THE BOOK REVIEW 

BUD: A Life by Charles Tingwell and Peter Wilmoth

Reviewer: JK 

Growing up in Coogee, Bud had a spell as a Spitfire pilot in the RAAF during world war II before embarking on an acting career, first on radio then in a succession of supporting roles in both Australian movies and Hollywood ones, working closely with Chips Rafferty throughout much of the early 1950’s.

After appearing in the classic kids show Catweazle in 1969 Bud returned home to Oz becoming in the process one of our best loved stars, appearing in Homicide on TV classic movies like Peterson and Breaker Morant and latterly the modern classic The Castle, all the while continuing to write and direct.

Happily married (although recently widowed) for many years to Audrey, Tingwell comes across as a real family man, not one to get caught up in the moralistic mayhem of the film world despite being good friends with such heavyweights as Richard Burton and Peter Finch.

It makes a refreshing change to read about an actor who understands who understands that the world doesn’t revolve around them. Bud A Life is a nice addition to the growing ranks of Australian actor autobiographies.