Richard Moir

Richard Moir (born 1950) is an Australian former actor and editor.

Moir initially began his career as a film editor for low-budget 1970s Australian films and TV series, many of which were the work of director Esben Storm. He struck up a friendship with Storm that was instrumental in kick-starting his acting career.^[1] Moir was also a film assistant for Four Corners and later worked as a reporter for A Current Affair before he transitioned to acting.^[2]

Moir first became known for his role in the TV soap opera Prisoner (also known as Prisoner: Cell Block H) as the original character of electrician Eddie Cook.^[2]

Moir is also well known for playing 'Dad' Tony Twist in the first two seasons of children's comedy Round the Twist for 26 episodes, from 1989 to 1992, before Andrew Gilbert took over the role for the final two seasons.^[3] From 1993 to 1999, he played the regular role of Sergeant Clive O'Connor in crime drama series Law of the Land.^[4][5]

Moir appeared in several miniseries, including Players in the Gallery (1980)^[6] and 1915 (1982).^[7] The latter was a big budget Logie Award-winning production, based on the novel by Roger McDonald, in which he was part of the ensemble cast which included Sigrid Thornton.^[8] He also had roles in The Last Bastion (1984),^[9] Land of Hope (1985)^[10] and The Challenge (1986–1987),^[11] the latter, a retelling of Australia's win in the 1983 America’s Cup sailing race, in which Moir appeared alongside Nicholas Hammond and Lorraine Bayly.^[12] Further miniseries included The Fremantle Conspiracy (1988),^[13] Bodysurfer (1989)^[14] and Ring of Scorpio (1991).^[15]

Moir also had television guest roles in Kirby's Company (1977), Chopper Squad (1978),^[2] Cop Shop (1978–1980),^[16] The Sullivans (1980),^[16] Bellamy (1981), Carson's Law (1984), Special Squad (1984), A Country Practice (1984–1992),^[16] Winners (1985; 1990),^[17][18] Dolphin Cove (1989),^[19] Rafferty's Rules (1989),^[16] G.P. (1989)^[16] and Phoenix (1993).^[16]

Moir's film credits are also numerous, beginning in 1974 with 27A.^[20] In 1978, he starred as Tony, opposite Judy Morris, Bill Hunter and Chris Haywood in In Search of Anna.^[21][22] He went on to appear in The Odd Angry Shot (1979),^[2] The Chain Reaction (1980),^[23] Heatwave,^[24] Running on Empty,^[25] Going Down^[26] (all in 1982), With Prejudice (1983),^[27] and An Indecent Obsession (1985).^[28] In 1987, he had a starring role as Al the chef in Jilted, opposite Tina Bursill.^[29][30] He further appeared in Minnamurra (1989),^[31] Isabelle Eberhardt (1991),^[32] Welcome to Woop Woop^[33] and Joey (both 1997).^[34] He also appeared in made-for-television films.

In 2022, Moir made a return to acting when he appeared in the short film Not Dark Yet, playing a man deteriorating from Parkinson's Disease, made by his daughter, Bonnie.^[35][36]

Moir was married to actress Julie Nihill, with whom he shares two daughters, actress Lucy Moir and director Bonnie Moir.^[36]

In 1990, Moir was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. At first, he successfully hid his diagnosis, but when his speech started to become affected, the degenerative effects of the disease gradually brought his acting career to a premature end.^[1]

Moir later underwent deep brain stimulation therapy, a process covered by Esben Storm’s 2006 documentary The Bridge at Midnight Trembles.^[37][38] The short film Not Dark Yet, made by his filmmaker daughter Bonnie, also mirrors Moir's life. His portrayal of a role of a man deteriorating from Parkinson's disease was much praised.^[1]

• Richard Moir at IMDb