# Robert Coleby

Robert Coleby (born 1947) is a British actor who has spent most of his career in Australia. Active since the 1970s, he has over 70 film and television credits to his name. Coleby has acted on stage in numerous productions for the Queensland Theatre Company in Brisbane.

## Early life

In his late teens, Robert lived in Edington, Somerset and went to Dr Morgan's School in Bridgwater. At that time he was influenced by the beat generation, novelist Jack Kerouac and singer/songwriter Bob Dylan and performed with acoustic guitar at folk music clubs in Bridgwater and Taunton. He enjoyed hitch-hiking in Europe during the school holidays, and worked in the peat fields near Shapwick to fund his travels.

## Early career

Coleby's real name is Robert Taylor. Since there was already a famous actor of that name, Equity rules required that he choose another.
Coleby's earliest screen role was in 1970, playing the role of Fortinbras in a TV version of Hamlet in the long-running US series Hallmark Hall of Fame, followed by a role as a hitchhiker in the 1971 US motion picture The Last Run which starred George C. Scott. During the next several years, he appeared in a number of TV productions in the UK, including five episodes of the 1973 children's series Pollyanna. Moving to Sydney, Australia in 1975, he made his debut on Australian TV appearing in an episode of the TV period drama Rush in 1976. Over the next two decades, Coleby became a regular face on Australian TV; he was a cast regular on several TV series including the roles; Dr Barrett in The Young Doctors in 1977; pilot Barry Drummond on Chopper Squad (1977–79); RAN officer Lt Fisher in Patrol Boat (1979–83); Reverend Lonsdale in the mini-series Anzacs (1985); and, businessman Tom Barsby in the short-lived soap opera, Paradise Beach (1993–94).

## Later career

Coleby played Richard Craig in several episodes of the Australian medical drama All Saints between 1998 and 2004, and appeared as William Maplewhite in two episodes of The Lost World in 2001 and 2002. In 2005 he portrayed Rock Hudson in the fictionalised American television movie/docudrama Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure, based on the creation and behind the scenes production of the 1980s prime time soap opera Dynasty. Coleby played Alexander Preston in the 2006 American telenovela Monarch Cove, and Howard Webb in a 2006 episode of the Australian drama McLeod's Daughters. He later played Paul Devers in the 2007 American miniseries The Starter Wife.
In 2009 Coleby appeared as "Urquart" in two episodes of the British television series Heartbeat ("Thursday's Children" and "The Middle of Somewhere") both of which were set in Australia.
More recent theatre work includes the title role in the Queensland Theatre Company's 2007 production of the Henrik Ibsen play John Gabriel Borkman. In 2011, Coleby appeared in an episode of Terra Nova, titled "Proof", as Professor Ken Horton. He also appeared in WWE Studios The Marine 2, which was inspired by the 2001 Dos Palmas kidnappings.

