FED: Gordon Chater dies at 77

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-1999
FED: Gordon Chater dies at 77

SYDNEY, Dec 13 AAP - Veteran television and stage actor Gordon Chater died last night
on Queensland's Gold Coast, aged 77.

His agency Hilary Linford and Association said today the British-born actor, who was
a pioneer in the Australian television industry, had been unwell for some years but his
death still came as a shock to colleagues.

It is believed he was suffering from a respiratory illness and died in a Gold Coast hospital.

Chater appeared in the ground-breaking Mavis Bramston Show, My Name's McGooley, What's
Yours? and the Gordon Chater Show.

On stage, Chater's tour de force was The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin, which was
performed in London, Los Angeles and New York.

Other well known major performances included The Dresser and The Importance of Being Earnest.

"It's been a sad day for us all at the agency. Members of the press and his close friends
have been calling us wanting to know the news," the agency spokeswoman told AAP.

Chater was born in London in 1922 but settled in Australia just after World War Two
at the age of 24.

Earlier this year he was recognised in the Australia Day honours for his service to
the arts as an actor and to the welfare of the artistic community through the Actors'
Benevolent Fund, with a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia.

AAP bdm/sb/rsm/br

KEYWORD: CHATER

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