Lorrae Desmond
Lorrae Desmond | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Desmond in 2012 | |
| Born | Beryl Hunt[1] 2 October 1929[1][2] Mittagong, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 23 May 2021 (aged 91) Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia[3] |
| Other names |
|
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1945–2001 (retired) |
| Spouse |
Alex Gorshenin (m. 1963–1976) |
| Awards |
|
Lorrae Desmond AM, MBE (born Beryl Hunt;[4] 2 October 1929 – 23 May 2021)[a] was an Australian Gold Logie-award-winning singer, recording artist, radio and television presenter, character actor, and playwright, with a career that spanned over 55 years both locally and in the United Kingdom.
She started her career in England, in the vein of entertainer Cicely Courtneidge. Desmond carved out a career as a variety performer, as a singer and radio/television presenter, primarily at the BBC, where she had her own shows during World War II.
Returning to Australia, she became a popular presenter and remains best known to early local television audiences as hostess of the musical variety program The Lorrae Desmond Show from 1960 until 1964. As a variety entertainer and vocalist, she made numerous cabaret and TV appearances including In Melbourne Tonight, The Graham Kennedy Show, The Kamahl Show, The Ted Hamilton Show and appeared on Parkinson in Australia, and The Jack Benny Show.[3]
She was subsequently asked to tour South Vietnam with the Entertainment Unit during the Vietnam War. She also toured the Middle East, Malaysia, Singapore, Kenya and Somalia,[3] where she became known for her live singing performances, billed as a forces sweetheart, in the style of Vera Lynn and Anne Shelton, for which she was honoured with an MBE for services to entertainment.
She started taking roles in local soap operas and serials starting from the late 1960s, including a guest role in the Crawford Productions staple series Homicide, and a guest role in Number 96, after which she was given a more permanent role in the ill-fated series Arcade in 1980.
However, she became famous for her long-running role in the television series A Country Practice, as the original character of nurse Shirley Gilroy, appearing in 816 episodes from 1981 to 1992.
In 1997, she briefly guest starred in Home and Away as Isobel Dupre, the mother of Donald Fisher (Norman Coburn).
She had worked as a theatre lyricist, writing the play Honey in 2001, based on the novel Smoky Joe's Cafe by Bryce Courtenay.
Biography
[edit]Early life
[edit]Desmond was born on 2 October 1929, in the Southern Highlands town of Mittagong, New South Wales, to Alice and Des Hunt.[1][2][5] She left Mittagong after the fire season, and briefly lived on an island on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland. After leaving Mittagong Primary School, she trained as a hairdresser, but inspired by Gracie Fields, decided she wanted to become an entertainer. By the age of 10, Desmond had travelled to Britain with her family.
Music, performing career and radio in Britain
[edit]She started her career in England in 1945, as a teenager of a mere 15 as a singing cigarette girl and became a celebrity there. She performed as both a solo artist and with backing group The Rebels, whilst making studio recordings and featured in everything from theatre, cabaret, pantomime, and radio. She had her own shows including several for the BBC, including Meet Lorrae and Swing with Lorrae.[6]
Television in England
[edit]In 1957, she competed in the second semi-final of the Festival of British Popular Songs, where the winner got to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. She also featured in her own comedy series Trouble for Two in 1958, and was in the cast of several of the Terry-Thomas TV specials.[7]
In his book Bounder (2008), Graham McCann states that Desmond might have even married Terry-Thomas, who had been her constant companion for ten years. Instead, the actor married Belinda Cunningham, despite a 26-year age gap between the two. Desmond refuted this in an ABC interview in April 2008, saying that whilst she dated Thomas for 10 years, they would never have married.[8]
Career in Australia
[edit]The Lorrae Desmond Show
[edit]Returning to Australia in the early sixties, her career kicked off in 1962, as presenter of the self-titled music variety show The Lorrae Desmond Show and in 1961, she made history by being the first woman on television to win the Gold Logie (which was in fact Silver, as women at the time received the Silver Statuette, and men received the Gold Statuette)[9] The Gold Logie award that year was a dual honour, with Tommy Hanlon Jr. also winning the coveted trophy.
