James Smillie

For the American artist and his son, the engraver James Smillie, see James David Smillie.

James Smillie
Born (1944-11-28) 28 November 1944 (age 80)
Glasgow, Scotland
Other names
  • James Smillie
  • Jim Smillie
  • Jim Smilie
OccupationActor
Years active- present
Known forReturn to Eden as Dr. Dan Marshall
Prisoner as Steve Wilson

James Smillie, (born 28 November 1944), also credited variously as Jim Smillie and Jim Smilie, is a Scottish/Australian actor. He has worked in both Britain and Australia in film, extensively on stage, on television, with voice-over and animation work.

Smillie was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His parents emigrated to Australia in the early 1950s when Smillie was still a child. While his family remained there, Smillie returned to the United Kingdom to appear in stage roles in London's West End and would divide his time between the UK and Australia for several decades, working in various television shows, films and stage productions, and as a voice-over artist. On television, he is perhaps best remembered for the roles of lawyer Steve Wilson in Prisoner Cell Block H and Doctor Dan Marshall in the 1980s drama series Return to Eden.[1]

Career

Television and film

Smillie has appeared in films and television shows as featured actor and host. His television credits include Return to Eden, Prisoner: Cell Block H, Adventure Island, Space: 1999 the episode End of Eternity, Thriller, The Gentle Touch, Skin Deep, Comedy Playhouse, The Mackinnons, Red Dwarf and Highlander: The Series.

He has also made numerous appearances in a variety of light entertainment shows, including Highway (with Sir Harry Secombe), An Evening with Barry Humphries, the BBC series Battle of the Sexes, A Tribute to Robbie Burns (for Scottish television), Crackerjack, and hosted his own series I Like Music. He was also the original voice of Sky, voicing programmes there for over a decade.[2]

In film, Smillie has had small roles in International Velvet and Jaguar Lives!. In 2005, he appeared in two German-made films – Dark Ride and Rich Girl, Poor Girl. Most recently he has had parts in the films La Correspondenza (directed by Giuseppe Tornatore), Tommy's Honour (director Jason Connery), Romans (directed by The Shammasian Brothers) and Boyz in the Wood (director Ninian Doff).

Theatre

Smilie has appeared as a leading man on stage in both the UK and Australia.

On the London stage, he played Tony in West Side Story . The following years saw him playing leading men in a string of West End productions, notably: an Italian Lothario in Brian Clemens' whodunit Lover (Ambassadors Theatre); Henry II in Thomas and The King (Her Majesty's Theatre) music written by John Williams; Dr. Thomas Barnardo in Barnardo (Royalty Theatre); Nicos in Zorba; Georges in La Cage aux Folles (London Palladium); and also as Fred Graham in Kiss Me Kate (Royal Shakespeare Company, Savoy), George Bernard Shaw's Candida as the Reverend James Mavor Morrell.

Other stage roles include Orin in Eugene O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra, Chance Williams in Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth, Eilif in Mother Courage and Her Children, the lead in Tom Jones, Emile de Beque in South Pacific, and as Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music. Followed by his success as Mack Sennet in the 1996 London production of Mack & Mabel, Smilie recorded the part of Fred / Petruchio again in the full live production of Kiss Me, Kate for the BBC in London with the BBC Concert Orchestra.

1998–99 and 2000 saw Smillie touring in the UK Productions tour of 42nd Street, playing the lead role of producer Julian Marsh. In 2001, he returned to Australia to play Pastor Manders in Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts for the Perth International Arts Festival. In 2003, he returned to the UK to play Charles in Stephen Sondheim's Putting It Together at the Library Theatre in Manchester. This was followed in 2004 by Daddy Warbucks in a touring production of Annie with Su Pollard and Caesar in a Sadlers Wells Lost Musicals production of Harold Rome, Joshua Logan and S. N. Behrman's Fanny.

In 2005, Smillie returned to Australia for several years for personal reasons to care for his ageing mother and took a break from the business. His mother died in 2010 (his father died in the 1970s). On his return to the UK, he settled back in Glasgow, and has since appeared in stage productions at the Traverse Theatre, Oran Mor and the Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

Smillie also has a Royal Variety Performance to his credit.[3]

Radio

Smillie is also a regular radio and concert broadcaster for the BBC, particularly on the series Friday Night is Music Night, presenting special occasions such as Sondheim on the South Bank, An Evening with Cole Porter at the Royal Festival Hall, and as Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Barbican Centre.

