Norman Coburn
| Norman Coburn | |
|---|---|
| Born |
March 6, 1937 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation | Retired actor |
| Years active | 1958–2008 |
Norman Coburn (born 6 March 1937 in Sydney) is a retired Australian-born actor best known for his television serial and soap opera roles, he started his early career in theatre, film and television in the United Kingdom in the late 1950s, after quitting acting for some years and working as a restauranteur, he returned to Australia and became a staple of the small screen from the early 1980s until retiring in 2008. He remains best known both locally and internationally as Donald Fisher in Home and Away, from 1988 until 2003, he has reprised the character making brief sporadic returns from 2005 and 2008.
Biography
Career in the United Kingdom
Coburn trained with the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust in North Sydney, Australia, before travelling to Britain in the 1950s to pursue an acting career. He appeared in iconic British TV shows such as Dixon of Dock Green and Coronation Street.[1] He quit acting for a time and worked as a restaurateur in London and owned a vineyard in Cornwall in the 1970s.[2] However, he returned to acting and to Australia in the 1980s.
Home and Away - Donald Fisher
Coburn is best known for his portrayal of Donald Fisher, the principal of Summer Bay High School, in the Australian soap opera Home and Away. He appeared from the show's pilot episode in 1988 until 2003.[3] Coburn was featured in the Guinness World Records as the longest serving actor in an Australian serial, along with co-stars Ray Meagher and Kate Ritchie.[4] Since his departure from Home and Away, he has returned in consecutive guest appearances, the last being in 2007.[1]
Television in Australia
He has also appeared briefly as Fred Sykes in the Seven Network soap opera Sons and Daughters, and had guest appearances in The Young Doctors, Special Squad and A Country Practice.
Personal life
Coburn originally resided in Perth, and later Brisbane, Queensland. He currently resides on Stradbroke Island south of Brisbane, Queensland.
In 2014, 11 years after leaving Home and Away, he was featured in a photo shoot for New Idea, in a reunion with former cast members Nicolle Dickson who played his daughter Bobby, Ross Newton (Greg) and Ryan Clark who played his grandson Sam Marshall. He said he was still surprised that people still remember him as "Flathead" Fisher[5]
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1960 | A Circle of Deception | Carter | |
| 1961 | On the Fiddle | Uncredited | |
| 1965 | Tomorrow at Ten | Desk Man | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1958 | Dixon of Dock Green | Jimmy | 1 episode: A Whiff of Garlic |
| 1962 | The Ghost of Sonata | Coffin Bearer | Television film |
| Suspense | Ambulenceman | 1 episode: The Man in My Shoes | |
| The Andromeda Breakthrough | Crowd Extra | Uncredited; 1 episode: Gale Warning | |
| 1981 | A Step in the Right Direction | Television film | |
| 1982 | A Country Practice | Neville Roebuck | 2 episodes: Golden Fleece: Parts 1 & 2 |
| Sons and Daughters | Fred Sykes | ||
| 1915 | English P.O.W. | Mini-series | |
| 1983 | Five Mile Creek | Stage Coach Passenger | 1 episode: Making Tracks |
| 1984 | Special Squad | 1 episode: Counterfeit Lady | |
| 1988–2007 | Home and Away | Donald Fisher | Main role (1988–2003), guest star (2004, 2005 & 2007) |
| 2008 | The Hollowmen | Jeff | 1 episode: A Quiet January |
References
- 1 2 O'Leary, Abigail (4 May 2016). "What happened to the stars of Home and Away? From major Hollywood success to devastating tragedy". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ↑ "Wine hopes for UK". The Canberra Times. 21 July 1970. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ↑ Bellman, Annmaree (27 February 2003). "Preview". The Age. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ↑ Barnier, Linda (17 January 2003). "Channel surfing – The TV week". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ↑ Alicia Vrajlal (3 July 2014). "Home and Away reunion! Bobbi goes back the bay as Home And Away's original Fisher Family return to the shores of Palm Beach". Daily Mail. Retrieved 6 March 2015.