John Russell Waters is an English-born Australian film, theatre and television actor, singer, guitarist, songwriter and musician best known in Australia, where he moved to in 1968. He is the son of Scottish actor Russell Waters. John Waters has been in the industry for over 50 years, and was part of the Australian children's television seriesPlay School for 18 years.
Career
Music
Waters was born in London, England. He first faced a live audience as a singer and bass guitar player with 1960s London-based blues band The Riots before travelling to Australia, initially for an extended working holiday and then eventually settling there permanently. Waters is an accomplished musician, and since 1992 has toured many times with his one-man show Looking Through a Glass Onion. Co-written with friend and musician, Stewart D'Arrietta, the show is a tribute to John Lennon featuring numerous examples of Lennon's music, words and images. In addition to many Australian tours of this show it also played six months in the West End, London. In 2014, it played 120 performances at the Union Square Theatre in Manhattan. Waters has released a number of CDs including The Story of Pilliga Pete and Clarrie the Cocky, a family story and music CD written and narrated by Waters, Brel a live album sung in French and a tribute to the Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel, the double live album, John Waters Looking Through A Glass Onion and his debut originals album Cloudland.
Theatre
Waters first big break was in musicals, playing Claude in a Sydney production of Hair in 1969, then Judas in Godspell and Pontius Pilate in the Australian concert production of Jesus Christ Superstar. He was in the original Australian production of They're Playing Our Song, which opened on 23 August 1980 at the Theatre Royal in Sydney. It starred Waters and Jacki Weaver, with Rhonda Burchmore as one of the Inner Voices. An Australian cast recording of the show was later released by Festival Records. In 2000, Waters appeared in a production of The Sound of Music, in which he played the part of Captain von Trapp, alongside Lisa McCune as Maria. In 2005, Waters starred in David Williamson's play Influence as shock jock Ziggi Blasko. The play was performed in Sydney during March/April 2005 and in Melbourne in June/July 2005. In 2008, he played The Narrator in Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show at Star City Casino, Sydney. Waters has toured Australia in a critically acclaimed role alongside Brett Tucker in The Woman in Black. In 2010 he starred in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of The Swimming Club, a play by Australian author Hannie Rayson. In 2013 Waters starred in The Addams Family musical as Gomez Addams. The production premiered in Sydney on 24 March 2013 and closed on 9 June 2013. In 2017, Waters played Ulysses in Music Theatre Melbourne's concert production of Paris. He had previously played the role of Agamemnon on the musical's original concept album released in 1990.
Television
Many Australians still remember Waters best from his nearly 20-year stint on the Australian children's series Play School, appearing from 1972 until 1991. During his tenure with Play School, he narrated various children's video trailers for ABC-TV. Among his best known television roles is that of the brooding Sergeant Robert McKellar in the 1974-76 television series Rush. Waters also appeared in the 1983 Australian miniseries All the Rivers Run as Brenton Edwards. In 2002, he had a role in the short-lived drama Young Lions. He played Perry Luscombe in Fireflies, which lasted for only one season, on ABC-TV in 2004. Waters joined the cast of All Saints in June 2006 as Mike Vlasek, the new head of surgery. He remained with the show until its cancellation in late 2009. In 2010, Waters was a guest star in Sea Patrol as Sgt. Booker. In 2010, Waters guest starred in City Homicide as William Clegg. In 2012, Waters starred in the ABC TV mini-series The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, adapted from the novel by English writer Fergus Hume. He appeared on the Logie-award-winning television series Offspring, which completed filming its third season in 2013 and was renewed for a further two seasons. From September 2015, Waters joined the cast of the fourth season of the ABC TV series Rake. In 2018 Waters had a recurring role, as lawyer Travis James, on the ABC TV SeriesMystery Road.
Films
Waters played Capt. Alfred Taylor in the 1980 film Breaker Morant which starred British actor Edward Woodward as Harry "Breaker" Morant. In 1982, Waters appeared in the World War II film Attack Force Z alongside Mel Gibson, John Phillip Law and Sam Neill. In 2013, Waters starred in a local regional film production created by Luis Bayonas, called Adios. In 1990, film critic David Stratton, referring to the films, wrote that in his opinion Waters "has been in more bad films than most other actors around".
In 1975, Waters won the Best New Talent award at the Logie Awards for his role in Division 4. In 1988, he won the AFI Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role as character Tom Garfield in the Frank Howson-written film Boulevard of Broken Dreams. He has been nominated for several other awards, including Best Lead Actor and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama at the AFI Awards, and for Most Popular Actor in a Telemovie or Mini-Series at the Logie Awards.
Personal life
Waters lives in the Southern Highlands, NSW with his third wife, Zoe Burton, and their three children. Waters also has two adult children from his first marriage.
Community work
Waters lends his support to various community events including DUETS 2012, a concert to assist The Australian Children’s Music Foundation and Carols in the Domain 2012. He is an ambassador for The Australian Children’s Music Foundation.