Voiceover work

He is also a voice-over artist working in animation and on commercials, dubbing, audiovisuals, documentaries, and talking books.

Stage

Year Production Role Venue / Co.
1963 The Duenna Father Augustine / Maids, nuns, monks, masqueraders, servants Old Dolphin Theatre, Perth with Bankside Theatre Productions
1964 Hamlet New Fortune Theatre, Perth with Bankside Theatre Productions for Perth Festival
1964 Mourning Becomes Electra Orin Old Dolphin Theatre, Perth with GRADS Theatre Company
1968 Razza-Ma-Tazz (and All That Jazz) Constable Brian Buttons Southland Auditorium, Melbourne
1971 1776 South Carolina - Edward Rutledge Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Sydney with J.C. Williamson
1972 Sweet Bird of Youth Chance Wayne Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc
1972–73 West Side Story Tony Bristol Hippodrome & London
1973 Lover Bruno Varella Ambassadors Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford, Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, New Theatre, Hull, Wimbledon Theatre
1973 Zorba Nicos Greenwich Theatre, London
1974 Saint Joan Captain La Hire New Theatre Oxford
1975 Thomas and the King Henry II Her Majesty's Theatre, London
1980 Barnardo Dr. Thomas Barnardo Royalty Theatre, London
Mother Courage and Her Children Eilif
Tom Jones Tom Jones
1983 Royal Variety Performance Performer Theatre Royal, London
1984 South Pacific Emile de Beque His Majesty's Theatre, Perth with National Theatre Inc.
1987 La Cage au Folles Georges London Palladium
1987 Kiss Me, Kate Fred Graham The Old Vic, London for Savoy Theatre, London
1987 Mary Stuart Musician Assembly Hall, Edinburgh for Edinburgh International Festival
1993 Candida Reverend James Mavor Morrell Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Her Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen & UK tour
1995 Paradise Lost Satan St. George’s Cathedral, Perth
1996 The Sound of Music Captain von Trapp His Majesty's Theatre, Perth
1996 Mack & Mabel Mack Sennet London
1996 Kiss Me, Kate Fred Graham / Petruchio BBC with BBC Concert Orchestra
1996–97, 1999–2000 42nd Street Julian Marsh Theatre Royal, Bath with UK Productions
2001 Ghosts Pastor Manders Hole in Wall Theatre for Perth International Arts Festival
2001 Mack & Mabel Mack Sennet State Theatre at Victorian Arts Centre with The Production Company
2003 Putting It Together Charles Manchester Central Library
2003 Anyone Can Whistle Schub Bridewell Theatre, London with The Gryphon
2004 Annie Daddy Warbucks UK tour
Too Far Gone Aaron Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
2012 White Christmas General Waverley Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Scotland
2013 Marco Pantani: The Pirate Grandfather Tron Theatre, Òran Mór, Glasgow with A Play A Pie and a Pint
2014 Don Quixote Don Quixote Òran Mór, Glasgow with A Play A Pie and a Pint
2014 Miracle on 34th Street Kris Kringle Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Scotland
2015 Fanny Caesar Sadlers Wells Lost Musicals production

