Graeme Blundell

Early years

Blundell was born in Melbourne; he grew up in Clifton Hill, a suburb of Melbourne. He was educated at University High School; Merrilands College, where he served as School Captain; and the University of Melbourne, where he studied Theatre and resided at Ormond College. He has a younger brother, Dennis, and two younger sisters, Margaret and Kathryn.

Career

In his early years, Blundell worked at La Mama Theatre, The Pram Factory, Hoopla, the Playbox Theatre Company, and the Melbourne Theatre Company. He directed and acted in the premiere performance of Jack Hibberd's play Dimboola at La Mama. His first television appearance was as an uncredited extra in the debut episode of Homicide (1964). He is best known as playing the title character in the 1973 sex-comedy film Alvin Purple and its 1974 sequel, Alvin Purple Rides Again.

He has written extensively in The Australian newspaper as well as writing biographies of Brett Whiteley (Brett Whiteley: An Unauthorised Life, 1996, with his then wife Margot Hilton), and Graham Kennedy (King, 2003).

In 2005, Blundell made a brief appearance in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith playing Ruwee Naberrie, the father of Padmé Amidala. He was also filmed in scenes for Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, but they were cut and appear only on the DVD release of the film.

Since March 2011, Blundell has hosted Sunday Night at the Movies with Graeme Blundell on Foxtel's Fox Classics channel.

Personal life

Blundell was married to author Margot Hilton. He later married journalist Susan Kurosawa.

Writing