IanWatkin
- Actor
Ian Watkin's long acting career saw him playing mad doctors, priests, axe-wielding stepfathers, and American presidents. Part of the legendary Blerta troupe which toured Australasia in the 1970s, Watkin went on to appearances in everything from Beyond Reasonable Doubt and an iconic Crunchie bar commercial, to presenting Miss Universe New Zealand. He passed away in May 2016.
Screenography
Biography
Actor Ian Watkin — not to be confused with pioneering television presenter Ian Watkins — ran the gamut from comedy to drama, from the edgy to the mainstream. His imposing voice meant he was often cast as the boss or the official, but Watkin showed little fear of pushing the boat out. He was a distinctive presence in outlandish roles in splatter classic Braindead, and in 1970s entertainment troupe Blerta. Starting in the 70s, Watkin had bit parts in a slew of Kiwi screen classics. He was also a compere on Miss Universe New Zealand and music show Rock Around the Clock.
“Geoff [Murphy]’s bombs had been getting bigger and bigger, and that night I was well clear behind the curtain because I had seen him putting together a real beauty ... when I looked out there were all these feet up in the air.”
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