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Alister Smart
Australian television director, actor and presenter From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Alister Smart (born 1935)[1][2] also credited as Alastair Smart,[3] is an Australian retired television presenter, actor, television director and screenwriter. A staple of the small screen, he appeared in productions in England, before returning to Australia, and had roles in television plays, telefilms and soap opera/serials with numerous credits from the late 1950s until the mid-1990s.
Smart is best known for his extended role as a presenter on the children's TV series Play School spanning from 1966 to 1993. He is also recognized for his appearances with fellow members of Play School, including Don Spencer[1] on tie-in records released for ABC Music, as well as in audiobooks.[1][4][5] As a presenter on Play School he had one of the longest stints on television in Australia, co-hosting alongside Spencer, Lorraine Bayly, Benita Collings, John Hamblin, Noni Hazlehurst, John Waters, Philip Quast and Anne Haddy.[4]
In addition to his presenting work, Smart made significant contributions as a television director. He directed 88 episodes of soap opera Sons and Daughters and, briefly, four episodes of the police procedural series Blue Heelers.
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Career
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Actor
Smart started his career in local theatre in 1957, and continued working in stage drama throughout his life. His theatre roles include Shakespeare's Macbeth, King Henry V and a tour of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. [6]
In the early 1960s, Smart expanded his career to television in England, where he appeared in televised plays. He performed in anthology series including ITV Play of the Week and Comedy Playhouse, as well as serials like Emergency Ward 10. In the latter part of the 1960s he returned to Australia,[1] where he appeared in guest roles in soap operas and made-for-television movies. His credits in Australia included You Can't See 'round Corners, Homicide. Division 4, The Sullivans and Cop Shop. Smart had a prominent role as a new character, journalist Duncan Hunter, in the film adaptation of Number 96.[7] Smart later appeared in the original series the film was based on, playing Frank Hobson in Number 96 in 1976.
Television director
Smart pursued a career in directing both movies and TV series from the early 1970s until his retirement in 1994. His directorial work included notable projects such as Scattergood: Friend of All, Sons and Daughters, Richmond Hill, Prisoner and Blue Heelers.[8][9][10]
Television presenter
Smart is known for his role as a presenter on the long-running children's TV program Play School, the Australian adaptation of the original British version of the same title. Smart made his first appearance in the debut episode in 1966, and continued in this role for 27 years until he retired in 1993. During his tenure, he hosted alongside other original cast members including Diane Dorgan (1966), Donald Mcdonald, Kerry Francis, Anne Haddy (1966-1969), and Lorraine Bayly (1966-1978).[5]
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Personal life
Smart grew up in Nowra, New South Wales and was married to actress Margery Milne, whom he sometimes acted alongside. He currently resides in East Gippsland, Victoria. [11]
Filmography
Film
Television
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Director
Film
Television
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References
External links
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