Jack Thompson (actor)

John Hadley Thompson, AM (né Pain; born 31 August 1940) is an Australian actor and a major figure of Australian cinema, particularly Australian New Wave. He is best known for his role as a lead actor in several acclaimed Australian films, including such classics as The Club (1980), Sunday Too Far Away (1975), The Man from Snowy River (1982) and Petersen (1974). He won Cannes and AFI acting awards for the latter film.

In 2002, he was made an honorary member of the Australian Cinematographers Society, and was the recipient of a Living Legend Award at the 2005 Inside Film Awards.

Early life

Born John Hadley Pain in Manly, a suburb of Sydney, Thompson was three 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 Lake House orphanage in Narrabeen by his aunt and was 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, became a jackaroo in the Northern Territory, and took labouring jobs in New South Wales.

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.

Career

Theatre

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.