George Leonard Wallace

For other people named George Wallace, see George Wallace (disambiguation).

George Wallace Jnr
Born
George Leonard Wallace

16 May 1918
Walkerston, Queensland, Australia
Died30 September 1968(1968-09-30) (aged 50)
Southport, Queensland, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • television personality
Parents

George Leonard Wallace known as George Wallace Jnr (16 May 1918 – 30 September 1968), was an Australian comedian, vaudevillian, and television personality.[1]

The son of George Stephenson Wallace, he became a famous comedian in his own right, having considerable success on television in the late 1950s and 1960s, winning Logie Awards in 1963 and 1964.[2]

Wallace's television show, Theatre Royal, which originated in Brisbane, won six consecutive Logie Awards from 1962 to 1967.[2][3]

Early and personal life

Wallace was born in Walkerston, Queensland to comedian George Stevenson "Onkus" Wallace and Margarita Edith Emma, née Nicholas,[4] and first appeared on stage aged three in Sydney with his father.[1] Wallace married Marjorie Bruce-Clarke on 10 January 1945 at St Philip's Church of England, Sydney.

Wallace died of cerebrovascular disease on 30 September 1968 at Southport, Queensland.[1]

Professional career

Wallace worked the Tivoli circuit in Australia and New Zealand.[1] On 27 December 1948 Wallace started at the Theatre Royal in Brisbane, a ten-week engagement extended to a decade; his four thousand performances at the Royal in revue and pantomime were considered at the time to be a world record for a comedian.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Wallace, George Leonard (1918–1968)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  2. ^ a b "1962–1965 Logie Awards". Australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  3. ^ "1966–1969 Logie Awards". Australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Wallace, George Stevenson (1895–1960)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.