Paul Smith (Australian actor)
Paul Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1968 (age 57–58) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation | Former actor |
| Years active | 1982–1995 |
| Known for | Hey Dad...!, The Henderson Kids |
Paul Bernard Smith (born 1968) is an Australian former actor, who started his career as a child actor.[1]
He is best known for starring as Steve Henderson in the Network Ten children's drama The Henderson Kids and for originating the role of Simon Kelly in the Seven Network sitcom Hey Dad...![2][3]
Smith also starred in the 1982 film Fighting Back.[4]
Career
Smith began his acting career at the age of 12. He had to finish his schooling, including his HSC, with private tutors, before he quit to concentrate on acting.[5] Smith's first role was playing a juvenile delinquent in the 1982 film Fighting Back.[5] Throughout the 1980's, Smith appeared in a number of television shows and films, including Platypus Cove, The Fire in the Stone, Waterloo Station, Boy in the Bush, Crime of the Decade, and The Cowra Breakout.[5][6][7][8]
Smith starred in a two-part episode of A Country Practice called "Repairing The Damage" as a glue-sniffing addict. The episodes were later re-screened by Seven due to popular demand.[5]
In 1985, Smith was cast as 15-year-old "easy-going" Steve Henderson in the Crawfords-produced The Henderson Kids on Network Ten..[5][2] He turned down a role in Mad Max 3 to join the series which followed Steve and his sister Tamara, played by Nadine Garner, who are sent to the country to live with their uncle following the death of their mother.[5][7] Smith found Steve to be more fun to play than some of his previous roles. He also enjoyed developing a good working relationship with Garner, and they became like brother and sister on the set.[5] He reprised the role for The Henderson Kids II.[9]
In 1986, Henderson was cast in the role of Simon Kelly in the Seven Network sitcom Hey Dad..!. He left the show after just one year, with Christopher Mayer taking over the role. He later said he left Hey Dad..! after "a big row with the producer."[10]
Filmography
Film
- Fighting Back (1982) as Tom Goodwood
- Platypus Cove (1983) as Jim Mason
Television
- Waterloo Station (1983) as Joey Daniels
- Boy in the Bush (TV miniseries) (1984) as Lennie
- The Fire in the Stone (TV movie) (1984) as Ernie Ryan
- The Cowra Breakout (TV miniseries) (1984) as Bob Davidson
- Crime of the Decade (TV movie) (1984) as Rolly
- A Country Practice (1984) as Andy
- The Henderson Kids (1985) as Steve Henderson
- The Henderson Kids II (1987) as Steve Henderson
- Hey Dad..! (1987) as Simon Kelly
- Mission: Impossible (1988) as Tim
- The Private War of Lucinda Smith (TV movie) (1990) as Private Reed
- Police Rescue (1991) as Wilson
- G.P. (1992) as Davo
Legal issues
On 24 July 1991, Smith was sentenced in Parramatta District Court to 18 months weekend detention after pleading guilty to 18 dishonesty charges, having admitted to using false names to defraud and embezzle $57,000 to satisfy his gambling addiction.[11]
Smith said he had booked himself into the Wisteria House Rehabilitation Centre in August 1990 after he found himself gambling compulsively having had trouble coping with the sudden success of his acting career.[10]
References
- ^ Bone, Pamela (28 May 1987). "Hard work and little pay for most child actors". The Age. p. 42. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
Paul Smith, whose first role was a juvenile delinquent in Fighting Back when he was 12, at 18 has a string of credits to his name
- ^ a b Hooks, Barbara (1 May 1985). "Young pupils please headmaster Hardy". The Age. p. 2. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
'The Henderson Kids' stars Paul Smith and Nadine Garner as a brother and sister...
- ^ Lee Lewes, Jacqueline (20 April 1986). "'Hey Dad!' it's on: Widow brings up three children". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 41. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
Paul Smith is 17-year-old Simon...
- ^ Weiniger, Peter (19 March 1983). "How young rebel Paul became Tom, the star of 'Fighting Back'". The Age. p. 125. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Burfitt, John (1 June 1985). "'Angry' Paul cools down". TV Week. p. 73.
- ^ Lee Lewes, Jacqueline (8 January 1984). "I'm seeing 0/28 and loving it..." The Sun-Herald. p. 48. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
The other films are...Platypus Cove...Stars Tony Barry, Carmen Duncan, Bill Kerr, Simone Buchanan, Paul Smith...
- ^ a b Lamont, Leonie (5 May 1985). "'Kid stuff' gets into prime time". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 71. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
Paul Smith, 16, turned down a role in Mad Max III to take the part of Steve in The Henderson Kids... Paul is a veteran having appeared in shows such as Crime of the Century, Cowra Breakout and the film Fighting Back
- ^ Morris, Jill (20 June 1985). "Literary gem now a cinema sparkler". The Age. p. 36. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
In the film, Ernie is played by Paul Smith, who has since been seen in The Henderson Kids. Smith was only 15, and a third year student at Parramatta High when the film was being made in Adelaide.
- ^ Bone, Pamela (4 June 1987). "The Hendersons come to town". The Age. p. 36. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ^ a b Allison, Col (21 June 1991). "Actor stole for gambling habit". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 9. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
He left 'Hey Dad..!' under a cloud, after what he terms 'a big row with the producer'...
- ^ Allison, Col (25 July 1991). "Weekend jail for gambling TV actor". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 6. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
External links
- Paul Smith at IMDb