[4][5]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1967 Adventure Island Smiling Jim / Prince Charming TV series, 1 episode
1969 Good Morning Mr Doubleday TV series, 1 episode
1970 Delta Derek TV series, 1 episode
1971 Dynasty TV Interviewer TV series, 1 episode
1966–72 Homicide Various roles TV series, 5 episodes
1972 Dead of Night Keith Hopkirk TV series, episode: Bedtime
1969–73 Division 4 Various roles TV series, 8 episodes
1974 Dial M for Murder Larry Peters TV series, 1 episode
Z-Cars Roy Prentiss TV series, 1 episode
1975 Thriller Bob Mallory TV series, 1 episode
Wodehouse Playhouse Police Sergeant TV series, 1 episode
Space: 1999 Baxter TV series, 1 episode
1976 Jumbo Spencer Mr. Spencer (credited as Jim Smillie) TV series, 3 episodes
Battle of the Sexes Various roles (credited as James Smilie) TV series, 6 episodes
1977 The Tomorrow People Mike Harding TV series, 2 episodes
The Mackinnons James Grant TV series, 2 episodes
The Barry Humphries Show TV series, 1 episode
1978 Life at Stake Wayne Grant TV series, 1 episode
1979 Prisoner (aka Prisoner: Cell Block H) Steve Wilson TV series, 28 episodes
1980 The Gentle Touch Harry TV series, 1 episode
The Latchkey Children Malcolm McCrae TV series, 3 episodes
Metal Mickey Manager TV series, 1 episode
1981 Take a Letter, Mr. Jones Dr. Norton (credited as James Smilie) TV series, 1 episode
1983 Return to Eden Dr. Dan Marshall (credited as Jim Smilie) TV miniseries, 3 episodes
1984 Skin Deep Cliff Hudson TV film
Special Squad Donaghue TV series, episode 9: "Same Time Friday"
1985 Return to Eden Doctor Dan Marshall (credited as James Smillie) TV series, 22 episodes
1988 1987 Laurence Olivier Awards TV special
1990 The Word Mission TV series, 1 episode
1991 Red Dwarf Justice computer (voice) TV series, 1 episode
4 Play Maggot (voice) TV series, 1 episode
1994 Highlander John Bower TV series, 1 episode
1994 Red Dwarf: Smeg Ups Justice computer (voice) Video
2002 Always Greener Frank TV series, 1 episode
The Junction Boys Dwayne Hess TV film
2006 Final Contract: Death on Delivery [de] TV film
2006 Good Girl, Bad Girl TV film
2021 Star Wars: Battlefront Fan Cast Saesse Tiin TV series, 1 episode
2022 Doctor Who: The Sixth Doctor Adventures A.M (voice) TV series, 1 episode

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1978 International Velvet Commentator Feature film
1979 Jaguar Lives! Reardon Feature film
1983 Abra Cadabra Mr Pig (voice) Animated film
1993 Opéra imaginaire Narrator Animated film (English version)
2016 The Correspondence (aka La corrispondenza) Preside / Dean of Faculty Feature film
Tommy's Honour A.K.H. Boyd Feature film
Boyz in the Wood Duke 1 TV movie
2017 Romans (aka Retaliation) The Priest (Jimmy) Feature film
2019 Get Duked! Duke #1 Feature film
2023 The Man from Oghuz Vazir Imran Short film
TBA The Pleasures of the Damned Voice Short film (in post-production)

Podcast series

Year Title Role Notes
2020 Making the Cut: The (Mostly) True Story of a Retired Surgeon Father / Mr Maingot / Education Dept Secretary / British Man 2 Podcast
2021 Lady Christina John Flint Podcast, 1 episode
2021 Missy Alfredo Podcast, 1 episode
2023 Folktown Narrator Podcast, 4 episodes
Once Upon a Time in Zombieville Voom Buckstop / Dr Smillie Podcast, BBC

Video game

Year Title Role Notes
2022 Vox Machinae Hands Video game
2024 Goblin Stone Narrator Video game

Awards and nominations

Year Category Award Result
2019 Gold Podcast Award –Children's Radio Series (3 series as Voom BuckStop / Dr Smillie) Podcast Awards Won
2021 Best Indie Game – Narrator Devgamm! Won
2021 Best Demo Reel – Character One Voice Awards Won
2021 Best Character Voice Vox Awards Won
2032 Best Performance – TV Promo One Voice Awards Won
2022 Best Visual Advertising Campaign Vox Awards Won
2022 Vox Judges' Choice Award Vox Awards Won
2022 Best Male Voice Performance Vox Awards Won
2022 Voiceover of the Year Vox Awards Won
2023 Best Male Performance – Gaming One Voice Awards Won
2023 Best Male Performance – Radio Commercials One Voice Awards Won
2023 Voiceover Artist of the Year (Male) One Voice Awards Won

[6]

References

  1. ^ Super Aussie Soaps, Andrew Mercado, p 243, 2004, ISBN 1-86403-191-3, accessed January 2008
  2. ^ Sky TV Advertisement, 1990. YouTube.
  3. ^ "Performances :: 1983, London Theatre Royal | Royal Variety Charity".
  4. ^ "AusStage".
  5. ^ "James Smillie | Diamond".
  6. ^ "Soho Voices - James Smillie - Voice over artist".