She appeared in the TV play Red Peppers.
Service with the Vietnam Entertainment Unit
[edit]The Australian Government invited her to tour Vietnam from 1967 to 1971, to entertain the troops. She was widely courted as being the Australian Forces Sweetheart, amongst others including Dinah Lee, Little Pattie, Cathy Wayne, Sylvia Raye, Lynne Fletcher and Jacqui De Paul.[10] Australia didn't have its own honours system at the time, however Desmond was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1970 for services to "entertainment and the welfare of the Australian Forces in Vietnam".[11][12]
Television roles
[edit]Desmond's television appearances include Homicide and Number 96 (1973) and Arcade (1980), both series written by David Sale, however the latter series was unsuccessful and cancelled after 16 episodes. Later, in 1997, she also had a guest appearance on Home and Away as Isobel Dupre, the mother of regular character Donald Fisher played by Norman Coburn.[9]
A Country Practice - Shirley Gilroy
[edit]Desmond, after having appeared in the ill-fated series Arcade, was touted by the Seven Network to appear in their new series A Country Practice which became her best-known role as Shirley Dean Gilroy, and appeared from the series' inception in November 1981 until 1992. In 1984 she won the Logie for Best Supporting Actress for this role. In one of the series' iconic episodes in 1992, Desmond decided to leave the series and the long-running character Shirley was killed off in an off-screen plane crash, with the actress stating she did not want a prolonged death storyline arc like that of Molly Jones (Anne Tenney).
Writing
[edit]Desmond co-wrote the lyrics to the musical Man of Sorrows (originally titled Jesus Christ Revolution) which premiered in Melbourne in 1972.[13]
About the industry, she said:
What I really wanted to do was write lyrics for songs. I did do a few weeks in Home And Away after ACP, but I'm a bit sick of performing—after you've been doing it for 50 years you're just going around in circles! The thing I liked most about being a performer was putting the act together, which is why I've come back to writing. It's still pleasant to be recognized as Shirley because people are always nice to me. And with those ACP repeats on Hallmark, it goes from generation to generation.[citation needed]
In 2001, she obtained the rights to write the lyrics for a musical play based on Bryce Courtenay's novel Smoky Joe's Cafe, about the effects of the Vietnam War on a veteran. The play, entitled Honey, premiered in 2007 at the Riverside Theatre Parramatta.[14]
She was also a magazine columnist for That's Life; she wrote an article called "Ask Lorrae", in which readers would write in, asking for advice and information.
Desmond took part in an A Country Practice reunion special in 2006, as part of the "Television Turns 50" celebrations, and the series' 30th-anniversary reunion in 2011.[15] In 2017, Desmond, who was the first female to win a Gold Logie, appeared at the Logie awards, to present an award opposite her cousin's son, Chinese Australian actor and presenter Sam Pang.
