Gerry Connolly (comedian)

For the US federal politician, see Gerry Connolly.

Gerry Connolly
Born
Gerald William Connolly

(1957-11-15) 15 November 1957 (age 67)
Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
Occupation(s)Actor, writer
Years active1980−present
Notable workFast Forward (1989)
The Real Macaw (1998)
The Gerry Connolly Show (1988)

Gerald William Connolly (born 15 November 1957) is an Australian comedian, actor, impressionist and pianist. He is best known for his satirical caricatures of public figures such as former Queen of the United Kingdom Elizabeth II, King Charles III, Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Neville Wran, Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, John Howard, Bill Collins and Dame Joan Sutherland, among many others.

Early life

Connolly was born in Rockhampton, Queensland. He studied at, and subsequently graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane, with a Bachelor of Music.[1]

Career

Comedy

Connolly has gained much notoriety in Australia and the UK, having much success at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and Adelaide Comedy Festival with his hit one-man shows, including Gerry Connolly - Alone or with Others and I, CONnolly. In 1986, his live performances earned him the Wallace 'Comedian of the Year' Award. He has also made many TV appearances, including spots on Fast Forward, Live and Sweaty, Tonight Live with Steve Vizard, Hey Hey Its Saturday and Kath & Kim, as well as his own series, The Gerry Connolly Show.

Television

He played the Headmaster in ABC1's Dead Gorgeous. Connolly appeared as himself in the ninth episode of the 1998 Australia television series The Games (in which he impersonated Bob Hawke). In 2019, Connolly auditioned for Britain's Got Talent impersonating Queen Elizabeth II while roasting the judges.[2] He was eliminated in the 2nd semi-final.

Film

In 1993, Connolly featured in a dramatic role portraying former Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen in the ABC telemovie Joh's Jury. He also had the major role of Lou Rickets in the Australian family film The Real Macaw in 1998, and made a cameo appearance as Father Murphy in The Wog Boy.

Theatre

Connolly has also had a successful career in the theatre, working with such groups as the Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company and Belvoir St Theatre. He played the role of Mahoney in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s 1999 production of Arturo Ui, which earned him a nomination for a Green Room Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 2022 he played the role of Mr Paravicini in the Australian tour of The Mousetrap.[3]

Music

He has played piano with the Melbourne, Queensland and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, being featured in concerts televised across Australia and the UK.

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Type
1988 The Gerry Connolly Show Various characters TV series, 6 episodes
1992 Acropolis Now Larry ('Wheel of Language' Host) TV series, 1 episode
1990–92 Fast Forward Various characters / Queen Elizabeth II TV series, 53 episodes
Live and Sweaty TV series
Tonight Live with Steve Vizard TV series
Hey Hey Its Saturday TV series
1997 Australian Story Presenter TV series, 1 episode
1998 The Games Himself (as Bob Hawke) TV series, episode 9
1999 Dog's Head Bay Tony Du Clos TV series, 1 episode
2004 Kath & Kim Merrill Streep TV series, 1 episode
2007 Spicks and Specks Himself TV series, 1 episode
2010 Dead Gorgeous Headmaster Griffith TV series
2015 Open Slather Queen Elizabeth II TV series, 1 episode
2016 Fancy Boy Ian's Dad TV series, 1 episode
2018 Stage Mums TV series, 4 episodes
2019 Britain's Got Talent Contestant (impersonating Queen Elizabeth II) TV series (eliminated in 2nd semi-final)
2022 Irreverent Minister TV series, 1 episode

Film

Year Title Role Type
1992 Over the Hill Hank Feature film
1993 Joh's Jury (aka Police State) Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen TV movie
1993 A Royal Commission into the Australian Economy Bob Hawke / Prince Charles / Geoffrey Robertson / Queen Elizabeth II TV movie
1993 Camp Christmas Queen Elizabeth II TV movie
1995 The Search for Christmas Himself TV movie
1998 The Real Macaw Lou Rickets Feature film
2000 The Wog Boy Father Murphy Feature film
2000 The Magic Pudding Dobson Dorking (voice) Animated feature film
2012 Mystery of a Hansom Cab Reginald Valpy TV movie

