Tony Morphett (born 10 March 1938 in Granville, New South Wales, Australia) is a writer.
Tony Morphett has written or co-written seven feature films, ten telemovies, twelve miniseries, and some hundreds of episodes of TV series drama as well as devising or co-devising seven TV series. He has won 14 industry awards for TV screenwriting.
He created or co-created many Australian television series, including: Dynasty, Certain Women. Sky Trackers, Blue Heelers, Water Rats, Above the Law and Rain Shadow.
Morphett started as a copy-boy and cadet reporter for the Daily Telegraph in 1956.
He moved to the ABC in 1957 where he worked in the ABC Talks Department for 10 years, presenting The Lively Arts and Spectrum. While at the ABC he published his early novels.
In 1968 Morphett left the ABC to become a freelance writer, writing primarily for TV and film.
Morphett was on the board of the Children's Television Foundation for 8 years from 1985-1994.
Morphett was on the board of the Literature board of the Australia Council for 4 years from 1977-1981.
Morphett served on the committee of the Australian Writers' Guild at various times.
Morphett has been a board member of the Australian Writers' Foundation from 2003 to the present.
Career highlights include writing the scripts for the feature films The Shiralee, The Last Wave and Robbery Under Arms, and the devising of the TV series Blue Heelers, Water Rats and Certain Women.
Two marriages:
1962: Morphett married Betty Savage, daughter of Major Percival Savage, DSO, MBE and Marjorie Savage (née Hall). They had three children: Daniel, Benjamin and Anna. They divorced in 1968.
1969: Morphett lived with and later married Inga Hunter, daughter of Professor T.G. Hunter and Helena Hunter (née Wright). They had two children: Emma (deceased) and Sarah.
Morphett and Inga Hunter live together in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, with a number of cats.
A Place to Call Home (1 episode 2013)
Serangoon Road (1 episode 2013)
Packed to the Rafters (3 episodes 2009–2010)
The Legend of Enyo (2 episodes 2010)
Sea Patrol (6 episodes, 2007–2008)
Rain Shadow (2 episodes, 2007)
Blue Heelers (510 episodes, 1994–2006)
MDA (1 episode, 2002)
Young Lions (3 episodes, 2002)
Balmain Boys (2002) (TV) (written by)
Water Rats (171 episodes, 1996–2001)
Above the Law (7 episodes, 2000)
Don't Look Behind You (1999) (TV) (teleplay)
Kings in Grass Castles (1998) TV mini-series (writer)
13 Gantry Row (1998) (TV) (written by)
Mirror, Mirror (1995) TV series (unknown episodes)
Heartbreak High (1 episode, 1994)
The Seventh Floor (1994) (written by)
Sky Trackers (1994) TV series (unknown episodes)
Crimebroker (1993) (TV) (written by)
Secrets (1993) TV series (unknown episodes)
G.P. (6 episodes, 1991–1992)
Tracks of Glory (1992) TV mini-series (writer)
Sweet Talker (1991) (story) (written by)
Sky Trackers (1990) (TV) (written by)
Bangkok Hilton (1989) TV mini-series (story)
Boys in the Island (1989) (written by)
The Dirtwater Dynasty (1988) TV mini-series (writer)
The Flying Doctors (10 episodes, 1986–1988)
The Shiralee (1987) TV mini-series (writer)
The Riddle of the Stinson (1987) (TV) (written by)
Dark Age (1987) (screenplay)
My Brother Tom (1986) TV mini-series (writer)
Land of Hope (1986) TV series (writer)
Robbery Under Arms (1985) (writer)
Winners (1985) TV series (episode 3 "Quest Beyond Time")
The Flying Doctors (1985) TV mini-series (writer)
A Country Practice (5 episodes, 1982–1983)
Under Capricorn (1983) TV mini-series (writer)
Patrol Boat (1979) TV series (unknown episodes)
Skyways (2 episodes)
The Oracle (1979) TV series (unknown episodes)
The John Sullivan Story (1979) (TV) (written by)
Against the Wind (1978) TV mini-series (unknown episodes)
Chopper Squad (2 episodes, 1978)
Case for the Defence (1 episode, 1978)
The Last Wave (1977) (screenplay)
Glenview High (1 episode, 1977)
The Sullivans (1976) TV series (writer)
Luke's Kingdom (1976) TV mini-series (writer)
The Alternative (1976) (TV) (written by)
The Seven Ages of Man (1 episode, 1975)
The Story of the First Christmas (1975) (TV) (script)
Elephant Boy (1973) TV series (unknown episodes)
Boney (5 episodes, 1972–1973)
Certain Women (1973) TV series (creator)
The Evil Touch (1 episode, 1973)
Catwalk (6 episodes, 1971–1972)
Dynasty (13 episodes, 1969–1971)
Delta (2 episodes, 1969–1970)
The Long Arm (2 episodes, 1970)
The Link Men
Australian Plays (1969)
Australian Playhouse
I've Come about the Assassination (1966)
The Rise and Fall of Boronia Avenue (1969)
The Magic Apron (1969)
Tony Morphett (1964). Mayor's Nest. Jacaranda Press. (novel)
Tony Morphett (1967). Dynasty. Jacaranda Press. (novel)
Tony Morphett (1969). Thorskald. Lloyd O'Neil. (novel)
Tony Morphett (1985). Quest Beyond Time. Penguin Books with Australian Children's Television Foundation. ISBN 0140084096. (science fiction)
Tony Morphett (1993). The Distant Home. Mammoth. ISBN 1863302182. (science fiction)
Tony Morphett (1985). A Hole in my Ceiling. Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 0340271825. (non-fiction)
Tony Morphett (2013). Starship Home. Amazon. (science fiction)
Awards and nominations
1970 Awgie: Tony Morphett for Delta ep. 19 "A Touch Of DFP".
1970 Penguin: Tony Morphett – Scriptwriting for Dynasty play.
1971 Logie: Tony Morphett – Best Scriptwriter.
1971 Penguin: Tony Morphett – Scriptwriting for episode 12 "The Killing Ground".
1971 Awgie: Tony Morphett – Best Script For A TV Drama Series for episode 5 "Cry Me A River".
1972 Logie: Tony Morphett – Best Scriptwriter, for Dynasty.
1978 Sammy Award – best writer TV series.
1989 Awgie: Tony Morphett – for "The Damage Done".
2002 Awgie: Tony Morphett – for "Letting Go" (Blue Heelers).
