Charles 'Bud' Tingwell has died age 86

[Elentari]

The voice of Dr Fawn:

Legendary Australian actor Charles "Bud" Tingwell had a script by his side in hospital and was learning his lines up until the end.

Tingwell, 86, died in a Melbourne hospital on Friday morning (15 May 09) after a battle with prostate cancer, surrounded by his son Christopher and daughter Virginia Tingwell, who is also an actor. Tingwell was a stalwart of the industry over almost seven decades, making a name for himself in London before building an "extraordinary career" in Australia.

Tingwell, who was nicknamed Bud even before his birth in Sydney in 1923, became the country's youngest radio announcer when working at 2CH in Sydney before going on to serve in Britain's Royal Air Force in World War II. After the war, his first speaking role was in 1946 in the film Smithy, about aviator Charles Kingsford Smith.

After a stint in Hollywood, Tingwell and his wife Audrey, who was his childhood sweetheart, lived in London from 1956 until the early 70s. She died in 1996. When returning to Australia in 1972 Tingwell went on to star in a number of TV shows including The Sullivans and The Flying Doctors. He was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame in 1994.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said, "Tingwell was in every sense an Australian legend. From old generations knowing him through Homicide and newer generations knowing him as the battlers' friend from The Castle. He is so much a part of the Australian character as it's been shaped and as it will evolve in the future. A great Australian and all Australians are sad to see his passing."

Agreed - he will be much missed.

[chrisbishop]

How odd to have had finished Doctor Fawn's biography just a few weeks ago, and to have discovered that Charles Tingwell had his own website and blog online... He was an actor of whom you often saw the faces in old movies, in various parts. For example, I saw him as a doctor in Africa in an old Tarzan movie a few years back. I knew he was still active as an actor. This is someone who really loved his art.

Thank you, Elentari for this nice elogy.

Rest in Peace, Bud Tingwell. You will be missed.

[Elentari]

The Victorian Premier Mr Brumby has offered the family a State Funeral and they have accepted. It will be held on Wednesday (Oz time).

[Elentari]

A report on the funeral:

Australian film and television legend Charles 'Bud' Tingwell has been farewelled with a State Funeral at St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne on Wed 20 May 09.

Some of the best known faces in Australian show business crammed the Cathedral, including Bert Newton, Jack Thompson, Brian Dawe and Bud's co-star in The Castle Michael Caton. Dignitaries included the Premier John Brumby, Federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett and Deputy Leader of the Federal Opposition Julie Bishop.

Actress Val Jellay payed tribute to Mr Tingwell at the funeral, saying Charles was known for his remarkable memory. "He had total recall," she says. "As my late husband Maurie Fields used to say about Bud's memory - 'he reminds elephants'."

Bud's brother Patrick spoke of how as a boy Bud would put on plays in the sitting room, with his brothers and friends as the audience. He says his brother was a thoughtful and caring person, exemplified by the letter Bud wrote him on his 13th birthday with advice for his teenage years.

His fellow Royal Australian Air Force pilot and friend Alf Payne recalled Tingwell risking his life flying over Europe during the war, becoming friends with Bob Hope and practising an American accent on US pilots. "To his Air Force mates Bud was a humble man, sensitive to other people's feelings," says Mr Payne. "Fame never altered him. He flew long range reconnaissance flights over Greece, the Balkans, Italy, the Adriatic,' he said. Flying unarmed spitfires was long, lonely and dangerous, requiring skilful piloting and very accurate navigation. Bud flew a large number of those trips ... he completed 75 operational sorties before returning to Australia in June 1945. He was a far better pilot than he ever led people to believe. More than half of his squadron died in the war but reunions were held for the survivors around Anzac Day every year, with Tingwell ringing the men without fail if he was overseas with acting commitments,” Mr Payne said.

Bud's son Christopher says that as a child, what impressed him about his father was not his acting career, but his time as a Spitfire pilot. "Dad's fame reached one of its several peaks, of course as the star of Homicide," says Christopher. "I think we took this in our stride, as did our friends - although we did occasionally endure acapella renditions of the Homicide theme music."

Bud's daughter Virginia Duckworth recalls how as he grew older her father became even more obsessed by television, and would watch any new or repeated Australian series, as well as Parliament and the National Press Club. "His all time favourite, though, was Sex in the City," she says.

Bud Tingwell made more than 140 film and television appearances in Australia, Britain and America, in a career spanning seven decades.

The service, while in most respects a traditional church funeral, had some dramatic flair in keeping with Bud's career. The first reading was not from the bible, but from Shakespeare. Actor Matt Newton read Hamlet's Speech to the Players.

At the end of the service as his coffin was taken back down the aisle, Bud was given one final heartfelt standing ovation.

Taken from several sources including ABC Melbourne & Telstra Big Pond News

[hazel]

Many thanks for that, Elentari.

What a fabulous, extraordinary send-off! I can't see that happening for a British actor, no matter how well known.

[Intensity Angel]

It is so sad to hear he has died, but at least we will all remember him. God bless Charles 'Bud' Tingwell.

[gojohnniegogo]

R.I.P.

[Parker Gabriel]

Ye'd want us ta celebrates yer life, Bud, not get all dew-eyed at yer death. Tell ye what: Why doesn't we drink a pint to ye at our local pubs?

Cheers, Bud. Yer missed.