Terry Norris (actor)


Terence Richard Norris is an Australian stage, television and film actor, and politician. As an actor, he has starred in TV shows such as Bellbird & Cop Shop, and in films like Romulus, My Father, and Paper Planes. He interrupted his show business career for 10 years with a stint serving in state politics, for the Labor Party with the Victorian Legislative Assembly.

Early life

Norris was born in Melbourne to a boilermaker.

Acting career

Theatre

He started his career In the 1950s and early 1960s when he worked as an actor in England, appearing in repertory theatre in Bradford, Huddersfield and York among other places, before returning to Australia in 1963, he has performed in numerous theatre roles and is also a playwright

Television

He is possibly best known for two long-running television series roles. He played Joe Turner in Bellbird from 1969 until the series ended in 1977. He then played Senior sergeant Eric O'Reilly in police series Cop Shop starting December 1977. Norris has also appeared in the television series Bobby Dazzler and The Last of the Australians.

Film

His most recent film roles are in Romulus, My Father in 2007, in 2010, Paper Planes and Looking for Grace both in 2015, and Mortal Engines in 2018.

Political career

Norris left Cop Shop in 1980 to pursue a career in state politics by standing for a seat in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. He was the Australian Labor Party member for Noble Park from 1982 to 1985 and then for Dandenong from 1985 to 1992.

Awards

Norris is married to English-born Australian actress Julia Blake, both received the Equity Ensemble Awards, Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 and is the father of actresses Sarah Norris and Jane Norris.

Filmography