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Michael Caton

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Michael Caton
Caton in 2017
Born (1943-07-21) 21 July 1943 (age 81)
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, television presenter
Years active1969–present
SpouseHelen Esakoff

Michael Caton (born 21 July 1943) is an Australian actor, comedian and television host, best known for playing Uncle Harry in the Australian television series The Sullivans, Darryl Kerrigan in 1997's low-budget hit film The Castle, and Ted Taylor in the television series Packed to the Rafters.

Early life

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Caton was born in Monto, Queensland,[1] was educated in Gympie at St Patrick's College, a Boarding School, where he had his first experience as an actor, and then grew up in Woolloongabba, Brisbane.[2]

Media career

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Television

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In 1976, Caton starred as Uncle Harry Sullivan in the long running Channel 9 war family drama The Sullivans.

Caton starred in the Australian drama series Five Mile Creek from 1983 until 1985. He then appeared in the risqué 1990s soap opera Chances (in 1991 and 1992).

Since 1999, Caton has hosted two lifestyle programs – Hot Property and Hot Auctions – on the Seven Network until 2009, and Channel Nine since 2010.

In 2005, he was a contestant on the third series of the Australian version of Dancing with the Stars.

He was in the Channel 7 dramedy Packed to the Rafters, playing Ted Taylor, father of Julie Rafter, and grandfather to all the grandchildren and their partners.

Caton works with the Queensland rugby league team as 'cultural ambassador', a role which he inherited from deceased long-time team manager Dick Turner.[3]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1969 Skippy Young Man 1 episode (#3.83 El Toro)
1970 Division 4 Steve 1 episode (#69 The Man from Lightning Ridge)
1970–74 Homicide Bruce Perkins / Ambrose 2 episodes (#247 A Time for Grieving / No. 403 A Thing of the Past)
1974 Ryan Claude 1 episode (#1.37 Goodbye Holly Beckett)
1976 King's Men Joey Oslow 1 episode (#1.10 Public Enemy Number 1)
1976–77 The Sullivans Uncle Harry Sullivan 737 episodes
Holiday Island Charlie Watson TV series, 1 episode
1982–93 A Country Practice Max Grainger / Dwayne, Trev & Lennie Kerby / Clive Bradley / Malcolm Fellows 8 episodes
1983 The Weekly's War Les Haylen TV miniseries
1983–85 Five Mile Creek Paddy Malone 38 episodes
1987 The Flying Doctors Noel Farley 1 episode (#2.22 Every Day a Gift)
1988 Home and Away Barry Davenport 2 episodes (#1.61/#1.63)
1988 Hey Dad..! Chris Gordon 1 episode (#2.33 VW for Sale)
1991 Chances Bill Anderson
1993 Paradise Beach Ken Hayden 1 episode (#1.139)
1996 G.P. Michael Ree 1 episode (#8.7 New Confusions)
1997 Heartbreak High Barney 1 episode (#4.24)
1997 Blue Heelers Ken Norse 1 episode (#4.6 Fowl Play)
1998 Wildside Brian Savini 1 episode (#1.15)
1998 All Saints Bob Parkin 6 episodes
1999 Stingers Benny 1 episode (#1.11 Ten Feet Tall and Bullet Proof)
1999–current Hot Property / Hot Auctions Himself Host
1999 All-Star Squares Self Panellist
2000 The Track Voice over TV documentary
2001 Always Greener Jack 1 episode (#1.8 Dog Days)
2002 Dossa and Joe Joe Bailey 6 episodes
2002–03 Bad Cop, Bad Cop Detective Sergeant Red Lilywhite 8 episodes
2002 The Weakest Link Self Contestant – Celebrity Special episode
2003 The Fat Self 1 episode (#6.16)
2005 Dancing with the Stars Self 5 episodes, series 3
2006 How the Hell Did We Get Here? Self 2 episodes
2008–2013 Packed to the Rafters Ted Taylor 111 episodes
2018 Underbelly Files: Chopper Keith Read 2 episodes
2021 Back to the Rafters Ted Taylor 6 episodes

Film

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Year Film Role Notes
1972 Private Collection
1979 The Last of the Knucklemen Monk
1981 Hoodwink Shapley
1982 Fluteman Oswald Snaith
1982 Monkey Grip Clive
1986 Great Expectations, the Untold Story Travis TV movie
1988 The 13th Floor Dr Fletcher
1988 Joe Wilson Dave Regan TV mini-series
1990 The Paper Man Leonard Webb TV mini-series
1990 Shadows of the Heart Frank Barrett TV movie
1996 The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years Bill Masters TV movie
1997 The Castle Darryl Kerrigan
1998 Never Tell Me Never Max Shepherd TV movie
1998 13 Gantry Row Mr Hob TV movie
1998 The Echo of Thunder Bill Gadrey TV movie
1998 The Interview Barry Walls
2001 The Animal Dr Wilder
2004 Strange Bedfellows Ralph Williams
2015 Last Cab to Darwin Rex
2017 Three Summers Henry
2020 Rams Les

Stage

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Year Title Role Notes
1971 Hair Melbourne
1972 Jesus Christ Superstar Priest
1973 The Tooth of Crime Nimrod Theatre Company
1982 The Stripper Sheriff Lavers Sydney Theatre Company
2007–08 Priscilla Queen of the Desert - the Musical Bob

Discography

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Caton, playing the role of a Priest, is part of the Chorus singing on the original Australian cast recording of Jesus Christ Superstar, 1972.[4] He is the major voice talking in the background on John Paul Young's 1975 hit "Yesterday's Hero".[4][5] From Caton's role in the movie he sings on many tracks on Ed Kuepper – Last Cab to Darwin – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 2015.[4]

Accolades

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Honours

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Caton has been inducted into the Australian Film Walk of Fame in honour of his work in Australia's cinema and television industries.[6]

Caton's plaque at the Australian Film Walk of Fame, Ritz Cinema, Randwick, Sydney

Awards & nominations

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Year Association Category Nominated work Result
2007 Australian Film Institute Best Actor in a Television Drama The Castle Nominated
2011 Logie Awards Logie Award for Most Popular Actor Packed to the Rafters Won
2016 AACTA Awards Best Lead Actor Last Cab to Darwin Won

Personal life

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Caton is married to Helen Esakoff. His son Septimus narrates My Kitchen Rules and Robot Wars.[7]

References

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  1. ^ People: Michael Caton, Dimensions (ABC TV), 29 August 2002.
  2. ^ "Michael Caton and Jackie Trad discuss Woolloongabba 28 June 2016". State Library of Queensland. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2023.[dead link]
  3. ^ Masters, Roy (9 July 2011). "Maroons follow Tosser's advice to the letter". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  4. ^ a b c "Michael Caton". Discogs. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  5. ^ Apter, Jeff (2020). Friday on My Mind: the Life of George Young. Sydney: Allen and Unwin. pp. 161–162. ISBN 978-1-76087-510-7.
  6. ^ "Putting on the Ritz". Southern Courier. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  7. ^ Vagg, Stephen (18 August 2019). "Australian Movie Stars". Filmink.
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