Steven John Peter Spears (22 January 1951 – 16 October 2007) was an Australian playwright, actor, writer and singer. His most famous work was The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin (1976). He was cited as "one of Australia's most celebrated playwrights".
Life and career Spears was born in Adelaide, South Australia on 22 January 1951 and, after his parents separated when he was very young, grew up with relatives in the suburb of Mile End. He studied law at the University of Adelaide, but through writing and performing student revues, was distracted into a career in the theatre. Spears moved to Sydney in the 1970s. In his own words, he was a "born-again Sydney-sider". He had some screen acting experience, including fifteen episodes as Vicki Stafford's unprincipled nephew Roger in The Box in 1975.
Spears died from brain cancer in Aldinga, South Australia, on 16 October 2007, at the age of 56.
Writing
Plays Year Title 1974 Africa: A Savage Musical 1975 People Keep Giving Me Things 1975 Roaring Boy 1975 There Were Giants in Those Days 1975 Young Mo (or The Resuscitation of the Little Prince Who Couldn't Laugh as Performed by Young Mo at the Height of the Great Depression of 1929). About Australian comedian Roy "Mo" Rene 1976 The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin 1976 When They Send Me Three and Fourpence 1978 The Death of George Reeves 1978 King Richard 1980 The Time of the Bodgie 1983 Froggie 1988 Glory 1992 Namatjira Park 1995 A Little Theatre 1995 The Dance Angelic
Television Year Title A Country Practice Hey Dad..! 1991-93 All Together Now Neighbours E Street G.P. Heartbreak High 1996-98 The Genie From Down UnderIMDb filmography for "Steve J. Spears" accessed 20 March 2011 (including the first episode "Wishing and Hoping") The Greatest Tune on Earth 2001-02 Fairy Tale Police Department Gloria's House 1995 Sky Trackers
Books Year Title Notes 1990 The Big Wish Co-written with John Hepworth. Published by Puffin (1990) 1989 In Search of the Bodgie An "anti-memoir" 2004 Murder at the Fortnight Detective novel planned as the first of a 13 part series, The Pentangeli Papers, but only one more, Innocent Murders (2006) was published before Spears' death.
Acting work
Television Year Title Role Type 1981 A Country Practice TV series 1988 Hey Dad! TV series 1989 G.P. TV series 1997-98 Magic Mountain Lion (voice) TV series 2004 Heartbreak High TV series
Film Year Title Role Type 1979 Temperament Unsuited Mark Short film 1981 Mad Max 2 The Mechanic Feature film 1983 Going Down Trendy at party Feature film 1985 The Empty Beach Manny Feature film 1997 Those Dear Departed Dangerman Feature film 1988 Warm Nights on a Slow Moving Train Singer Feature film 1989 Afraid to Dance Garage Man Feature film
Stage Year Title Role Ref 1981 The Rocky Horror Show Eddie / Dr Scott
References
External links
Penelope Debelle, Obituary, The Age, 22 October 2007, p. 11 Picture of Spears in his University of Adelaide years