Ernest Alfred Bourne[3] (1 August 1926 – 21 January 2009) was an English Australian actor, entertainer, comedian and puppeteer, whose career locally spanned 50 years, having started his career in theatre in his native England, he becamme known for his regular roles in theatre and television in Australia, particularly in character roles, Bourne was probably best known locally and internationally for his role as prison chef Mervin Pringle, in the TV series Prisoner and as mechanic Rob Lewis in Neighbours
Bourne was born in Dorset, England and raised in Yeovil, Somerset where his mother ran a boarding house following the early death of his father. Leaving school and home at the age of 14, Bourne worked in a cafe before joining the British Merchant Navy during World War II, where he became interested in acting after appearing in a pantomime, he would appear regularly in English pantomime and in many stage productions in Bristol, before migrating to Australia.[2]
He emigrated to Australia in 1952, initially settling in Geelong joining the Geelong Musical Comedy Company, he appeared in numerous stage roles starting from 1955[4] and later moving to Melbourne. In the 1960s, he was loved (and booed) as a series of pantomime-style villains on Australian television such as Sir Jasper Crookley (in Magic Circle Club), and multiple similar baddies in Adventure Island including Sir Cedric Sneak, Captain Crook, Chummy Chums and Miser Meanie's sidekick Fester Fumble.
Throughout the early-to-mid 1970s he was a staple of Crawford Productions police dramas in a variety of character roles. In the 1980s he played prison chef Mervin Pringle in Prisoner (having earlier played two other minor roles) and garage mechanic Rob Lewis in Neighbours.
He also appeared in a series of television commercials for a retail sportsgear outlet (Sportsmart) as an older man (playing golf and tennis) who is perpetually laughed at by a young blonde man for spending too much money on his gear elsewhere. He has a daughter Sally Bourne who is also an actress and is best known for appearing in the musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Bourne was married to Claire Bourne (formerly Smith) and he died on 21 January 2009, aged 82, at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.[1]
ernie, bourne, ernest, alfred, bourne, august, 1926, january, 2009, english, australian, actor, entertainer, comedian, puppeteer, whose, career, locally, spanned, years, having, started, career, theatre, native, england, becamme, known, regular, roles, theatre. Ernest Alfred Bourne 3 1 August 1926 21 January 2009 was an English Australian actor entertainer comedian and puppeteer whose career locally spanned 50 years having started his career in theatre in his native England he becamme known for his regular roles in theatre and television in Australia particularly in character roles Bourne was probably best known locally and internationally for his role as prison chef Mervin Pringle in the TV series Prisoner and as mechanic Rob Lewis in NeighboursErnie BourneBornErnest Alfred Bourne 1926 08 01 1 August 1926Dorset EnglandDied21 January 2009 2009 01 21 aged 82 1 Prahran Victoria AustraliaOccupationsActorentertainercomedianpuppeteerYears active1945 1952 England 1952 1955 2005 Australia 2 Contents 1 Biography 2 Filmography selected 3 External links 4 ReferencesBiography EditBourne was born in Dorset England and raised in Yeovil Somerset where his mother ran a boarding house following the early death of his father Leaving school and home at the age of 14 Bourne worked in a cafe before joining the British Merchant Navy during World War II where he became interested in acting after appearing in a pantomime he would appear regularly in English pantomime and in many stage productions in Bristol before migrating to Australia 2 He emigrated to Australia in 1952 initially settling in Geelong joining the Geelong Musical Comedy Company he appeared in numerous stage roles starting from 1955 4 and later moving to Melbourne In the 1960s he was loved and booed as a series of pantomime style villains on Australian television such as Sir Jasper Crookley in Magic Circle Club and multiple similar baddies in Adventure Island including Sir Cedric Sneak Captain Crook Chummy Chums and Miser Meanie s sidekick Fester Fumble Throughout the early to mid 1970s he was a staple of Crawford Productions police dramas in a variety of character roles In the 1980s he played prison chef Mervin Pringle in Prisoner having earlier played two other minor roles and garage mechanic Rob Lewis in Neighbours He also appeared in a series of television commercials for a retail sportsgear outlet Sportsmart as an older man playing golf and tennis who is perpetually laughed at by a young blonde man for spending too much money on his gear elsewhere He has a daughter Sally Bourne who is also an actress and is best known for appearing in the musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber Bourne was married to Claire Bourne formerly Smith and he died on 21 January 2009 aged 82 at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne 1 Filmography selected EditYear Title Role1960 You Too Can Have A Body unknown1964 Consider Your Verdict John Drummond1964 The Road TV movie 1964 Under Stress film short 1965 The Magic Circle Club TV series Sir Jasper Crookley1967 Hey You TV series Major Hugh T Worthington1967 Adventure Island TV series Fester Fumble Flower Potts Miser Meanie1969 Good Morning Mister Double Day TV series Bentley1969 Sounds Like Us TV series Fester Fumble1973 Gully James1973 1974 Ryan TV series Ned Robbins Meechum1974 It s Magic TV series 1975 Dick Down Under TV series Barman1975 Cash and Company TV series Joshua Henry Biggs1970 1975 Division 4 TV series 6 roles Shaky MillerHarry JackWillie EvansJohn HylandGeorge Mitchellparking officer1972 1975 Matlock Police TV series 6 roles JimAndy HillFred HarrisGeorge TurnerCol CameronDumpy1970 1976 Homicide 9 character roles Albert CankerMarcos MitrakisMatthew ClarkeDudley RobertsGeorge StevensGeorge HodgesWilliam Poker Face MartinFreddy KnightCaretaker Faye1976 The Sullivans University Lecturer1977 The Picture Show Man Bookmaker1976 1977 Bluey Davies Timms1978 Bobby Dazzler TV series Seymour1978 Against the Wind TV mini series Surgeon Beyer1980 Sams Luck TV series Benno1980 Young Ramsey TV series Blowfly1980 The Last Outlaw TV mini series Gloster1981 Grendel Grendel Grendel voice artist1977 1981 Cop Shop TV series Various roles1982 Squizzy Taylor Barber1982 Lonely Hearts Man in Toilet1983 All the Rivers Run Boat Builder1984 Infinity Limited TV series Bernie1984 Carson s Law TV series Barney Tibbs1979 1981 1985 1986 Prisoner Dr Crewe Peter Hope Mervin Pringle 75 episodes 1987 1989 Neighbours Rob Lewis 90 episodes 1991 All Together Now TV serial Andy Williams fan1993 Skytrackers Mr Krauss1996 Mercury TV series Claude Cartwright1998 Good Guys Bad Guys TV series AlfieZinsinger1999 Thunderstone TV series Pohl2003 Blue Heelers Stan ButterworthExternal links EditErnie Bourne at IMDbReferences Edit a b Vale Ernie Bourne TV Tonight a b Giles Nigel Final bravo for an old stager The Age 20 February 2009 Many faces of an entertainment legend The Sydney Morning Herald 20 February 2009 Ernie Bourne ausstage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ernie Bourne amp oldid 1122766304, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