Stage

Year Title Role Type
Gerry Connolly - Alone or with Others Himself Melbourne Comedy Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival
Different Things Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Pianomaniac Joh Bjelke-Petersen
1986 Two Boys and Two Girls Belvoir Street Theatre for Sydney Festival
1986 Going Bananas Comedian Ringwood Cultural Centre, Melbourne
1987 Men and Women of Australia Joh Bjelke-Petersen / various characters Melbourne Athenaeum for Melbourne International Comedy Festival
1988 Not the 1988 Party! Belvoir Street Theatre for Aboriginal National Theatre Trust
1989 Little Murders Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
1989 A Royale Commission Police Auditorium, Melbourne for Melbourne International Comedy Festival
1989 Gerrymander Joh and the Last Crusade Joh Bjelke-Petersen Basil Jones Theatre, Brisbane
1990 Once in a Lifetime Sydney Opera House with STC
1991 A Royal Commission into the Australian Economy Prime Minister Bob Hawke, The Queen Elizabeth II / Prince Charles / Geoffrey Robertson Universal Theatre, Melbourne for Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Space Theatre, Adelaide
1992 I, CONnolly - Icons and My Role in Their Demise Joh Bjelke-Petersen / various characters Fairfax Studio, Melbourne for Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Space Theatre, Adelaide
1993 The Grand Opening Galah Comedian Canberra Theatre with Comedy Summit
1993 The Grand Finale Galah Comedian Canberra Theatre with Comedy Summit
1993, 1996 A Night of Infectious Laughter Comedian Melbourne Athenaeum for Victorian AIDS Council
1995 Lady Windermere's Fan Mr Cecil Graham Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC
1996 Gala Re-Opening of the Regent Theatre Artistic Performer Regent Theatre, Melbourne
1998 Die Fledermaus Lyric Theatre, QPAC Brisbane with Opera Queensland
1998 The Marriage of Figaro Dr Bartholo, the Count's Doctor Playhouse, QPAC, Brisbane with QTC
1999 The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui Goodwill / Mahoney / Various characters Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
2001–03 The Pirates of Penzance Major-General Stanley Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Sydney Lyric, Canberra Theatre, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton, Mackay Showgrounds, Cairns Convention Centre, Townsville Convention Centre, Darwin Entertainment Centre, Melbourne Concert Hall, Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart with Essgee Entertainment
2002 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Opening Charity Gala Comedian Palais Theatre, Melbourne
2002 The Eighth Annual Duesburys Canberra Area Theatre Awards Actor Playhouse, Canberra
2004, 2006 Urinetown Caldwell B. Caldwell Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC, Sydney Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company
2005 Cyrano de Bergerac Subscriber / Priest Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC
2005 Summer Rain Harold Slocum Sydney Theatre with STC
2006 Tomfoolery Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC
2006 La Clique
2006 La Soirée Australia, New Zealand & UK tour
2008 Gala Southbank Theatre with MTC
2012 Richard Tognetti’s Festival Maribor Master of Ceremonies Slovenia with ACO
2012 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Marcus Lycus Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne with GFO
2012 La Clique Royale Queen Elizabeth II The Famous Spiegeltent, Edinburgh Fringe
2013–14 La Soirée Queen Elizabeth II Spiegeltent, Southbank for Brisbane Festival, Sydney Opera House
2014 Wuthering Heights Nelly Dean Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane with Shake & Stir Theatre Co
2015 Anything Goes The Captain Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane, Sydney Opera House with Opera Australia / GFO
Sydney Opera House: The Eighth Wonder Opera Australia
2016 The Opera Queen Elizabeth II Sydney Opera House
2018 Jive Cape Town Funny Festival Queen Elizabeth II Baxter Theatre, Cape Town
2019 PLEXUS: Phosphorescence Spoken voice Melbourne Recital Centre
2020 The Rise and Disguise of Elizabeth R Queen Elizabeth II / Prince Charles / Margaret Thatcher / various characters (also composer) Hayes Theatre Co
2021 The Variety Gala Festival Theatre, Adelaide with STCSA for Adelaide Cabaret Festival
2022–24 The Mousetrap Mr Paravicini Theatre Royal, Sydney, Playhouse, QPAC, Brisbane, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Newcastle Civic Theatre with Shake & Stir Theatre Co

[4]

Awards and nominations

Year Nominated work Award Category Result
1986 Gerry Connolly Wallace 'Comedian of the Year' Award Won
1999 Arturo Ui Green Room Award Best Supporting Actor Nominated
2004 Gerry Connolly Mo Award Male Comedy Performer of the Year Won

References

  1. ^ Northover, Kylie (22 May 2015). "Gerry Connolly laments the lack of flair in politicians today and is nuts about Cole Porter". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  2. ^ "'Lovely to see you Camilla!' Rude 'Queen' leaves talent show judges in stitches". Starts at 60. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Cast & Creatives". Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  4. ^ https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/3060