Ian Watkin passed away this week at age 76. The character actor and writer was a giant of the New Zealand screen big and small, and here at BehindTheFirstScene we revisit some of his most memorable characters.
Dr Rhyder of ground breaking drama “Pukemanu”. Set in a small North Island timber town, it was our first taste of seeing and hearing actors talk in their own (our own!) accents. But fellow cast mate Bruno Lawrence was cooking up something new, something crazy, and Watkin went along for the ride …
Bruno Lawrence Electric Revelation and Travelling Apparition or BLERTA.
A mad mix of musicians, actors, dancers and film makers who took their art directly to the people! Travelling for 4 years around NZ and Australia on a 1948 Leyland Tiger bus, the mayhem and magic led to a TV One commissioned show “Blerta” – watch the excellent documentary about it here – wild times!
Appearances in “Goodbye Pork Pie”, “Utu”and “Radio Times” kept him busy, but for many he was the hapless train guard in the epic 1975 Crunchie commercial – an iconic ad which ran for a record breaking 20 years.
In 1977 he teamed up with Bruno Lawrence and Geoff Murphy once more for “Wild Man”. Read the story about the making of the film here.
In 1977 he also managed to appear in Roger Donaldson thriller “Sleeping Dogs” playing Bullen, wife-stealer, turned guerilla revolutionary.
But perhaps he is most well known for his role as the avaricious Uncle Les in 1992 gory horror “Braindead” A cult classic and the beginning of young Peter Jackson’s career on the international stage.
To look back on the work of Ian Watkin is to take a tour of New Zealand film and television.
Thanks Mr Watkin for all your great work!
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Dear Reader, an earlier version of this story incorrectly named Ian Watkin’s first appearance on NZ television as being in the the gritty drama “Pukehama”. It was in fact “Pukemanu”.
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