irish television drama series and television movies adapted from the detective novels by Peter Temple.

In 2009, Billing played Griffith drug lord Robert Trimbole in the high-rating drama series Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities, starring alongside Matthew Newton. He also starred in the film Charlie and Boots. Billing played the part of Chief Dufflepud in the 2010 film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader as well as a recurring character in the Nine Network police drama Cops L.A.C..

He started acting with Theatre Corporate, Auckland in the late 1970s. Early roles in New Zealand were in Sea Urchins a 1980-84 New Zealand TV series, the 1982 films The Scarecrow and Beyond Reasonable Doubt, the 1985 film Came a Hot Friday, and as Captain Gordon Vette in the 1988 miniseries Erebus: The Aftermath.

In 2013, he appeared in the New Zealand television comedy Agent Anna, for which he agreed to be paid at New Zealand rates.

In 2020, Billing starred in the Australian comedy-drama film Never Too Late.

Billing returned to New Zealand to live in late 2019.

In 2023, Billing was announced for the ABC series Austin.

New Zealand actor Roy Billing.
Actor Roy Billing photographed at his home in New Zealand in 2019.

Awards

Billing's plaque at the Australian Film Walk of Fame, Ritz Cinema, Randwick, Sydney

In 1999, Billing was nominated in the 'Best Actor in a Supporting Role' award at the AFI Awards for his role in Siam Sunset. In 2009, Billing won the 'Best Actor in a Television Drama' award at the AFI Awards, and was nominated for the 'Outstanding Actor' award at the 2010 Logies for his role in Underbelly.

Billing's career achievements were honoured in 2009 when he was inducted into the Australian Film Walk of Fame.

On 26 January 2015, Billing was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for "service to the performing arts, particularly as an actor, and to the community".

In 2015, Billing became the first person to be honoured with a star on Winton's Walk of Fame which was revealed during The Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival in Winton, Queensland.

Charity work

Billing is a national ambassador for the cancer charity Dry July and has supported the charity for over 4 years.

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
TBA Kangaroo
2024 The Nut Farm Mitch
2024 Myall Creek: Day of Justice Judge Barton Post-production
2023 Love Is in the Air Jeff Randall Feature film
2022 Nude Tuesday Aldo Feature film
2020 Never Too Late James Wendell Feature film
2018 Beast No More Gus Feature film
The Confession Dr. John Sounitis Short film (unreleased)
Shooter Frank Short film
Occupation Town Mayor Feature film
2017 Shot Clock Crime Boss Short film
2016 Roy Roy / Searle Short film
2015 The Gap Don Ritchie Short film
Manny Lewis Lyle Feature film
Crumble Father Short film
2014 Tits on a Bull Rusty Short film
A Lady & a Robot Lord Julian Stanley Short film
2013 The Hatinator Paul Short film (unreleased)
Autism Dr. Taylor Short film
Fairytruth Pops Short film
The Streak Uncle Nev Short film
Mystery Road Robbo, Weapon Shop Owner Feature film
2011 Swerve Good Samaritan Feature film
A Heartbeat Away George Feature film (musical)
2010 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Chief Dufflepud Feature film
2009 Benefit Father Short film
Boys on Film 1: Hard Love Joe / Jana (segment: "Mirror Mirror")
Charlie & Boots Roly Feature film
Boundless Dad Short film
Dear Diary Arthur Short film
2008 $9.99 Marcus Portman / Policeman #1 (voice) Stop motion animated adult feature film
Mirror Mirror Joe / Jana Short film
2007 Boys Own Story Uncle Charlie Short film
Unfinished Sky Royce Feature film
The Rose of Ba Ziz The Great Whiz Short film
Spike Up Steve Barker Short film
Razzle Dazzle Arthur Rudd Mockumentary feature film
2006 The Bet George Feature film
Aquamarine Grandpa Bob Feature film
2004 Thunderstruck Tiny Feature film
Strange Bedfellows Fred Coulson Feature film
2002 Black and White Detective Sergeant Turner Feature film
Rabbit-Proof Fence Police Inspector Feature film
2000 The Magic Pudding Tom Bluegum (voice) Animated feature film
The Dish Mayor Robert 'Bob' McIntyre Feature film
1999 Erskineville Kings Ticket Officer Feature film
Passion John Perring Jnr Feature film
Siam Sunset Bill Leach Feature film
1998 A Little Bit of Soul Judge Feature film
1997 Thank God He Met Lizzie Ron Feature film
Doing Time for Patsy Cline Dad Feature film
1996 Freestyle DS Grieve Short film
Children of the Revolution Police Sergeant Feature film
1995 Swerve Businessman Short film
1994 The Roly Poly Man Sidebottom Feature film
Dallas Doll Dave Harry Feature film
1991 Gotcha Fish Shop Owner Short film
Old Scores Frank O'Riordan TV film
1989 Zilch! Gary Hyde Feature film
1986 Queen City Rocker Stacy's Father Feature film
1985 Came a Hot Friday Darkie Benson Feature film
1984 Other Halves Harry Daniels Feature film
1983 Strata Keith
Savage Islands Auctioneer Feature film
1982 Klynham Summer (aka The Scarecrow) Mr. Potroz Feature film
Beyond Reasonable Doubt Court Official Feature film

