David Weatherley(1939-2024)
- Actor
Educated at The Quintin School to 'O'level GCE standard. Left England for Canada in '56 and served 5 years in the Canadian Army (Provost Sgt.). Arrived in NZ '61 intending to join the NZ Army - unhappily a motorcycle accident finished that
idea. Started in amateur theatre '62, and became involved in Radio
Drama, TV and commercial voicing. Moved to Wellington '64 for the
Downstage production of Oh What a Lovely War, followed by a NZ tour of
the RSC's The Comedy of Errors, then a National tour of OWaLW. Lots of
Radio Drama - commercial voice work and a period singing folk songs in
coffee bars. In '67 I returned to Auckland to play Henry V at Central
Theatre, plus 5 more productions before joining the original company at
the Mercury Theatre, where I remained based for 20 years appearing in
about 120 productions, interspersed with: Performing at the NZ pavilion
at 'Expo 70 in Osaka. New Zealand Arts Council sponsored study trip to
London '80. Evita (Peron) NZ tour, then filming Jack Holborn for ZDF TV
(Munich) in Yugoslavia in '82. Evita (Peron) Brisbane '83, Honolulu
Auckland & Wellington'84; Sydney '89. Chess (Molokov): NZ tour '93,
Melboune '97; Ken Hill's Phantom (Mephistopheles & Persian
Prince)toured NZ '94. Hal Prince's Showboat Sydney (Vallon + understudy
Capt Andy) '98. Bryce Courtenay's The Potato Factory (Sir Jasper
Waterlow) TV Mini-series Ch 7 Sydney '98. Lord of the Rings (Barliman
Butterbur) '99. Oliver (Mr Bumble) Court Theatre Christchurch '05/'06.
PowerRangers (Spencer + voice of Benglo) '06/'07'. Plus lots of other
TV and film work. Won 2006 Best Actor at the Richmond Rd Short Film
Festival for Together. I am divorced and have 2 children. I am an
active Freemason - have been Master of my Lodge twice. I'm a Great
Priory Officer of the Knights Templar, and District Grand Chancellor in
the Order of the Secret Monitor. Also a Knight of Grace in the
non-masonic Order of St Lazarus (Jerusalem) and a Knight Commander in
the Order of St Stanislas (Poland).
