Bill Kerr

Bill Kerr (born 1922) is an actor.

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One of Australia's greatest Actors

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He was born in Cape Town, South Africa, but grew up in Australia.

Related Topics:
Cape Town - South Africa - Australia

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Bill was a child actor growing up in depression era Australia into a performing arts family. His first major role was in "The Silence of Dean Maitland", one of Australia's very first talking movies.

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After serving in the second world war, Bill Kerr moved to England to further his acting career.

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During the 1940s he was regularly featured in the BBC variety series Variety Bandbox. His catch phrase was "I'm only here for 4 minutes..."

Related Topics:
1940s - BBC - Variety Bandbox

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He is perhaps best known as a comic actor.

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In the 1950s he had a recurring role as a dim-witted Australian lodger named "Bill Kerr" in the BBC radio comedy series Hancock's Half Hour. Kerr's character might be seen as a forerunner of Manuel from Fawlty Towers, or Father Dougal McGuire from Father Ted.

Related Topics:
1950s - BBC - Radio - Hancock's Half Hour - Fawlty Towers - Father Dougal McGuire - Father Ted

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He has also performed serious roles, notably in the 1981 film Gallipoli; and in a 1968 episode of Doctor Who called The Enemy of the World, with Patrick Troughton.

Related Topics:
Gallipoli - 1968 - Doctor Who - The Enemy of the World - Patrick Troughton

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In the 80s, Bill moved back to his homeland where he found work in musicals such as My Fair Lady, often quoted as "one of the best Doolittle's EVER", and in various films and tv series.

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His projects overseas lead him to meet his current wife Sandra Kerr, in which they have a boy and a girl.

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Bill settled down in Perth WA with his family which is where he still resides. 2 of his sons Willie Kerr and Wilton Kerr are keeping up the family tradition and are involved in the performing arts in the Eastern States.

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