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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 14, 2012 - Page 11
Ian Turpie
Entertainer. November 6, 1943March 11, 2012
● Ian Turpie in his club act ■ One of the first things to happen at Friday night’s Go! Show Gold reunion concert on Friday, was for the entire crowd to send a rousing video message to Ian Turpie. ‘Turps’ was due to co-compere the show with Johnny Young, and appear with his early day TV colleagues including Robbie Burns (who deputised), Tony Worsley, Marcie Jones, Bobby Bright, MPD (Mike Brady and Danny Finley), Darryl Cotton, Dinah Lee, The Masters Apprentices, and Normie Rowe. Ian could not appear because of his illness. Little did we know he would pass away on Sunday (March 11). He was 68. Born in 1943, and a son on Ferntree Gully, he was a much loved Melbourne and Australian entertainer. Ian began his entertainment career at theage of 10, when he was accepted at the prestigious Hector Crawford Drama School and gained recognition as a juvenile actor working in radio and theatre. He starred in a number of radio programmes alongside Sir Robert Helpmann and June Bronhill, and featured in the top-rating radio series D24 . As a teenager he developed a passion for singing, songwriting and playing guitar. By the age of 16, Ian was a seasoned radio and stage performer, touring Australia in such hits as Peter Pan, Auntie Mame and Bye Bye Birdie. Little known is that Ian appeared in several National Theatre Productions including Shakespeare's Macbeth. He was an early boyfriend of Olivia Newton-John, with whom he starred in the 1965 Australian musical telefilm Funny Things Happen Down Under, Newton-John's debut performance. She described him as her “first love”. Television soon beckoned and Ian made appearances on Bandstand, Time For Terry, The Graham Kennedy Show, The Mike Walsh Show, The Bert Newton Show, A Guy Called Athol, the ABC variety series, Follie, and even played a bank robber in the debut episode of Homicide. He replaced Johnny O'Keefe as compare on Sing Sing Sing and was then chosen to host the top rating teenage variety show The Go!! Show. In the 1980s, Ian's name became
● Ian in Club Buggery
● With Olivia Newton-John synonymous with the catchphrase "Come On Down" when he became host of the highly successful game show The New Price is Right. This was followed by other game shows including Press Your Luck and Supermarket Sweep. In the 90's, Ian developed cult status following a regular, four-year stint as Club President on Roy and HG's Club Buggery. Here he exercised his musical and comedic talents covering songs like Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit and performing in skits like Turps About The House and Captain Ajax. His many accolades include a Logie for Best Light Entertainment show Turpie Tonight, a MO Award and two Penguin awards. He also appeared at many corporate events as an entertainer and MC and was a tireless worker for many charities. He was a Freemason. Ian described himself as a ‘golfing fanatic’. In 2004 the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission took legal action against Ian Turpie for misleading and deceptive conduct in breach of the Trade Practices Act. The ACCC alleged Turpie had made false claims in advertisements for an erectile dysfunction treatment spray from Australian Medical Institute. In 2005 Turpie pleaded guilty to drink driving after driving in Manly, NSW, with a blood alcohol level of 0.08. He had his driver’s licence suspended for six months however this was overturned on appeal. When questioned about the incident outside the courtroom Turpie stated: "I'm sorry that I was so stupid because it's a big thing, drink-driving, you won't be seeing me here again." In February last year it was announced that Turpie had been diagnosed with cancer. He nonetheless cocompered the 2011 Go! Show Gold reunion concert. After an intensive course of chemotherapy, and resumed hosting his popular trivia nights at Sydney metropolitan hotels. Turpie had been married to his wife Jan for over 35 years and has three children and three grandchildren. Ian Turpie will be remembered as one of Australia’s most professional and easy-going celebrities.
GRAPHIC: GO! SHOW GOLD PROGRAM 2012 DESIGNED BY VISIBLE INK/DOMINIC BARBUTO
● First episode of Homicide