Wikipedia

Brian Moll

Brian Percy Moll (19 May 1925 – 9 August 2013) was a British-born Australian comedian character actor of stage, television and film and director and producer. He was best known for his soap opera television roles, but also appeared in film and numerous theatre productions, over a 50 year career. Moll started his career in his native England in theatre in 1945.[2]

Brian Moll
Brian Moll in TV series The Young Doctors
Born
Brian Percy Moll

(1925-05-19)19 May 1925
Wanstead, London, England
Died9 August 2013(2013-08-09) (aged 88)[1]
Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1945–1994 (retired)
Known forThe Young Doctors (TV series) as Dr Vincent Snape
A Country Practice (TV series) as Alfred Muldoon

Although he primarily appeared in small parts, he did have more regular roles in TV series including The Young Doctors as Dr. Vincent Snape from 1976 and 1978 and a recurring role in A Country Practice from 1982 and 1992 as corrupt town Councillor Alfred Muldoon

Early life

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Moll was born on Chaucer Road in Wanstead, North East London on 19 May 1925, to Hedges Percy Moll and Dorothy 'Dot' Alice Sarah Moll (née Mitchell). He had a brother Peter James Moll.

During World War II, Moll was conscripted to the Royal Navy in 1943 at the age of eighteen and spent the later years of the war serving on a minesweeper. His ship was involved in the D-Day operation and he watched the action from just off the Arromanches beach.

In October 1950, Moll immigrated from England and arrived in Melbourne, Australia under the £10 assisted passage emigration scheme. Quitting his job as a publicity officer, to continued his acting career. In December 1975, he took Australian citizenship.

Career

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Theatre

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Moll began his stage career taking on leading parts with the Melbourne Little Theatre from 1951. As well as acting, he was producing and directing difficult plays by playwrights including Chekov and Ibsen. In 1963, he moved to Brisbane and joined the Queensland Arts Theatre. He continued his acting career in his spare time. In the 1960s he was campaigning in Brisbane for a new permanent arts centre and was involved in plans which resulted in the Queensland Performing Arts Complex being built.

In 1970 he appeared in It's a Rum Do in the role of Samuel Marsden, the priest who was partly responsible for bringing merino sheep to Australia, which started the wool industry. The play was chosen to be given a Royal Command Performance in the Brisbane Arts Centre. He was presented to the Queen and he told her that over the past two years he had played eight priests. She asked him why, and smiled when he answered "It was my purity of spirit and a bald head". Following this, his acting career took off.

Television and film

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Moll made his television debut in 1958.[3] He was known for his villainous roles, once remarking that this was due to his bald head (he had been completely bald since the age of 25). As a working actor, like many of the era, he had numerous character roles on the Crawford Productions TV serials including Matlock Police, Homicide and Division 4, as well as many guest roles on other television series, miniseries, telemovies and films. Some of these included Bellbird, The Sullivans, and Cop Shop.[3]

In 1975, he became better known however for playing the recurring role of slimy town clerk Eddie Buchanan in soap opera Number 96, Dr. Vincent Snape in The Young Doctors from 1977 to 1978, and briefly as Mr. Spencer in Prisoner in 1980.

He was most likely however best known for his long running itinerant role in serial A Country Practice, as devious and pompous town councillor Alfred Muldoon – a role he played from 1982 to 1992, through 120 episodes. He commuted interstate from the north Queensland coast to Sydney, while working on the series.[3]

In 1990, he appeared as Mr. Gordian in action drama film Bloodmoon,[4] which was filmed in Brisbane.[3] He also had a small cameo role in the martial arts action film Street Fighter in 1994, alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Later years and death

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When he realised acting work was no longer providing him a sufficient income, Moll moved to the north coast of Queensland in the late 1980s to ease the financial burden, commuting to Sydney for work. To supplement his income, he relied on his war pension.[3]

Moll retired in 1994 and resided in Sippy Downs, Queensland in a nursing home, where he died on 9 August 2013, aged 88.[5] His ashes were scattered near his home on the Sunshine Coast.

He was honoured in the 'In Memoriam' segment of the 3rd AACTA Awards, for his "contribution to Australian screen culture".[6]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Type
1971ExitGeelesShort film
StorkPriestFeature film
1973Alvin PurpleClerk of the CourtFeature film
1975That Lady from PekingFather LeonardFeature film
1976Water ManagementWater ManShort film
1981Maybe This TimeOlder SalesmanFeature film
1984Fantasy ManLoftyFeature film
1990BloodmoonMr. GordianFeature film
Dead SleepDr. ShambergFeature film
1992Something WickedLecturerShort film
1994Street FighterBison's ScientistFeature film

Television

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Year Title Role Type
1958Captain CarvalloTV movie
1958Killer in Close-UpEpisode: "The Rattenbury Case"
1959Press GangTV movie
1968; 1969HunterHinksman / Fishta2 episodes
1969The PartyMartin LutherTV movie
1971–1973Matlock PoliceForbes / Tojo / Brown / School Principal / Ray Smith / Gaye / Fred Jackson7 episodes
1969The RoversDr. Wright1 episode
1973BoneyBill Bulford1 episode
RyanWarburton / Topley2 episodes
1968–1974HomicideFrank Adams / Ted Sands / John Lee / Richard Evans / Clerk / Stan Preston / Gustav / Arthur Reid / Phillips /,Grant / Hotel Manager11 episodes
1969–1974Division 4Jack Doyle / Eddie Bailey / Herbie Pike / Wilson Snr / Ralph Morris10 episodes
1974Silent NumberPrison Doctor1 episode
1975The UnisexersMr Lewis
Number 96TC Eddie Buchanan10 episodes
King's MenDrake1 episode
Luke's KingdomSettler1 episode
1976McManus MPBCarl DayTV movie
RushThomas2 episodes
1977The OutsidersMertz1 episode
1977–1979The Young DoctorsDr. Vincent SnapeRegular role
1978Case for the DefenceThe Judge1 episode
1980ArcadeMr. Sponge
PrisonerMr. Spenser3 episodes
Cop ShopSammy Smith1 episode
The Timeless LandRev JohnsonMiniseries, 3 episodes
1982–1992A Country PracticeAlfred Muldoon120 episodes
1981BellamyWilkes1 episode
1984The Cowra BreakoutDoctorMiniseries
Special SquadCharlie EverettEpisode 14: "Slow Attack"
Queen of the RoadAl 'Herpie' GravesTV movie
1985Hector's BunyipErnest SlaterTV movie
1987Great Expectations: The Untold StoryUncle PumblechookTV movie
The Petrov AffairBilly WentworthMiniseries, 2 episodes

