Paul Cronin | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1938-07-08)8 July 1938 Jamestown, South Australia,[1] Australia |
| Died | 13 September 2019(2019-09-13) (aged 81) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Known for | |
| Spouse | [1] |
| Children | 4 |
Paul Cronin (8 July 1938 – 13 September 2019)[2] was an Australian actor who played roles in the Australian television seriesMatlock Police andThe Sullivans. He won theSilver Logie for Best Actor five times, including three years consecutively from 1978, the most awarded actor in Australia, alongsideMartin Sacks.[3]
As a young man Cronin moved toMelbourne where he worked in a variety of jobs. After actively seeking an acting career, he performed in variousCrawford Productions includingDivision 4 andHomicide. Cronin appeared as motorcycle policeman Gary Hogan in the Crawford Productions dramaMatlock Police (1971–1976), followed by its spin-offSolo One (1976). He played the central character of Dave Sullivan in the popular soap operaThe Sullivans from 1976 to 1983.
In 1986 Cronin led a consortium withChristopher Skase which was awarded the inaugural licence for theBrisbane Bears in the then-Victorian Football League. He was president of the club from 1987-1989.
Cronin was born on 8 July 1938 inJamestown, South Australia, and grew up in a farming family.[4] After leaving school, Cronin became a farmer himself. He married Helen Kinnear in 1959. The couple had four daughters: twins Katherine and Jane, followed by Susanne and Juliana.[1][5] Cronin was educated atRostrevor College.[6]
As an athlete he had participated in the1958 Commonwealth Games competing in the four x 100m relay.[7] He was a state runner and also a champion gymnast.[8][9]
Cronin eventually moved toMelbourne where he worked as a truck driver and a draftsman.[9] It was at this time that he acted in variousCrawford Productions includingDivision 4 andHomicide.[8]
His wife Helen Margaret Kinnear died in 2013.[8][10]
After playing several small roles, in 1971, Cronin appeared as motorcycle policeman Gary Hogan in the Crawford Productions dramaMatlock Police (1971–1976).[4] After that series ended he continued the role in the spin-offSolo One (1976), a series continuing Hogan's motorcycle police officer exploits.[11][7]
AfterMatlock Police came the central character of Dave Sullivan, a family patriarch in the soap operaThe Sullivans.[7] He worked inThe Sullivans from 1976 to 1983.[4] The role as Dave Sullivan won him five SilverLogies.
In the 1980s he appeared in a series of television advertisements againstdrunk driving with a tagline question "Would you let a friend drive home if he's had too much to drink?".[9]
In 1998 Cronin replacedChannel Nine voice-over manPete Smith as the alternative co-host on radio3AW'sNightline andRemember When programs.[12]
In 2008, he was the host of the fourth series ofDiscover Downunder, which explores the caravan and camping industry in Australia. It was first aired onNetwork Ten, then theNine Network.[12]
Cronin had a strong interest inAustralian rules football.[4] In 1986 he led a consortium with Christopher Skase which was awarded the inaugural licence for the Brisbane Bears in the then-Victorian Football League (VFL). The club's creation was a major step in the Victorian league becoming the nationalAustralian Football League. He was president of the club from 1987-1989.[13][14][15]
He was a member of the Patrons Council of theEpilepsy Foundation of Victoria.[16]
He won theSilver Logie for best actor five times, including three years consecutively from 1978, making him the equal most awarded actor in Australia, alongside Martin Sacks.[3] In 1980, he was given the title of the "King of Moomba", a community festival celebrated in Melbourne.[9][17]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Division 4 | Const. Thompson / Constable Pryor / Groomsman / Crime car squad detective / Detective / Constable / Arson squad detective / Const. Baker | 8 episodes[18] |
| 1970 | Homicide | Const. Parker / Det. Evans / Constable 1 | 3 episodes[8] |
| 1971-1976 | Matlock Police | Sen. Const. Gary Hogan | 228 episodes[8] |
| 1976 | Solo One | 13 episodes[7] | |
| 1976-1983 | The Sullivans | Dave Sullivan | 1077 episodes[8] |
| 1984 | Matthew and Son | Matthew Caine | TV movie[7] |
| 1987 | A Place to Call Home | Bob Jakes | TV movie[7] |
| 1987 | The Daryl Somers Show | Himself | 1 episode[7] |
| 1990 | The Flying Doctors | Jock Weatherhead | Episode: "A Place Where You Belong"[8] |
| 1990 | The Far Country | [7] | |
| 1991 | Burke's Backyard | Himself - Celebrity Gardener | 1 episode |
| 1993 | The Late Show | Dave Sullivan | 1 episode[7] |
| 1995 | Frontline | Lloyd Walsh | Episode: "Give 'em Enough Rope"[19] |
| 1997 | State Coroner | Ted Ames | Episode: "Starting with a Bang"[20](final appearance) |
| 2006 | Temptation | Himself | Episode: "Superchallenge: Heat 1" |
| 2008 | The Hollowmen | Himself | Episode: "Vulnerable to Attack"[21] |
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