Australian entertainer Stuart Wagstaff dies aged 90
ABC News
March 10, 2015
Australian entertainer Stuart Wagstaff, famous for various television and theatre roles including My Fair Lady and the theatrical production of The Sound of Music, has died aged 90.
The legendary entertainer whose multi-faceted career was a pinnacle in the Australian landscape of theatre, television and music passed away peacefully at Sydney's Greenwich Hospital.
Wagstaff first came to Australia in 1958 to appear in the JC Williamson production, Not in the Book, after a successful early career in England which spanned weekly tours, a couple of West End appearances, some film and television.
In 1959, JC Williamson cast Wagstaff in the original production of My Fair Lady. He eventually played the male lead in the stage musical The Sound of Music.
Wagstaff also featured in a string of television productions including Channel 10's Blankety Blanks.
He held the role of the "Beast" in the the Channel 7 show Beauty & The Beast and presented seven seasons of the ABC's Stuart Wagstaff's World Playhouse.
Wagstaff also featured in television shows G.P, Rafferty's Rules, A Country Practice, All Saints and others as well as appearing as a regular on Midday and Good Morning Australia.
The prolific entertainer also enjoyed stints in Hollywood working in film and television.
More recently, he appeared in the role of Old Cookson in the theatrical production of Pan at the Capitol Theatre, as well as taking on the role of Mr Bronlow in Cameron Mackintosh's production of Oliver!
He was awarded a member of the Order of Australia in 1998 for his service to the community.
His management agency said details about his memorial service would be released soon.
[pictured above with Peter Graves in Whiplash]
WAGSTAFF, Stuart
Born: 2/13/1925, Great Dunford, Wiltshire, England
Died: 3/10/2015, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Stuart Wagstaff’s western – actor:
Whiplash (TV) – 1960 (Jeremy/Jimmy Quicksilver, Lieutenant Hoffman)