Reginald Evans (27 March 1928 – 7 February 2009) was a British-born actor active in Australian radio, theatre, television and cinema from the 1960s, after having started his career in his native England.

Biography

Evans started drama while in the Royal Air Force stationed near Oxford, England, after which he studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, followed by work in repertory theatre. He toured Europe with the New Park Theatre Club and later became its artistic director.[1]

Evans immigrated to Australia in the 1960s and worked in commercial radio and toured with the theatre company the Young Elizabethan Players.

His many Australian television roles include guest roles in Homicide, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, Number 96, Division 4, Spyforce, The Evil Touch, A Time for Love, Behind the Legend, Comedy Playhouse, and The Hour Before My Brother Dies.[1]

In 1980, Evans featured in the Australian version of British Serial Are You Being Served?

Evans' film credits include Mad Dog Morgan (1976), the Station Master in Mad Max (1979), a pirate in The Island (1980), Manganinnie (1980), The Plains of Heaven (1982), Kitty and the Bagman (1983), Strikebound (1984), My Letter to George (1986) and Celia (1989).

Evans played several roles in serial in Prisoner He played three previous guest roles in Prisoner. These were a colleague at electrician Eddie Cook's electrical firm in 1979, the foreman at the printshop where inmate Bea Smith does her work release in 1982, and as Foxy, an old friend of Lizzie Birdsworth's, in 1983. Before taking the permanent role of Detective Howard Simmons in 1985.

Evans appeared in series Blue Heelers as Keith Purvis in the 1990s. In 2005, he returned to Blue Heelers in a smaller guest role. His final role was a part in film Charlie and Boots

Partial filmography

• Stone (1974) – Solicitor
• Mad Dog Morgan (1976) – Bob
• Deathcheaters (1976) – Army Sergeant
• Raw Deal (1977) – Carpenter
• Mad Max (1979) – Station Master
• The Island (1980) – Jack the Bat
• Manganinnie (1980) – Quinn
• Gallipoli (1981) – Athletics Official 1
• The Plains of Heaven (1982) – Cunningham
• Kitty and the Bagman (1983) – Chicka
• Strikebound (1984) – Ernie
• My Letter to George (1985) – Mr. Simmons
• Evil Angels (1988) – The Jury (Foreman)
• Celia (1989) – Jack
• Father (1990) – Old Charlie
• Heaven Tonight (1990) – Norm Jenkins
• Flynn (1993) – Hobo
• Muggers (2000) – Crawford
• Japanese Story (2003) – Bloke in Row Boat
• The Honourable Wally Norman (2003) – Barry
• Dying Breed (2008) – Alfred
• Charlie & Boots (2009) – Mack (final film role)

Death

Evans and his partner, Angela Brunton, died in the 2009 Victorian bushfires.[2]

References

• Ham, Larissa (13 February 2009). "Cradle that nursed babes of St Andrews to rock on". The Age. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
• Usher, Jim (13 February 2009). "Vale Reg Evans". news.com.au. Retrieved 19 February 2009.

External links

• Reg Evans at IMDb