Theatre

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As performer

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Year Title Role Type Ref.
1951Doctor's JoyProfessor PurgeMelbourne Little Theatre[7]
ShipwreckHeynorick[8]
Larger Than LifeButler[9]
1952The Happiest Days of Your LifeHeadmasterArrow Theatre, Melbourne[10]
1953The CriticMr Sneer[11]
The Flashing StreamRear-Admiral Sir George HelstonMelbourne Little Theatre[12]
1956As Long As They're HappyThe Father[13]
1957Little by Little
1959An Italian Straw Hat
1960The Long and the Short and the Tall
1961AnastasiaBoris ChernovAlbert Hall, Brisbane with Brisbane Repertory Theatre[14]
1962Twelfth NightSir Andrew AguecheekCaboolture[15]
1963The CaretakerDaviesBrisbane Arts Theatre[16][17]
1965LutherLuther[16][17]
1968The JudgeDr WaggonSt Martins Theatre, Melbourne[18]
The Living RoomFather James Browne[19]
1969Hadrian VIICardinal BersteinHer Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's[20]
1970A Rum Do!The Rev. Samuel MarsdenSGIO Theatre, Brisbane with QTC (Royal Performance)
Philadelphia, Here I Come!Australian tour with QTC[21]
1972Richard IISir John Bushy / Head GardenerTheatre Royal, Hobart
1975Semi-DetachedMarian St Theatre, Sydney
The Touch of SilkIndependent Theatre, Sydney
1980Shut Your Eyes and Think of EnglandMr RubinsteinHer Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne[22]
1991The Cherry OrchardFaersSuncorp Theatre, Brisbane with QTC[23]
The Crucible
1992The Marriage of FigaroAntonio[24]

As crew

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Year Title Role Type Ref.
1961The Multi-Coloured UmbrellaDesignerBrisbane Arts Theatre
1964Summer SolsticeProducer
1965Private Ear & Public EyeDirector[17]
1967Breakfast with JuliaDirector[17]
1971CrackersProducerSt Martins Theatre, Melbourne[25]

[26]

References

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  1. ↑ Probate notice, Brian Percy Moll, Sunshine Coast Daily, 23 August 2013
  2. ↑ TV Times (East Coast Edition). 8 February 1975. p. 13.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Topfer, Suellen (4 November 1989). "Tangled in the Chains of Office". TV Week via Facebook. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  4. ↑ Australian Horror Films, 1973–2010. McFarland. 2012. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-7864-8993-0.
  5. ↑ "Brian Moll". Theatre Heritage Australia. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  6. ↑ "3rd AACTA Awards Year in Review". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  7. ↑ "Capable Handling of Moliere Comedy". The Age via National Library of Australia. 29 December 1951. p. 3. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  8. ↑ "Shipwreck is Vivid, Macabre". The Age via National Library of Australia. 3 January 1951. p. 4. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  9. ↑ "Larger Than Life". The Advocate via National Library of Australia. 9 August 1951. p. 14. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  10. ↑ "Hilarious Comedy Ends Series". The Age via National Library of Australia. 22 December 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  11. ↑ Symmons, Darrell (14 November 1953). "Brilliant Sheridan last Arrow show". The Sun News-Pictorial via National Library of Australia. p. 15. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  12. ↑ Symmons, Darrell (21 May 1953). "The Flashing Stream". The Advocate via National Library of Australia. p. 18. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  13. ↑ "...and to the Little Theatre: Laughter Amid the Tears". The Argus via National Library of Australia. 24 December 1956. p. 4. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  14. ↑ "Anastasia". La Boite Theatre Company.
  15. ↑ "Caboolture Youth See Twelfth Night". North Coast and Stanley District News via National Library of Australia. 28 June 1962. p. 4. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  16. 1 2 "The Judge". Theatregold. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Performance Archive". www.artstheatre.com.
  18. ↑ Weiniger, Peter (4 October 1968). "Entertainment". The Australian Jewish News via National Library of Australia. p. 24. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  19. ↑ "The Living Room". Theatregold.
  20. ↑ "Hadrian VII (1969)". Theatre Heritage Australia. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  21. ↑ "Sydney season for puppets". The Canberra Times via National Library of Australia. 6 August 1970. p. 23. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  22. ↑ "Yes, shut your eyes". The Australian Jewish News via National Library of Australia. 16 May 1980. p. 22. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  23. ↑ "The Cherry Orchard". Theatregold. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  24. ↑ "Royal Queensland theatre company – 1992 Annual report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2024.
  25. ↑ "St. Martin's". The Australian Jewish News via National Library of Australia. 31 December 1971. p. 30. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  26. ↑ "Brian Moll". AusStage.
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