## Personal life

Coleby is married to Lena Coleby; their children are Australian actors Anja Coleby and Conrad Coleby.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1970 | Hallmark Hall of Fame: Hamlet | Fortinbras | TV movie |
| 1971 | The Last Run | Hitch Hiker | Feature film |
| 1979 | The Plumber | Brian Cowper | TV movie |
| 1980 | Coralie Landsdowne Says No | Paul | TV movie |
| 1983 | Now and Forever | Ian Clarke | Feature film |
| 1985 | The Adventures of Robin Hood | George Lonsdale (voice) | Animated TV movie |
| 1985 | Archer | Etienne | TV movie |
| 1986 | The Blue Lightning | Ninian | TV movie |
| 1986 | Ivanhoe | Robin Hood (voice) | Animated TV movie |
| 1986 | Hector's Bunyip | George Bailey | TV movie |
| 1987 | Great Expectations: The Untold Story | Roger | TV movie |
| 1988 | Prisoner of Zenda | Voice role | Animated film |
| 1988 | Sebastian and the Sparrow | Peter Thornbury | Feature film |
| 1995 | In Pursuit of Honor | James Shattuck | TV movie |
| 1996 | Little White Lies | Kuhl | TV movie |
| 1996 | The Phantom | Captain Phillip Horton | Feature film |
| 1998 | The Real Macaw | Mr. St. John | Feature film |
| 1999 | The Lost World | William Maple-White | TV movie |
| 1999 | Chameleon II: Death Match | Branford | TV movie |
| 2001 | Curse of the Talisman | Museum Curator | TV movie |
| 2001 | Walk the Talk | Pastor Bob | Feature film |
| 2002 | The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course | Dr. Weinberger | Feature film |
| 2003 | Tempted | Lawyer | TV movie |
| 2003 | Mermaids | Director | TV movie |
| 2005 | Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure | Rock Hudson | TV movie |
| 2006 | The Marine | Braun | Feature film |
| 2009 | The Marine 2 | Darren Conner | Feature film |
| 2010 | Bad Behaviour | Clive | Feature film |
| 2013 | Tracks | Pop | Feature film |
| 2013 | Cough | George | Short film |
| 2015 | StalkHer | Dr. Jacob Weeks | Feature film |
| 2017 | Don't Tell | John Bowers | Feature film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1970 | Saturday Night Theatre | Fortinbras | 1 episode |
| 1971 | Take Three Girls | Dennis | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973 | The Adventures of Black Beauty | Harry | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973 | New Scotland Yard | Geoff Grant | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973 | Pollyanna | Timothy | 5 episodes |
| 1974 | John Halifax | John Halifax | TV series, 5 episodes |
| 1974 | The Protectors | Anton | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1974 | Death or Glory Boy | Sergeant Potter | 1 episode |
| 1974 | Skiboy | Jean Noel | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 1974 | King Lear | Edgar | 6 episodes |
| 1975 | Quiller | Hilberg | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1976 | Rush | Andy Curran | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1976–77 | The Young Doctors | Paul Barrett | TV series, 101 episodes |
| 1978 | Case for the Defence | John | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1977–79 | Chopper Squad | Barry Drummond | TV series, 27 episodes |
| 1980 | Timelapse | Douglas Hardy | TV series |
| 1981 | Punishment | Christopher Lang | TV series |
| 1981 | Levkas Man | Paul Gerrard | TV miniseries, 6 episodes |
| 1981 | Cop Shop | Harry Wilson | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1981 | Bellamy | Peter Kelso | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1981 | Sporting Chance | | 1 episode |
| 1983 | For the Term of His Natural Life | John Rex | TV miniseries, 3 episodes |
| 1979–83 | Patrol Boat | Lieutenant Charles Fisher | TV series, 27 episodes |
| 1983 | Carson's Law | Richard Kruger | TV series, 8 episodes |
| 1984 | Five Mile Creek | Oliver Hamilton | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1984 | Singles | Jack Howard | 1 episode |
| 1985 | Special Squad | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1985 | Anzacs | Rev. George Lonsdale | TV miniseries, 5 episodes |
| 1984-85 | A Country Practice | Paul / Tony | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 1986 | The Fast Lane | Dwyer | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1987 | Frontier | Major Nunn | 3 episodes |
| 1987 | Rafferty's Rules | David Andrews | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1988 | Australians | Raymond Longford | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989 | This Man... This Woman | Neil Clarke | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 1989 | The Flying Doctors | Alex Potter | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989 | Mission Impossible | Grigor Caron | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989 | Inside Running | | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 1990 | E.A.R.T.H. Force | Frederick Winter | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989-92 | Tanamera - Lion of Singapore | Bonnard | TV series, 7 episodes |
| 1992 | The Adventures of Skippy | Uncle Jerry | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1993 | E Street | Conrad Vargas | TV series, 2 episodes |
| | Marlin Bay | | TV series |
| 1993–94 | Paradise Beach | Tom Barsby | TV series, 254 episodes |
| 1995 | Fire | Larry Dempsey | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1995 | Space: Above and Beyond | Jonathan Overmeyer | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997 | Medivac | Bruce | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997-98 | Flipper | Steve / Andrew | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1998 | The Day of the Roses | Station Officer | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Stingers | Terry Darzinger | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1999-02 | The Lost World | Dr William Maple White | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 2000 | Tales of the South Seas | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2001 | Outriders | Jansen | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 2003 | Fat Cow Motel | Elridge | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2001–04 | All Saints | Professor Richard Craig | TV series, 5 episodes |
| 2004 | Through My Eyes | | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 2006 | McLeod's Daughters | Howard Webb | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2006 | Monarch Cove | Alexander Preston | Telenovela, 14 episodes |
| 2007 | The Starter Wife | Paul Devers | TV miniseries, 1 episode |
| 2008 | City Homicide | Alistair | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2009 | Sea Patrol | Lang Calwell | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2009 | Heartbeat | Urquart | TV series, 2 episodes: "Thursday's Children" & "The Middle of Somewhere" |
| 2011 | Terra Nova | Ken Horton | TV series, 1 episode: "Proof" |
| 2015 | House of Hancock | Frank Rinehart | TV miniseries, episode #1.1 |
| 2015–17 | A Place to Call Home | Douglas Goddard | TV series, 22 episodes |
| 2020 | The End | Richard | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2022 | Darby and Joan | Ascher | TV miniseries, 1 episode |
| 2023 | Queen of Oz | Bernard | TV series, 6 episodes |

## Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1985 | Arms and the Man | | Nimrod Theatre Company |
| 1987 | Tartuffe | | Nimrod Theatre Company |
| 1987 | The Winter's Tale | | Nimrod Theatre Company |
| 2006 | John Gabriel Borkman | Borkman | Queensland Theatre Company |