Bernard GannonAO was an Australian film, television and stage producer. After schooling at Melbourne's Xavier College, Gannon graduated from the then production course of the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1970. He then worked at the Queensland Theatre Company before stage-managing the original Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar for Harry M. Miller Attractions. This was followed by eight years in London, where Gannon was company manager of Hair in the West End, and worked as a theatrical agent at the AmericanTalent Agency, ICM, before forming his own talent agency, representing actors, writers, directors, and designers. Gannon returned to Australia in 1980 and was appointed general manager of Associated R & R Films, the Robert Stigwood/Rupert Murdoch joint venture which produced the acclaimed film Gallipoli, of which he was associate producer. After forming his own production company, View Films, he produced two mini-series Shout! The Story of Johnny O'Keefe and Shadow of the Cobra. He produced the award-winning films Travelling North, Sweet Talker, The Girl Who Came Late – also known as Daydream Believer –, Hammers Over the Anvil, and The Man Who Sued God. His film The Heartbreak Kid, based on the play by Richard Barrett, was the catalyst for his award-winning television seriesHeartbreak High. This proved to be one of Australia's most successful television exports ever, being sold to 80 countries, and eventually running to 210 hours. Believing that there was a stage musical in the life and compositions of the Australian songwriter/performer Peter Allen, he commissioned a book, Peter Allen: The Boy From Oz, and then produced a documentary of the same name for ABC Television. In 1998 he co-produced with London producer, Robert Fox, Australia's highest-grossing theatre production , with book by Nick Enright, and directed by Gale Edwards – which was successfully presented on Broadway, receiving a 2004 Tony Award nomination for Best Musical, and winning the Tony for Best Male Performer in a Musical for its star, Hugh Jackman.
Honours
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2006 For service to the performing arts as a producer contributing to the development of film, television, and theatre in Australia, and in promoting Australian productions and talented actors overseas, and to the community.
