Jack Thompson, AM (born John Hadley Pain; 31 August 1940) is an Australian award-winning actor, who is a major figure of Australian cinema, particularly Australian New Wave.
1960
After working in an agricultural lab, Thompson at the age of 20, joined the army in 1960 so that he could earn a science degree.
1963
He enrolled at the University of Queensland in 1963 and transferred to an arts degree, performing in theatre at night, including the Twelfth Night Theatre and UQ Dramatic Society in Brisbane.
His talent was nurtured and developed at the Producers Authors Composers and Talent (PACT) Centre.
1968
He appeared on stage in The Devils in 1968.
Thompson decided to take acting seriously, giving himself twelve months to make a go of it.
His TV career began with the soap opera Motel (1968), and subsequently he had guest appearances on numerous serials including Riptide, Woobinda, Animal Doctor, Skippy, The Rovers, Division 4, Homicide and Matlock Police.
Thompson made his film debut in That Lady from Peking in 1968, while his first lead role was in TV movie Silo 15 (filmed in 1969 and released in 1971).
1969
He also appeared in a documentary short Personnel, or People? (1969), directed by Donald Crombie.
1971
Thompson took the lead role in spy drama series Spyforce (1971–73), playing the role of Erskine who did missions in World War II.
He continued to guest star on shows such as Over There, Matlock Police (again), Ryan, Boney and Elephant Boy.
He had a key support role in Wake in Fright in 1971, and received excellent reviews for his performance in one of the stories in Libido in 1973, with his segment written by David Williamson, and starred in TV movie Linehau also in 1973.
1974
He is best known as a lead actor in several acclaimed Australian films, including such classics as Petersen in 1974, Sunday Too Far Away in 1975, The Club in 1980 and The Man from Snowy River (1982)
He guest starred on The Evil Touch and Homicide again; he also appeared in Marijuana: Possession and the Law (1974).
Thompson became an Australian film star playing the title role in Petersen (1974), written by Williamson and directed by Tim Burstall.
The film was a success at the box office.
He did a TV movie Human Target (1974), then starred in another highly acclaimed Australian film, Sunday Too Far Away (1975), playing a shearer.
1975
Thompson played the title role in Scobie Malone (1975), based on the Jon Cleary novel Helga's Web.
It was produced by American Casey Robinson who said, "Jack Thompson is a great part of my reason to become involved in this venture. I have no doubt whatsoever that when this film is seen overseas he'll be turned instantly into an international star. There aren't many male actors like him around any more. There's something there that reminds me very much of Bogart."
The film was a failure at the box office.
He did an episode of Armchair Theatre shot in Australia, "Tully".
1976
Thompson had a support role in Caddie (1976), directed by Crombie, which was a big success.
Thompson had become nationally famous playing "macho" type roles.
"I think it reflects its time so accurately," he said later.
"There was a preoccupation with the macho Australian male, it's a thing that had to be examined or purged in film."
Thompson then deliberately decided to take character parts, out of a fear of typecasting and "also an understanding that unless I could get out of that target area, then I wouldn't be allowed to be seen as an actor."
He guest starred in an episode of Luke's Kingdom and played the second lead in Mad Dog Morgan (1976) with Dennis Hopper.
1978
He took some time off to work on a script with his brother then had a key support role in The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978).
He supported imported stars Karen Black and Keir Dullea in a TV movie shot in Australia, Because He's My Friend (1978).
1979
Thompson returned to acting after another break to play the lead role in a sex comedy, The Journalist (1979).
"I haven't made any films since then because I haven't liked the parts I've been offered, and also I've been too busy promoting the Australian film industry overseas", said Thompson at the time.
The film became a notorious flop.
2002
In 2002, he was made an honorary member of the Australian Cinematographers Society
Thompson won Cannes and AFI acting awards.
2005
He was the recipient of a Living Legend Award at the 2005 Inside Film Awards.
Born John Hadley Pain in Manly, a suburb of Sydney, Thompson was five years old when his mother Marjorie died, leaving his father Harold, [a purser for Qantas seconded to the RAAF during the war] unable to care for him and his brother, David.
He was sent to "LakeHouse orphanage" in Narrabeen by his aunt and subsequently adopted by the poet and ABC broadcaster John Thompson and his wife Pat, after which he changed his surname.
Jack is film reviewer Peter Thompson's adopted brother.
Thompson was educated at Sydney Boys High School.
He left school at 14, and became a jackaroo in the Northern Territory, as well as taking labouring jobs in New South Wales.
