Paul Blackwell (actor)

Australian stage and film actor (1954–2019)

Paul Blackwell (11 July 1954 – 24 February 2019) was an Australian actor, mainly known for his stage work. He played a major role was in Rolf De Heer's 1996 film The Quiet Room and other minor film roles, and was also co creator and director on some stage productions.

Paul Blackwell was born on 11 July 1954 in Adelaide, South Australia. His mother, Imelda Bourke, was a well known jazz singer in the 1950s and 1960s, performing at Adelaide city venues and making appearances on radio and television, but after marriage was mostly confined to the role of housewife. His father, Daryl played the piano in swing bands. For work, he Daryl ran the family business, FW Blackwell Funerals, inherited from his father Frank. was screened in the 2020 Adelaide Film Festival and released in cinemas in November 2023. Lisa and Mark both became musicians, with Lisa teaching piano in Melbourne and Mark playing drums and working as a sound recordist in film and television. Louise is a singer and cabaret performer, who is also a Francophile. The family lived in the middle class eastern suburb of Wattle Park, and Paul attended Rostrevor College in Adelaide for his schooling. The production toured every state and territory in Australia, and also New Zealand, playing in regional theatres as well as larger venues.

Blackwell appeared in several films, usually in small parts. His only major film role was in the 1996 film The Quiet Room directed by Rolf De Heer, which was critically acclaimed and was screened in the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. He had roles in Red Dog and the 2019 remake of Storm Boy. Television appearances include Patrol Boat, Colour in the Creek, All Saints, My Place, City Homicide, and Deadline Gallipoli.

In 2019 Blackwell received a Premier's Award for Lifetime Achievement posthumously in the South Australian Ruby Awards. He was also posthumously awarded a Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play, for his role as Teddy Faith Healer.

Blackwell was married to Lee Ann, and they had three adult children. from multiple myeloma. A well loved and popular man, his memorial in the Burnside Ballroom was packed, with 800 people attending.