Terry Norris (1930-2023), Australian actor, interviewed by Barry York in 1979

Terry Norris was born in Richmond, Melbourne, Australia, in 1930. He was well known as an Australian stage, radio, television and film actor - and politician. He is probably best remembered for roles in local TV shows, 'Bellbird' and 'Cop Shop'.

He was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly for the Australian Labor Party in 1982, and retired from parliament in 1992. His career in the film and television industries continued for another 30 years to 2022.

In July 1979, I recorded this interview with him for 'The Independent Australian' magazine which was supporting a campaign by actors for greater Australian content in film and television production. Terry Norris was a founder of this campaign.

I located the cassette of the interview, which took place at his home, while sorting through my old cassette tapes. I was surprised that it was still in good condition and decided to digitize it and share it via Youtube.

The interview is valuable as an historical record. Terry Norris's insights into television as an industry, the facts and figures of the industry at that time, the campaign for greater local content and the obstacles to it, and his historcial perspective, constitute a valuable primary source of information and impression.

Toward the end of the interview, he provides an overview of his career.

While being highly critical in the interview of television as a medium, he also expressed his appreciation of having never been out of work as an actor; something that continued for long after the interview was recorded.

Terry Norris died in March 2023, aged 92.

Видео Terry Norris (1930-2023), Australian actor, interviewed by Barry York in 1979 канала Barry York