Wikipedia

Richard Meikle

Richard Meikle (10 October 1929 – 2 June 1991) was an Australian actor who worked extensively in radio, theatre, and television, (TV movies and guest in serials[1]), He was the father of screenwriter and director Sam Meikle and he also worked in England.[1]

Richard Meikle
Born(1929-10-10)10 October 1929
Died2 June 1991(1991-06-02) (aged 61)
Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
OccupationActor
Spouses
  • ​
    (m. 1955)​
  • Helen Millicent Madgwick
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1968)​
Children5, including Sam Meikle

Career

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Meikle began his career as a stage actor. His first recorded role was in the Metropolitan Theatre's 1947 production of Ned Kelly. He also appeared in Shakespearean roles including Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Twelfth Night.[2]

In the 1950s, Meikle moved into radio acting, most prominently with Grace Gibson Productions. He landed many major roles with the company, as both an actor and an announcer. Meikle was included in Reg James' list of his favourite Grace Gibson performances, for his starring role alongside John Unicomb in the serial Becket.[3] Meikle's ability to perform his own sound effects, saw him highly sought after, as Grace Gibson Productions' budget did not cover a professional sound effects person. He would often compete for rights to do sound effects with his co-stars Ron Roberts and James Condon.[4]

In 1959, Meikle was cast alongside Gregory Peck as London-based spy Guy Marriott, Stanley Kramer's in Melbourne-filmed anti-nuclear love story On the Beach.

1966 produced several roles for Meikle. He had the dual role of Mickey Higgens and narrator (reading the opening credits) in The Shame of Sefton Ridge, an adaptation of Hamilton Basso's novel The View from Pompey's Head. He also played Paul Kruger in Phillip Mann drama The Red Gardenia, as well as reading the end credits of a few episodes. Another major role in the 1960s was as Logan Berkeley in Ross Napier's adaptation of the novel Borrasca. Borrasca was another example of Grace Gibson using Meikle as an announcer.

The early 1970s also proved to be a busy time for Meikle, with Grace Gibson and Crawford Productions TV series. He had another actor/announcer job in the form of Ross Napier's So Help Me God in 1970, where he read the credits for each episode and played criminal Toby Laird. Meikle had starring roles in the 1971 shows I Killed Grace Random and I, Christopher Macaulay, where he played copywriter Curtis Miller and the titular character respectively.

As local television production started to become more prevalent, Meikle began to branch out in the late 1970s. He appeared in several television movies, including Harvest of Hate, where he replaced Sir Robert Helpmann in the role of vineyard owner John Camden.[5][6] In 1976, Meikle had a major role as Martin Gruman in the one hour pilot episode of the television drama Bluey.

In 1982, Meikle returned to Grace Gibson Productions, joining the cast of the company's most popular serial, The Castlereagh Line, playing Jim Holly.

Personal life

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Meikle was the son of Leslie Meikle, an engineer, and Alma May Meikle (née Milsted).[7][full citation needed] Meikle married twice, firstly in 1955 to Lola Edna Brooks, an actress, with whom he had a son. He married again in 1968, to Helen Millicent Madgwick, by whom he had another four children.

Meikle died in Gosford, New South Wales, on 2 June 1991.[1]