Television

Year Film Role Other notes
1980 Mortimer's Patch Ron Bailey TV series, 1 episode
Sea Urchins Sharky TV movie
1981 Under the Mountain Wilberforce Family member (disguised slug monster) TV series, 5 episodes
1982 Loose Enz Thurston TV series, 1 episode
1983 An Age Apart Passenger TV series, 1 episode
1984 Inside Straight George McLean TV series, 9 episodes
Out of Time John Wilkinson TV movie
Children of the Dog Star Donald Kierney TV miniseries, 6 episodes
1984–85 Gliding On Perce TV series, 1 episode
1985 The Adventures of Terry Teo Shaddock TV series, 4 episodes
1988 Erebus: The Aftermath Captain Gordon Vette TV miniseries, 4 episodes
1990 Raider of the South Seas Ted Grundy TV movie
1991 Hampton Court Mr. Colloudos TV series, 13 episodes
Police Rescue Myer TV series, 1 episode
1992 A Country Practice James Deeko TV series, 1 episode
G.P. Bob Otranto TV series, 1 episode
Hey Dad..! Dr. MacLean TV series, 1 episode
1993 Time Trax Mr. Miller TV series, 1 episode
Minder DS Davis TV series, 1 episode
1994 Coverstory Detective Inspector Clark TV series, 1 episode
Over the Hill Short Bob TV series, 1 episode
1995 Mission Top Secret Superintendent Burke / Burke TV series, 3 episodes
1996 Home and Away John Clinton TV series, 3 episodes
1997 Big Sky Bob the Bookie / Barman TV series, 1 episode
Water Rats Stan TV series, 1 episode
1998 Wildside Kennedy TV series, 2 episodes
Murder Call Harry Polding TV series, Seaaon 2, episode 6: Cold Comfort
1998–2008 All Saints Barry Croft (1998) / Murray Blackwood (2004) / Darryl Hornby (2008) TV series, 5 episodes
1999 Dog's Head Bay Franco Poreini TV series, 3 episodes
2000 Variety Show at the End of the World War TV series, 1 episode
2001 When Good Ghouls Go Bad Mayor Bob Churney TV movie
2001–06 Blue Heelers Senior Constable Ian Goss TV series, 5 episodes
2002 Bad Cop, Bad Cop Assistant Commissioner 'Pud' Tugwell TV series, 2 episodes
Dossa and Joe Charlie TV series, 1 episode
2002–03 Always Greener Eddie McGill TV series, 4 episodes
Don't Blame the Koalas Principal TV series, 13 episodes
2003 Fat Cow Motel Bill Butler TV series, 13 episodes
The Strip Douglas Collins TV series, 8 episodes
Skin & Bone Tupper TV movie
2005 The Secret Life of Us Frank TV series, 1 episode
Small Claims: White Wedding Ron Duffy TV movie
A Very Barry Christmas Barry Buckley (voice) TV movie
Hell Has Harbour Views Kevin Fields TV movie
2006 Headland Col TV series, 5 episodes
Two Twisted Barber TV series, 1 episode
Thank God You're Here part of ensemble Cast TV series, 1 episode
2007 Jackie Jackie Mr. Chuck TV movie
Valentine's Day Kevin Flynn TV movie
2008 Packed to the Rafters Ron Barrett TV series, 3 episodes
Out of the Blue Mr Holt TV series, 1 episode
2009 Underbelly Aussie Bob Trimbole TV series, 13 episodes
Chandon Pictures Celebrant TV series, 1 episode
2010 Cops L.A.C. Senior Sergeant Graeme Sinclair TV series, 13 episodes
2010–18 Rake Senate President / Judge Jordan TV series, 8 episodes
2011 Underbelly Files: Infiltration Aussie Bob Trimbole TV movie
2012 Micro Nation Narrator TV series, 1 episode
Jack Irish: Bad Debts Harry Strang TV movie
Jack Irish: Black Tide Harry Strang TV movie
Hounds David TV series, 1 episode
2013 Cliffy Wally TV movie
The Elegant Gentleman's Guide to Knife Fighting Special Guest TV miniseries, 1 episode
2013–14 Agent Anna Clinton Walker TV series, 16 episodes
Wonderland Peter Varvaris TV series, 4 episodes
2014 It's a Date Graham TV series, 1 episode
Jack Irish: Dead Point Harry Strang TV movie
2016 Dog Squadron Rex (voice) TV short
Here Come the Habibs! Alan TV series, 1 episode
2016–21 Jack Irish Harry Strang TV series, 16 episodes
2017 Sisters Ron TV series, 7 episodes
House of Bond Doozer Hughes TV miniseries, 2 episodes
House Husbands Bernie TV series, 1 episode
2018 Pilot Week Davis TV series, 1 episode
2019 Blue Water Empire TV docu-drama miniseries
2021 The Panthers Robert Muldoon TV series, 6 episodes
2022 The Brokenwood Mysteries Dan Holland TV series, 1 episode
2022 My Life is Murder Murray TV series, 1 episode
2024 Austin Bill Hogan TV series: 8 episodes

References

  1. ^ Downie, Ken (January 2020). "Roy Billing". North & South magazine. No. January 2020. Auckland: Bauer Media. pp. 68–72.
  2. "ABC confirms June return date for season of JACK IRISH with GUY PEARCE". TV Blackbox. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  3. "Roy Billing". www.nzonscreen.com. 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  4. Maddox, Garry (16 April 2019) Life is still busy over 70 for stars of new 'triumph over ageing' film, The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  5. Knox, David (11 November 2023). "Production underway on Austin | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  6. "Putting on the Ritz". Southern Courier. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  7. "Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division" (PDF). Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia. 26 January 2015. p. 15. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  8. "Australia Day honours: NSW residents recognised with Orders of Australia". ABC News. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  9. Anderson, John (3 July 2015). "Bring in stars to boost Australian film industry, says actor". Townsville Bulletin. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  10. "Go Dry this July". Dry July 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.

External links

AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama
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