James Elliott Biography

James Elliott (11 June 1928 - 12 February 2011) was a British Australian radio, theatre, television and film actor and best known for his long-running role of Alf Sutcliffe an original character in the 1970s television soap opera Number 96.

Career

James Elliott was born in Glasgow, Scotland and was an original cast member of television soap opera Number 96 which premiered March 1972. The show became Australia's highest-rated television program in 1973 and 1974. Alf and his wife Lucy (Elisabeth Kirkby) were immigrants from Yorkshire, England and Alf was presented as an archetypal "whinging Pom" who complained constantly about Australia while proving himself incapable of holding down a job. He also endured Lucy's series of dramatic health concerns which included a breast cancer scare, blindness, and an unplanned pregnancy followed by a troubled birth, where he proved himself somewhat kind and understanding. In late 1973 the show had a feature film spin-off featuring much of the show's current cast, including both Elliott and Kirkby, reprising their television roles.

Prior to Number 96 Elliott who had emigrated from Scotland to Australia in 1949, had acted in Australian radio plays and serials, made several guest appearances in Australian television series including Consider Your Verdict and The Link Men, and he played Guildenstern in an Australian Broadcasting Corporation television production of the play Hamlet"?this production being the first Shakespearean drama produced on Australian television. Other Shakespearean roles included Capulet in Romeo and Juliet for the Sydney University Players, and a supporting role in an Australian Broadcasting Corporation television production of The Tempest. Elliott also had a role in the feature film Ned Kelly (1970).

Despite once describing the serial as "instant television", Elliot played in Number 96 continuously for almost four years. In October 1975 Alf and Lucy were written out of Number 96 as part of a drastic remodelling of the show in the wake of declining ratings. Elliott subsequently made guest appearances on Australian drama series such as Solo One (1976), Glenview High (1977), Chopper Squad (1978), played in three episodes of legal drama Case for the Defence (1978), and later appeared in an episode of crime drama Bellamy (1981). He also acted in feature films Summer City (1977), Money Movers (1978), Little Boy Lost (1978), Lady Stay Dead (1981), Brothers (1982).

Later television guest appearances include three episodes of medical drama All Saints, in 2001 and 2003.

Death

James Elliott died peacefully from Dementia with Lewy bodies disease on 12 February 2011. He was survived by two sons with his first wife Mary, and one son James Elliot Jnr by his second wife Elaine. He was honoured in the in memorial section of the Logie Awards in 2012