Filmography

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Television

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YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1957A Fourth for BridgeTV play
The Importance of Being EarnestAlgernon MoncrieffTV play[8]
In the ZoneTV play
1960ITV Play of the WeekLindsey StoneEpisode: "The Night of the Big Heat"[6]
1961No Hiding PlaceArthur WolfEpisode: "The Long Stretch"[6]
WhiplashPecos DenversEpisode: "Episode in Bathurst"[9]
A Night OutGidneyTV play
1962The Taming of the ShrewTranioTV play[10]
The PatriotsW. H. MooreMiniseries[11]
1963Prelude to HarvestCaptain CollinsTV play[12]
1965The AffairDonald HowardTV play
My Brother JackDud Rosevear1 episode[13][14]
1966Australian PlayhouseNicholasEpisode 3: "The Air-Conditioned Author"[15]
1967ContrabanditsSam KodiakEpisode: "Target, Smokehouse"
Love and WarEpisode: "Serjeant Musgrave's Dance"
1968The Battlers
HunterPhan LinEpisode: "Brain Storm"
1968–1969I've Married A BachelorGuru Chanderadas2 episodes
1969RiptideAlex KolonisEpisode: "Good Friday Island"
DeltaBill PrescottEpisode: "The Devil Take the Blue Tongue Fly"
Woobinda, Animal DoctorEpisode: "No Love for Theodore"
1969–1973Division 4Gil Williamson / Ian Taylor / James Marshall8 episodes
1970The RoversProfessor AndersonEpisode: "A Present for Jenny"
1972Barrier ReefJoe FrancisEpisode: "The Speckled Stone Fish"
HomicideBarringtonEpisode: "From the Top"
CatwalkChristopher KemperEpisode: "Try Anything Twice"
The Prince and the PauperVoiceTV movie (animated)
1973The Count of Monte CristoVoiceTV movie (animated)
The Three MusketeersVoiceTV movie (animated)
1972–1976Matlock PoliceRoy 'Tiger' Donovan / Neil Thomas / Norman West3 episodes
1973Certain WomenGeorge Lindsay6 episodes
1976BlueyMartin GrumanEpisode: "The First Bloody Day"
The Young DoctorsLes Bradley1 episode
Silent Night, Holy NightTV movie[16]
1977Dot and the KangarooJack the Farmhand (voice)TV movie (animated)
Also casting director		[17]
Glenview HighMichael WilsonEpisode: "Quiet Nights and Silent Deaths"
1978The Restless YearsSenator Ross Lindsay26 episodes
Chopper SquadGeorge DeaconEpisode: "8:52 A.M."
1979Harvest of HateJohn CamdenTV movie[6]
The Little ConvictSergeant Bully Langton (voice)TV movie (animated)
Also casting director & production manager		[18]
Cop ShopFrank Dobson4 episodes
1982–1987A Country PracticeFred Murray / Arthur Ryan / Jim Higgins6 episodes
1983Who Killed Baby Azaria?Coroner GalvinTV movie
Scales of JusticePremier Russell CooperEpisode: "The Numbers"[19]
1984The Last BastionGeneral VaseyMiniseries
1985The Pickwick PapersVoiceTV movie (animated)[20]
The Adventures of Robin HoodVoiceTV movie (animated)[21]
The Man in the Iron MaskVoiceTV movie (animated)[22]
Stock SquadMcCabeTV movie
RobberyMajor GeneralTV movie
Sons and DaughtersColonel Gerrard Bainbridge5 episodes
1986KidnappedVoiceTV movie (animated)
The Hunchback of Notre DameVoiceTV movie (animated)
1988The Dirtwater DynastyMr. J. JamesMiniseries, 1 episode
1990Home and AwayParamedic1 episode

Film

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YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1958This Land AustraliaShort film
1959On the BeachDavis[6]
1974Moving On
1981Doctors and NursesThe President
1984For Love or MoneyHimselfDocumentary film[6]

Radio

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YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1954Starlight TheatreSerial[23]
The Western TrailSerial[24]
Fat ManSerial[25]
1955The King of Friday's MenOwen FeniganSerial[26]
1958Radio CabScott SullivanSerial[23]
ChickenEverettABC play[27]
1959Not to be TakenSteven Davies (original voice)
1960sPray for a Brave HeartSerial[23]
The Big FishermanSerial[28][23]
1962Sara DaneIrish rebel convict
1963The RobeMarcellus GallioSerial[23]
1964Too Young to DieLarry Gates
Pray for a Brave Heart
1965The Tilsit InheritanceJimSerial[23]
BecketKing Henry IISerial[23]
Requiem for Paul JasonEric MillgateSerial[23]
1966The Red GardeniaPaul Kruger / AnnouncerSerial
The Shame of Sefton RidgeMickey Higgens / Announcer
1967The Sinners of SonomaRobby BarrowSerial[23]
1968BorrascaLogan Berkeley
KinkheadWarren Butler
UndercoverGuy Marriott
1970So Help Me GodToby Laird / Announcer
1971I Killed Grace RandomCurtis Miller / Announcer
1972I, Christopher MacaulayChristopher MacaulaySerial[23]
1979Alladyce and the Holy ViragoSerial on ABC Radio Sydney[2]
The Great God Mogadon[2]
The Maitland and Morpeth String Quartet[2]
The Fire on the Snow[2]
Kookaburra[2]
1982The Castlereagh LineJim Holly / William HollySerial
Crisis PointNarratorSerial[23]
The Silent WitnessLes Callaghan / End CreditsSerial
Step into Deep WatersLeslie GalvinSerial[23]
Old TimesDeeley