One-woman show
[edit]Desmond toured Australia, performing in High Society and her own one-woman show.[14]
Personal life
[edit]Desmond was married to Sydney surgeon Dr. Alex Gorshenin from 1963 to 1976.[16] They travelled to the United States together, where he continued to study. Prior to her marriage, Desmond was involved in a long-running affair of several years with the English comic actor Terry-Thomas. She died on 23 May 2021, in Gold Coast, Queensland, aged 91.[17]
Awards
[edit]| Year | Association | Category | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Logie Awards | Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television | The Lorrae Desmond Show |
| 1984 | Logie Awards | Silver Logie Award – Best Supporting Actress In A Series | A Country Practice |
Mo Awards
[edit]The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Lorrae Desmond won one award in that time.[18]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Lorrae Desmond | John Campbell Fellowship Award | Won |
Honours
[edit]| Year | Honour | Awarded for |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 |  Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
|
For services to entertainment and the welfare of the Australian Forces in Vietnam[11][12] |
| 2021 | Member of the Order of Australia | For significant service to the performing arts as an actor, entertainer and singer.[19] |
Filmography
[edit]Actress
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Stock Car | Singer | Feature film |
| 1956 | Hancock's Half Hour | Secretary | TV series |
| 1957 | Mostly Maynard | TV series | |
| 1957 | Sheep's Clothing | Herself | |
| 1958 | Trouble for Two | ||
| 1962 | Red Peppers | Lily | TV play |
| 1962 | Family Album | Jane Featherways | TV play |
| 1968 | Homicide | Harriet Murphy | TV series |
| 1969 | Riptide | Madge Scobie | TV series |
| 1973 | Number 96 | Marion Carlton | TV series |
| 1975 | Shannon's Mob | Cassandra | TV series |
| 1976 | The Outsiders | Rose | TV series |
| 1980 | Arcade | Molly Sparks | TV series |
| 1981–1992 | A Country Practice | Shirley Dean Gilroy | TV series, 816 episodes |
| 1997 | Home and Away | Isobel DuPre | TV series |
Celebrity appearances
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Variety Parade | Guest | TV series, episode 1.24 |
| 1956 | Strictly T-T | Guest | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 1957 | Festival of British Popular Songs | Guest | TV series, episode #2.2 |
| 1957 | Monday Melody | Guest | TV series, #episode 1.2 |
| 1957 | The Grand Order of Water Rats presents | Guest | TV series, episode: "Salute to Song" |
| 1957 | Off the Record | Guest | TV series, episodes: #3.3, #2.12 |
| 1958 | The Jack Jackson Show | Guest performer | TV series |
| 1957–1958 | Six-Five Special | Guest | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 1960 | Juke Box Jury | Panelist | TV series |
| 1960-1964 | The Lorrae Desmond Show | Host | TV series |
| 1964 | Muloorina | Guest | Documentary short |
| 1964 | Jack Benny in Australia | Guest | TV series, season 15 |
| 1966 | Jimmy | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1966 | Meet Matt Munro | Perforner (with Matt Munro) | TV series |
| 1969 | In Melbourne Tonight | TV series, 2 episodes | |
| 1972 | Kamahl | Guest | TV series, episode: "Looking Back on Love"' |
| 1972–1973 | The Graham Kennedy Show | Guest / performer (sang "What The World Needs Now" on 1 episode) | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1974 | Ted Hamilton's Musical World | Guest | TV series |
| 1975 | The ABC Melbourne Showband on tour in Perth | Guest | TV special |
| 1975 | Celebrity Squares | Celebrity contestant | TV series |
| 1978; 1979; 1984 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1980 | Celebrity Tattletales | Guest (with Colin Croft) | 2 episodes |
| 1983 | The Sydney Story | Guest | TV special |
| 1983 | Telethon '83 | Performer (sang "True Love" with Brian Wenzel / "Yesterday When I Was Young") | TV special |
| 1983 | Parkinson in Australia | Guest (with Lorraine Bayly & Rowena Wallace) | TV special |
| 1984 | The 26th Annual TV Week Logie Awards | Audience member - Best Supporting Actress in TV Drama 'A Country Practice' | TV Special |
| 1985 | Terry Willesee Tonight | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1986 | Telethon '86 | Perforner (sang "Gus the Gopher" to A Country Practice cast member Emily Nicholls / "The Two of Us" with Brian Wenzel) | TV special |
| 1986 | Seven Nightly News | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1988 | A Touch of Elegance | Guest | TV series, Adelaide |
| 1988 | A Country Christmas | Guest (with Lee Kernaghan) | TV special |
| 1989 | The 31st Annual TV Week Logie Awards | Performer | TV special |
| 1991 | The Main Event | Contestant (with Julie McGregor, Agro, Georgie Parker, Andrew Blackman & Mike Carlton) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1991 | In Sydney Today | Guest | TV series |
| 1992 | Legends In Concert | Guest | TV special |
