James Condon

James Thomas Condon (27 September 1923 – 14 February 2014) was an Australian actor of radio and stage, a scriptwriter and voice over, however best known for his numerous television roles in serials and television movies in Australia, particularly Number 96 and Neighbours, he was the husband of Neighbours actress Anne Haddy.[1] and the brother of theatre producer and actress Coralie Condon, who was known an Order of Australia recipient and was known as the "First Lady of Western Australian Television", she died on 31 December 2014, aged 99[2]

For the British SAS trooper, see Paddy Condon.

James Condon
Born
James Thomas Condon

(1923-09-27)27 September 1923
Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia
Died14 February 2014(2014-02-14) (aged 90)
Narrabeen, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation
  • Actor
  • scriptwriter
  • voice over
Years active1942–2003
Spouse(s)Joan Cranmer (19??-19??); 4 children
Anne Haddy (1977–1999; her death)

Career

James Thomas Condon was born in Fremantle, Western Australia. His career started in repertory theatre, before joining at ABC Radio in Perth in 1942, he would serve with the RAAF serving in the Air Force during World War II and eventuate to flight lieutenant.[3] After the war he worked for the BBC before returning to Australia in 1951 to resume his acting career, working on radio serials, including Portia Faces Life. When TV arrived in 1956 he moved to Sydney and appeared on the opening night of ABN2, Sydney, and in a number of ABC plays, including Tomorrow's Child and A Phoenix Too Frequent.[4]

He played the lead role in ATN7's The Story of Peter Grey, one of the first soap opera dramas produced for Australian television.

He made many other appearances on television, including Homicide, Matlock Police, Number 96 (both the TV serial and the 1974 feature film spin-off, playing different characters), Bellamy, The Young Doctors, Carson's Law, Sons and Daughters, Prisoner, The Flying Doctors, Blue Heelers and Something in the Air.

Personal life

Condon was the brother of actress and theatre producer Coralie Condon and had a brother Terry. His first marriage was to Joan Cranmer. The couple had four daughters.[5][6] Condon was married to Australian actress Anne Haddy, best known for the role of matriarch Helen Daniels in Neighbours, from 1985 until her death in 1999. Condon was the stepfather of Haddy's children Jane and Tony.[5] He acted alongside Haddy in Neighbours twice – as Douglas Blake in 1985 and again in 1995 as Reuben White. Condon suffered a stroke in 2013.[7] He died from a stroke at a RSL retirement home in Narrabeen, Sydney on 14 February 2014, aged 90.[8]

References
  1. James Condon obituary, televisionau.com; accessed 3 April 2015.
  2. Candice Barnes. "WA's 'first lady of television' Coralie Condon farewelled in Fremantle". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. "Item details for: A9300, CONDON J T". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 30 May 2014. Service Number: 436069
  4. "The PRIVATE EYE of TV". ABC Weekly. 20 July 1957. p. 4-5.
  5. "James Thomas Condon obituary". The Age. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  6. "Tribute to James Condon (1923–2014)". WA TV History. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  7. Knox, David (17 February 2014). "Vale: James Condon". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  8. James Condon obituary Archived 23 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine, westannouncements.com.au; accessed 3 April 2015.


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