Theatre

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YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1947Ned KellyMackinMetropolitan Theatre, Sydney[2]
HamletLaertes[2]
1948; 1950A Midsummer Night's DreamDemetreusMetropolitan Theatre, Sydney, Killara Soldiers Memorial Hall, Sydney[2]
1949Twelfth Night[2]
The Story of Madeleine SmithEmileKillara Soldiers Memorial Hall, Sydney with Kuring-gai Theatre Guild[2]
A Marriage of ConvenienceIndependent Theatre, Sydney[2]
1950Raymond, Lord of MilanEzzelinMetropolitan Theatre, Sydney[2]
1951You Never Can TellMetropolitan Theatre, Sydney, Independent Theatre, Sydney[2]
1952Worm's Eye ViewTheatre Royal, Adelaide, Savoy Theatre, Wollongong, Crystal Theatre, Broken Hill[2]
1953ColumbeJulienIndependent Theatre, Sydney[2]
Anne of the Thousand Days[2]
The Apple Cart[2]
His Excellency[2]
Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme[2]
1954Captain Brassbound's Conversion[2]
1954–1955Dear CharlesWalter, Denise's elder sonComedy Theatre, Melbourne, Theatre Royal Sydney, Theatre Royal, Adelaide with J. C. Williamson's[2][29]
1956The Boy FriendGendarmeElizabethan Theatre, Sydney, Theatre Royal, Adelaide with J. C. Williamson's[2][30]
1957Come Back, Little ShebaIndependent Theatre, Sydney[2]
1962The Caretaker[2]
Daughter of Silence[2]
1964OverruledSt James' Hall, Sydney, Grace Brothers Auditorium, Sydney with The AETT[2]
The Zoo StoryGestyPalace Theatre, Sydney with AETT & Old Tote Theatre Company[2][31]
1968Sarah and the SaxAMP Theatrette, Sydney with AETT & Old Tote Theatre Company[2]
1977The FatherThe CaptainUNSW Old Tote Parade Theatre, Sydney[2]
Caesar and CleopatraJulius CaesarSydney Opera House with Old Tote Theatre Company[2]
Wild OatsSir GeorgeYork Theatre, Sydney with Old Tote Theatre Company[2]
1989CurtainsNorthside Theatre, Sydney[2]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 "Actor played full range of roles on screen and stage". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 June 1991. Retrieved 9 October 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 "Richard Meikle". AusStage. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  3. ↑ James, Reg (2015). A Theatre in my Mind. Fremantle, Western Australia: Vivid Publishing. p. 55. ISBN 978-1-925341-34-8.
  4. ↑ James, Reg (2015). A Theatre in my Mind. Fremantle, Western Australia: Vivid Publishing. p. 60. ISBN 978-1-925341-34-8.
  5. ↑ "Harvest of Hate". OzMovies. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Richard Meikle | BFI". British Film Institute. Retrieved 9 October 2020.[dead link]
  7. ↑ New South Wales Electoral Rolls
  8. ↑ "Whiplash: episode guide". ABC Weekly. 18 December 1957. Retrieved 12 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ "Whiplash: episode guide". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  10. ↑ Vagg, Stephen. "Forgotten Australian TV plays: Tartuffe and The Taming of the Shrew". FilmInk. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  11. ↑ "The Patriots – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  12. ↑ Vagg, Stephen. "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: Prelude to Harvest". FilmInk. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  13. ↑ "My Brother Jack – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  14. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (22 January 2022). "Forgotten Australian Mini-series: My Brother Jack". FilmInk. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  15. ↑ Vagg, Stephen. "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: Point of Departure and Man of Destiny". FilmInk. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  16. ↑ "Silent Night, Holy Night – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  17. ↑ "Dot and the Kangaroo (1977)". Australian Screen. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  18. ↑ "The Little Convict – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  19. ↑ "Scales of Justice: episode guide". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  20. ↑ "Pickwick Papers – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  21. ↑ "The Adventures of Robin Hood – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  22. ↑ "The Man in the Iron Mask – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Australian radio series (1930s–1970s)" (PDF). National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  24. ↑ "The Western Trail". www.australianotr.com. 19 July 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  25. ↑ "Fat Man – (Australian)". www.australianotr.com. 19 July 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  26. ↑ "Radio Plays for Next Week". ABC Weekly. Vol. 17, no. 43. 29 October 1955. Retrieved 12 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ↑ "ABC Radio Plays for Next Week: Chicken". ABC Weekly. Vol. 20, no. 4. 22 January 1958. Retrieved 12 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ↑ "THE RACY RADIO SERIALS THAT SHOCKED AUSTRALIA NOW ON CD". www.dailynightly.co.uk. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  29. ↑ "Dear Charles – 2". Theatregold. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  30. ↑ "The Boy Friend – 2". Theatregold. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  31. ↑ "Richard Meikle as Gesty in The Zoo Story". National Library of Australia / Trove. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
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