| 1994 | Ernie and Denise | Guest | TV series |
| 1995; 1999; 2000 | Good Morning Australia | Guest | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1997 | Where Are They Now? | Guest with 'A Country Practice' cast: Shane Porteous | TV series |
| 1998 | Midday with Kerri-Anne | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1998 | FCTV | Guest | |
| 2000 | The Morning Show | Guest | TV series |
| 2001 | Denise | Guest | TV series |
| 2002 | The Best of Aussie Drama | Commentary | TV special |
| 2006 | TV Turns 50: The Events that Stopped a Nation | Guest - Herself with 'A Country Practice cast: Brian Wenzel, Shane Porteous, Joan Sydney, Joyce Jacobs, Josephine Mitchell, Anne Tenney & Emily Nichol | TV special |
| 2007 | Where Are They Now? | Guest (with A Country Practice cast) | TV series |
| 2008 | Talking Heads | Guest - Herself | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 2011 | Today Tonight | Herself with A Country Practice cast: Brian Wenzel, Helen Scott, John Tarrant, Andrew Blackman, Michelle Pettigrove, Josephine Mitchell, Wendy Strethlow, Judith McGrath & Emily Nichol | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2016 | Canberra; 60 Years of Television | Guest (with Pete Smith) | TV special |
| 2017 | The 59th Annual TV Week Logie Awards | Presenter (with Sam Pang) | TV special |
Theatre
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Venue / Co. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Man of Sorrows (originally titled Jesus Christ Revolution) | Co-writer / lyrics | |
| 2007 | Honey | Lyrics (adaptation of Bryce Courtenay's novel Smoky Joe's Cafe) | Riverside Theatre Parramatta |
Publications
[edit]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| That's Life | Magazine columnist ("Ask Lorrae" column) |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Desmond's age was corrected when awarded in the Australia Day honours in 2021, which gave her as then being 91 years old, hence a birth year of 1929; other official sources had previously gave her birth year as 1932.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Lorrae Desmond: (author/organisation) | AustLit: Discover Australian Stories". www.austlit.edu.au. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Desmond, Lorrae (1932-)".
- ^ a b c "Vale:Lorrae Desmond".
- ^ "Lorrae Desmond". AusStage.
- ^ Atterton, Margot "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Australian Showbiz" published by Sunshine Books ISBN 0867770570
- ^ "ANOTHER JOY NICHOLS?". The Mercury. Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 29 September 1954. p. 21. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ "A Song For Europe 1957". oneurope.biz. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
- ^ "Talking Heads - Lorrae Desmond". www.abc.net.au. 14 April 2008. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
- ^ a b "1962 – Lorrae Desmond". tvweek.ninemsn.com.au. Archived from the original on 1 September 2007. Retrieved 6 March 2009.
- ^ "Sequin and chiffon entertainer's scarf : Lorrae Desmond | Australian War Memorial". cas.awm.gov.au. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ a b "Lorrae GORSHENIN MBE". Australian Honours Database. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2007.
- ^ a b "No. 45118". www.thegazette.co.uk. The London Gazette. 5 June 1970. p. 6401. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ "Out-of-town success for new musical". smharchives.smedia.com.au. 4 June 1972. p. 143. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- ^ a b "Lorrae Desmond - blonde goddess in the golden dress | Stage Whispers". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Stage Whispers. August 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Knox, David: TV reunions are hot property, Citysearch, March 2011. [permanent dead link]
- ^ "LORRAE DESMOND'S WEDDING". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 29 May 1963. p. 8. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ Noyes, Jenny (23 May 2021). "'Enormous heart': Lorrae Desmond, Logie-winning star of A Country Practice, dead at 91". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "MO Award Winners". Mo Awards. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ "Ms Lorrae DESMOND MBE". It's an Honour. Australian Government. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
External links
[edit]- "Celebrity Artist Biography". School of Arts Cafe website. Archived from the original on 30 March 2008.
- Lorrae Desmond at IMDb
- Lorrae Desmond at the National Film and Sound Archive
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
- 1929 births
- 2021 deaths
- 20th-century Australian actresses
- 20th-century Australian women singers
- 21st-century Australian women singers
- Actresses from New South Wales
- Members of the Order of Australia
- Australian Members of the Order of the British Empire
- Australian soap opera actresses
- Gold Logie winners
- People from the Southern Highlands (New South Wales)