AustLit logo

AustLit

Ben Gannon Ben Gannon i(A101886 works by)
Born: Established: 23 Sep 1952 Sydney, New South Wales, ; Died: Ceased: 4 Jan 2007 Sydney, New South Wales,
Gender: Male
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

BiographyHistory

Film and theatre producer.

One of Australia's more prominent producers of the 1980s and 1990s, Ben Gannon studied production at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (Sydney). His first major industrry position after graduating in 1970 was with the Queensland Theatre Company, and he later stage-managed the original Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar for Harry M. Miller (q.v.). Gannon moved to the United Kingdom in the mid-1970s, remaining there for some eight years. Based in London he was engaged as company manager for the West End production of Hair and worked as a theatrical agent for the American company, ICM. He later formed his own before forming his own agency, representing actors, writers, directors and designers.

Gannon returned to Australia in 1980 and was appointed General Manager of Associated R and R Films, the Robert Stigwood/Rupert Murdoch joint venture which produced the acclaimed film Gallipoli (q.v.), for which Gannon was engaged as Associate Producer. In 1984 he formed his own production company, View Films, which soon afterwards produced the mini-series Shout! The Story of Johnny O'Keefe. Other Gannon-produced films and TV series include and Shadow of the Cobra (TV series), Travelling North, Sweet Talker, The Girl Who Came Late (aka Daydream Believer), Hammers Over the Anvil, The Man Who Sued God, Wildside (TV series) and The Heartbreak Kid. The latter film became the basis of a TV series, going on to become one of Australia's most successful television exports, being sold to more than 80 countries (qq.v).

Gannon's other career achievements include producing the ABC documentary Peter Allen: The Boy From Oz, and in 1998 he co-produced with London producer, Robert Fox, Australia's highest-grossing theatre production The Boy from Oz (q.v.). The musical was later produced on Broadway, receiving a 2004 Tony Award nomination for Best Musical.

Ben Gannon was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2006 for his services to the performing arts. He died in January 2007, aged 54, following a long battle with cancer.

Most Referenced Works

Awards for Works

form y separately published work icon Wildside ( dir. Peter Andrikidis et. al. )agent 1997 Sydney : Gannon Jenkins Television ABC Television , 1997-1999 Z1367384 1997 series - publisher film/TV crime detective

An adult drama set in an inner-city crisis centre and police station, Wildside focuses on a group of people who deal with the endless array of problems, crimes, and triumphs that tumble onto the streets of a city bursting with life. In addition to the police, other characters include those who work in a crisis centre in the tough red-light district of the city.

1998 winner Logie Awards Most Outstanding Miniseries or Telemovie
1998 won Australian Film Institute Awards Best Mini-series or Telefeature
Last amended 27 Apr 2010 10:02:44
Other mentions of "" in AustLit:
    X